Random Thoughts Thread

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Just a thread title I've seen around that we may want to use expressing ourselves without posting off topic in other specific threads.

Here's one for me ..... GG has taken 51 3PTAs this year. In 12 OOC games 42, while in 6 conference contests 9. You do the math. Only legit size player on the team and your putting him in position to score from outside more frequently than necessary? So far hasn't been consistent enough from 3PT land.

Thought before season started CM might want to position GG mainly in the paint area instead of his usually offensive setup. GG is a good passer and rather seeing him popping it back out for 3PAs instead of waiting for that successful backdoor cut basket. This team can accomplish that with the other 3PT shooters available. Appears to be better late than never.

 

[SpiderK]

Wow, here is a little interesting side note. Jim Comey will be teaching a class in “Leadership Ethics” at the College of William & Mary. Hmmm? I guess he can FaceTime from Kansas.

 

[urmite]

Just a thread title I've seen around that we may want to use expressing ourselves without posting off topic in other specific threads.

Here's one for me ..... GG has taken 51 3PTAs this year. In 12 OOC games 42, while in 6 conference contests 9. You do the math. Only legit size player on the team and your putting him in position to score from outside more frequently than necessary? So far hasn't been consistent enough from 3PT land.

Thought before season started CM might want to position GG mainly in the paint area instead of his usually offensive setup. GG is a good passer and rather seeing him popping it back out for 3PAs instead of waiting for that successful backdoor cut basket. This team can accomplish that with the other 3PT shooters available. Appears to be better late than never.

He was also 31% in OOC 22% in A-10.
I think the OOC teams may have defended the paint better, so more perimeter shots were needed to be successful.
But I agree higher number of inside shots for GG is better, even if I would like to see him make 1 outside shot each game.
But both him and Buck should should select their outside shots wisely. Often they are better served around the basket.
However Buck's shooting % from 2 & 3 have risen by 14.5% in the A-10 games.

 

[Eight Legger]

Golden played the perfect game against VCU. I think he only attempted one three and made it. He ought to shoot a couple or three a game to keep the other team aware and honest, which opens things up for him.

 

[urmite]

2011,

I'd love to see stats for 2&3 shots from our top 6 (including JJ) from OOC & A-10 as (shots made per game/%)

I think a lot of the % have gone up...

 

[ur2K]

Having a big that can step out and hit a 3 is huge in our offense. Makes the big defending him have to step out and defend that shot.

 

[fan2011]

2011,

I'd love to see stats for 2&3 shots from our top 6 (including JJ) from OOC & A-10 as (shots made per game/%)

I think a lot of the % have gone up...

OOC (2FG, 3FG )
Buck    36-77    46.8%,    15-56    26.8%
Sherod    23-51    45.1%,    20-52    38.5%
Golden    62-113    54.9%,    13-42    31.0%
Gilyard    23-48    47.9%,    19-50    38.0%
Khwan    34-72    47.2%,    1-9            11.1%
JJ            6-11    54.5%,    6-20    30.0%

Conference (2FG, 3FG)
Buck    19-31    61.3%,    7-17    41.2%
Sherod    12-19    63.2%,    12-30    40.0%
Golden    33-60    55.0%,    2-9            22.2%   
Gilyard    12-22    54.5%,    9-29    31.0%   
Khwan    20-35    57.1%,    3-10    30.0%
JJ              0-4            0.0%,    11-21    52.4%

 

[whampas]

Having a big that can step out and hit a 3 is huge in our offense. Makes the big defending him have to step out and defend that shot.

Agree. It opens the back door cut.

 

[Stonewall D]

I did listen to Greg Burton's show yesterday. He said that Mike Rhoades knew exactly what Richmond was going to run and how to respond. However, he could not get his team to execute.

 

[I-M-UR]

Agree. It opens the back door cut.

I agree remember Pittsnogle from WV. The difference is he also controlled the Boards. GG needs to work on his rebounding. But he is one of the bright spots on the team.

 

[gospidersgo]

Will Jacob Gilyard become our all time steals leader? If he's here for 4 healthy seasons I'd say it's very likely.

After his first 18 games he has 44 steals (2.44 per game). Keeping up that current pace would put him at 78 through 32 games this year. That alone would give him the #2 best steal season in Spider history, behind only Dobbins in 03/04.

Even if he conservatively drops to 2 steals per game average and ends up playing 120 games for us, that would put him at 240 career steals. Beckwith is #1 at 227 steals for his career.

Thoughts?

 

[urmite]

Will Jacob Gilyard become our all time steals leader? If he's here for 4 healthy seasons I'd say it's very likely.

After his first 18 games he has 44 steals (2.44 per game). Keeping up that current pace would put him at 78 through 32 games this year. That alone would give him the #2 best steal season in Spider history, behind only Dobbins in 03/04.

Even if he conservatively drops to 2 steals per game average and ends up playing 120 games for us, that would put him at 240 career steals. Beckwith is #1 at 227 steals for his career.

Thoughts?

