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?

I think it is safe to assume Mooney and staff will receive an extension after their NCAA run and first round upset. Possibly even a raise. I know a lot of fans, myself included, did not think this would happen heading into the A10 tourney - but now that the dust has settled and Richmond made the NCAA run - I am curious to see what people would like to see in terms of extension and money involved.

Right now - Mooney is under contract for next 2 years, until the end of the 23-24 season. And although not publicly posted, I believe it is safe to assume he pulls down $1.1 million per year. So what do you think will be added on to that in the coming weeks when a deal is worked out.

My guess - add 4 more years onto current deal, taking contract out to 27-28 season. And I would see a raise to the $1.4 range, with raises for all staff/assistants as well.

Over the last 13 years we have had 4 NCAA quality teams (including 2019-2020) and 3 NITs. Over the last 3 years we have had 2 NCAA quality teams and an NIT. Mooney was able to have built a 1st class training facility. Our recruiting has significantly improved since the Grant/Sherod class and we recently had a terrific off season reload. After 6 games with a freshman point guard, many new players on the team, and missing one of our starters, our average computer ranking is 93rd, which I expect will get better as the season goes on. https://masseyratings.com/cb/compare.htm Mooney has been able to achieve this success while running a clean program and recruiting within the school’s academic standards for athletes. I believe he has the support of the board and administration, along with a majority of alumni. Unless he is hired away for substantially more money, I expect him to be at U of R until he retires.

Too lazy to look up and resurrect all my other posts about how Moon's offense doesn't work consistently in the endgame, and how it fails more often than not when teams really ratchet up defensive pressure (which, you know, occasionally happens near the end of games.).

But that's a broken record that will never get fixed.

So I'll point out that UR is by my rough count 4-9 in games that could have been won late in the ballgame. That's pretty atrocious. It starts at the top and it started years and years ago.

If Kevin Anderson hadn't single-handedly won a dozen huge games with clutch shots, we likely wouldn't be having this conversation because Moon would be long gone.

We can't fire Moon, so #FireHardt

As you all know, there are many, MANY reasons why those of us with high expectations for our basketball program are stupid idiots. If you find yourself wondering why we have lost a game we should have won, please refer to this handy post I have compiled.

We cannot be expected to win:

• road games, because it’s really hard to beat anyone on the road.

• home games, because no one ever goes undefeated at home and other teams tend to be more focused on the road.

• neutral games, because there’s not much crowd energy and we have no inherent advantage.

• games against teams that are better than us, because they are better than us.

• games against teams that are worse than us, because no one goes undefeated and those teams are trying to win too!

• games against OOC opponents, because it’s early in the season and we’re still trying to figure out our identity and playing time schemes.

• with a team full of young players, because it’s a long and complicated process to learn how to play our offense and defense.

• with a team full of veterans, because other teams are younger and hungrier.

• games in which we are trailing most of the way, because it’s very hard to come back and win any game.

• games in which we are leading most of the way, because the other team is going to be super motivated and scrappy down the stretch.

• games against teams with veteran lineups, because they’ve been playing together a long time.

• games against teams with a bunch of newcomers, because we don’t know their tendencies.

• games in which we are outrebounded, because the other team has more chances to score.

• games in which we outbound the other team, because these games do not exist.

• games in which we shoot a high percentage from the free throw line, because it’s hard to also shoot a high percentage from the field.

• games in which we shoot a high percentage from the field, because it’s hard to also shoot a high percentage from the free throw line.

• games against VCU, because they are a much bigger school with a much better history and can admit anyone they want.

• games against George Mason, because they always rebound really well, and what’s rebounding?

• games against St. Bonaventure, because they have many, many recruiting advantages over us, such as their bucolic location, large endowment and student body and long, storied history of high-level success.

• games against Davidson, because they shoot a lot of three-pointers and recruit good players from other countries.

• games against LaSalle, because that’s like French or something.

• games against UMass, because they were ranked No. 1 in the country once.

• games against Dayton, because they are a high-level program with a large fanbase and many recruiting advantages over us.

• games against St. Louis, because they are located in a major market and can get much better players than we can.

• games against Duquesne, because they bring in entirely new rosters every year, making them extremely difficult to scout.

• games against St. Joe’s, because the Hawk never dies.

• games against Fordham, because there must be an excuse for everything.

• games against GW, because it’s a very hard place to play. Even when we play them at home.

