Gilly sets the All-Time steals record

[UR80sfan]

There is a lot of frustration and disappointment on this board about or record through the 1st 7 games and rightly so. I hope everyone can rally around Gilly who will probably break the NCAA steals record in our next game. He had 6 steels today and needs one more to tie the record and 2 to set the record. If it wasn't for Covid, he would have set the record in 4 years. This is truly and impressive accomplishment for a class act Spider player. It is too bad the next game is on the road.

 

[Eight Legger]

It will be a great achievement and he will have done it in just three more games than Linehan. Briante Weber played five more games than Linehan and didn't break it, so that should shut up VDU fans.

However, if we don't win the a10 tournament, it's hollow.

 

[Gospiders06]

Maybe take Mooney away? Would that be part of the steal record?

 

[Marley13]

Is it really a record if he did it in more games played?

 

[fatherspider]

Who cares?

 

[Eight Legger]

Is it really a record if he did it in more games played?

They would have given it to Weber had he done it in like 135 games (but still within four seasons), so I don't see why not.

 

[Marley13]

I got no problem calling him the steals leader I just wish he had done it in the same or fewer games.

 

[MrTbone]

It’s an impressive achievement regardless.

 

[wr70beh]

Does any of this fix the rebounding problem that has plagued this team for 17 years?

Good for Gilyard. It's a distraction for the teams failures for now.

 

[8legs1dream]

This is reason enough to give King Mooney a 6 year extension. I mean, we are setting NCAA records and competing! How can it get better than this?

 

[fan2011]

Is it really a record if he did it in more games played?

Yes.

Aaron Craft is on the all-time career steals list and he played 148 games. Gilyard has only played 124 so far, and will end up playing ~150, barely more than that. It isn't like he will have played 30+ more games than anyone else on the list.

 

[SpiderDogg]

Gotta love the VCU fans commenting with an * on all of Richmonds social media posts about Gilyard. What a bunch of pathetic losers.

 

[Eight Legger]

They were perfectly ready to crown Weber. Hypocrites.

 

[urmite]

I got no problem calling him the steals leader I just wish he had done it in the same or fewer games.

Should career be by seasons, games, minutes, or possessions?

 

[MrTbone]

Should career be by seasons, games, minutes, or possessions?

You can always adjust rate for those things. Some teams are fortunate to get a bunch of postseason games each year, so that’s hard to adjust for. Other than getting a better coach so you can participate too.

 

[urmite]

Did Linehan count 4+ seasons?

 

[urfan1]

I am happy for Gilly and look forward to celebrating the record. Can you only imagine the press he would get if we made it to the Dance and won a few games?

 

[spider fan]

They were perfectly ready to crown Weber. Hypocrites.

That's only because part of Weber's steals record included an iPhone theft. Charge was later dismissed after 50 hours of community service.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...er-to-miss-opener-after-alleged-iphone-theft/

 

[SFspidur]

Did Linehan count 4+ seasons?

Linehan was indeed more than 4 seasons. He played six games and had 17 steals in his junior season that he ended up getting back for a medical redshirt. He did miss a handful of games the following season though, so it pretty much all evened out.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Count me with those excited for this record to be held by a Richmond Spider. Still, Mookie Blaylock was the best I ever watched.

 

[fatherspider]

Gotta love the VCU fans commenting with an * on all of Richmonds social media posts about Gilyard. What a bunch of pathetic losers.

They own the mooney led UR Spiders. Get a reality check. There is not a rivalry anymore. Everything VCU bballl is better than UR bball. That is truth. Gilyard might get a steal record but he gets owned on D in almost every other facet. Sick of seeing his man blow right by him or him lunging for a steal he doesnt get while his man takes a free ride to the basket. Id bet under “a good coach” who taught him real D, he would have 1/2 the steals but be a much better defender.

 

[plydogg]

They own the mooney led UR Spiders. Get a reality check. There is not a rivalry anymore. Everything VCU bballl is better than UR bball. That is truth. Gilyard might get a steal record but he gets owned on D in almost every other facet. Sick of seeing his man blow right by him or him lunging for a steal he doesnt get while his man takes a free ride to the basket. Id bet under “a good coach” who taught him real D, he would have 1/2 the steals but be a much better defender.

A player breaking an all-time record has nothing to do with a rivalry game. I’m sorry that your hatred/frustration of Richmond is blinding you to how freaking cool it is to have a Richmond Spider be the all-time leader in a stat.

