Status of our program

[TBSpyder]

Lots of programs don't fill all 13 scholarship opportunities. I'm sure it's a challenging situation, you hold open a schollie for a talented player, who chooses to go elsewhere. I'd rather keep the scholarship open than grant it to someone who can't play at our level.

No one knows for sure, how this season will pan out. If I were to bet, it will be a mediocre season, because we lost a lot to graduation, and we have a lot of new players, who are unproven D1 players.

But if 2 of the newcomers outperform, we could have a good season. I worry about our lack of size, so still have to hope that PF or GG are ready. I also like the addition of Malcolm Bernard, you may see a very talented player on the court, who is also a vocal leader.

 

[MrTbone]

I always remain optimistic. We replace three starters, two of whom many would suggest should have been bench players and were not major contributors on offense, and statistically weren't overwhelming on defense. There should be room to improve there. Losing TA is significant, in large part because I don't see a viable replacement.

We have strong play and leadership from the two senior starters for this year, and a bunch of guys who should be motivated to jockey for playing time. I'm expecting we may end up slightly below .500 unless we end up with good production with Terry's replacement, whoever that may be.

 

[spiderman]

I'm hopeful that Bernard and the freshmen give us a spark that we missed last year after Kendall graduated. that passion can be huge.
I'm less concerned with filling the open spots than some here but one more would be nice. I suspect we'll add another freshman but at this point I'm afraid it'll probably be more of a project type that might never pan out.
Paul and Grant are going to have to contribute if we're to have a really good season. and two from the freshmen guards and Julius or Jesse will have to play a substantial role.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

I always remain optimistic. We replace three starters, two of whom many would suggest should have been bench players and were not major contributors on offense, and statistically weren't overwhelming on defense. There should be room to improve there. Losing TA is significant, in large part because I don't see a viable replacement.

We have strong play and leadership from the two senior starters for this year, and a bunch of guys who should be motivated to jockey for playing time. I'm expecting we may end up slightly below .500 unless we end up with good production with Terry's replacement, whoever that may be.

You could very well be right, but if the Spiders have a less than .500 season I will be extremely disappointed. I need an escape from the mediocrity. Terry Allen's loss looms very large as stated. But, if a team can't replace 1-player every year then you are not up to snuff as a major program. The loss of the other seniors could be a net plus.

This team will try to blend a couple of proven veterans, a stranger, inexperience, and young burgeoning talent. That means that coaching and strategic maneuvering will be critical to success. Sadly, that does not point to a stellar season since strategic bench coaching is not an area of strength for Mooney.

I have high hopes for the freshman, but they will be freshman. Paul F. and Pistol are "near" freshman as well since they have played very little. That is a heavy load for a lot of youth.

 

[MrTbone]

Sadly, that does not point to a stellar season since strategic bench coaching is not an area of strength for Mooney.

I'm curious about this statement, I know a lot of people say this. I neither agree nor disagree. What I'm curious about is what you and others who say this are basing this on. If he was a genius, but we have inadequate talent, it may still manifest itself that he's not a good bench coach. Conversely, if we had excellent talent and he's a dingbat, we could win in spite of coaching ineptitude.

I would advance the theory that he's a far worse recruiter than bench coach, and therein our problems reside.

 

[32counter]

1. I think our program is in terrific shape.

2. We have a very nice auditorium in which to play.

3.The kids we recruit are nice kids.

4.Winning and losing in basketball isn't an end all.

5.We have graduating players who make great citizens.

6.Our dancers are pretty good and so are our cheerleaders.

7.We have a nice conference in which we play.

8.We get on TV sometimes.Our institutional advertisement is pretty good.

9.Our uniforms are pretty cool-home and away.

10.While we have 2 sports-MLAX and Football which have now eclipsed basketball as our showcase national recognition sports we nevertheless have a very nice MBBall program and will for many years to come.

11.Come on guys,cheer up,we'll find another transfer or 2 before tip off in November.Have faith.

 

[MrTbone]

 

[urmite]

And then the wheel goes around again...

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2016/05/06/looking-forward-atlantic-10/

 

[LongTimeLurkerFirstTimePoster]

re: 10.While we have 2 sports-MLAX and Football which have now eclipsed basketball as our showcase national recognition sports we nevertheless have a very nice MBBall program and will for many years to come.

