Sal Buscaglia, an unassuming man in an oversized windbreaker, took the microphone and addressed his Robert Morris players, who were gathered in front of a big screen in a Sewall Center suite watching ESPN.

"Let's pray we stay close to home," Buscaglia told the women's basketball team.

He didn't ask them to bow their heads. It wasn't that kind of prayer. It was more of a white-knuckle plea.

While his players harbored a desire to travel for the program's first appearance in the NCAA tournament, their coach was hoping for a slot in the opening rounds being played across town at Pitt's Petersen Events Center.

"We were trying to see if he was going to drive nine million miles instead of flying with us. He's a driver," senior guard Jenna Burkett said after the Colonials found out they were given a No. 14 seed and will play North Carolina State Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.

Raleigh? No sweat. "It's only about nine hours," said Buscaglia, who by yesterday had told athletic department officials he planned to travel by highway.

"People kid me, but I'm not as bad as John Madden," he said. "I've gone to Hawaii. I've flown many, many times. I don't prefer flying. If I can drive, I'll drive."

Given the amount of nervous energy emanating from Buscaglia, he could probably bicycle to the game. And meet the team at the airport.

"He's always nervous," junior forward Chinata Nesbit said.

Another thing Buscaglia always is, is a winner.

With a career record of 554-241, 11 NJCAA appearances with Hilbert College, two NCAA tournament berths with Manhattan and Robert Morris, five regular-season Division I conference championships with Buffalo and Manhattan and four Division I conference tournament titles with Buffalo, Manhattan and Robert Morris, Buscaglia probably should be coaching -- or at least heading to -- a bigger school.

He wouldn't talk about that this week, but a little over a year ago he said he could see himself retiring with the Colonials.

Winning at Robert Morris has been a Herculean task. From the time the successful Dan Swalga era ended in 1991 until Buscaglia arrived, there were 12 consecutive losing seasons with an average of 6.5 victories.

Buscaglia's first Colonials team, in 2003-04, won three games. Then came two 20-win seasons, followed by 24 this season.

"I think he just brings an uptempo style," said Burkett, who came in with Buscaglia. "From what it was to where it is now, there's a huge difference. Anybody can see that. It's been amazing to be here throughout the span of those years."

Buscaglia -- coach Sal to those who are around him much -- said it comes down to getting two or three marquee players and building around them.

Right now, those players are leading-scorer Nesbit -- "She can play for anybody," the coach said. "She will not be lost on that court against North Carolina State" -- and senior center/forward Sugeiry Monsac, who was recruited by larger schools and offered a scholarship by Auburn.

Getting those players is easy, Buscaglia said. He just lets loose his son, Charlie, a Colonials assistant.

"He's the one that did it. His recruiting is unbelievable," the elder Buscaglia said. "He's the one that finds these young players and forges the relationship with them through the recruiting. I just close the deal."

That's the blood family. The team fills things out.

"He considers it like we're family," Monsac said of the elder Buscaglia. "That way, we are more comfortable being around him. Plus, coach Charlie has become more than a coach, a friend that we can talk to."

There is one member missing.

Susan Hofacre hired Buscaglia in her third year as athletic director and after more than a decade with Colonials athletics. She died of cancer in January 2005.

"She was such a great person," Buscaglia said. "I still have her picture in my office. I've had it there ever since ...

"For her expectations, she told me maybe we could win five games in my second year. I said, 'Susan, I just think we're going to go for a lot more than five games. We're going to build a championship.' But she saw all the losing seasons before that, so many in a row.

"I know she's looking down on us and smiling at the accomplishment these young ladies have made."

If Hofacre was watching the Colonials during the NCAA tournament selection show, she saw Buscaglia alternate between pacing and standing quietly off to one side, his eyes refusing to focus on any one thing or person.

His cell phone rang as the show started. Who could be calling then? His mobile carrier wanting him to upgrade? A wrong number?

It turns out it was his lady friend from Buffalo, wanting to listen to the team's reaction while he held up the phone.

At least that gave Buscaglia something to do with that nervous energy.