Robert Morris
Robert Morris head coach Sal Buscaglia, the lone NEC mentor with more than 500 careers wins, must find a way to compensate for the loss of two-time NEC Tournament MVP Chinata Nesbit. No task has proven too big for Buscaglia who has orchestrated a remarkable renaissance at RMU. Despite inheriting a three-win team perennially stuck near the bottom of the standings, Buscaglia has the Colonials riding one of the most-impressive runs in league annals. The back-to-back NEC champions, who have strung together four consecutive 20-win seasons, were again the conference's most-potent offensive club, posting league-highs for scoring average (74.0 ppg), scoring margin (+11.6/g), field-goal percentage (.450), and three-point shooting (.408). The Colonials will certainly miss Nesbit, but a shortage of firepower won't be a concern. The loss of former NEC Player of the Year Sugiery Monsac between the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons did not deter Robert Morris from locking up another league crown.
Just as she did last season when she became the second straight Colonial to win the NEC Player of the Year award, Sade Logan, the nation's third-leading scorer, should help pick up the slack. But even she may have difficulty duplicating her own unprecedented offensive output from a year ago. Averaging 24.7 points per game, Logan set NEC single-season marks for points (815), field goals made (305), and three-pointers converted (126). Junior college transfer Monet Johnson (Monroe CC) brings more athleticism and a well-rounded game to the Sewall Center. The small forward put up Nesbit-like numbers during her team's NJCAA national championship run. Earning a spot on the 2007-08 NJCAA All-America First Team, Johnson contributed all over the court (19.4 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.8 spg). Combining talent and toughness, senior guard Angela Pace, who also went to Monroe CC prior to playing last season at RMU, wasn't far off from averaging a double-double (9.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg). She did not shy away from the big stage either, pulling down 17 boards in the NEC quarterfinals and posting a double-double in the semifinals. Pace's ability to crash the boards should help offset the loss of Nesbit's 9.3 rpg.
Robert Morris by the Numbers
Quick Facts
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners R/L: 7/3
2007-08 Record: 23-10
NEC Record/Place: 16-2/T-1st
NEC Tournament: Def. No. 4 Long Island in Final
Overall Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 23-10
Last Two Years: 47-18
Last Three Years: 67-27
Last Four Years: 87-37
NEC Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 16-2
Last Two Years: 31-5
Last Three Years: 46-8
Last Four Years: 59-13
RPI Nat'l Rank/Conf. Standing
2007-08: 91/1st
2006-07: 84/1st
Leading Returning Scorers
Sade Logan: 24.7 ppg
Angela Pace: 9.9 ppg
Grace Williams: 4.3 ppg
Leading Returning Rebounders
Angela Pace: 7.2 rpg
Sade Logan: 3.6 rpg
Grace Williams: 3.2 rpg