National Recognition for i-aa football? Not exactly.

 

[32counter]

The guy in the picture is a golfer not a basketball aficionado.You need a more appropriate personality.He doesn't like dogs with hyperactive kidneys and large bladders relieving themselves on his front lawn,nevertheless.Maybe he can help with finding a couple of more transfers who have recently given up golf who want to move onto something new like basketball.People get tired playing at Pebble Beach.

 

[32counter]

re: 10.While we have 2 sports-MLAX and Football which have now eclipsed basketball as our showcase national recognition sports we nevertheless have a very nice MBBall program and will for many years to come.

National Recognition for i-aa football? Not exactly.

Yes exactly.Our football program is nationally recognized as is our MLAX program after only 3 years.You may need a bit more seasoning when it comes to knowledge of college sports.In basketball we were once recognized as giant killers but the program as I said is a very nice program but no one takes it seriously on a national level.

 

[LongTimeLurkerFirstTimePoster]

thanks for the history lesson.

and what I was saying was that 1-aa football barley measures on the national sports meter. Outside of the teams that play it, no one nationally cares.

 

[32counter]

thanks for the history lesson.

and what I was saying was that 1-aa football barley measures on the national sports meter. Outside of the teams that play it, no one nationally cares.

Ask any FBS and FCS school about UR football,they will know and understand how good the program is.Ask the kid who came from USC a few years back on how good the program is.

You are not commenting about our MLAX program.Why not?

Listen we have a nice basketball program with a nice facility but it has absolutely no National recognition.It formerly did but not now.Maybe sometime in the future.No problem on the history lesson.Keep the inquiries coming.Let's get our recognition ranking up in the state of Virginia before we try nationally.What are we ranked #6 or #7 among schools in just the Commonwealth?

 

[spiderman]

ok, so if we move our hoops program to D2 and win a national championship over Augustana SD, we're then a better program and nationally recognized?

 

[AnnapSpider]

You know, I bet some of you kick puppies to feel better.
You can't go a week without negative comments; I think that's a psychological problem.
Didn't your mothers love you?

 

[TBSpyder]

Most of our games are televised. We participate every year in exempt tournaments against major opponents. We are a nationally recognized program.

 

[Stork3]

Travis Ford just signed his first recruit at St. Louis.http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...int-louis-coach-signs-first-recruit/84000192/

 

[32counter]

You know, I bet some of you kick puppies to feel better.
You can't go a week without negative comments; I think that's a psychological problem.
Didn't your mothers love you?

All my mothers love me dearly.

 

[MrTbone]

We won a national championship in football and the vast majority of college football fans would not know that. Our lax program has done nothing noteworthy yet. But many would know of our success in bball.

I don't agree with the original premise of the thread, that we are in good shape, but it is a spectacularly invalid argument in spite of basketball's recent lack of ncaa appearances.

 

[32counter]

We won a national championship in football and the vast majority of college football fans would not know that. Our lax program has done nothing noteworthy yet. But many would know of our success in bball.

I don't agree with the original premise of the thread, that we are in good shape, but it is a spectacularly invalid argument in spite of basketball's recent lack of ncaa appearances.

I whole heartily disagree with you.I believe our basketball program is in fine shape.It's a very nice program.Nothing really needs to change.Maybe we can't hack it in the A10.Maybe a move back to the CAA is warranted in order to adjust the level of basketball competition.I'd rather have us play Drexel than Davidson any day.At least we have a chance to win.More than the vast majority of FBS and FCS coaches/players/schools and the NFL front offices are well aware of UR's football prowress.Let's compare the number of players which UR has sent to the NFL vs NBA.Boy,that was quick and easy.Regarding MLAX, Chemotti and his team along with excellent recruiting got us a #18 ranking this season and have us in contention for an AQ to the NCAA tourney,our 2nd in 3 years of program existence.If you don't think either are noteworthy,pass your hashish hookah around to we other posters.We need a different prism to see your reality.

 

[TBSpyder]

We have hacked it in the A10. Who has won more games? We've had one mediocre season, we were still in the middle of the pack. What lower conference would want us? We'd dominate them and go to NCAA tourney almost every year, which would please some posters on this board. But what conference would want that? We, currently have no opportunity to move to a stronger conference, either. So, let's see what we can do in A10, going forward.

