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Robert Morris star says lots of mid-majors want to face Alabama in March Madness
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Robert Morris might seem like the tiny 15 seed who won the Horizon League Tournament last week and is now ready to be sent packing by mighty Alabama when the teams meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon in Cleveland.
But look a little closer. Or a lot closer, says Robert Morris senior guard Kam Woods, who wanted the nation to know that the Colonials aren’t just showing up to show up. Woods was born in Bessemer, AL, so he’s familiar with what Crimson Tide athletics mean to the state.
And just because he plays for Robert Morris, which is located far away from Tuscaloosa in the Pittsburgh suburbs, hardly means that he’s ready to go home after leading the Colonials to a March Madness berth. Woods, who leads Robert Morris in scoring (15.1), assists (5.1) and steals (1.7), has come all this way to win on Friday when the teams tip off at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Woods was asked about playing with Alabama star guard Mark Sears in AAU ball, what he remembers from that experience and if he’s watched Sears throughout his brilliant Crimson Tide career.
“He’s a great player. We all know that. But it’s just like us, he’s human,” Woods shot back. “Growing up with him, pretty good player. Went to Ohio. He played great and then transferred to Bama, and he’s been doing his thing.”
Then Woods had really sharp words regarding Friday’s game, in which second-seeded Alabama is a huge favorite — on paper.
“We’re just looking forward to the matchup. It’s a matchup that a lot of mid-majors in the country want, so we’re just taking it as a regular game, no matter the impact on the names,” said Woods, perhaps creating some bulletin board material for Nate Oats’s team.
Or Woods was simply sending a message that the Colonials aren’t scared one bit.
Even if mid-majors want the matchup, Alabama checks in as a 23.5-point favorite vs. Robert Morris per BetMGM. The Crimson Tide are also +425 to win the East Region and the odds to reach the Final Four according to ESPN Bet.
Robert Morris will get its chance to change that, but the bulletin board material will only add to the focus of the Tide.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
