#SVGSZN - A10 Tourney

[spider23]

OK, enough with the negativity. Despite the fact that it will buy Mooney another 6-10 years, I am hoping against hope we can win this thing. Some keys to winning this thing.

1) Need Francis to be able to play at high level for 30 minutes.
2) Golden - New tape job needs to be effective without about 10 pounds of plastic on his finger. Need 30 effective minutes per game.
3) This is a war of attrition at this point, and we see guys wearing down and losing effectiveness. Need to play Wilson, Dji, and Goose solid minutes.
4) This might be the biggest key: There is no dominant team this season. We have the players to win this thing and win the match up on any given night.
5) Feed Cayo - Need him to play like senior night every game. He can do it and does not shy away from the big games. Want to see him with that net around his neck and an A10 Tourney MVP.
6) Burton, wake up and play like you did earlier in the season. Do not stand up straight on defense. LOCK IN!!!
7) Gilly - Look for your shot, and shoot it with confidence! Heard Beck say this when Gilly came off a screen and hit a mid range shot last game. He needs to look for that. EIther Gilly or Cayo will be MVP if we win this thing?

Who's on board?

 

[8legs1dream]

You ready for Moondog to catch lightning in a bottle, win the A10 tournament, get a favorable NCAA draw and COMPETE which would culminate in a 5 year extension being signed?

 

[mr.spider]

I actually had a lot of confidence in our team winning the A10 tourny even after blowing our at-large chances @ St. Louis on Friday. I thought we would lock up the 3 seed, get a very winnable game. And then I felt very confident in dismantling vcu in the semis. Then, a week off with everything on the line - seemed very doable to win it all.

I am really struggling, however, do get confidence back after bowing to a 3-win St. Joe's team on senior night in a game that mattered so much for us and nothing to them.

If we can regain our high confidence and determination as a team with a "prove 'em wrong" attitude, we can still win. It will be a hell of a lot harder now, after losing the bye and having tougher games, but we do have the talent. Go Spiders!

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I'm holding you to the "enough with the negativity" until after the game tomorrow.

Let's go boys. Make it happen, don't wait for it to happen.

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

In same camp as MrSpider As 3 seed doable, miracle time now.

 

[Eight Legger]

Bonaventure is the most complete team in the league, so the second game (if we even get there) will be the hardest of the tournament. That said, we should have beaten them when we played.

 

[urmite]

The UR section at the Tournament...



Dammit won't link to individual photo...

 

[GKiller]

I had some confidence as a 3 seed too. That was just a massive choke job loss to St. Joe's that literally made our chances about 5 times harder. And if we get by Duq u have Bona coming off a loss so now their quarters game becomes likely a must win for their ncaa chances.

But I'm all in. Let's go get that 4 game winning streak and spot in the Dance. Nothing better than Selection Sunday when your name will be called. I just wish the program had that mentality for A10, that is what worries me. What I've been struck by last couple days whether its Moon man on the radio, in that interview with Noah, the players, Philly Bob nobody is talking about winning so this group can make NCAA. Yet we heard so much b4 season about that. This group gotta make it, last chance, why they are playing, all the expectations etc. I know the 1 game at a time routine. Yes beat Duq & move on. I just found very strange you have not heard the word NCAA said by anyone around the program heading into A10.

I hope not but they all seemed resigned to their fate.

 

[spider23]

You ready for Moondog to catch lightning in a bottle, win the A10 tournament, get a favorable NCAA draw and COMPETE which would culminate in a 5 year extension being signed?

No, not ready for 5 more years of Moon ball, but will sacrifice my wants for the success of the team . Ideal situation, win tourney, go to sweet 16 - Mooney heads to Chestnut Hill.

 

[spider23]

Gkiller, good point about lack of talk about NCAA's. Hopefully this is all going on in the background. If Mooney has any oomph left, he will give the speach: NEW season, we can absolutely win this - not one super team in our way, destiny is in our hands!! And also, look what our "so called fans" are posting on the message board, and also Frontline fanatics is posting a poll about firing me, and also EVERYONE is AGAINST US, etc.

SJU game made it that much harder, but Cinderella Story is not supposed to be easy.

 

[spider23]

As Bill Murray said during this round: I don't think the heavy stuff is going to come down for awhile. We need this mentality starting Thursday morning.

 

[Eight Legger]

It's great when two teams that beat us are playing in the 12-13 game right now...

 

[97spiderfan]

Honestly, think we are one and done. Just judging from body language and intensity out there. This team hasn't played with any sense of urgency in a while now, I'm not sure why anyone would expect something different now.

