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none other than legendary Charles Barkley showed up via the video board with a gracious and humorous congratulatory message during last night's halftime ceremony to honor the original Richmond "Giant Killers" on the 40th anniversary season of their 72-71 victory over heavily favored Auburn in the first round of the 1984 NCAA Tournament...

this win put Richmond basketball on the NCAA map and provided the foundation for the "Giant Killers" moniker that has made the Spiders program one of the few mid major programs recognized immediately by most NCAA Tournament basketball fans...

the team was led by legendary Richmond Coach Dick Tarrant and featured an iron man rotation of Johnny Newman, Bill Flye, Kelvin Johnson, Greg Beckwith and John Davis...I know Newman, Flye, Beckwith and Davis were there last night and it appeared most of the others must have been on the court too...

every Richmond fan owes this incredible coach and team a debt of gratitude for proving that Spiders basketball could do very special things....it was a nice ceremony and really classy that Charles Barkley was willing to send his regards...

I'm sure that every Richmond fan who was following UR basketball in 1984 can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing during this game...here's my story...I was at the Richmond Coliseum with The Sheriff and our kids for an afternoon performance of the Barnum and Bailey circus...there was no cell phone and no internet in those days...I didn't know how long the circus performance would last, but hoped I could get home in time to catch the end of the game on local TV...when I reached the parking lot the game was into the second half...the Spiders had a shocking comfortable lead...as I drove as fast as I could home Bob Black was reporting the start of the Auburn run that you knew would come...I made it to the house and was able to watch the Spiders survive in the final minutes on TV...just think, if there had been another minute in that game the "Giant Killers" may have never happened...it was unreal at the time...

great memories...thanks to the 1984 "Giant Killers" and for all the "Giant Killers" that followed...

Go Spiders!

Davidson’s Grant Huffman, along with Holmes, Jimmy Clarke, Kyle Rose and Andy Tsimbila were all chosen for the Preseason All-Defensive Team.

I’m definitely going bias here…but no way Dji shouldn’t be on this team at end of season. The center for GW that leads the league in blocks would be another. Not sure who else…Who do you guys think? If not Dji, no worries just trying to pass the time 😀

Spiders looking to go 12-2 in A10. We win 71-63.

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for a regular season game that didn't involve VCU, or a Top 25 team, this one had the intensity of a post season tournament game...it matched two teams with distinct styles of play, disciplined players committed to their style and willing to give relentless effort...neither team would give in to the other the entire game...the result a game that wasn't real pretty offensively, but literally came down to a final play...

how many times did it look like Richmond would get some breathing room and take control of the game?...maybe a half dozen?...each time Davidson played their way back into the game culminating the final time with the Durkin three to tie it at 63 with :14 remaining...

then Spiders fans saw what they've seen time and again all season...Richmond made a play to win the game!...Jordan King drawing the foul on the three point attempt and making all three FTs to put the Wildcats away...top tier A-10 finish and double bye for Tournament clinched!...now the Spiders can focus on earning the #1 seed!

for the 2nd game in a row the Spiders had to survive and win at the foul line in the final minutes...impressive job by Bigelow, Quinn and King converting 8/9 down the stretch made it work again this time!...and how about Delonnie Hunt putting the offense on his back midway in the 2nd half...Coach Mooney said after the game it may have been his best game as a Spider!...we needed it!

these amateur highlights capture many of the clutch plays made by both squads in the deciding final minutes and seconds...a steal, Bailey taking the charge, the FTs, Durkin's dagger and King's play to draw the foul...wow! it was great entertainment and quite a game...

on to St. Louis to face a team that scored 96 points last night...it'll be interesting to see how much different from this one that game plays out...

congrats to the players and coaches on earning the top tier finish...now let's add to it!

Go Spiders!

St John’s better than its record.

Bigelow made 85.3% of free throws last year and 84.8% this year, which has improved to an incredible 89.5% in conference play. The Career Free Throw percentage leader for U of R is Darien Brothers at 84.4%. However, to qualify a player needs to have a minimum of 200 attempts, which he does, but not at Richmond. As a Spider he only has 141 attempts.

