Davidson 87 Richmond 84 - Jones Game Winner

[mojo-spider]

at least it was a fun game to watch...another offensive slugfest with the Wildcats...

Gilyard's shot coming back was like the good ole days and do you think Nick Sherod enjoys playing against the Wildcats?

sad that Spiders fans have to walk out again shaking their heads that we came close, but just could not finish the deal...that seems to be this season's reoccurring theme!

Go Spiders!

 

[Gospiders06]

I compare this shot to the Bucknell one. Except this shot only ends our season.

 

[Eight Legger]

"Richmond Basketball 2012-22 -- We Can't Finish the Deal"

 

[SpiderK]

No rebounding and no perimeter defense. 17 years and counting.

 

[Eight Legger]

We've never met a close game with under four minutes to play that we couldn't figure out a way to lose

 

[SpiderGuy]

We've never met a close game with under four minutes to play that we couldn't figure out a way to lose

Mooney has it down to a science. Consistency is key. He’s copyrighted the under 4 mins strategy to lose.

 

[8legs1dream]

We've never met a close game with under four minutes to play that we couldn't figure out a way to lose

I wish I had the time today to sit down and try to do some research that. I think the stats would be galling.

 

[ur2K]

That guy hit 7 threes, how do you let him get a clean look again? Cayo closed, but he had all the space in the world to get a clean look at the basket.

 

[spider fan]

Can't "quit seeing" Michael Jones hitting 3's - obviously painful - but also have to give him credit. What a sweet shot he had. 8 of 9 from 3 range with only miss coming on forced shot as shot clock was expiring. Does he have any brothers who want to play basketball at Richmond?

 

[Eight Legger]

How many times in the Mooney Error have we marveled at how some opponent had a particularly amazing three-point effort? It’s no longer coincidental. When you play a defense that leaves guys wide the hell open there, you will get burned repeatedly.

 

[spider fan]

How many times in the Mooney Error have we marveled at how some opponent had a particularly amazing three-point effort? It’s no longer coincidental. When you play a defense that leaves guys wide the hell open there, you will get burned repeatedly.

Yes there is defense that can minimize three point shooters effectiveness; unfortunately for us that defense is nowhere to be seen.

 

[Gospiders06]

Yes there is defense that can minimize three point shooters effectiveness; unfortunately for us that defense is nowhere to be seen.

Our defense actually helps great shooters.

 

[spider fan]

Our defense actually helps great shooters.

Yes leaves them open so they have a clear view of the basket.................

 

[SpiderGuy]

Our defense actually helps great shooters.

And makes average shooters have their coming out party.

 

[spiderman]

And makes average shooters have their coming out party.

well in this case it wasn't an average shooter.
he's a great shooter. he lit up Nick and Nathan early. we figured him out by putting Jacob on him.
then when it mattered, Nathan's back on him.
Nathan overhelped again. it wasn't needed. he should have been denying Jones. you don't let that guy touch the ball there.

Nathan made the huge play that tied it. and we needed that lineup to tie it. don't know if we had any timeouts left to match up better. but really frustrating to let a lights out shooter get a look there.

 

[RichmondNative]

Nathan made the huge play that tied it. and we needed that lineup to tie it. don't know if we had any timeouts left to match up better. but really frustrating to let a lights out shooter get a look there.

UR TOOK a timeout after tying the game. Subbed out Wilson and subbed in Golden. Mooney said that there was too much time available (11 seconds) and was concerned that Davidson would work the ball in down low for the win. “They didn’t need a three because the game was tied.” So basically he overthought it in my opinion. You just pressed them with a smaller lineup and got the turnover. Instead of sticking with that lineup and getting them to prove they can deal with the pressure, you revert back to the big lineup and give token pressure and just “play D”. Classic playing not to lose - that’s Mooney.

 

[GKiller]

but really frustrating to let a lights out shooter get a look there.

Just hypothetically, but if I told u Mooney said we guarded Jones well on that play, what would be your reaction to that?

 

[Eight Legger]

Mooney is a loser.

 

[SpiderGuy]

well in this case it wasn't an average shooter.
he's a great shooter. he lit up Nick and Nathan early. we figured him out by putting Jacob on him.
then when it mattered, Nathan's back on him.
Nathan overhelped again. it wasn't needed. he should have been denying Jones. you don't let that guy touch the ball there.

Nathan made the huge play that tied it. and we needed that lineup to tie it. don't know if we had any timeouts left to match up better. but really frustrating to let a lights out shooter get a look there.

sman,

Wasn't referring to "this case". We all know he was an incredible 3 point shooter. The point I was making is that anyone who has watched our soft 3 point defense knows that there have been plenty of average shooters over the years that shot like stars against us. When we allow open 3's, avg shooters make their debut against us.

