Grant

[UR80sfan]

A few of people on this board have criticized Grant, for the technical he received at the end of the game. Let me remind everyone that he is a 4 time all A-10 conference player, that ranks in the top 10 all-time of multiple U of R stat categories. He could have transferred 2 years in a row to almost any school in the country, but showed tremendous loyalty to the coach and school by staying.

Despite all-that, he spent the off-season, like Rocky during the 2nd half of Rocky 2, working his tail off to loss weight and increase his fitness. The results have been through the first 4 games of this season he is off to one of the best starts for a center in the history of U of R. He is currently 2nd in the A10 in scoring, despite only playing 30 minutes a game at 18.8 ppg , while shooting a blistering .653% from the field. He is playing with high intensity that lead to one mistake during a terrific game where he shoot 8-14 for 17 points and 6 rebounds.

 

[8legs1dream]

The results have been we are 2-2 to start the season against competition that this "better than the best team ever" should have absolutely been 4-0 against and despite all those nice shiny all-A10 awards he has watched the NCAA's from the couch or the stands like any of us.

But by all means keep blowing rainbows and unicorns up everyone's rear ends.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

All of this is true, and yet it can also be true that the tech was childish and self-inflicted damage.

 

[Section9.RowD]

Grant did play an awesome game before the tech ... he moves faster than I have ever seen him and his confidence in the paint is key. On to Hofstra ...

 

[MrTbone]

Grants mobility is vastly improved, I think probably a good trade off for whatever bulk he had to shed.

 

[SpiderGuy]

I think he's had a really good season so far. The guy can do a lot of things / very versatile. We are lucky to have him. Hope he continues to lead. I wouldn't dwell on one "T".

 

[gcarter52]

I think he's had a really good season so far. The guy can do a lot of things / very versatile. We are lucky to have him. Hope he continues to lead. I wouldn't dwell on one "T".

While it turned the tide of the game, that is easily correctable.

 

[Eight Legger]

Is it though? He's been doing the same thing for five years.

 

[Long Island Spiders]

All of this is true, and yet it can also be true that the tech was childish and self-inflicted damage.

You make it seem like he’s Dennis Rodman.
How many technicals does Grant have during his career? Over/under 3 total. I’m taking the under.

 

[DTSpider]

Yes - I agree 100% that Grant deserved a better coach than Mooney at some point during his career.

 

[gcarter52]

Yes - I agree 100% that Grant deserved a better coach than Mooney at some point during his career.

It’s too late for that unless Mooney is fired mid season.

 

[bullfrog91]

You make it seem like he’s Dennis Rodman.
How many technicals does Grant have during his career? Over/under 3 total. I’m taking the under.

Ill take the over

 

[gcarter52]

Ill take the over

That “T” didn’t have to be called, the ref put himself in the play.

 

[Mo 2.0]

While it turned the tide of the game, that is easily correctable.

This is comical. He's a 24-year old man.

 

[whampas]

That “T” didn’t have to be called, the ref put himself in the play.

Because Grant opened the door. He's good, glad we have him, he effd up. Hope he learned something. We'll see.

 

[gcarter52]

Because Grant opened the door. He's good, glad we have him, he effd up. Hope he learned something. We'll see.

100% agree.

 

[MrTbone]

You make it seem like he’s Dennis Rodman.
How many technicals does Grant have during his career? Over/under 3 total. I’m taking the under.

He’s definitely over three technicals, I can think of several off the top of my head. It’s not like he’s a T waiting to happen but he lets his emotions get the better of him every now and then.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

He and Gilly get too chirpy with officials. Why cannot players just make the play and get ready for the next
play. At 23 or 24 you should know that home officials are looking for any excuse to fire up the stands. They get into
their calls raising the decibel level of the fans in a positive way.

 

[mojo-spider]

Grant has started this season well...it looks like his hard work may be paying off...but I care nothing about his past and future personal records and milestones until the season is over...

all I care about is the team winning games...that's the only record that gets us to an A-10 Championship, and/or NCAA Tournament bid...

I expect Grant feels the same way...

Go Spiders!

 

[GKiller]

Grant has started this season well...it looks like his hard work may be paying off...but I care nothing about his past and future personal records and milestones until the season is over...

all I care about is the team winning games...that's the only record that gets us to an A-10 Championship, and/or NCAA Tournament bid...

I expect Grant feels the same way...

Go Spiders!

grant is a great player & will be way up there in the Richmond record books and like other players r worthy of recognition.

UR80sfan was adamant this was going to be our best team ever and a top25 team. Personal stats r all we got so it’s all he’s got & perhaps the post is also representative of our programs typical attempts to deflect and misdirect.

 

[fatherspider]

He gets owned defensively by every decent big man he faces. cant stop anyone.

 

[nathanw19]

Grant and Gilly are amazing players and it’s been a privilege to watch them for 5 years. However, unless they take this team to an NCAA tourney, they’ll always have the “what could have been” tag on their careers here.

