This game will be determined by Richmonds ability to rebound the basketball on the defensive end. If offensive boards and easy put backs becomes the norm in this game, we are toast. It openly said now that Burton is our best rebounder...maybe he is the guy who can stop that from happening, but GG has to step up big time here as well.
Next two Games
- Thread starter fan2011
- Start date
That is complete BS. Our players play hard every game. We currently have one of our starters out from diving for the ball. We have had a number of other injuries earlier on the year. This board is filled with people that are extremely negative, which has a negative impact on our basketball program. We want Grant back his senior year and 2 things that will help achieve that include Mooney staying and not being hired away (there is zero chance he will loss his job before his contract matures) and positive support from the fans. It is ridiculous that many on this board are constantly criticizing one of the greatest big men ever to wear a Spider uniform.
BTW, it is not just him, but everyone on the team over time get criticized. My favorite is the criticism of Gilly's defense who is considered one of the top defensive players in D1.
You can talk critically about the team on a fan message board and not cause the downfall of the program.
We rank #302 in rebounding margin, Dayton #95. Its fair to say rebouding will be important and that we're not good at it.
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/151/p7
We rank #302 in rebounding margin, Dayton #95. Its fair to say rebouding will be important and that we're not good at it.
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/151/p7
You don’t always lose game because you are a poor rebounding team. There are other variables that can contribute losing. I support our team 100%,,
VCU's reputation as being tough is media driven-outside of MS-S who I really like. The rest of them spend their game fouling, the refs don't call it and their "toughness" becomes #fakenews
Gilly is my favorite current player, but I think it’s fair to say his on ball defending could use improvement. I think he’d agree with me. Unless it is a strategy to be more of a trailing defender attempting to steal the ball, he is not at the same level as Goose (probably our best 1 on 1 defender) at on ball defending.
That being said, his off ball defending is elite, and his timing at bringing blindside help and ability to get in passing lanes is otherworldly.
They’re all 18-22 year olds. They all have room for improvement in some area(s). I don’t think it’s unfair or not supportive of the team/player to point out the areas that need improvement.
No the #1 factor for Grant returning will be NCAA bid this year. That way easier to turn down the big boys b/c he won't have pressure of deciding to roll with an 0 for the last 9 Mooney re: ncaa or taking the sure thing (john cusack). With ncaa bid not hanging over his head he can go for records and have an even better team next year.
PS Mr. 10%. Stop being negative. If the players read it they'd be insulted.
of course you can talk critically about the team. but calling your team's big man who busts his ass every night "soft" is personal, it's insulting, and it's f'ing weak that it comes from our own fans. "soft" is as demeaning a term as there is in competitive sports.
Being asked to be tougher or more aggressive on the boards is not demeaning.
Delicate is way worse - https://www.richmond.com/sports/col...cle_3abe741f-54e1-5b60-aaae-2ff733b65ecc.html
What r u talking about? Stating that we need to prevent too many offensive rebounds and easy putbacks is “complete BS”? Where is my post criticizing GG? Saying he needs to step up in this game and focus on D rebounding is “too negative”? You are a very strange bird lol
West is Soft...
Which reminds me, we need to be 2004 X to Dayton's 2004 St Joe...
Which reminds me, we need to be 2004 X to Dayton's 2004 St Joe...
I bought a 'West is Soft' coffee mug off our old message board site. Fantastic purchase.
I would never buy a '10% chance to beat Dayton' mug.
#1 Fan Matt Smith has used that very word on more than one broadcast to describe his defense. But he's a #realfan.
I know he's busting it, and it's fair to say he's stronger at the offensive end of the floor without insulting anyone. I've been pleasantly surprised by our team's defensive improvement this season.
At least Burton seems to play aggressive and with an edge. Hopefully Mooney doesn't coach that out of him.
I never said Grant is not a good player and didn't put him down offensively. He is immensely talented offensively.