He has also transformed his 3 point shooting from last year when most of us cringed every time he threw it up. This year he is shooting 40% and has turned into a valuable offensive player. BTW, with his athleticism and being strong at many aspects of the game, he might have a shot one day of making the NBA.

One of the biggest surprises this year has been the outstanding play of our mid-sized forwards on both offence and defense. Even when Bigelow and Bailey are out of the game we have gotten solid play by Harris. Although Harris doesn't shoot that much, he is shooting 56% from 3s, 85.7% three throw and 51% over all. Maybe he should stop passing the ball and shoot more?

Heading to 13-0 in Robins and 10-1 in conference .. Spiders 68-62.

Looking to move to 6-1 on the road in the A10 and 11-2 overall. Spiders 73-68.

Predict how you think we will do in conference play, game by game. I’m showing the schedules with each team’s current NET (as of Jan. 2) in parentheses.

L – Jan. 6 vs St. Bonaventure (65) - Always tough, better coached, ahead of us right now
W – Jan. 9 at Loyola Chicago (158) - A game we should get
W – Jan. 13 vs George Mason (76) - Not sure what style Mason is playing this year, but it's a home game
L – Jan. 16 at Duquesne (80) - Dukes are better than us right now
L – Jan. 20 at Davidson (103) - We can't win at Davidson every single year, can we?
W – Jan. 24 vs George Washington (141) - Home game
L – Jan. 27 vs Dayton (25) - Dayton is a better team
W – Jan. 31 at Fordham (223) - This is always a house of horrors, even when we win
L – Feb. 3 at VCU (87) - Shocker
W – Feb. 10 vs. LaSalle (206) - The one team Mooney really owns
W – Feb. 14 vs. UMass (92) - UMass is overrated by NET right now
L – Feb. 17 at George Washington (141) - Road game
W – Feb. 21 at Rhode Island (235) - Rhody will be better by then, so here's hoping I'm "Always Wright" in my result predictions
W – Feb. 24 vs. Davidson (103) - Home game
L – Feb. 28 at St. Louis (221) - Road game in a place we rarely win
W – Mar. 2 vs. VCU (87) - Blind squirrel, nut
L – Mar. 6 vs. St. Joe's (54) - They're not 54 good, but they are good
L – Mar. 9 at George Mason (76) - Road game in a place we rarely win

Burton’s transfer was a big setback for our basketball season, but Bigelow has significantly stepped up his game from last year and appears to be adding more value to the team then Burton did during conference play (understand we have a long way to go). Burton’s shooting percentage last year during conference play declined considerable and unfortunately for him, it is also happening this year.

After our 1st 3 conference games Bigelow is currently 4th in A10 in rebounding at 8.7 per game, 21st in 3 point shooting ave 44.4%, 10th in free throw percent 90.0%, 21st in steels at 1.3 per game. He probably would not have had these numbers if Burton was still on the team.

Burton has been struggling in conference play. After 5 games he is only shouting 31.4% and his 3 point shooting ave is 12.5%, Free throw ave 76.9, 7.8 rebounds a game and less then 1 steel per game.

Keep fighting for the top seed in the A10 - Go Lady Spiders ..

Looking to go to 15-1 in conference ...

Mooney has rightfully earned praise for bringing in a group of guys that appear to have great chemistry, play for each other, and are winning. No idea what guys are making or not making, but I don't think we are out there outbidding for players. SDSU is very much another school that is not outbidding others, bringing in guys for fit and program culture. Evidenced by losing Keshad Johnson to Arizona for high six figures per much intel.

Our guy Rick has a billionaire donor, an NIL general manager, and brought in a bunch of guys. Seems like it is not quite working out, and if you are a player, look out b/c you just got chucked under the bus and a crazed Slick Rick has the gas on the pedal:

Bigelow. Rebounding, timely 3s, inspiring dunks, slashing drives, and money at the free throw line. We need him at least 30 minutes a game coming down the stretch.
We have other clutch players, King, Bailey, Quinn...but when the game gets close in the last 5 minutes or when our opponents are making a run, I find myself hoping the ball goes to Bigs.

