UR still looking to add games

[97spiderfan]

So UNI cancelled their games not because of COVID but because they want to get healthy from their injuries. That is some grade A BS, if you ask me. Oh hey, we suck right now, so lets just cancel our games. The NCAA should step in and say if you are cancelling your games for non-Covid related reasons, than that goes does as a loss. Yeah, I'm looking at Duke too.

What's to prevent a team with a tournament resume in say February and having a slate of tough opponents coming up, saying hey you know what we need a little break right now, so we are going to cancel our next 2 games. What the heck type of sportsmanship is that? Leaving other team in a lurch because you simply don't want to play them right now.

And then on top of that they say they are sending their players out of the bubble to go home and spend time with their families, which is only going to increase the liklihood of a COVID shutdown when they return.

 

[SFspidur]

Potential Sunday game looking shaky...seem to be having trouble finding a quality opponent.

 

[Spiderstew1962]

Why? Need to work on some things and get right back in the saddle

Like bench Francis and start Crabtree.

 

[SFspidur]

 

[ur2K]

Villanova needs a game this weekend.

 

[Eight Legger]

So does Virginia...

 

[72Spider]

In his post game presser Mooney asked John O'Conner if Villanova and Virginia were playing and O'Conner said no, Virginia still in a covid pause. So apparently he had an interest in one or both of those as possible opponents.

 

[Eight Legger]

Perfect time to play UVA, when they are shorthanded...

 

[SpiderK]

Perfect time to play UVA, when they are shorthanded...

I agree, perfect timing, but will UVA have the balls?

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

I agree, perfect timing, but will UVA have the balls?

Despite drastic and widespread athletic department budget cuts, there have been no reports of teams showing up for games without balls.

 

[97spiderfan]

I agree, perfect timing, but will UVA have the balls?

UVA just added Gonzaga to their schedule, so not sure we are fitting in their plans. They must be mighty scared.

 

[SFspidur]

Villanova just added St. Joe's on Saturday...that's a makeup from a couple weeks ago when that one got canceled.

 

[KE Spider]

UVA just added Gonzaga to their schedule, so not sure we are fitting in their plans. They must be mighty scared.

Hoos don't resume practice until Saturday so, wisely, don't want to play us Sunday after a 10 day shutdown and only one practice. Their Gonzaga game is December 26.

 

[SpiderRick]

So the NCAA has suggested that schools try and schedule locally with other schools near them. This makes a lot of sense for not only safety issues, but budget savings as well.

UVA refuses to play Richmond after all these years despite the fact that we are 60 miles down the road; and the fact that they have played every single D-1 school in Virginia in the past two years. Instead, they schedule a school that is 2,500 miles away....makes sense to me!

 

[VT4700]

1. They are playing them in Texas. 2. They could not play Nova on Saturday, so I doubt they would be in a hurry to try to rush things and play us on Sunday. 3. They have already lost games against Mich St and Villanova, so, yes, if it were between us or Gonzaga, they should play the number one ranked team.

 

[PhillySpider]

So the NCAA has suggested that schools try and schedule locally with other schools near them. This makes a lot of sense for not only safety issues, but budget savings as well.

UVA refuses to play Richmond after all these years despite the fact that we are 60 miles down the road; and the fact that they have played every single D-1 school in Virginia in the past two years. Instead, they schedule a school that is 2,500 miles away....makes sense to me!

So, Florida just cancelled with JMU. should we be looking to schedule JMU now? I certainly hope not!

 

[Eight Legger]

I'm with Rick in general, though. It's weird that Bennett speaks so glowingly of Mooney but never plays us. And this year we're about even, so it's not like losing to us would hurt them.

 

[PhillySpider]

The reality is the we are a terrible game for UVA in general in any year. They gain nothing by winning (and in most years it will hurt them to lose) and we gain a lot if we happen to win - - - not only in the NET and similar rankings but in just plain old rep. Add in that it would be a HUGE, signature, build your season around it game for us and a another ho-hum non-conference game for them and its just a bad spot for them. Covid, travel and our standing this year make it "less bad" game for them, but they got the #1 team in the country - - don't think anyone can fault them!

 

[Eight Legger]

They played VCU twice in a row when VCU was worse than we currently are one year and in about the same spot we are this year another. So in general, sure, I get that there's little to gain, but this year, given everything that's going on with COVID and the fact that we are basically ranked right around where they are, it seems to match up. Obviously if the choice was us or Gonzaga, they'll pick Gonzaga, I get that.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

UVA will play on one of those battleships outdoors in Antarctica before they would ever sign up to play us. We could literally be the only two schools in the country eligible to play in the continental united states for the next 90 days and a game between the two schools would not happen. If a pandemic that brings the country to its knees, where travel is restricted as well as in game attendance, with a quality opponent 70 miles away, its just not ever gonna happen. We have played them what 7-8 times the last 40 years? And only once under Bennett which was a tournament game

 

[Eight Legger]

We've never played them since Bennett got there. Leitao was the coach for that abomination of a CBI game.

 

[AnnapSpider]

How much does recruiting figure into it? A lot of ball players from Northern VA and Richmond look at UVA
as the place to go. If we win, maybe not.

 

[Spiders4ever]

How much does recruiting figure into it? A lot of ball players from Northern VA and Richmond look at UVA
as the place to go. If we win, maybe not.

Most players worth a crud would rather play in the ACC than the A10.

 

[ur2K]

For most of Bennett’s time there, we were a team that isn’t worth it for a top tier team to play, we are probably a PITA to prep for, would be a bad loss. This year, we are probably too good to want to play.

 

[Eight Legger]

How much does recruiting figure into it? A lot of ball players from Northern VA and Richmond look at UVA
as the place to go. If we win, maybe not.