 

[keefusb]

Unfortunately, from a national perspective, no one cares about 1-AA football, except around NFL draft time when some number of 1-AA players are high draft picks. We may have a national ranking in Men's LAX, but very few folks outside of the northeast know of or care about LAX either. Basketball is what we are known for. I travel all over the US for work, and when I tell people I went to Richmond, everyone says "Oh yeah, I remember the Spiders. They beat Syracuse in 1991". No one says "Oh yeah, you won the 1-AA national championship in football in 2009", or "Oh yeah, the Spiders are in the top 20 in Men's LAX". Sorry, it just doesn't happen....

 

[MrTbone]

Unfortunately, from a national perspective, no one cares about 1-AA football, except around NFL draft time when some number of 1-AA players are high draft picks. We may have a national ranking in Men's LAX, but very few folks outside of the northeast know of or care about LAX either. Basketball is what we are known for. I travel all over the US for work, and when I tell people I went to Richmond, everyone says "Oh yeah, I remember the Spiders. They beat Syracuse in 1991". No one says "Oh yeah, you won the 1-AA national championship in football in 2009", or "Oh yeah, the Spiders are in the top 20 in Men's LAX". Sorry, it just doesn't happen....

Thank god I'm not the only one who realizes this. I was going to have to get out my Hashish hookah apparently...

 

[32counter]

Unfortunately, from a national perspective, no one cares about 1-AA football, except around NFL draft time when some number of 1-AA players are high draft picks. We may have a national ranking in Men's LAX, but very few folks outside of the northeast know of or care about LAX either. Basketball is what we are known for. I travel all over the US for work, and when I tell people I went to Richmond, everyone says "Oh yeah, I remember the Spiders. They beat Syracuse in 1991". No one says "Oh yeah, you won the 1-AA national championship in football in 2009", or "Oh yeah, the Spiders are in the top 20 in Men's LAX". Sorry, it just doesn't happen....

Keep dreaming about national recognition contained in a history book from ages ago.No argument there.Really enjoy the contrived nonsense on our bball board by putting quotes around fictitious statements which people never made.Next time record the strangers words as you travel around the country in order for all to hear.Make your statements have a modicum of validity instead of nonsense which force fits a flawed hypothesis.

 

[keefusb]

Hey, I might be stretching it a bit about football or LAX, because no one I meet ever mentions that, so I filled in the blanks. The point being no one ever mentions that. However, the statement about Spider basketball is 100% valid, and I would be happy to record someone's comments the next time I travel, as ridiculous and as prickly as your statement may be.

 

[iSpider]

Hey, I might be stretching it a bit about football or LAX, because no one I meet ever mentions that, so I filled in the blanks. The point being no one ever mentions that. However, the statement about Spider basketball is 100% valid, and I would be happy to record someone's comments the next time I travel, as ridiculous and as prickly as your statement may be.

Easy guys. The Count is playing with you and you have been putty in his hands.
But he has a point. I get it and so should you. Basketball has done nothing with respect to enhancing our school's name recognition in the last five years and if left alone for basketball to carry our banner we may well soon fade, even more, both nationally and regionally, unless we soon turn the program around. I think we are in the process of doing that but no one can say for sure. Meanwhile, football is on track to continue to be a national contender in Div 1, albeit FCS, and lacrosse is already a national team and growing.

I agree with the Count that because of football and lacrosse we have expanded our brand recently much more than in basketball. Lacrosse as well. It is really beyond debate. If we continue to go deep into the playoffs and pull out a national championship or two in football and continue to grow in the national rankings in lacrosse, perhaps win a national championship or two there as well, our brand will continue to grow nationally because of the blend of football and lacrosse success with the other special qualities of our school, namely size and academic quality. Delaware had a substantial national brand before FCS when they were Div. II because they won so much. I believe that In both football and lacrosse we are committed and on the path to having a substantial national brand for the same reason. Not sure of either the committment or the path in basketball, though I am hopeful.

Did basketball garner more national recognition in the period from 2011 and thirty years back? Yes, without a doubt. But the basketball world has become more competitive and we have not kept pace.

We are not P5 and miss much of the attention bestowed by the national press. So the ESPN SC viewers may not learn a lot about us. Basketball, if successful, will have easier access to ESPN SC and the like because in basketball we compete against P5 schools and their opponents. But we have to win to get there. And we have not.

