Roster moves have put transfer guard Michael Green as the starting point guard for Robert Morris Basketball going forward. How has he been playing of late?
Coming into the season, there was a lot of intrigue for Robert Morris Basketball. There was a complete roster turnover and plenty of transfers, including in the backcourt. The two biggest names were guards Rasheem Dunn and Michael Green III, who came from St. John’s and Bryant respectively.
Early on in the season, it was Dunn that took the lead role, with Green primarily off the ball at the traditional shooting guard spot. It’s been an adjustment for the junior that has seen ups and downs, with some double-digit shooting games but other off-nights as well, including going to the bench for a portion of games and missing three games due to reportedly covid-related issues.
Before this past 5-game homestand for the Colonials, Green was averaging around 8.0 ppg and 2.6 apg on 36% shooting from the field. But after the loss to Youngstown State to start the stretch, starting point guard Dunn reportedly left the program. It was a major blow for an RMU team that was still winless in Horizon League play.
The good news, however, is that the team has another “point guard” on the roster in Green, who averaged 16.0 ppg and 3.7 apg as a sophomore at Bryant. But just like Robert Morris itself, the 5’11 guard had to prove that he as well could compete and play well in the Horizon League. And it was off the roughest of starts of the new lead guard, going scoreless in 31 minutes in a close loss to Cleveland State. Head Coach Andy Toole talked postgame about Green “taking ownership of the position”, in regards to doing what’s necessary as a lead guard on both ends of the court in a winning matter.
Green must have taken it to heart, playing much better in the three games since. He dropped a season-high 20 points on an efficient 7/9 shooting in a close loss to Purdue-Fort Wayne, before going for 15 points and five assists in a two-point defeat to Wright State. But the team was 0-4 in the tough stretch by a combined 13 points.
But the streak finally ended on Saturday against Northern Kentucky, with Robert Morris never trailing in a 74-64 victory to get its first league win in eight attempts this season. Leading scorer and best overall player for RMU Kahliel Spear had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way, but Green had just as big an impact with 14 points and five assists on 5/9 shooting and 4/4 from the free throw line. Most importantly, he was able to break the Norse’s press several times and made key buckets late in the second half to keep the Norse from ever taking the lead.
There’s hope that Green has made a turn for the better. In the last three games, the point guard is averaging 16.3 ppg, 4.3 apg on 18/34 shooting (53%). He’s a career 38% shooter from the field so the efficiency likely won’t remain that high but if he can remain a double-digit scorer and capable facilitator, the loss of Dunn won’t be felt too much for the Colonials.
Robert Morris is 3-14 (1-7) on the season and has dealt with a ton of roster turmoil. But it looks as if this is the core moving forward and Green as one of the leaders. Despite the rough first half of the schedule in league play, this team has shown the ability to compete with just about everyone in the Horizon. And if Michael Green continues to play well, the Colonials should get a few more wins along the way.