2. Robert Morris Colonials (21-10,13-7)
Robert Morris looks to win its second straight Horizon League conference title after breaking through for their first conference crown since moving from the NEC. Bobby Mo enters the conference tournament as the league’s hottest team, having won six straight, including victories over Oakland and Wright State.
Robert Morris is fifth in the Horizon in scoring at 79.1 points and is third in points allowed at 75.1. RMU, led by 16th-year coach Andrew Toole, is a good-shooting team with shooting splits of 47.4/38.8/72.1. The Colonials are an outstanding offensive rebounding team and move the ball well around the perimeter, but they don’t create many fouls.
Defensively, the Colonials’ strength is defending the 3-point line. However, they do their best work on the backboards, outrebounding their opponents by nearly seven boards a game. Junior guard Ryan Prather Jr. leads three players in double-figures with 15.6 points and 2.5 three-pointers. Prather and 6-8 sophomore forward DeSean Goode (15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds) give the Colonials one of the Horizon’s best 1-2 scoring punches. Additionally, Prather, Darius Livingston, and Albert Vargas form one of the conference’s top backcourts.
Strengths: Defense and outstanding on the backboard.
Weaknesses: Not an elite offensive squad.