 

[97spiderfan]

Grant and Gilly should be the unquestioned leaders on this team, but time and time again in crunch time, they can't come through when they are needed.

Anyone who has ever played a team sport would 100% take a team accomplishment over an individual end of season award. You play to win games as a team, not collect awards for your individual trophy case.

 

[spiderman]

jeez I'm sure he's not trying for individual awards. he's playing the best and hardest he can. yes, it's a team sport. if everyone was playing as well as Grant we'd be 4-0.

 

[gcarter52]

jeez I'm sure he's not trying for individual awards. he's playing the best and hardest he can. yes, it's a team sport. if everyone was playing as well as Grant we'd be 4-0.

The entire team needs to be on the same page!

 

[SpiderTrap]

Grant is playing well on the Offensive end of the floor. Maybe the best we have seen him in his 6 years at UR. But his defense is still very bad. He just about gives up every point he scores. He doesn't need to be a great defender by any means. Just needs to hold his own. But at this point he is a liability on defense. He will score 20, but give up 20. If he could get to the point where he scores 20 and gives up 12-14 - that would be perfect.
The technical was bad. But whatever - you move on from it. It did swing the game a bit, but given our experienced roster, this should be something they can recover from. If a technical foul at this stage changes the course of a game for our experienced team - they we are not built for an NCAA bid.

 

[spiderman]

whose points are you attributing to him Saturday? he spent almost all of his time on Brodie who had 6 points in 22 minutes.

 

[97spiderfan]

jeez I'm sure he's not trying for individual awards. he's playing the best and hardest he can. yes, it's a team sport. if everyone was playing as well as Grant we'd be 4-0.

Comment was not directed at Grant, rather the author of this thread.

 

[SpiderTrap]

whose points are you attributing to him Saturday? he spent almost all of his time on Brodie who had 6 points in 22 minutes.

Not Drake specifically - but majority of the time, he gives up just as many as he puts in. And its not just the center he matches up with, but other teams big in general - which also puts Cayo in the mix - who I hate to say it, because I thought he improved at times so much last season - is not off to a good start this year.
If anything - our struggles might show just how important Cayo is to our team. But I think defensively - Grant has always been weak. And this year - with the fact we have Grace behind him who I think can play a solid 15 or 20 minutes if needed, I would like to see Grant be more aggressive and no so passive. I think he is always scared of foul trouble, but with our supposed "deep bench" this year - that should be less concern. No - I don't want him in foul trouble every night. But he needs to learn how to play aggressive and limit fouls at the right times.

 

[spiderman]

I think Grant's defense was solid Saturday and has been all year.
I think our "struggles" ... 2 losses to two potentially really good teams ... shows we need everyone playing well for us to be as strong as we hope we are.
if we're going with a defense-first guy at the 2, then we need Jacob and Nathan shooting at a better clip. we need to be 4 deep offensively. 2 deep isn't enough.

 

[Eight Legger]

Another way of looking at things is that despite having some of the best players in the history of our program in their fifth and sixth years here, we are still just not as good as Utah State with a new coach and Drake with a third-year coach. That's depressing if it's the case.

 

[8legs1dream]

Another way of looking at things is that despite having some of the best players in the history of our program in their fifth and sixth years here, we are still just not as good as Utah State with a new coach and Drake with a third-year coach. That's depressing if it's the case.

wait a minute...teams can actually change their coaches?

 

[MrTbone]

I think Grant's defense was solid Saturday and has been all year.
I think our "struggles" ... 2 losses to two potentially really good teams ... shows we need everyone playing well for us to be as strong as we hope we are.
if we're going with a defense-first guy at the 2, then we need Jacob and Nathan shooting at a better clip. we need to be 4 deep offensively. 2 deep isn't enough.

Grants D was ok against drake. He’s been far better with some of the mobility/footwork improvements.

 

[Spider B]

The entire team needs to be on the same page!

Again, coaching matters.

 

[I-M-UR]

He gets owned defensively by every decent big man he faces. cant stop anyone.

He is not quick, but a lot of opposing centers get points because Grant leaves his man to pick up someone else’s and isn’t quick enough to get back to his man. For me that’s more on the player who doesn’t get through the screen quick enough and/or he doesn’t get help covering on the back Side. Otherwise I think he’s playing pretty well

 

[SpiderK]

I was glad to see Grant had 4 fouls today. It shows he tried to play a little defense for a change. Grace sure doesn’t leave his fouls unused. Matt is still fouling on the plane ride home.

 

[Spiders4ever]

I was glad to see Grant had 4 fouls today. It shows he tried to play a little defense for a change. Grace sure doesn’t leave his fouls unused. Matt is still fouling on the plane ride home.

May have affected his rebounding.

 

[fatherspider]

He is as weak a big man defensively as there is in D1. So soft.

 

[8legs1dream]

I'm still holding out hope that he finds a way to improve defensively in his seventh season next year. You guys are all just too impatient.