Michalowski: Pittsburgh Can be a Basketball Town, Too

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Pittsburgh is a football town. I’m not going to convince anyone otherwise. However, that doesn’t mean that the Steel City can’t develop a reputation as a hoops hotbed, too.

I drove out to Moon this afternoon for the Robert Morris basketball double-header with high hopes. For the first time in school history, RMU hosted two Horizon League tournament games. I assumed the crowd support would be better than it has been all year, but I had no idea that it would be this good.

Both of the Colonials’ teams — the men and the women — earned high seeds in their respective conference tournaments this season. However, most, if not all of their games ahead of Thursday night’s, were played in front of hundreds of fans — sometimes, even less (shoutout to all of us who attended the Urban-Bennett Invitational early in the season).

But on Thursday night, the community rallied behind the Colonials. To open the night, first-year head coach Chandler McCabe and her team took down Northern Kentucky in emphatic fashion. With the win, the WBB team improved to 15-15 on the year and 11-10 in Horizon League action — a stunning turnaround after winning a combined seven games in league play in the two prior seasons.

What a story here in Moon.

First-year Robert Morris WBB HC Chandler McCabe and the Colonials are going to the Horizon League Tournament Semifinals.@RMUWBasketball -> Indy pic.twitter.com/zi7k50aG4a

— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) March 7, 2025

Next came the men’s team — the No. 1 overall seed in the Horizon League Tournament. There was a buzz around the arena leading up to the game, and thousands of fans filled the stands leading up to the tip-off. A buzz that is rarely felt around Pittsburgh in the basketball community. The fans were passionate, loud, and locked in from the moments that the gates opened one hour prior to tip.

The RMU women were picked to finish dead last in the Horizon League preseason poll. The men? Eighth, out of 11 teams. Both teams have out-performed outside expectations, fueled by belief in each other. To me, the two teams’ seasons are all-the-more impressive because both squads accomplished so much with so little gameday support.

That was not the case on Thursday, and that shouldn’t be the case next season. And the next….

After a slow start, Andy Toole’s squad trailed 18-8. Whether it was nerves or something Wright State was doing defensively, we’ll find out after the game from Toole. But regardless, the start wasn’t what the 3,000+ fans in attendance expected.

Then, after several offensive rebounds, RMU kicked the ball out to DJ Smith. Smith drained a three, and the crowd erupted. Game on.

Robert Morris is buzzing right now.

What an atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/NbdL1Md6r1

— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) March 7, 2025

The Colonials turned that momentum into an 11-0 run, taking the lead, 19-18, minutes later. The run included two buckets apiece from Smith and Horizon League Player of the Year Alvaro Folgueiras, sending the Colonial fan base into a frenzy. As I am writing this, the first half continues. I don’t know if Robert Morris will win this game or lose it — but frankly, I don’t think the result is going to change the memories of the majority of the people in attendance.

The community rallied around RMU on Thursday, and I am thrilled that people are noticing what is right here in the 412, basketball-wise.

Cheers, RMU.