I really wish it would have come with at least 2 tournament appearances and I’m frustrated as hell with this start to the season, but Gilyard breaking this stat is really cool.

 

[nathanw19]

Count me with those excited for this record to be held by a Richmond Spider. Still, Mookie Blaylock was the best I ever watched.

He wasn’t a big steals guy, but Ricky Moore (UConn) is the best defender I’ve ever seen on the perimeter.

 

[nathanw19]

A player breaking an all-time record has nothing to do with a rivalry game. I’m sorry that your hatred/frustration of Richmond is blinding you to how freaking cool it is to have a Richmond Spider be the all-time leader in a stat.

I really wish it would have come with at least 2 tournament appearances and I’m frustrated as hell with this start to the season, but Gilyard breaking this stat is really cool.

It’s been special to watch. Gilyard’s instincts are unbelievable, coupled with his insanely quick hands, and here we are. Excited to watch him break the record and proud he’s a Spider!

 

[SpiderRick]

Awesome accomplishment for Gilyard and the school!

Now maybe he can return to his regular awesome defense, instead of ust going for the steal.

 

[urmite]

Linehan was indeed more than 4 seasons. He played six games and had 17 steals in his junior season that he ended up getting back for a medical redshirt. He did miss a handful of games the following season though, so it pretty much all evened out.

I agree.

Just thought it seemed odd complaining about Gilly in 5 seasons, if he is replacing someone who took 5 seasons...

 

[97spiderfan]

Great accomplishment but Gilly is a bit of a victim of his own success. Always playing for the steal leaves him vulnerable in other defensive assignments. But a horse isn't going to changes it's stripes at this point in the game, so our defense will live and die by the Gilly steal.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

Great accomplishment but Gilly is a bit of a victim of his own success. Always playing for the steal leaves him vulnerable in other defensive assignments. But a horse isn't going to changes it's stripes at this point in the game, so our defense will live and die by the Gilly steal.

We used to have this exact same debate about Darius Garrett always going for a block and leaving his guy open for an offensive rebound. Now we would kill for a rim protector.

 

[32counter]

Great accomplishment but Gilly is a bit of a victim of his own success. Always playing for the steal leaves him vulnerable in other defensive assignments. But a horse isn't going to changes it's stripes at this point in the game, so our defense will live and die by the Gilly steal.

How many points over the years have been scored by UR which are directly attributable to Gilyard steals,points by Gilyard or others?

 

[VT4700]

How many points over the years have been scored by UR which are directly attributable to Gilyard steals,points by Gilyard or others?

A lot! And a whole lot more than points he might have given up by going for a steal and missing. This "Jacob hurts us by going after steals talk" might just be the most ridiculous comment out there right now, and as bad as this board is, that is saying something.

 

[MrTbone]

A lot! And a whole lot more than points he might have given up by going for a steal and missing. This "Jacob hurts us by going after steals talk" might just be the most ridiculous comment out there right now, and as bad as this board is, that is saying something.

While I generally agree with you and don't buy too much into this argument, it does put stress on an already sub-par defensive unit to have one of your best defenders often playing the backside of their man or leaving their man entirely to take a swipe at the ball of someone they aren't supposed to be defending.

That said, we have way bigger defensive problems than Gilyard's steals and/or missed steals.

 

[nathanw19]

A lot! And a whole lot more than points he might have given up by going for a steal and missing. This "Jacob hurts us by going after steals talk" might just be the most ridiculous comment out there right now, and as bad as this board is, that is saying something.

Gilyard is definitely a plus to the team, especially defensively. And I agree that it is overblown openings that occur because he went for a steal.

However, as much as a love Gilyard, he’s not a plus on ball defender, which is what made him so useful in a zone defense. His value is reading passing lanes and trapping/collapsing for a steal from the backside. I think we’ve all seen the on ball perimeter defense improve with Isiah and Dji in. They’re just longer and better on ball defenders.

 

[GKiller]

A lot! And a whole lot more than points he might have given up by going for a steal and missing. This "Jacob hurts us by going after steals talk" might just be the most ridiculous comment out there right now, and as bad as this board is, that is saying something.

but is the board bad? I’d say the board has been a lot more right than wrong.

on this particular topic I can agree. It’s too bad we can’t leverage some deserved attention for a NCAA record with an expected very successful team. Heck we have two all time steal records. Gilyard AND Mooney. Both should get lots of pub.