But no one can say he is a good defender or that he plays with an edge on defense. We need more than 3.5 rebounds over game from our 6'10" 255lb athletic center. Especially if we want to beat Dayton. We need a game like he had vs Wisconsin when he went for 16 and 12.
I never said Grant is not a good player and didn't put him down offensively. He is immensely talented offensively.
But no one can say he is a good defender or that he plays with an edge on defense. We need more than 3.5 rebounds over game from our 6'10" 255lb athletic center. Especially if we want to beat Dayton. We need a game like he had vs Wisconsin when he went for 16 and 12.
I still don't think Grant is a great defender or rebounder, but...this discussion got me thinking a little more.
I looked back at last year's stats. Grant averaged 7.1 rebounds per game (31.5 mpg). This year he is also at 7.1 rebounds per game but in 6 less minutes per game (25.4 mpg). So on a per minute basis he is actually grabbing more boards this year.
Second, I checked KenPom to see how much our team has improved defensively since last season. Last year we were an atrocious #287 out of 353 on defensive efficiency. This year, we are a much more respectable #98. I'm sure this can be chalked up to a number of factors (change in defense, addition of Blake, Tyler, etc.). But I have to think we would not be a top 100 defense without Grant having improved some.
I've seen all but a couple games of his career and I'm still pretty confident he's still not a plus defender. But I think at a minimum he's not a huge liability on that end of the court right now.
I looked back at last year's stats. Grant averaged 7.1 rebounds per game (31.5 mpg). This year he is also at 7.1 rebounds per game but in 6 less minutes per game (25.4 mpg). So on a per minute basis he is actually grabbing more boards this year.
Second, I checked KenPom to see how much our team has improved defensively since last season. Last year we were an atrocious #287 out of 353 on defensive efficiency. This year, we are a much more respectable #98. I'm sure this can be chalked up to a number of factors (change in defense, addition of Blake, Tyler, etc.). But I have to think we would not be a top 100 defense without Grant having improved some.
I've seen all but a couple games of his career and I'm still pretty confident he's still not a plus defender. But I think at a minimum he's not a huge liability on that end of the court right now.
Show us some tape to back this up bucko. I don't think Rhoady is getting the Shaka effect. But if you have some proof that would be nice. We are much better than VCU this year, and Rhoades is mediocre. THis should be a walk for moon.
Interesting why Mooney is playing a returning 2nd team A10 player so few minutes? I noticed at the URI game he really hooked Grant early. I thought he had picked up two fouls. Is it conditioning, his hear condition, or something else. Just curious because I am pro Grant and think there is a huge drop off to our other interior players.
This is a concerted effort to rest Golden, so that he is fresh in the 2nd half. For example, they take him out after 3 minutes so he can rest through the media timeout. Sol and Grace take his place. Coach says the two have really developed.
This plan overall is working, and we need to get some development on sal and grace. I have no issues with grants minutes.
The record is not the problem, we need them to be NET 75 or better when we win there.
Actually, it helps if URI, SLU, and Duquesne are all better than 75
Davidson and SBU better than 135
Last edited:
I am becoming more optimist on the next 2 games. I still think we are underdogs in both, but I am raising the probability of winning tonight to 33%. It would be an incredible win without our leader scorer and no seniors. One of the things that may help is that I have been wearing my lucky Richmond shirt all day. I bought it after last season. The old one wasn't working well the past 2 season.
Good game Spidernation. Your team didn't quit and kept it interesting so kudos. No doubt you're going to make alot of noise in conference play and I wont be surprised if we meet again in the A10 Tournament. Good luck from here on out.
SkyMiles, you guys are a fun team to watch. Our kids did not quit but we did lose to a better team. I don’t recall Anthony Grant being that animated ever before. He’s such a laid back dude. Will be rooting for you guys in the NCAA’S
That wasn’t my take away at all. Toppin is in a completely different league, but the rest, while good, didn’t overwhelm us.
We had our chances and didn’t take them tonight. If they were in a completely different league, we don’t have those chances.
