Anyone know if we still have an analytics specialist on staff and/or who handles the scout on our opponents?

There seems to be both anecdotal and evidence-based views that we often underperform against our competition’s averages, including our 3-pt defense (some data) and the regular occurrence of some guy having a career night against us (anecdotal).

Feels to me like a potentially noteworthy gap in our game prep.

It just is. Think about it:

· It's so "complicated" that it really only works even semi-consistently with a bunch of guys who have played in it together in games for 3-6 years. (Even then, it's only about 50-50 at best to get great players to the NCAAs.) This will almost never happen any more in this era of NIL and immediate transfers.

· Our defense, by design, almost always leaves the far weak side three-point shooter wide open... in an era when everyone in uniform can and will shoot and make wide open threes.

· Our offense constantly seeks the PERFECT shot at the expense of the good or very good one. This isn't brain surgery, it's basketball. Take the open shot instead of waiting for the perfect one!

· We intentionally try not to get offensive rebounds. Because why would you ever want to take more than one shot per possession?

Factor in that I suppose in theory, our offense is intended to provide decent three-shooting opportunities but we suck at three-point shooting, and there's another problem.

We cannot win consistently at a high level employing this system. We simply cannot. It's time for an overhaul of one type or another.

Anyone else going to see the game in person? - I have stalled at this point this year …

A true gentleman of the game.

From Pete Thamals Twitter (Yahoo Sports)

Sources: Charlotte expected to hire Charles Bankins as special teams coordinator. Charlotte also expected to hire Richmond DC Adam Braithwaite as the linebacker coach. Both bring extensive college experience and have crossed path with Charlotte HC Will Healy.

Why did our play seem better in early season vs now. Did Nelson hit his freshman slump?
Did teams figure out quickly how to defend us? Or have we just not meshed to show late season
improvenent? The lack of consistency has been the most evident aspect of this team.

Today has been an emotional one for me as the beauty and absurdity of our collective intensity for sports yields to the reality of life. Hope we can pack Robins to support Coach and the players this year and in prior years who care about him deeply. Beat SLU.

Nice, lengthy interview with Tyler. Talks about his background, his decision to come back this year, the meeting with Mooney when he announced he was stepping away, fighting through some of the recent losses, and more.

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Rumor has it PT is meeting with Hardt today to discuss a new contract that would make him the UR coach in waiting after last nights dramatic comeback. From walk-on on the 2004 JW NCAA team to a starter and captain his final year under Mooney, PT brings it full circle as he now returns as assistant coach/associate head coach - only to become the next UR head coach, when Mooney is ready to step down.

Just kidding of course - but you have to admit, this is likely creeping in the back of the minds like Hardt. Mooney is dealing with a pretty serious health issue, and while he is only 50 years old - you have to wonder if this medical scare will cause him to shorten his coaching career desires. And if that is the case, and if PT can put together a decent run this year to end the season - I would imagine PT becomes a viable option when and if Mooney steps down. It would seem normal that if Mooney, WHEN he leaves UR - I would assume he leaves on good terms, and when that is the case normally with a coach leaving on good terms and having been at a school over 20 years - that I would think they stay in the "Mooney" family and who better than PT?

This may be all a joke right now - but if PT pulls off the upset of VCU, look out.

As I understand a Go Fund Me page has been set up for a band member suffering from cancer if you are so inclined to assist.

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could Hollywood have written a better script?...a underachieving team, in the midst of a disappointing season, loses its coach to a very serious medical problem...a struggling player, Jason Nelson, swoops in in the final 1:10 to score UR's final 6 points and seal the Spiders dramatic win!

I feel really good for Nelson...after being so highly touted for two years expectations were probably too high...following in the foot steps of legendary Jacob Gilyard and the long line of outstanding Richmond point guards had to be tough...I hope tonight's clutch performance will help him get his confidence and basketball mojo back!

Nelson was ably assisted in the 2nd half rally by Tyler Burton's 18 2nd half points, as well as, Matt Grace's 12 points...Nelson scored all 17 of his points in the Spiders impressive 54 point 2nd half...

at least two Richmond trends were broken tonight: it was the Spiders that torched the Billikens from three point range (17/37 46%) and it was the Spiders who rallied in the final minutes to go ahead and win the ball game...just think what might have been if we'd shot this well and played the final minutes this tough the entire season...

enjoy the amateur highlights from the last 1:10 of tonight's win...they include Nelson's three with :25 remaining to make it a two possession game...

I hope Coach Mooney was able to enjoy this one in some manner...congrats to the team and coaching staff on winning one that meant more than just our 14th win...

Go Spiders!