Announcers mentioned it in one of the last couple games - Moon saying he wanted UR to play with more pace. Since someone mentioned how the defense has given up a bunch of points the past few games, thought it bears discussing whether that is actually defensive issues - p&r defense, etc - or whether UR is indeed playing a more uptempo game, which naturally lends itself to more possessions and points given up?

I def. feel that this team has the offensive talent to play fast/faster, and especially against teams that are less disciplined, UR gets a significant edge out of more possessions. We turn it over less frequently than opponents so should have more shot opportunities. And a looser game leads to more back cuts against lazy defenders - feel like we got a good number of layups off back cuts against GW and URI, same vs Fordham.

I think the defense is still there, but teams do seem to be onto the idea that they can pick and roll UR and we will play drop coverage with our big, leaving the guard to defend the pick at the point of attack. It also sort of forces our big into less than ideal rebounding position if they do drive from that play. Am glad Davidson's 3 point shooting big is out for this game (I think?) because that was the main play they exploited in the first matchup, that pick and pop 3.

Overall though, I'm okay with a faster pace, especially at home. I think it suits Jordan's game pretty well, and when he gets going, UR rolls.

Per JOC. Knee surgery for an injury in the GW game. Not a huge loss in terms of what he's given us this year, but I think we will miss him in the A10 tourney.

Let's Go Spiders! Keep up the good work, ladies!

LaSalle is struggling. We must stomp on them to keep the NET moving forward. They put up 29 in their last game. 29. In fact, they have averaged only 42 in the last 4 in mostly blowout losses. For the season, they have scored 50 or less in 10 games.

Must win in convincing fashion!

First one…
What is the current NET of this resume?
Q1 1-5
Q2 2-1
Q3. 5-0
Q4. 10-0

If anyone has others to post, please do.

Amazing how many top players have opted out, due to draft status or portal transfers. Do you think they'd play if in the playoffs ? This may well force the NCAA to increase the number of teams in the playoffs or watch the bowls continue to erode.

Bounce back required and then we will still be in a good position - Spiders 78-71.

Huge game! Win this and we should be feeling really good about our position. GO SPIDERS! Keep up the great work, ladies!

https://nypost.com/2024/02/17/sport...e-basketball-coach-lefty-driesell-dead-at-92/

Posted this on the basketball board because as coach of Davidson, Maryland, and JMU Lefty had lots of interaction with the Spiders. Very colorful on the sidelines and the story of his car being bogged down in the mud when Maryland played us in the opening game at Robins has become part of Spider lore. First acquainted with him when he coached the high school Newport News Typhoon from 1957 to 1959. RIP Lefty!

Time to get this fired up for the season. Just in case we are in at-large consideration come March 🤪

11/6/2023:

Longwood vs St. Bonaventure - 7:00 ESPN+
Holy Cross vs Siena - 7:00 ESPN+
Fairfield vs Boston College - 8:00 ESPN+
Towson vs Colorado - 7:30
Queens vs Marshall - 7:00 ESPN+
Lipscomb vs Wichita State - 7:30 ESPN+
Regent vs William & Mary - 7:30
Loyola Maryland vs Florida - 8:00 ESPN+
Fairleigh Dickinson vs Buffalo - 7:30 ESPN+
Lafayette vs Saint Joseph's - 7:00 ESPN+
Monmouth vs George Mason - 7:00 ESPN+
Cleveland State vs Duquesne - 7:00 ESPN+
Washington & Lee vs Davidson - 7:00 ESPN+
Stonehill vs George Washington - 8:00 ESPN+
SIU Edwardsville vs Dayton - 7:00 ESPN+
Wagner vs Fordham - 7:30 ESPN+
McNeese State vs VCU - 7:00 ESPN+
Central Connecticut vs Rhode Island - 7:00 ESPN+
Southern Indiana vs Saint Louis - 8:00 ESPN+