Written by Guest Writer Hayley Schletker. Follow her on twitter @hcschl2 .
As each of the names flipped onto CBS’s NCAA Tournament Bracket graphic Sunday evening, the possibility of Kentucky getting a chance to try to repeat as National Champions slipped further and further away. As the final at-large spots were announced, the dismay of Big Blue Nation seemed to be matched with the delight of those who root for “Anybody But Kentucky,” with “No Kentucky” trending nationally on Twitter, above many of the 68 schools who actually received bids.
A few hours later, the missed opportunity to earn an NCAA Tournament Bid became a spot in the NIT bracket, where the Wildcats’ shortcomings became the source of excitement for another group of fans. #1 seed Kentucky (21-11) will travel to #8 seed Robert Morris University (23-10) Tuesday night for the opening round of the NIT, giving the school of about 5,000 students a rare opportunity to host one of the premier programs in college basketball.
Though the school’s website professes it is named for the Revolutionary War-era Patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence and occasional party emcee, there is no evidence to disprove the idea that the school’s namesake was also relative of former Kentucky Wildcat Randolph Morris.
Located in Moon Township, PA, Randolph Morris is not the only familial connection RMU has to the University of Kentucky. Coach John Calipari is one of the Pittsburgh-suburb’s most famous sons. Calipari has said of his hometown’s influence, “I’m from Pittsburgh. You come at me? I come at you twice. You hurt one of mine? I’m burning your village.” It’s not exactly certain how this trait translates in terms of basketball, but considering Lexington is likely still recovering after reportedly being burned to the ground just last April, it’s probably for the best NCAA Tournament obligations forced the game to be held at RMU’s Charles L. Sewall Center.
Robert Morris began competing in NCAA Division I in 1977, and has earned 7 bids to the NCAA Tournament, winning a play-in game against Georgia Southern in 1983. This will be the second NIT appearance for the school, falling to Syracuse in their only previous NIT game in 2008.
The Fighting Randolphs (or, as they prefer, Colonials) earned an automatic NIT bid for winning the Northeast Conference regular season with a 14-4 record. RMU fell in the conference tournament, with the automatic bid going to LIU-Brooklyn (the Blackbirds fell to the Cats 104-75 on Nov 23 at Rupp Arena).
Much like Vanderbilt, the Colonials are a team that relies heavily on the outside shot. The team’s two leading scorers, junior Karvel Anderson and sophomore Lucky Jones, both average above 40% for 3-point shots on the season. Junior Coron Williams also averages around 42% from outside, meaning the Wildcats will have to tighten up their perimeter defense. In three of their four losses since losing Noel, Kentucky has allowed their opponents to shoot over 40% from the outside. Kentucky does have the advantage on the inside, with RMU’s tallest player measuring in at 6’9”.
The Chuck
In order to advance, Kentucky will have to do something it hasn’t since Nerlens Noel suffered a torn ACL at Florida, win away from Rupp Arena. Though the Sewall Center (known as The Chuck) holds just over 3,000 people, what it lacks in size will be made up for in enthusiasm, as Calipari’s often stated remark of SEC road play of being “everybody’s Super Bowl” has extended to the post season. Tickets for the matchup quickly sold out Monday morning, and University classes were cancelled for Tuesday in anticipation of the game.
Should the Wildcats pull out the win, they would return home to Rupp Arena to host the winner of the Providence vs. Charlotte game at 5 p.m. on Sunday March 23.
