Big E Hoops Weekend Preview: Game 1 - Monmouth vs. Robert Morris

We are in the final days of preparation for Big E Hoops Weekend. To make sure every one is completely up to date with who plays when, and what person went where, we are going to breakdown each of the games we'll see in person this weekend, with everything you need to know to get through the hoops overload.

What About Bob?
Official Name: Robert Morris University (not to be confused with Robert Morris University in Chicago)
Daily Onions Name: Bob Morris

Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA

Conference: Northeast Conference (NEC)

Mascot: Colonials

Famous non-sports alum: Robin Sanders, US Ambassador to Nigeria.

Famous sports alum: Kevin Colbert, GM of Pittsburgh Steelers; Hank Fraley, NFL offensive lineman

You might know them because... Bob Morris was a 15 seed in the NCAA tournament last year, and gave Villanova everything it could handle in the first round game, losing by 3 in OT. Last year’s coach, Mike Rice, is now the head coach at Rutgers.

This year’s team: First year head coach Andy Toole, 30, is the youngest head coach in D-1 basketball and looks like he could be the youngest person on the roster. Daily Onions worked a few basketball camps with Toole (good guy) a few years back during his time with Hoop Group. Thus far this season, Bob Morris is 6-9 overall, 2-2 in the NEC (winning by 1, losing by 2, losing by 5 in OT, and winning by 3). They play FDU on Thursday as their last tune-up before Saturday night.

Roster Check: Bob Morris might be a simple name, but their roster includes Karon, Coron, Yann, Velton, Treadwell, Lijah and Deion.
Best Player: Russel Johnson averages 13 ppg and 7 rpg.


Watch Your 'Mouth
Official Name: Monmouth University
Daily Onions Name: The Mouth

Location: Bruce Springsteen, New Jersey

Conference: Northeast Conference (NEC)

Mascot: Hawks

Famous non-sports alumni: Anthony Beltempo, creator of MTV’s Jersey Shore; two contestants on Survivor; Jack Lawless (attended for a semester) before joining the Jonas Brothers as their drummer.

Famous sports alumni: Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys WR (and one of Kim Kardashian’s former flings); Christie Rampone, US Women’s National Soccer Team captain

You might know them because…they actually have won a game in the NCAA tournament – the play-in game vs. Hampton in 2006. Head coach Dave Calloway was a counselor at a basketball camp I attended when I was just a little onion. He’s been at Monmouth for 14 years and has gotten them to the NCAA tournament 3 times.

This year’s team: 5-11 overall and 1-3 in the NEC.  They hosted Villanova on Dec. 22 and lost by 40.

Roster Check: The Hawks have a Phil Wait (from England) and an Ed Waite (from Florida) on this year’s team.

Best Player: Ed Waite averages 10 ppg and 6 rpg.

Daily Onions Prediction: Despite having distinguished alum Ramy Nammour, and his guests, in attendance, the Hawks can't overcome the Colonials experience and depth. Bob wins 68-61, making this the second most important sports victory in the city Saturday night (see: Steelers, Pittsburgh).

Coming Wednesday: Preview of Sunday afternoon's West Virginia vs. Purdue game.

Three Days, Three Games, Three Alma Maters

 Let the countdown to Big E Hoops Weekend begin.  You may be asking what is this Big E Hoops Weekend Daily Onions speaks of? Pull up a chair, its pretty cool.

Cuse Is In the House, Oh My God

As I’ve mentioned, I went to Syracuse University. Many of my closest friends that I grew up went to West (by god) Virginia University. Another one of my best friends went to Monmouth University.

Somehow, someway, the basketball scheduling gods have aligned and look what they’ve done. 

Saturday, January 15^th – Monmouth University (yep, they have a Division 1 basketball program) at Robert Morris University (in Pittsburgh, basically)

Sunday, January 16^th – Purdue at West Virginia University (in Morgantown)

(Big) Monday, January 17^th – Syracuse at Pittsburgh (in Pittsburgh)

Almost Heaven.

For those of you scoring at home, that’s three college hoops games, in three days, featuring the schools that my closest friends and I attended, all within an hour and a half of each other. 

Home base for the weekend will be the Palace of Brady and Brandi Smith in the Steel City. Final roster for the weekend is still being determined, but it looks like we’ll be going at least 6 deep.

What is this? The Monmouth Logo.

As we approach that epic weekend, Daily Onions will not only take a look at the teams participating in the games, but we’ll also highlight the people making the trip.

And I know you are all wondering….and the answer is yes. Daily Onions will have a running diary of all (well, maybe not all) the weekend’s activities. Stay tuned….just 28 days away.

Daily Onions Note: Check back later today for Daily Onions Christmas List!