I saw a Twitter encounter where a Anti-Mooney guy was talking to a Richmond Fan and they got into a little argument. The Anti Mooney fan was claiming that only Mooney can have a player like Burton and be a 11th seed. This other Richmond fan goes on about how St. Louis was the 11th seed 2 years (This is not True) and then proceeds to block the anti Mooney guy. I know it was just one guy but I genuinely think we have the most uneducated fan base in the A10 and this interaction proved it. Dude was wrong and then decided to block the other guy for spitting facts. Thats the definition of soft. Heres the tweet for reference: Login to view embedded media

So with CM on leave and Peter Thomas assuming interim control, curious what changes anyone might expect to see.

The most interesting things to me would be A) any starting lineup change and B) more minutes for Roche.

Thinking spread will be -1 for the good guys

UR checks in at #179 in the initial release, 10th in the A-10.

Q1: 0–1
Q2: 0–0
Q3: 1–4
Q4: 2–0

SOS is 234.

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Please do not make the QB an active part of the running offense. Save his legs and body for when he needs to escape. You have you have seven possible passing targets ( three rbs, two ends and two tackles) and five possible running options (three rbs and two ends). If you can’t figure about an offense with those options, quit.

Now that we've seen the OOC schedule play out, curious to see how everyone thinks we will perform in the in-conference portion of our schedule (18 total games).

I know the odds are zero based on his contract. But seriously this team is dead in the water. We just blew out chances tonight for a NIT bid. Mooney the game was a 4 point deficit at one time. You allow VCU to go on a huge run. Going on a 13-0 run before you call the timeout. By then, the game is basically over. We have zero chance no chance at the Siegel Center. So another sweep by VCU. Congrats Mooney see you at the bank and collect your huge check.

Everyone is obviously upset with the results this year, but I wanted to take a step back and see if people could provide their thoughts on what has gone wrong this season. Because I think most people on this board, myself included - thought we had a good team to begin the year, especially with our 3 transfers coming in with Roche, Quinn, and Bigelow. And with the A10 being significantly down this year - that maybe this was a year we reload and not rebuild. Not saying we were an NCAA lock, but possibly an NIT team and maybe if get lucky - NCAA bubble team. But we are from both of those right now and just wondering what people think has gone wrong this year to make this team slide the way it has.

SO what has gone wrong this year?

I have to say I have been really impressed with some of our players recently taking accountability/responsibility/leadership during this losing streak.

It started with Burton after the VCU loss, really giving a great mature, reflective postgame remarks. Bigelow followed that up after the Dayton loss with some really reflective remarks as well. This of course stands in stark contrast to the postgame comments from Mooney, which are rarely insightful, reflective, or accountable.

I listed to the Mike Walz interview last night. First of all, for an 18 year old freshman, he is incredibly well spoken, clearly intelligent, and just a really well rounded mature individual. If you have a minute give it is listen, this is what makes you proud to be a Spider.

Walz also noted that they the seniors called a players only meeting after the Dayton loss, which gave me a bit of hope, that maybe our players who seem to know and understand leadership and accountability, might be the ones who provide the direction this team needs right now.

I hate the practice of calling the time-out right after we score late in close games (the "Mooney-Out"). Looks like I am not alone. But I did want to objectively test the theory on whether it is actually harmful or helpful.

Assumptions/Methodology:

• Applies only to timeouts: (1) taken after a made basket by Richmond; (2) under 6 minutes to go in the game but before the "under 4" timeout; and (3) in games that are "close" (i.e., within 8 points with 6 mins to go.
• I looked at this year only for the test sample, although this practice obviously goes back a ways just anecdotally

We have had 9 opportunities this season for a Mooney-Out: Charleston, Wichita, Syracuse, W&M, Mason, GW, Duquesne, Davidson, UMass.

The Mooney-Out was called on only 3 of those occasions: Charleston, W&M, and UMass. Here are the details:


Here are the scenarios for the other games: Wichita (losing by 2 at 6 mins to go -- lost), Syracuse (winning by 2 with 6 mins to go -- lost), Mason (losing by 5 with 6 mins to go -- lost), GW (winning by 7 with 6 mins to go -- won), Duquesne (winning by 5 with 6 mins to go -- won), Davidson (winning by 7 with 6 mins to go -- won).

My takeaways:

1. It would be inaccurate to suggest that Mooney ALWAYS calls the Mooney-Out. In fact, it's only 33% of the time this year.
2. It is not effective in preventing the other team from scoring on the next possession -- at all.
3. It hasn't resulted in good end-game performance in 2 of the 3 games in which the Mooney-Out was called.

Obviously, this can be picked apart as unscientific, or non-correlative, etc., but for me at least it confirmed what my eyes were subjectively telling me: the Mooney-Out is stupid and I still hate it.

To my dear and beloved Spider fans on this board, as a forever season ticket holder and a long time member of this board I want to tell you how my prayers for this season have been answered. The answer to your woes is.............Stub Hub!!

CBI is returning to Daytona this year. Will Mooney's agent do him a solid and extend an invitation?