Robert Morris reportedly mulling move out of Northeast Conference
A potential move out of the Northeast Conference for Robert Morris — a possibility that has been whispered about more than once in recent years — is once again a topic of conversation.
On Wednesday night, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported the Colonials have emerged as a potential candidate to join the Horizon League and that a decision will be made in the next month.
Reached for comment on the report, the university was hardly expansive.
“We remain a member of the Northeast Conference,” a spokesman said.
The Colonials have played in the NEC since the league’s inception in 1981.
Current members include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Farleigh Dickinson, Long Island University, Merrimack, Mt. St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (Brooklyn), St. Francis (Pa.) and Wagner.
A move to the Horizon would be a step onto a slightly larger stage for Robert Morris’ men’s basketball program. The Horizon was ranked as the 23rd-best conference in the country last season by RPI. The NEC was 26th.
The Horizon League includes Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Wisconsin–Green Bay, IUPUI, Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Illinois-Chicago, Wright State, Youngstown State.
A move to the Horizon would present a problem for the football and men’s and women’s lacrosse programs at Robert Morris. The league does not compete in those sports.
A move would not impact the hockey teams at Robert Morris. The men play in Atlantic Hockey and the women play in College Hockey America.
Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.
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