Think about this: There are 80 schools in P5 conferences and 125 in FCS. FCS is growing, P5 is not. Both FCS and P5 conferences span the nation. There are millions of students attending these schools and millions of alumni who have graduated from these schools. FCS schools have far more students and alumni than the schools of the P5. So there is a substantial audience for us to gain higher name recognition and expand our brand. And I think that we will continue to do so through success in football and lacrose. I am hopeful that baseball will also soon get back on the winning track.

Basketball's future success and contribution remains to be seen.

 

[32counter]

Easy guys. The Count is playing with you and you have been putty in his hands.
But he has a point. I get it and so should you. Basketball has done nothing with respect to enhancing our school's name recognition in the last five years and if left alone for basketball to carry our banner we may well soon fade, even more, both nationally and regionally, unless we soon turn the program around. I think we are in the process of doing that but no one can say for sure. Meanwhile, football is on track to continue to be a national contender in Div 1, albeit FCS, and lacrosse is already a national team and growing.

I agree with the Count that because of football and lacrosse we have expanded our brand recently much more than in basketball. Lacrosse as well. It is really beyond debate. If we continue to go deep into the playoffs and pull out a national championship or two in football and continue to grow in the national rankings in lacrosse, perhaps win a national championship or two there as well, our brand will continue to grow nationally because of the blend of football and lacrosse success with the other special qualities of our school, namely size and academic quality. Delaware had a substantial national brand before FCS when they were Div. II because they won so much. I believe that In both football and lacrosse we are committed and on the path to having a substantial national brand for the same reason. Not sure of either the committment or the path in basketball, though I am hopeful.

Did basketball garner more national recognition in the period from 2011 and thirty years back? Yes, without a doubt. But the basketball world has become more competitive and we have not kept pace.

We are not P5 and miss much of the attention bestowed by the national press. So the ESPN SC viewers may not learn a lot about us. Basketball, if successful, will have easier access to ESPN SC and the like because in basketball we compete against P5 schools and their opponents. But we have to win to get there. And we have not.

Think about this: There are 80 schools in P5 conferences and 125 in FCS. FCS is growing, P5 is not. Both FCS and P5 conferences span the nation. There are millions of students attending these schools and millions of alumni who have graduated from these schools. FCS schools have far more students and alumni than the schools of the P5. So there is a substantial audience for us to gain higher name recognition and expand our brand. And I think that we will continue to do so through success in football and lacrose. I am hopeful that baseball will also soon get back on the winning track.

Basketball's future success and contribution remains to be seen.

iSpider-you are my alter ego.Bingo.

 

[MrTbone]

It has been 25 years since the Win over Syracuse and people inside and outside of UR still remember it. By contrast, it has been less than a decade since UR won the FCS championship and it is not well known that we even won that.

I'm glad we are doing well in both lax and football but there's no sensible argument about what sport has created name recognition for the school. Bball has done nothing recently but even with that consideration people know us for our bball accomplishments. Hopefully we return to form soon.

 

[32counter]

BBall is not a recognized primary sport at UR.Fordham had the 7 blocks of granite too.If it wasn't for Harper shooting well his senior year we would have gone to the CBI.
It's our default tourney.Very prestigious.Let's go to the Vegas 8 next year and talk about the bygone era of UR roundball and Charles Barkley or Bobby Knight or Bobby Crimmins.Bring your great grandchildren.When we talk about the history of UR basketball it makes me feel like I'm drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night.Awe inspiring.A many splendid thing.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

It turns out that many people think FCS (l-AA) is Division II ! I had a UVAer teii me that Mike London won a D2 championship at UR ! I quickly corrected him in a kind way. As all Spiders know, our beloved Spiders won their Division One football National Championship in 2008 !

 

[keefusb]

Say whatever you want about our football championship, but it's been 7 years, and nationally speaking, very few folks outside of 804 give a rat's ass about our nearly decade old second tier championship in football. Likewise, you can dream about a national championship in LAX, but even if we win one or even two, no one south of Durham and west of West Virginia cares about that either. I grew up in Baltimore, and played lacrosse in HS. There are tens of millions of people who wouldn't know what LAX was if it was played right in front of them.

