Way Early 2024 Rankings: Nos. 20-16 (Division I Men)
We take a crack at breaking down the 2024 Division I men's season ahead of the fall.
“The names change, and Richmond rolls on."
20. RICHMOND
2023 record: 11-5 (4-1 Atlantic 10)
Last seen: Losing 17-8 to Virginia in the first round of an NCAA tournament game that will be best remembered for a mid-game deluge and the ensuing bog-like conditions.
Initial forecast: The names change, and Richmond rolls on. The Spiders have methodically established themselves as roughly a Top 20 program — sometimes a bit better, sometimes a little outside that range, but rarely too far in either direction — over the last decade. So what happens when the names don’t change much? After all, Dan Chemotti’s program only had four players who were out of eligibility after last season. Defenseman Jake Saunders is one of them, and he offered some advice in the postgame press conference after Richmond’s NCAA tournament loss. “Make sure you keep tabs on Richmond next year because we’re going to keep on coming back every single time,” he said. That’s probably a good bet. Sound on defense and loaded on offense (eight of the Spiders’ top nine scorers are eligible to return), Richmond should be the favorite to repeat as Atlantic 10 champions. Eventually, a strong, consistent program that continues to knock on the door busts through and wins an NCAA tournament first round game. Might this be the year that happens?
