RMU Colonials Vs. Duke Blue Devils GameDay, TV/Radio, Odds, And Preview
By Larry Snyder
The Robert Morris University men’s basketball team moves into the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament tonight against the No. 1 seed in the South Region, the Duke University Blue Devils. The contest will tip off at 7:10 p.m. on the CBS television network at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
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In the NCAA First Four contest Wednesday, RMU (20-14) made a valiant comeback and defeated the University of North Florida Ospreys 88-77 at UD Arena. It was their second victory ever in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue and White claimed their first win against the Georgia Southern University Eagles 64-54 in March 1983.
Senior guard Lucky Jones contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five steals coming off the bench in the victory over UNF. Junior guard Rodney Pryor put up 20 points while freshman guard Marcquise Reed had 19 points on the score sheet. Freshman forward Elijah Minnie recorded his third double-double this season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
One of the keys to victory Wednesday was North Florida committing 19 turnovers to the Colonials five. Robert Morris was able to collect 21 points off those mistakes, while UNF put up just five. RMU’s bench was also a difference maker as they held a 23-15 edge over North Florida’s reserves.
For Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole, who is in his fifth season at the helm of the program, it is his first time to take the Colonials to the Big Dance. It should be noted, that if RMU can keep it close, they are 8-4 in games decided by five points or less this season under Toole.
This is the Colonials third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last seven years. The program has been to the Big Dance eight times overall. RMU was the No. 15 seed in 2010, and lost in overtime to the No. 2 seed Villanova University Wildcats 73-70 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
When: Friday, March 20
Tip Off: 7:10 p.m., ET
Site: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, N.C.
National Television: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, and Grant Hill
National Radio: Westwood One
Announcers: Gary Cohen and Kelly Tripucka
Pittsburgh Radio Coverage: 970 ESPN AM
Announcers: Chris Shovlin and Jim Elias
Live Video Steam: NCAA March Madness Live
Social Media – Twitter and Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
Odds: Robert Morris +22.5 According to Odds Shark Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under reported from Bovada Online Sportsbook at 143.
One aspect to keep in mind is that the Blue Devils (29-4) own a 99-34 record for a .744 winning percentage which is the all-time best in the NCAA Tournament.
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The DU offense is led by freshman center Jahlil Okafor, who averaged 17.7 points per game and grabbed 280 rebounds while senior guard Quinn Cook was second with 15.7 points per contest.
Another pair of freshmen who got the job done on the court this season were forward Justise Winslow, who was third in points per game at 12.3, second in total rebounds with 185 and second in steals with 42. Guard Tyus Jones was the leader in assists with 185 and steals with 48.
Last year, the Blue Devils as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, and were eliminated 78-71 in the second round by the No. 14 seed Mercer University Bears at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Up Next: The winner of tonight’s contest will play the winner of Friday’s St. John’s (NY) and San Diego State game. The next round will be Sunday, March 22 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
From The Clipboard: The Colonials were10-6 at home and 8-8 on the road this season, averaging averaged 69 points per game…The Blue Devils were 15-1 at home and 9-2 on the road while putting up 80.6 points per contest.
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