This is a very important year for RMU Basketball and Coach Andy Toole, with the program needing to show it can be a contender in the Horizon League. But things got off to a rough start for the Colonials, losing at West Virginia and Delaware to start the season 0-2. Making matters worse, the projected starting backcourt of Justice Williams and Kam Woods has been out for the last couple of weeks, leaving the team without backcourt depth.
However, Robert Morris has since won six straight games, including sweeping the Urban-Bennett Invitational and winning a road game at Cornell in the past week. But why have the Colonials turned a corner? Here’s a look at some takeaways of the team’s recent winning streak.
1. Alvaro Folgueiras emerges as an All-Horizon League player
The 6’9 forward from Spain was viewed as a breakout candidate coming into the season, but he struggled in the first two games, scoring three combined points against WVU and Delaware. He’s been much better in the last five games, averaging 15.2 ppg and 13 rpg, one of the best in the nation. Folguerias being a double-double machine is a welcome development for the Colonials, and he’s now the lead guy, even when the guards return from injury.
2. All the newcomers have had an impact
The biggest problem that RMU Basketball has had over the years is a lack of depth, particularly offensive threats. That’s not been an issue this year, even without Woods and Williams. And it’s come from various sources. D-2 transfer Josh Omojafo (11.9 ppg) leads the team in scoring, with all five starters putting up at least 9.0 ppg in a balanced effort. Even redshirt freshman Antallah Sandlin'El dropped 14 points off the bench in his first full game back from injury against Cornell. Add shot-blocking leader Amarion Dickerson, who is a two-way threat in the frontcourt. This is probably the deepest Colonial team in the Horizon era.
3. DJ Smith, the unsung hero for the Colonials
The best RMU has looked in the Horizon League was when Michael Green ran the offense, even off the bench. Woods was supposed to be the new lead guard until he got hurt, leaving Smith, the transfer from Bowling Green, to run the offense. He’s played 30+ mpg but has played well, averaging 9.0 ppg and 3.0 apg, shooting 33% from deep.
Smith had 20 points in the win over New Orleans and made clutch shots in the win over Cornell. Freshman Dilen Miller has also had an impact on the short-handed backcourt and will be a valuable player in the future. So even when Woods and Williams eventually return, look for Smith to remain a key piece of the team.