 

[SpiderRick]

How many opponents have had "career games" against Mooney's teams?

 

[Spiders4ever]

How many opponents have had "career games" against Mooney's teams?

83%

 

[coach fezz]

sman,

Wasn't referring to "this case". We all know he was an incredible 3 point shooter. The point I was making is that anyone who has watched our soft 3 point defense knows that there have been plenty of average shooters over the years that shot like stars against us. When we allow open 3's, avg shooters make their debut against us.

Spider guy says Nathan overhelped again. it wasn't needed. he should have been denying Jones. you don't let that guy touch the ball there. always true and there is no excuse for that poor defense , why the pinch to help? also I am sorry but Burton is not NBA he is good player but not NBA, I think he is not strong around basket or defense strong. How can we be a team of such good players but do not win? I think Gilyard needs all the shots he was taking for team to be success. . I think 2 small guards is not a winning way. I think ball pressure is important to this team to win. Can anyone drive hard to hoop besides Gustav?

McKill is a great coach, every year finds magic players from year before and improving his players . To me he is a coach everyone wants to have and amazing team basketball I enjoy his games. two players with FT % above 90.

 

[72Spider]

Agree Burton is not an NBA player prospect nor will he be the best to have played here. He's very good but in addition to his defensive issues he struggles taking his man off the dribble due to weak ball handling.Jake is by far the best player on this team for last few years.

 

[GKiller]

Spider guy says Nathan overhelped again. it wasn't needed. he should have been denying Jones. you don't let that guy touch the ball there. always true and there is no excuse for that poor defense , why the pinch to help? also I am sorry but Burton is not NBA he is good player but not NBA, I think he is not strong around basket or defense strong. How can we be a team of such good players but do not win? I think Gilyard needs all the shots he was taking for team to be success. . I think 2 small guards is not a winning way. I think ball pressure is important to this team to win. Can anyone drive hard to hoop besides Gustav?

McKill is a great coach, every year finds magic players from year before and improving his players . To me he is a coach everyone wants to have and amazing team basketball I enjoy his games. two players with FT % above 90.

hypothetically Fezz, but if I told u Mooney said we guarded Jones well on that play, what would be your reaction to that?

 

[spiderman]

Just hypothetically, but if I told u Mooney said we guarded Jones well on that play, what would be your reaction to that?

I just watched that shot again. I like that we pressured the ball up the court with Burton. I liked Golden's hard hedge on the ball screen. Goose and Gilyard were in good position. but Cayo was too far off the hottest shooter in the country that night. he didn't need to help there. Golden cut off the drive possibility. I'd have preferred having Gilyard or Goose on Jones. he's the shooting threat. I get wanting length on him, but a guy who's hit 7 of 8 doesn't even see that closeout. if you want length, go with Goose. personally I thought Gilyard did the best job on him. he's the guy I want out there on Jones.

 

[CH_Spider]

I noticed it more last night than I had all season, but Tyler seriously has ZERO ball handling skills.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Most frustrating part of that final shot was even if he missed Davidson had an open guy right under the basket to tip it in at the end.

 

[Mo 2.0]

Most frustrating part of that final shot was even if he missed Davidson had an open guy right under the basket to tip it in at the end.

Yes, i think we would have found that even more annoying. At least we lost on a beautiful shot and not on a poorly-defended rebound putback, which was the alternative.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

All great points in @coach fezz post! I mean how many times is Cayo out that far having to cover a 3PT try anyway? Need more from Jacob and showed he can do it. Forever in the club of DISLIKING 2 small guards and nothing to add about McKill.

Note: Watching the Jones shot again it wasn't nearly as far out as previously thought. I fault Mooney more than Nathan.

 

[MrTbone]

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our defensive capability and our lack of ncaa appearances coincide with the persistent 2 small guard sets.

part of my reason I really wanted to see Dji Bailey get a lot of run at the SG.

 

[coach fezz]

hypothetically Fezz, but if I told u Mooney said we guarded Jones well on that play, what would be your reaction to that?

He would be wrong I think

 

[SpiderTrap]

I have tried to let the dust settle before posting but here are my thoughts on the Davidson game.

1) Defense - we are very bad on defense. I originally thought we have to score 80 each night to win, now I am thinking we might need to score 90-100 to have a shot. If I would have told you before the game - Gilyard would score 28, Sherod would get 20 off the bench, and we would make our free throws (16-20) and not get killed on the boards (12 offensive rebounds given up) - I think most if not all would take those chances. But instead - Davidson shoots 53% and 48% from deep. We just can't stop anyone.