 

[spider fan]

Poet Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man (1732), “Hope springs eternal'

Learned at Richmond College.

 

[whampas]

St. Joe's one step closer to the title.

 

[spider fan]

St. Joe's one step closer to the title.

Hot at the right time - 4 game win streak................

 

[I-M-UR]

Poet Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man (1732), “Hope springs eternal'

Learned at Richmond College.

What is the definition of insanity again?

 

[spider fan]

Was answering question of 97 by quoting Alexander Pope ......so in other words Pope might be hopeful..........................Spider fans not so much.......................

 

[SpiderGuy]

Bonaventure is the most complete team in the league, so the second game (if we even get there) will be the hardest of the tournament. That said, we should have beaten them when we played.

I agree. Assuming we can get by Duquesne, St B is probably the best match up in next game for us - more so than St L's physicality or whatever VCU is. St B is more a finesse team and runs a tailored offense instead of crashing the boards. They are well coached, but I like our chances. On the other hand, would like a a chance to knock VCU out. On to the Dayton Arena.

 

[GKiller]

I agree. Assuming we can get by Duquesne, St B is probably the best match up in next game for us - more so than St L's physicality or whatever VCU is. St B is more a finesse team and runs a tailored offense instead of crashing the boards. They are well coached, but I like our chances. On the other hand, would like a a chance to knock VCU out. On to the Dayton Arena.

If we had played VCU it would have been in semis. Bona would only be a quarters matchup and then u probably see a St Louis in semis. So we traded an extra game (Duq) for bona AND St. Louis. Instead of umass & vcu. Worst trade ever.

I realize your point is given we r now 8 seed that Bona is a better matchup for us than say St. Louis or vcu. Not sure about that either. Bona has our # as much as those 2 and will be extra motivated coming off surprising loss that makes them a little more shaky for bid.

But we made our bed. Last chance to show we r lot better than our reg season.

 

[SFspidur]

Pre-game press conference:

 

[Eight Legger]

Bona could always come down with an unfortunate case of covid Friday morning.

 

[urmite]

Bona could always come down with an unfortunate case of covid Friday morning.

Have you been coughing in their general direction?

 

[SpiderK]

Pre-game press conference:

View embedded media

“Embrace the physicality” “compete” “reset button” “compete”

 

[Spiders4ever]

“Embrace the physicality” “compete” “reset button” “compete”

Sometimes you gotta go with what got you there in the first place.

 

[SpiderGuy]

If we had played VCU it would have been in semis. Bona would only be a quarters matchup and then u probably see a St Louis in semis. So we traded an extra game (Duq) for bona AND St. Louis. Instead of umass & vcu. Worst trade ever.

I realize your point is given we r now 8 seed that Bona is a better matchup for us than say St. Louis or vcu. Not sure about that either. Bona has our # as much as those 2 and will be extra motivated coming off surprising loss that makes them a little more shaky for bid.

But we made our bed. Last chance to show we r lot better than our reg season.

I still think of the 3 teams that St B is the best match up. I might eat crow on that. Then again, we have to win tomorrow to even have a chance at them. No telling which Spider team shows up tomorrow. It's a mess the position we put ourselves in. We finished the regular season on the downbeat.

This has been about as frustrating a year to watch as any I can remember. So much potential unrealized. Just win tomorrow & the next 3 games.

 

[712_VT]

I had some confidence as a 3 seed too. That was just a massive choke job loss to St. Joe's that literally made our chances about 5 times harder. And if we get by Duq u have Bona coming off a loss so now their quarters game becomes likely a must win for their ncaa chances.

But I'm all in. Let's go get that 4 game winning streak and spot in the Dance. Nothing better than Selection Sunday when your name will be called. I just wish the program had that mentality for A10, that is what worries me. What I've been struck by last couple days whether its Moon man on the radio, in that interview with Noah, the players, Philly Bob nobody is talking about winning so this group can make NCAA. Yet we heard so much b4 season about that. This group gotta make it, last chance, why they are playing, all the expectations etc. I know the 1 game at a time routine. Yes beat Duq & move on. I just found very strange you have not heard the word NCAA said by anyone around the program heading into A10.

I hope not but they all seemed resigned to their fate.

You haven’t heard them talk about NCAA’s because I honestly am not sure that’s the goal. I think the goal with everyone involved with this program is just to “compete” and hope that things break their way and then maybe they go to the big dance. Their attitude is that it’s ok to compete and say that you tried but maybe not make the thing, but if you make it then hey that’s really cool. It’s a losers attitude but I just think that’s how this program sees things.

