RMU Basketball: 3 keys to season-opening matchup with West Virginia

There's a lot of pressure on Coach Andy Toole and RMU Basketball this season. But after a solid performance against Villanova in an exhibition game, there's hope that they can be more competitive overall. The first test is on Monday, taking on a new-look West Virginia roster.

There's a lot of unknowns on both sides, which makes it an interesting game. Here are three keys to the Colonials battle.

1. Justice Wiliams/Kam Woods debut

One of the more intriguing factors for the Colonials this season is the backcourt duo of Justice Williams, who averaged 12.3 ppg in his first year with the team, and Kam Woods, a transfer from NC State who averaged 17 ppg at NC A&T in the prior year. Woods looked primed to be the PG for the team, dishing out six assists in the team's exhibition game versus Villanova. It's a backcourt with high-major talent. Can they keep up with the Mountaineers?

2. Defend Tucker DeVries

If RMU is to have any shot at pulling off the upset in this game, they have to stop Drake transfer Tucker DeVries. The 6’7 wing is the star of the Mountaineers, coming off averaging 21.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 3.7 apg and winning another Missouri Valley Player of the Year Award. The good news for the Colonials is that this roster is filled with 6’7 wings, including returning wing Chris Ford and transfers Josh Omojafo, Ryan Prather, and Amarion Dickerson. They’ll have plenty of bodies to throw at DeVries, but will any work?

3. Start of Alvaro Folgueiras breakout campaign

One area West Virginia doesn’t have a ton of depth in is the frontcourt, as it is a fairly small high-major team. But RMU doesn’t have a ton of size either, which matters against Big 12 teams. One big x-factor in this game is sophomore Alvaro Folgueiras, who had a strong end to his freshman campaign and can be one of the better stretch forwards in the Horizon League.

Robert Morris must make plenty of three-pointers to have any shot at an upset. If Folgueiras can make 4+, things could get interesting in Morgantown. He’ll also need to avoid foul trouble because if he’s on the bench, the Colonials will have big issues.