I doubt we'll win many recruiting battles against UVA. They do have a championship trophy in their display case.

 

[AnnapSpider]

I doubt we'll win many recruiting battles against UVA. They do have a championship trophy in their display case.

I’m not disputing you, but there are sometimes other factors that steer a kid in one direction or another.
I do know, all be it very few, we have beaten out some ACC teams. I specifically remember when MD was still in
the ACC and we were able to get one of their recruits. I was happy and sad at the same time.lol

 

[spiderman]

so basically good teams should never play us, but we get mad at Mooney when our schedule isn't good enough?

 

[urfan1]

one thing we all have to keep in mind, most coaches offer multiple players for the same position. That should open the door to "steal" their second or third choice for the position. I like having that guy who is playing with a chip on his shoulder.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

A lot of umbrage being taken because UVA chose Gonzaga over Richmond. Goodness.

They are still technically the reigning national champion. A team with their aspirations makes that decision 100 times out of 100.

 

[97spiderfan]

A lot of umbrage being taken because UVA chose Gonzaga over Richmond. Goodness.

They are still technically the reigning national champion. A team with their aspirations makes that decision 100 times out of 100.

But having watched UVA this year, the chances of them beating Gonzaga are pretty low. Wouldn't they rather play a team that is also going to enhance their resume AND also have a higher likelihood of winning the game. That to me is the sweet spot of scheduling. You want to play the best team possible that you also have the highest chance of winning. Traveling across the country to play the number 1 team in the country, when your team has not jelled yet, vs. playing a really good Top 50 resume enhancing team at home (which is where we would be playing them).

I would go the opposite if I were UVA. Since they made the choice they made though, I hope Gonzaga embarrasses them.

Were good this year, do we want to go play Gonzaga? I personally don't because I don't think we can beat them.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

But having watched UVA this year, the chances of them beating Gonzaga are pretty low. Wouldn't they rather play a team that is also going to enhance their resume AND also have a higher likelihood of winning the game. That to me is the sweet spot of scheduling. You want to play the best team possible that you also have the highest chance of winning. Traveling across the country to play the number 1 team in the country, when your team has not jelled yet, vs. playing a really good Top 50 resume enhancing team at home (which is where we would be playing them).

I would go the opposite if I were UVA. Since they made the choice they made though, I hope Gonzaga embarrasses them.

Were good this year, do we want to go play Gonzaga? I personally don't because I don't think we can beat them.

Your last statement makes the case against your first statement. Getting resume enhancers that you also have a good chance of winning - that is the sweet spot of scheduling for a team like ours.

UVA already gets plenty of Top 50-ish games to enhance their resume. It's called playing in the ACC.

 

[97spiderfan]

True point. Can we just agree that Gonzaga kicking the crap out of UVA would be karmatic justice?

 

[DTSpider]

Comparable point - would we rather play UVA or Gonzaga? I’d take Gonzaga since #1 team but would be curious. Also wouldn’t mind UVA not being able to fill a game out of karma

 

[97spiderfan]

Comparable point - would we rather play UVA or Gonzaga? I’d take Gonzaga since #1 team but would be curious. Also wouldn’t mind UVA not being able to fill a game out of karma

I don't think we would win either game, so I would say neither. I don't sign up for games, I don't think we can win. Gonzaga is way too good for us and frankly for all put maybe 2-3 teams in the country and UVA is coached by Tony Bennett, in my opinion the best coach in the country.

 

[spider fan]

The way UVA has treated us in scheduling basketball games and the way the last game we played them at JPJ was officiated I really don't care if we ever play them again. I respect Tony Bennett as a coach and as a person. Don't think he is calling the scheduling. Also agree it would be very tough to beat them particularly at JPJ. If they would agree to come to the Robins Center - even without fans - that would improve our chances, but that is not going to happen.

 

[SpiderK]

UVA just added Gonzaga to their schedule, so not sure we are fitting in their plans. They must be mighty scared.

UVA has nothing to lose playing Gonzaga. They are supposed to get their ass kicked by the Zags but it would look bad to be crushed by the Spiders.

 

[Eight Legger]

For the record, if the decision for UVA was "play Gonzaga in Texas or play Richmond somewhere" Dec. 26, of course they will pick Gonzaga every time. I just think we should be a consideration as a close, good option if other things fall through. Would have been nice to have them Sunday.

 

[spider fan]

Agree that for most of our fans playing UVA would be a plus. Don't think they feel that way at all and because of that will not play us other on their terms.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Comparable point - would we rather play UVA or Gonzaga? I’d take Gonzaga since #1 team but would be curious. Also wouldn’t mind UVA not being able to fill a game out of karma

I agree with 97 - neither. I think Jenkins has done an amazing job this season and still want to buy him a drink. But ignoring this weird season at the moment - I'd like to see us more willing to move up the pecking order in the ACC in our annual scheduling. It feels like we look at the rankings of the ACC teams and someone says "how about this team?" and someone else is saying, "no, lower." And we get BC & Wake. It doesn't need to be UVA.

The idea that UVA is somehow "ducking" us is absurd.

 

[spider fan]

UVA has shown no interest in playing us. Would have to ask them for the reason. That said there has been a big change over the years. All time:
Home: 20-14 (Robins Center: 1-3) Away: 14-31 Neutral: 2-7

We played them regularly from the 20's to the early 70's(3 times in 1968) and then 5 times in the 90's and then 3 times in the first decade of the 20th century with the last game being the abomination of the CBA 2008 game.

Think it is more part of the ACC deal of not wanting to play someone outside of conference other than "cupcakes" or "marquee" opponents. We have a longstanding relationship with Wake and other than that it is very "hit or miss".