University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Host South Florida On Wednesday
11/30/2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
RICHMOND (2-1) vs. SOUTH FLORIDA (4-0)
Robins Center - 7:30 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: Spider Sports Network (Sportsradio 910 in Richmond)
Internet: www.RichmondSpiders.com
Tickets: 1-877-SPIDER-1; Buy-one-get-one at the gate with your Ukrop's UVC card or your FMB Market Share card
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond Basketball welcomes South Florida to the Robins Center for the first time at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. The contest will be part of a doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m. when the Spider women's team faces Georgetown.
The Spiders and Bulls have met twice previously, including last year when Richmond won 70-58, in Tampa. Junior Kevin Steenberge and sophomore Daon Merritt look to extend their three-game, double-figure scoring streak.
South Florida is the second consecutive undefeated team that Richmond plays. Top-ranked Wake Forest (5-0) waits on the horizon. The Spiders travel to Winston-Salem for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.
STORYLINES
*Tonight marks the first game between these two programs in Richmond. The Spiders have captured both contests in Tampa, including last year's 12-point win.
*The Spiders have won four straight at the Robins Center dating back to last year. Richmond was 9-4 (.692) at home in 2003-04.
*Junior Kevin Steenberge and sophomore Daon Merritt are the only Spiders to reach double figures in all three games. Steenberge leads the team with 21.7 ppg while Merritt ranks second (15.7 ppg).
*South Florida is one of only two non-conference opponents on Richmond's formidable schedule that had a losing record last season. The Bulls were 7-20 and join Elon (12-18) as the two sub-.500 squads on the Spiders' slate.
*After shooting 72.1 percent from the free throw line last winter, Richmond has succeeded on 62.2 percent after three games this season. At Virginia last Saturday,the Spiders were 0-for-7 in the first half before making 83.3 percent (15-for-18) in the second half at the charity stripe.
*The 85 points surrendered at Virginia is the most allowed by a Spider team in the 65 games that Jerry Wainwright has coached at Richmond. The 27-point loss is the second worst in that span. (at Providence, 55-84 on 12/19/02).
