Horizon League Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 09: The Cleveland State Vikings celebrate winning the Horizon League Men's basketball championship after defeating the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 09, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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Horizon League Basketball Andrew Toole Robert Morris Colonials (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

8. Robert Morris Colonials

2020-21 season record: 4-15 (3-12 in Horizon)

Key losses – AJ Bramah (21.0 ppg and 10.3 rpg), Jon Williams (10.3 ppg)

If anyone was interested in the gap between the Northeast Conference and Horizon League Basketball, look at the Colonials’ miserable first season after switching. They went from 20 wins with somewhat the same roster to not only finishing dead last last season, but they didn’t even play the top teams in the standings either.

To Robert Morris’s somewhat defense, they did lose star forward AJ Bramah midway through the season and did play five overtime games in league play, going 1-4. But it was clear that the talent needed to vastly improve for them to be more competitive, which is why they added a whopping eight newcomers.

The most notable is Rasheem Dunn, a two-year starter/6th Man at St. John’s. The 6’2 guard was a double-digit scorer and capable defender at the Big East level and brings in experience and leadership to a team that missed it last season. Joining him in the backcourt in Michael Green, a 5’11 guard that averaged 16.0 ppg at Bryant. He’s a career 31% three-point shooter so why they may be the projected starting backcourt, shooting could be an issue with them both on the court.

The good news is that the Colonials do have a pair of lethal shooters on the roster to pair alongside them in sophomore guard Kam Ferris (8.3 ppg on 46% 3Pt), and OK State transfer Ferron Flavors, who when he was at Cal Baptist shot over 44% from deep. And UT-Martin transfer Jaron Williams averaged double figures and provides great size at the wing at 6’6.

The frontcourt has been revamped as well in the portal, although they do return a key piece from last season in Kahliel Spear, coming off a season averaging 9.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 10 starts. Joining him is 6’8 athletic big Justin Winston from St. Bonaventure, as well as Junior College transfer Matt Mayer, and Mattia Acunzo (5.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg at Toledo.

There’s plenty of size and depth this time around for Robert Morris and they should be improved defensively as well, but how long it takes the new pieces to mesh will be a big question mark. And if Green and Dunn don’t become via threats from deep, the offense may struggle at times in league play.