Step by step, Robert Morris has made strides in its three seasons since joining the Horizon League. The Colonials doubled their win total last year in the conference as they finished an even 10-10 and made their second consecutive trip to the conference quarterfinals.
Year four will provide a measuring stick of growth as the Colonials have made themselves at home in the Horizon League. As the Colonials attempt to climb up another rung of the ladder, it commences with a test against the defending conference champs and preseason favorite Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday.
RMU’s OUTLOOK
Robert Morris (2-4) cemented its second win of the season on Sunday with a 97-86 win against FDU with Josh Corbin’s career-high 34 points and seven 3-pointers leading the way. It was a contest that saw an improved performance from beyond the arc as the Colonials buried 11 of its 28 shots from that area, compared to just two shots falling in a loss two days prior to Jacksonville.
Despite a losing record, the Colonials have competed well during stretches in all of its non-conference losses this season, including a four-point loss at Towson and a 10-point defeat at the hands of Wisconsin in a matchup that saw the Colonials hit 13 triples.
So far this season, Robert Morris has found a balanced scoring attack with four different players factoring double-digit points with Corbin’s 16.3 points (in three games played) pacing the Colonials. Justice Williams has averaged 16 points a game and TJ Wainwright has added 12.7 points per contest after dropping a career-high 20 points against FDU.
Returning after a one-game suspension, Markeese Hastings has been one of the best all around players for the Colonials thus far. The power forward averages a double-double with 13.8 points and 10 rebounds a game, along with a team-high 51-percent from the floor.
As an undersized team, RMU will depend on its perimeter shooting, but the Colonials have also generated a portion from the free throw line as they have consistently drawn foul calls. The Colonials rank 15th in the country at the line this season, making 79.6% of its shots. Against FDU, the Colonials went 30 of 32 from the foul stripe.
SCOUTING NKU
Northern Kentucky enters Horizon League play after posting a 3-3 mark through the early window of non-conference action. The Norse are coming off back-to-back wins against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and LIU at home in a holiday multiple-team event.
The Norse will begin its quest to repeat in the Horizon League against RMU, a team in which they have had success against.
Since Robert Morris joined the Horizon League, Northern Kentucky has gone 5-1 against the Colonials. While the Norse average 71.2 points per game on offense against the Colonials, the real success has come on the defensive end. In the last three games, the Norse have limited RMU to a mere 57.3 points per game.
HEAD COACH
Darrin Horn (fifth season)
Horn has seamlessly continued the strong tradition of 20-plus wins in a season over the past decade at NKU. The Norse are one of the top mid-major teams in the country after Horn captured his second conference title last season, leading to the second NCAA Tournament bid in four years.
TOP PLAYERS
#3 Marques Warrick – 6’2” G
Warrick has been one of the elite guards in the Horizon League over the past three years. Entering his senior season, Warrick was named to the Preseason All-League First Team. He is tied for the team lead, averaging 16.5 points per game. Over the course of his career, Warrick has played some of his best basketball against Robert Morris, scoring 20.3 points a game, second highest against Horizon League opponents.
#2 Sam Vinson – 6’5” G
Along with Warrick, Vinson scores 16.5 points per game for the Norse and was an All-League Second Team honoree prior to the season. While being a viable deep threat with nine triples, Vinson also cleans up the glass, collecting five rebounds a contest, second-best on the Norse.
#40 Keeyan Itejere – 6’9” F
After two seasons with the Marquette Golden Eagles, Itejere has transitioned into the Norse program with ease, starting in all six games thus far. The big man will look to cause a mismatch for RMU’s smaller frontcourt as he scores 8.8 points per game, along with 4.5 rebounds.
METRICS
Robert Morris sits at 277 in the Kenpom.com rankings. NKU slots higher at 225.
GAME TIME
Northern Kentucky and Robert Morris are set for tip at 7 p.m. at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Ky.
SPREAD
Northern Kentucky is favored by 7 points, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Over/Under line is sitting at 140 points.
STREAMING
Wednesday’s contest will be streamed on ESPN+ or can be heard on the RMU Gameday App.
