It ended in disappointment, but Robert Morris did plenty of special things in Mike Rice's first year as a head basketball coach.

The Colonials won a school-record 26 games last season. They won at Boston College, part of a 10-game winning streak on the road. They made it to the NIT as the NEC regular-season champion, losing at Syracuse, the top seed in the tournament.

Sure it hurt that RMU lost at home to eventual champion Mount St. Mary's in the semifinals of the league tournament. It also hurts that NEC Player of the Year Tony Lee and running mate A.J. Jackson are gone. But Rice -- Wild Rice if you've seen him patrolling the sidelines -- and his team will be back for more.

Jeremy Chappell enters the season as the league's leading active scorer and rebounder, had 80 steals (second in the league) and 62 three-pointers last year; and is a legitimate candidate to give this team a second straight player of the year.

Chappell is one of three starters returning, along with fellow guard Bateko Francisco and Jimmy Whitehurst. Ifeanyi Ehirim should play more up front this year, but the Colonials added point guard Velton Jones, who will step right in and battle with Gary Wallace at the point in an offense that will again launch the threes (747 attempts last season). Mezie Nwigwe is also part of the mix after playing 16.9 minutes per game last year and sophomore forward Will Royal should get more time.

Jones tops the newcomer list, but 6-8 Rob Robinson and 6-6 Josiah Whitehead are experienced juco players who add size up front.

Lee is gone. Jackson, a three-time all-league player, is gone. But write this down: the Colonials are not.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.