Robert Morris men's basketball team frustrated but undaunted during Horizon League debut

In a near-empty UPMC Events Center, the incessant sound of Andy Toole’s clapping was a familiar reminder not everything has changed around the Robert Morris men’s basketball program.

It only feels that way.

“It’s certainly not been ideal the way the season has been so far,” said Toole, who, at 40, is the sixth-youngest coach in Division I but already is in his 11th season with the Colonials. “It’s been hard, but it’s also been exciting, at times.”

Just probably not enough for the Colonials (3-9, 2-7), who are playing in their first season in the Horizon League while enduring five covid-related interruptions so far.

Though newcomer Robert Morris was predicted in a preseason poll to finish fourth in the 12-team Horizon League, the Colonials are in the cellar leading up to a four-game homestand beginning Friday against Youngstown State (8-10, 4-10).

It isn’t the sort of scenario that usually boosts a team’s confidence level.

Robert Morris returned home from a weekend trip to Dayton, Ohio, after losing twice in two days to Wright State while playing without senior forward AJ Bramah, the Horizon League’s leading scorer, who didn’t accompany the team.

On Tuesday, Toole said that Bramah’s status was “day-to-day,” adding, “AJ just needed to take a breather.”

The 6-foot-7 Bramah, two years ago a junior college transfer from Gillette (Wyo.) Sheridan, leads the league in scoring (21.5 ppg) and is third in rebounding (9.7 rpg).

“What makes AJ who he is is his competitive nature,” Toole said. “Losing doesn’t sit well with him, but sometimes we all have to handle our frustrations. It’s just that every situation is different.”

Bramah is among a group of returning Robert Morris players who were denied the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament last season when the coronavirus pandemic forced its cancellation.

Already this season, Robert Morris has had to cancel eight games because of covid-19. Of those that were played, the Colonials have lost the past six, including a 30-point blowout Sunday against Wright State.

“As much as there’s been frustration on the coaches’ side of it, there’s also been some on the players’ side, as well,” Toole said. “Trying to have the right balance can be difficult.”

Robert Morris is finding the move to the higher-rated Horizon League from the Northeast Conference, where it was a charter member in 1981, is a daunting task.

The Colonials have gone from the top of one league, beating St. Francis (Pa.) as a top seed in their final NEC Tournament championship game appearance, to the bottom of another. Toole acknowledged its been a big adjustment for his team.

“As always, recruiting is vital,” he said, “wherever you are. We haven’t lowered our expectation level, and these guys definitely agree with that philosophy.”

Eight returning players, including two seniors — Bramah and guard Jon Williams, the Horizon League leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.2) — as well as a full coaching staff was denied a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season.

“The first time I went to the NCAA Tournament (as a player), I probably would have been a raging lunatic if I couldn’t have gone,” Toole said. “I still have trouble watching the NCAA Tournament when we’re not in it.”

In addition to coaching Robert Morris to two NCAA berths, Toole made consecutive March Madness appearances in 2002 and ’03 as a player at Penn.

While chances appear slim Toole’s current team will make a run at an NCAA appearance this season, he is not about to stop trying, and he said he continues to expect a similar approach from his players.

“We’re looking to identify what we need and see if some of these new guys can grow into that,” he said. “I don’t think what we do stylistically keeps us from winning.”

In order to be successful in a conference generally regarded as a step up, Toole said: “We need to execute better and have some guys grow and mature physically. That’s the fun part of this thing, trying to figure it out and compete favorably.

“We have a long way to go, but nobody looks at it as we shouldn’t be here.”