Basketball is our flagship sport. And that's why the last 5 year's performance has been so totally disappointing, especially in light of the money that has been spent (more than has been spent on football and LAX combined) and to say that 1-AA football or LAX success enhances our national sports profile anywhere near what basketball success does is wishful thinking at best.

 

[32counter]

How many UR student athletes have entered the NFL in the last 15 years with a signed contract?

How many UR student athletes have entered the NBA in the last 15 years with a signed contract?

I rest my case.Flagship sport-keep dreaming.

 

[keefusb]

How much money has been spent on Basketball in the past 5 years? A lot more than has been spent on football and LAX combined.

We could have a football team that is in last place every year and still sends players to the NFL. Absolutely no correlation between the number of players who go to the NFL and win-loss/championship success in football.

So how many lacrosse players left UR and signed a pro contract? Is that really the measure of the program, or the top 25 (not top 20 as of May 2nd) ranking?

I think the helmet in your avatar is too tight.

 

[32counter]

How much money has been spent on Basketball in the past 5 years? A lot more than has been spent on football and LAX combined.

We could have a football team that is in last place every year and still sends players to the NFL. Absolutely no correlation between the number of players who go to the NFL and win-loss/championship success in football.

So how many lacrosse players left UR and signed a pro contract? Is that really the measure of the program, or the top 25 (not top 20 as of May 2nd) ranking?

I think the helmet in your avatar is too tight.

Please answer the question which was posed.Don't dodge the the question with a non answer.We don't accept evasive answers.Pro scouts don't take our basketball program seriously.It's not a problem to admit that.We all know it.That's why a handful of our players end up playing the European
circuit.It's ok to be known as the school that sends its post graduate players to Europe.Nothing wrong with that.

 

[keefusb]

Pro scouts in Europe take our hoops program very seriously. If you count pro basketball players in Europe, we may have even more of those than alums in the NFL.

Please answer the LAX questions.

 

[keefusb]

Nice edit to try to appear relevant with respect to our players in European pro leagues.

Now answer the LAX questions please.

 

[keefusb]

I can't deal with someone who goes back and edits posts to look like he said something before another poster posted. Check the time stamps. Bush league.

 

[32counter]

You again didn't answer the original question.No one cares in these 50 states about college graduates playing European basketball in unpronouncable leagues in unpronounceable cities.OK maybe people in Alaska care.Let's stay on point.

 

[urfan1]

If making it to the pros is all that garners national attention for a program, why keep score or record wins & losses

 

[Not-A-Homer]

I'm curious about this statement, I know a lot of people say this. I neither agree nor disagree. What I'm curious about is what you and others who say this are basing this on. If he was a genius, but we have inadequate talent, it may still manifest itself that he's not a good bench coach. Conversely, if we had excellent talent and he's a dingbat, we could win in spite of coaching ineptitude.

I would advance the theory that he's a far worse recruiter than bench coach, and therein our problems reside.

Maybe one way to explain my perspective is to talk about another business. I know almost nothing about engineering. If I am discussing the topic with someone else I can talk about what little I do know, and I can bluster a bit about what I may have read or heard. But, when a real engineer starts talking about the intricacies of the craft, I will be lost. If we listed my knowledge on a numerical scale, I may be at 2 on a 1-10 scale. I can talk crap, I can bluff, put others down, throw numbers about, and act like I know what I'm talking about, but my real knowledge is still just a 2. My understanding is nowhere near that of someone else who is an expert engineer. As a novice I can't see past the level 2 because that is the extent of my knowledge.

Basketball is the same way. All see the game from different points on the scale. A person who sees the game as a 8 on the scale will see things that a 4 on the scale is not capable of seeing. It has to do with the intricacies of the craft. Of course everyone is entitled to differing opinions, but the way in which one sees the game has a lot to do with their opinion. A basketball sage who watched John Wooden coach a game ( and of course many others) could tell that he was an excellent coach, and, that he managed a game magnificently. You know it when you see it. The opposite is also true.

Someone who says "this is the way that I saw whatever" may well be expressing their legitimate belief, but because they didn't see something doesn't mean that it didn't happen.

This is why numerous people on this board, in the stands, and on the street, say that Mooney is a very poor strategic bench coach. They see his decision-making on display every game.