2) Bench - the bench is shortening. You had Wilson play only 11 minutes and then Sherod play 25 and Goose play 30. Grace got 12 and thats about it. And based on our poor defense - I would probably play Sherod as much as possible when hot and try to score 90-100. Our defense is already bad, he doesn't make that much worse and the hope is he will score more than his opponent.

3) McKillop - although Mooney's teams usually do well vs Davidson, I think it is because they generally play soft defense and let us run our offense. McKillop is probably coach of the year right now in the A10. And this is not new for him. What is amazing is he loses his best player and probably a first team all A10 player in Grady (who transfers to Kentucky) - and he just continues to reload, not rebuild. They have been in A10 8 years now. Never below .500 overall, and only below .500 in league once at 8-10 in 2016-2017. They seem to make post-season (NCAA or NIT) then might have a 1 year where they don't make, but then bounce right back into contention the next year. I think he does a good job developing players and having them ready when its there time to play.

4) Final Play - all around terrible. Jones is 7-8 from 3 at this point. Someone should be all over him. Instead, Davidson dribbles the ball up the court. Jones stands flat footed about 5 feet behind the line, and just catch and shoot. Was it a long shot. Yes. Was it contested. Yes. Did he have a good look - yes. BUT point being - he should have never gotten the ball. At that point - someone else has to hit a shot to beat us. Not the guy who made 7 3 pointers to that point. Thats on the coaches and players - some who have been around for 4-5 years now and should know the situation and the people on the floor.

 

[MrTbone]

I think it’s tough when you have a bunch of individual players only 1-2 of whom are particularly good on defense AND those same guys don’t seem to fundamentally box out on D. We’re just handing other teams the bucket and if they miss, giving them the ball back way too often.

I’d love to blame all of this on coaching and some of it is, but some measurable portion is on the players themselves.

 

[urfan1]

If I could like Traps post 10xs I would. I believe we have only had 2-3 years that I felt our defense is good. Mikillop plays the equivalent of the spread offense, I am going to out score you. It seems that is Mooney's game plan (coupled with limiting possessions and easy baskets by preventing turnovers and run outs) but we seldom have the offense to consistently win.

 

[I-M-UR]

I think it’s tough when you have a bunch of individual players only 1-2 of whom are particularly good on defense AND those same guys don’t seem to fundamentally box out on D. We’re just handing other teams the bucket and if they miss, giving them the ball back way too often.

I’d love to blame all of this on coaching and some of it is, but some measurable portion is on the players themselves.

The problem is players come and go but the results remain the same. Not to leave out it’s the coach who recruits and is responsible for developing them.

 

[MrTbone]

The problem is players come and go but the results remain the same. Not to leave out it’s the coach who recruits and is responsible for developing them.

Of course. But I see so many occasions where guys don’t do basic boxing out, that’s just fundamentals and effort.

 

[Eight Legger]

Ultimately a coaching problem. Either he has no problem with the way they play and is in fact teaching them to play that way, or he does have a problem with it but hasn't tried to correct it, or he does have a problem with it but can't correct it.

 

[MrTbone]

Ultimately a coaching problem. Either he has no problem with the way they play and is in fact teaching them to play that way, or he does have a problem with it but hasn't tried to correct it, or he does have a problem with it but can't correct it.

Fair. Of note, I’m not defending CM, I just find that our defensive woes seem to include not having plus-level defenders on the floor.

Its hard to divorce that from coaching though…

 

[whampas]

Fair. Of note, I’m not defending CM, I just find that our defensive woes seem to include not having plus-level defenders on the floor.

Its hard to divorce that from coaching though…

Defense is a culture, it's want to as much as athletic ability. It has to be drilled into your head, it takes more effort to play defense and isn't (generally speaking) as much fun as offense. Not Mooney's thing.

 

[coach fezz]

Defense is a culture, it's want to as much as athletic ability. It has to be drilled into your head, it takes more effort to play defense and isn't (generally speaking) as much fun as offense. Not Mooney's thing.

i think i would demand better defense from all older players but maybe they CAN NOT play better defense at all ??
THEN they as sure hell better start making layups and shots from 4 feet .... And enough of that fade away junk I see all the time too..... weak body weak mind STRONG BODY STRONG MIND...but I think it is tough to coach same players 6 years in a row and be tough challenging them to play different. this year was unique opportunity for these players and they will have regrets about how they played for sure when they think back when they are old like me.