University of Richmond Athletics
Let The Games Begin
11/15/2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2003
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UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Reggie Brown ... Tony Dobbins ... Mike Skrocki ... Eric Zwayer. Names synonymous with Richmond Basketball. Names accustomed to winning.
The 2003-04 senior class has already tucked 78 wins under its belt. Granted that number is embellished by two fifth-year seniors that have been at Richmond since the 1999-2000 season, but these student-athletes have only known winning seasons and during the last three years, post-season berths.
Their final run begins on Monday night. The Spiders host a Guardians Classic Regional and open with Mississippi Valley State at 7:30 p.m. in the Robins Center. If they win both games in the opening round, Richmond will move onto the semifinals, played at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Knowing the character of these four senior leaders, Richmond basketball is in good hands.
STORYLINES
* Mississippi Valley State is one of five first-time opponents that Richmond will face this season. The other four are: Colorado (Jan. 31), Kansas (Jan. 22), Manhattan (Dec. 20) and the Spiders' opponent on Tuesday who will be either New Hampshire or Mount St. Mary's.
* Richmond opens its season in a tournament for the first time since 1990-91 when the Spiders played Dartmouth (W, 65-54) and Georgia (L, 45-90) in the Central Fidelity Holiday Tournament on Nov. 23-24.
* The Spiders have won three straight season openers including last winter's 92-46 victory against Radford in Jerry Wainwright's first game as head coach (Nov. 22). The Spiders have won four of their last five and seven of their last 10 openers.
* Senior Tony Dobbins is the Spiders' leading returning player in four key categories: rebounds (5.9 per game), assists (3.1 per game), steals (2.3 per game) and blocks (0.8 per game). Senior Mike Skrocki led the squad with an 11.2 scoring average.
* This will be Richmond's first game against a member of the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference. Texas Southern won the SWAC championship last year and was later defeated by UNC Asheville in the NCAA play-in game at Dayton Arena.
GAME NOTES
Impressive Streaks ... Following last year's 16-13 record and berth in the NIT, Richmond extended its winning-season streak to six and its post-season streak to three ... The Spiders have recorded a 116-66 (.637) winning percentage over the past six years ... Richmond has played in the NIT each of the past three seasons.
Atlantic 10 Forecast ... The Atlantic 10 announced its pre-season poll and all-conference teams at the annual media day in Philadelphia on Nov. 6 ... The 12 league coaches and selected media participated to select the Spiders third in the West Division behind Xavier and Dayton ... Tony Dobbins, last year's Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, was chosen for the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Defensive Team as well as freshman Daon Merritt being chosen for the All-Rookie Team.
An Experienced Team ... Because of redshirts to Reggie Brown and Tony Dobbins) ... The last time Richmond had four seniors on a team was during the 1982-83 season with Tom Bethea, Bill Dooley, Andrew Heher and Jeff Pehl ... Richmond has had five seniors on its roster three times in the interim -- 2000-01, 1997-98 and 1992-93.
Remember Me? ... Senior Reggie Brown returns after missing the majority of last season with a back injury ... Brown has played in 97 games, starting 68, during his Richmond career ... The Flushing, N.Y. native led the team with a 14.4 points per game average in 2001-02 ... He played three games last year, averaging 8.3 points in 11.7 minutes.
20-year Anniversary ... The 2003-04 season marks the 20-year anniversary of Richmond's first trip to the NCAA Tournament ... During the 1984 tourney, the Spiders defeated Rider, 89-65, in the opening round before shocking the Charles Barkley-led Auburn Tigers, 72-71, in Charlotte ... The Spiders finished the 1983-84 season 22-10 overall and captured the ECAC-South title under third-year head coach Dick Tarrant.