My thoughts are he is way behind where I though he would be. I was looking for him to break the career NCAA steals record THIS season...

I am not asking him to keep up the rate of his great HS school game (11 steals in 19 minutes) but still...

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

So the "suspect" offense showed up again today. And 14 players out of the possible 15 starters from the last 3 games have scored in double figures. On any given night any of this starting 5 could burn the opponent big time. And the balance of late is even better.

Also for A10 play, Spiders now 38% shooting 3PT (2nd rank), 54% 2PT (3rd rank) and ranked 3rd in getting FTAs.

 

[urmite]

So the "suspect" offense showed up again today. And 14 players out of the possible 15 starters from the last 3 games have scored in double figures. On any given night any of this starting 5 could burn the opponent big time. And the balance of late is even better.

Also for A10 play, Spiders now 38% shooting 3PT (2nd rank), 54% 2PT (3rd rank) and ranked 3rd in getting FTAs.

GMU is 2-14 from 3 so far today? So are we 2nd or 1st?

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

GMU is 2-14 from 3 so far today? So are we 2nd or 1st?

UR, I like where you're going with this. Need an update after GM game is a final?

 

[urmite]

UR, I like where you're going with this. Need an update after GM game is a final?

Ugh! 4-18 15 seconds left in OT...

 

[Stonewall D]

2nd OT.

 

[gospidersgo]

After yesterday's games we are now tied for worst overall record in the A-10 with Fordham, a distinction we held by ourselves for most of this season. Onward and upward.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

GMU is 2-14 from 3 so far today? So are we 2nd or 1st?

1st! Good in-game adjustment there urmite. More of that from CM and I MIGHT be this the rest of the season.

 

[fan2011]

I have been thinking about next year, and that even though Sal looks like he will be able to contribute as a freshmen, we need really need to bring in more than just him.

Having players transfer out of the program puts us in a tough recruiting scenario. We cannot have another player commit when all of our scholarships are taken, and since transfers result in scholarships opening up in May we can only recruit players who are still available in May to fill those spots. If we had an open spot instead we could be recruiting in the summer and fall when there are many more players available (and generally higher quality players).

If Mooney had left one or two scholarships open this year our results on the court would be the same since we have 3 freshmen not playing, but we would have had the opportunity to potentially bring in one or two more recruits next year that could contribute. If we have a player or two transfer again we are going to have to try our luck in the transfer market or try to recruit a high school player that has not committed anywhere yet.

Mooney has had one incredible transfer (TJC), one role-player transfer (MW), 2 ineffective transfers (Kwesi, JMA) and 2 potentially good transfers that got shot down (JJ Avila, Malcom Bernard). His hit rate isn't great, especially for grad transfers.

Obviously the best thing to do is to fill all your scholarships with effective players, but when you can't (Mooney, cough, cough) it might not be a good idea to fill empty spots with players who are unlikely to be effective just for the sake of filling them, since when their scholarship opens up the pool of players left to fill it is generally lower quality than normal.

Hopefully my pessimistic outlook on our 3 redshirt freshmen is misplaced and they prove me wrong and go on to become solid parts of successful Richmond teams. This is just some food for thought on recruiting optimal strategy.

 

[SpiderK]

I have been thinking about next year, and that even though Sal looks like he will be able to contribute as a freshmen, we need really need to bring in more than just him.

Having players transfer out of the program puts us in a tough recruiting scenario. We cannot have another player commit when all of our scholarships are taken, and since transfers result in scholarships opening up in May we can only recruit players who are still available in May to fill those spots. If we had an open spot instead we could be recruiting in the summer and fall when there are many more players available (and generally higher quality players).

If Mooney had left one or two scholarships open this year our results on the court would be the same since we have 3 freshmen not playing, but we would have had the opportunity to potentially bring in one or two more recruits next year that could contribute. If we have a player or two transfer again we are going to have to try our luck in the transfer market or try to recruit a high school player that has not committed anywhere yet.

Mooney has had one incredible transfer (TJC), one role-player transfer (MW), 2 ineffective transfers (Kwesi, JMA) and 2 potentially good transfers that got shot down (JJ Avila, Malcom Bernard). His hit rate isn't great, especially for grad transfers.

Obviously the best thing to do is to fill all your scholarships with effective players, but when you can't (Mooney, cough, cough) it might not be a good idea to fill empty spots with players who are unlikely to be effective just for the sake of filling them, since when their scholarship opens up the pool of players left to fill it is generally lower quality than normal.

Hopefully my pessimistic outlook on our 3 redshirt freshmen is misplaced and they prove me wrong and go on to become solid parts of successful Richmond teams. This is just some food for thought on recruiting optimal strategy.

We are still recruiting for 2018. That tells you somerhing.

 

[spider fan]

Speculation - one or more current team members will not be here next season is the most Captain Obvious answer................don't have any information on that .. but...............