 

[spiderman]

the ideal combo would have an aggressive steals guy outside with a defensive minded rim protecting center behind him.
if you have a really good but non-shot blocking offensive minded center you want long, penetration-stopping perimeter guys.

we dont' have the luxury of picking and choosing player strengths. we take the best players we can get. but it's a roster configuration problem.

 

[32counter]

A lot! And a whole lot more than points he might have given up by going for a steal and missing. This "Jacob hurts us by going after steals talk" might just be the most ridiculous comment out there right now, and as bad as this board is, that is saying something.

Jacob’s steals also resulted in opposition fouls immediately after the steal as well as opposition fouls as we transitioned for break away layups.

 

[UR80sfan]

I am surprised by some of the comments relative to this post about how good a defender Gilyard is and does he deserve the steal title.

Gilyard might be the best defensive player in the history of our program and is a 2 time finalist for NCAA defensive player of the year.

We have been talking about him breaking the all-time steal record since his sophomore year and now that he is one game away from breaking it, some are questioning does it count because of the 5th year or number of games?

Dudes, this his a huge accomplishment for Gilly and reflects well on our program. Steals is a major stat category in college basketball and his ultimate record will probably never be broken.

This accomplishment deserves a permanent banner or trophy in the Robins Center.

 

[97spiderfan]

I'm confused if Gilly is such a great defender than why is our team defense so terrible. Are the other 4 guys on the court with Gilly just complete bumbling defensive idiots. Or maybe, is her really great at steals but perhaps not as great in some other aspects of defense. The Garrett analogy is a good one. There were times when he was exploited for always going for the block. Truly great defenders adjust their strategy so the opposition never knows what is coming.

And might as well put a banner up, we got plenty of space for banners these days.

 

[UR80sfan]

I'm confused if Gilly is such a great defender than why is our team defense so terrible. Are the other 4 guys on the court with Gilly just complete bumbling defensive idiots. Or maybe, is her really great at steals but perhaps not as great in some other aspects of defense. The Garrett analogy is a good one. There were times when he was exploited for always going for the block. Truly great defenders adjust their strategy so the opposition never knows what is coming.

And might as well put a banner up, we got plenty of space for banners these days.

So basically what you are saying is that 2 years in a row the NCAA committee that selects the defensive player of the year candidates and then narrows it down to the short list is not as good at analyzing player’s defensive abilities as a few people on this board. In addition, all the A10 coaches that have voted for Gilly 4 years in a row to be on the A10 annual all-defensive team are also not able to evaluate player’s defensive capabilities as well as people on this board?

 

[plydogg]

97 it feels to me like it’s the scheme and that we’re trying to put square pegs into circular holes. It would be like asking Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers to run the Kyler Murray or Lamar Jackson offense, it would just be a total waste.

I’m not saying Gilyard is on par with those guys, but after 5 years you’d think you would be able to work up a defensive plan that can have rotations to make up for risks taken by Gilyard or even put the offense in tough spots by getting Gilyard in dangerous positions to pick-pockets.

But alas, here we are with the same mediocre defense as 5 years ago where it highlights everybody’s weaknesses to the point it feels like our best gameplan is to hope they miss

 

[nathanw19]

So basically what you are saying is that 2 years in a row the NCAA committee that selects the defensive player of the year candidates and then narrows it down to the short list is not as good at analyzing player’s defensive abilities as a few people on this board. In addition, all the A10 coaches that have voted for Gilly 4 years in a row to be on the A10 annual all-defensive team are also not able to evaluate player’s defensive capabilities as well as people on this board?

Gilly is literally (about to be) the best steal artist in the history of college basketball. That is awesome and can’t be taken away from him. He’s had a huge impact. I’ve enjoyed every second watching him play.

However, I’d argue that relying on 1 stat to figure out the best defensive player is a little archaic (and something that is done for the awards you mentioned). I’d say the same for relying on just blocks (see: Okafor, Thabeet). The announcers of our games have even mentioned how Hovde has been working with Gilly to pick his spots better when going for steals (implying that the coaching staff thinks he needs to improve his defense).

The best defensive players (and teams) don’t necessarily turn you over, but stop you from scoring or make you really work every time to score. While I don’t think our defensive problems stem from Gilyard (lack of rim protection and not enough plus perimeter defenders are higher on my list). Hopefully some nerds on this board can throw some advanced stats at me to show what plus defending looks like beyond steals and blocks (looking at you Plydogg…).