• games against Rhode Island, because Miller is a very high-level coach.

• games against Loyola Chicago, because they went to the Final Four fairly recently.

• games in the A10 tournament in which we are worse than a 4-seed, because other teams are fighting for their survival, and it’s very hard to win in March.

• games in the A10 tournament in which we are a top-4 seed, because whoever we play has already played a game and will be hungry to knock us off.

• games in which Mooney is our coach, because the other team always has a decided advantage.

Watching the Providence Creighton game, what a good basketball exhibition. Good shooting, great effort, well coached……if only the Spiders could play like this…….

New thread for the AP and Coaches Polls that come around noon each Monday.

AP Week 2

• Dayton up to 21
• SLU with 47 votes checking in at #30
• Toledo with 8 votes ..

Coaches/USA Today Week 2

• Dayton up to 23
• SLU and Toledo with 10 votes around #39
• Drake with 2 votes

I'm on the fence about driving up although today's day gave me more incentive- anyone else going?

So if Matt Grace had gotten a pass with 1.2 seconds left like in the Duke UVA game and
there was no foul shots given, even after video review shows the foul before buzzer goes off,
how would have this board reacted? Talking about three blind refs. Cannot believe their decision
and neither can the ACC. Spidernation would have exploded especially if it was against RPI!

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We have a very loyal fan base and the Robin Center game experience is very strong regardless of any audio visual issues. Look forward to Sunday. Go Spiders!

With outgoing transfers we’ll begin to backfill those loses.

Not sure if there is a links page already but thought it would be good to post relevant links to other message boards in case people care to post/read other boards.

If anyone else has other links feel free to add to the thread.

League Wide News Links
Blogs
A10talk.com

Other Non Specific Basketball Forums
Atlantic 10 Basketball Forum
Reddit College Basketball (My personal favorite, easy to register and no email)

A10 Opponents Message Boards
Davidson
Dayton
Duquense
Fordham
George Mason
George Washington
La Salle
UMASS
Rhode Island
Saint Louis
St. Bonaventure
St. Joes
VCU

A10 Blogs
Davidson - Wild Cats Roar
Dayton - Blackburn Review
George Mason - Mason Hoops Blog
George Washington - GW Hoops
Richmond - Spiders Hoop Blog
St. Bonaventure - The Bona Blog
St. Joes - Hawk Hoop Club
VCU - VCU Ram Nation

Links to more links
Atlantic 10 Basketball Board

Since 2020-21, we are (wait for it) 21-20 in A-10 play. A reminder that for two of those seasons, we had all of our best-class-ever standouts, two of whom are currently killing it in the G League.

In three years, we are barely over .500 and actually below the Mooniocrity level of 55%.

In the same period,
VCU is 33-11
Dayton is 31-15
St. Bonaventure is 30-14
Davidson is 26-14
SLU is 26-13

People want to know why we are frustrated, or why we look at a guy like Schmidt and wish he were our coach? This is why. A miracle run to the title, as much fun as it was, is not a sustainable path to success. Mooney's history over time is demonstrable mediocrity.

Hey guys, this isn't a bball related post, but I was told about a man who is wanted for robbery in the Richmond area. Heres a photo of him Robber. If you see this man please contact the authorities, he stole millions of dollars and loves to compete for more

Still really like this team. The A10 doesn’t scare me this year. Nelson and co will figure out the close games and we’ll start winning them. Healthy Grace really would have helped us tonight. Beat Temple* tomorrow

I’ve compiled the W/L data for the Mooney era A10. I’m sure 2011 can do more with this than I can:

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My biggest take away, which I think we all already knew, is that Richmond is firmly in the second tier of the A10. The first tier being Davidson, Dayton, and VCU. The second tier being URI, Richmond, Saint Louis, and St. Bonnies.

Other things that jumped out:

- Xavier and Temple owned this conference, and the conference misses the quality games they provided.
- Charlotte always sucked and that definitely wasn’t a shooting foul…

Hope the spreadsheet can bring some data to the discussion!

Until last night, we had never scored more than 102 points and lost. Congratulations, Mooney! Let's hang a banner for this notable achievement.

By my count, we have only ever played four games in which both teams scored more than 100 points:
• Lost to GW 118-101 in 1971
• Lost to W&M 107-102 in 1976
• Beat George Mason 101-100 in 1995 (Daryl Oliver went coast to coast at the buzzer to win it).