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Good point 2011. Hopefully CM doesn't just fill the roster with any, I mean NO grad transfer. Unless he's a guaranteed starter and that's unlikely . Lineup is undersized but solid 6 for A10 play. Really need Sal to step in immediately. Maybe Cayo and possibly PF/Solly provide some quality minutes. Right now I'm with you, not counting on any contribution from this year's redshirts, if so only a plus.

 

[urmite]

We are still recruiting for 2018. That tells you somerhing.

When was our last announced offer?

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Speculation - one or more current team members will not be here next season is the most Captain Obvious answer................don't have any information on that .. but...............

Yes, likely to happen, but like 2011 stated, the phrase "late to the party" could be used describing CM's recruiting challenge in getting a good HS player that far along in the process.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Spiders gave up 24 offensive rebounds to the Dukes and still won.

 

[gospidersgo]

We are now KenPom top 200!

Anyone know if there's a banner for that, or is it only top 100?

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Spiders could have 7-1 A10 record. If GG played the OT in the Fordham game and was on the floor at the end of Dayton? Maybe not but sure would have liked to see it play out with him on the floor!

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Spiders could have 7-1 A10 record. If GG played the OT in the Fordham game and was on the floor at the end of Dayton? Maybe not but sure would have liked to see it play out with him on the floor!

Or made 60% of our FTs, we would have beaten St. Louis!

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

E-A-G-L-E-S ..... EAGLES!!!

You Skin fans have had your share of glory. No Cowgirls or Giants in it, so get on the bandwagon for this one. We need this! Remember as a kid I was big fan of #43 Larry Brown. Pure numbers might not be there, buy guy took so much punishment and was always there at gametime.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

E-A-G-L-E-S ..... EAGLES!!!

You Skin fans have had your share of glory. No Cowgirls or Giants in it, so get on the bandwagon for this one. We need this! Remember as a kid I was big fan of #43 Larry Brown. Pure numbers might not be there, buy guy took so much punishment and was always there at gametime.

Maybe older skins fans. Despise both teams so rooting for a giant meteor tonight. The hate fest in the NFC east is a beautiful thing to behold.

 

[spiderman]

Eages = VCU to me.
Not sure I could root for either to beat the 1980 Russians.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

But guys, we're the real "America's Team," goes all the way back to 80's.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Giants fan here ... Pats all the way.

It's been 20,858 days since the Eagles last title. Really hoping it's 20,859 tomorrow.

 

[whampas]

Bears fan here. I know. I hope the Eagles kick the Pats back from where they came. I hope Long and Brady get into a cat fight and both get tossed.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

CHAMPS!!!!

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

EAGLES!!!

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Going by Kenpom, the A10 is rated at +1.48 for 2018. The closest to that dismal number goes back to +1.73 in 2007. Just to realize how weak the league is this season, +6.41 is the average for the ten year period from 2008-2017.

 

[Spideroldie]

Random thoughts on Grant, Jake, OOC vs. A-10, and shot selection...

Grant: Agree that Grant should be taking the VAST majority of his shots inside. At least that gives us a good rebounder with a chance to pull down an offensive rebound or two also. Hope we adjust the offense to not inlcude Grant at the high-post and move Buck or Nick into the "high-post" spot, so that they can feed the ball to Grant in the paint. That "play" has been open most of the season and has a very high success rate. If Grant continues to progress, and can identify the double-teams when they arrive, he should likely be taking a minimum of 15 "inside" shots per game.

Jake: Thanks for the updates on Jake's "steals" statistics. I had been very impressed by his quickness and fast hands, but did not know he was a realistic candidate for our all-time records, both as a freshman and for career #s. Am SOOOO happy to have Jake in a Spiders uniform and to look forward to the next 3 seasons too.

OOC vs. A-10 Play differences?: Why have we looked so much better in A-10 play? A comparison of OOC and A-10 stats for each of our players makes this answer clear. Our veteran players have been the ones who have improved the most in A-10 play, after suffering very disappointing OOC play. Nick has been by far the most improved and is sitting now at roughly 15.5 point and 9.5 rebounds per game in A-10 play. If he can keep up this stellar effort for the remainder of the season he could tun into the star player many of us were hoping to see.

Shot selection as the key? Shot selection improvement has been a huge factor in our recent (Jan/Feb) improved play. The minute we start to take bone-headed shots, things go south quickly. Khwan taking a 3-pointer, close to the shot clock expiring is a frustrating example. When we figure out the best shot to take for the "game situation" and the "time" situation (including shot-clock) we can be a totally different team. The coaches (and Jake) could probably influence our shot selection by "calling" a few plays strategically. The single best example of great shot selection is that Nick has now started driving it in for short shots, lay-ups, and tear-drops, and has been beating his man consistently. The second best example has been getting the ball to Grant, inside, much more often, where he tends to be "money" on his short shots most of the time. What a huge difference these two shot-selection changes have made!

 

[97spiderfan]

EAGLES!!!

Missed this earlier. Go Eagles. And a big giant smile to all the Giants, Skins, and Cowboy fans who rubbed our lack of Championships in our face for decades now. All gone by the wayside thanks to the immortal football genius of one Nick Foles.