 

[mr.spider]

Honestly, listening to this gives no confidence whatsoever. Do you feel the urgency? "Nah, it's just a game of basketball" Really. That mentality alone is not a typical athlete thinking. The way Mooney waters down the natural competitiveness of athletes has costs us many games and bids. For that alone he should be canned. You simply don't win enough with that attitude.

 

[mr.spider]

You haven’t heard them talk about NCAA’s because I honestly am not sure that’s the goal. I think the goal with everyone involved with this program is just to “compete” and hope that things break their way and then maybe they go to the big dance. Their attitude is that it’s ok to compete and say that you tried but maybe not make the thing, but if you make it then hey that’s really cool. It’s a losers attitude but I just think that’s how this program sees things.

I agree completely. It is not a winning attitude.

 

[72Spider]

So vcu gets to play their games at home and we don't get to play any at Robins Center? Fix must be in by the league.

 

[whampas]

So vcu gets to play their games at home and we don't get to play any at Robins Center? Fix must be in by the league.

It's what you get when you piss off the league commissioner.

 

[Eight Legger]

When we lose to Duquesne, I'm sure the excuse train will be churning... People were injured... Covid... Etc. Meanwhile, Duquesne had multiple good players transfer midseason. Doubt we'll hear anything about that.

 

[SpiderRick]

The only thing positive that I can say is that I'm positive that I have nothing positive to say about Richmond's chances in the NCAA Final Four Tournament.

 

[plydogg]

When we lose to Duquesne, I'm sure the excuse train will be churning... People were injured... Covid... Etc. Meanwhile, Duquesne had multiple good players transfer midseason. Doubt we'll hear anything about that.

If we didn’t hear any of those excuses after a senior night loss to St. Joseph’s I don’t think we’ll hear them tomorrow

 

[urmite]

We never trailed UMass 9 days ago, we never led St Joe 3 days ago.
So today's second game score was completely predictable.

70-36 UMass...

 

[SFspidur]

UMass has hit 15 threes and there are still over 16 minutes left.

 

[urmite]

UMass has hit 15 threes and there are still over 16 minutes left.

The Daly/Brown/Funk aren't 12 of 15?

 

[SFspidur]

Kinda sickening watching teams still going at it on our court. Do we have to wait to get in and clean out our lockers?

 

[spider23]

OK, enough with the negativity. Despite the fact that it will buy Mooney another 6-10 years, I am hoping against hope we can win this thing. Some keys to winning this thing.

1) Need Francis to be able to play at high level for 30 minutes.
2) Golden - New tape job needs to be effective without about 10 pounds of plastic on his finger. Need 30 effective minutes per game.
3) This is a war of attrition at this point, and we see guys wearing down and losing effectiveness. Need to play Wilson, Dji, and Goose solid minutes.
4) This might be the biggest key: There is no dominant team this season. We have the players to win this thing and win the match up on any given night.
5) Feed Cayo - Need him to play like senior night every game. He can do it and does not shy away from the big games. Want to see him with that net around his neck and an A10 Tourney MVP.
6) Burton, wake up and play like you did earlier in the season. Do not stand up straight on defense. LOCK IN!!!
7) Gilly - Look for your shot, and shoot it with confidence! Heard Beck say this when Gilly came off a screen and hit a mid range shot last game. He needs to look for that. EIther Gilly or Cayo will be MVP if we win this thing?

Who's on board?

OK, lets evaluate:
1) No Francis, that sucked for him and the Spiders. Hate to see our gun slinger go out with no bullets. Feel for the guy, loved his attitude for 2 seasons.
2) Golden - much more effective and active. Didn't mind seeing the emotion. Unfortunately he kind of faded down the stretch like the entire team.
3) Goose back in starters role with Blake out. Wilson had big impact in his 15 minutes. Woud have liked to see Dji.
4) Got Beat by a decent team, but a team that had 3 of its top guys transfer in the middle of the night?? OK Duquesne team took us out. Mooney is abysmal in the A10 tourney.
5) Cayo - 0-5 FG's
6) Played great first half, faded down stretch. Maybe let Dji play 2 or 3 of his minutes?
7) 1-7 from 3, man he could never quite get untracked this year. Played a solid game I thought, but couldn't make plays when bigger longer athletes from Duq helped out.

All in all did not go like I planned.

 

[kneepadmckinney]

I will be interested to see the +\ - between Zay and Goose. It seemed to me that we were really good with Zay and pretty bad with Goose.