University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Basketball Sets Sights On No. 1
12/03/2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
RICHMOND (3-1) vs. #1 WAKE FOREST (5-1)
Lawrence Joel Coliseum - 2 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: Spider Sports Network (Sportsradio 910 in Richmond)
Internet: www.RichmondSpiders.com
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Spiders face the nation's top-ranked team for the third time in their history this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Richmond is looking for its first victory against No. 1 after losing to Virginia in 1982 and Temple in 1988. The Spiders are coming off a win against South Florida on Wednesday, while the Demon Deacons look to rebound after a loss at Illinois the same evening.
Wake Forest has won the last 12 meetings between these rivals. It is Richmond's longest current losing streak against any opponent.
The Spiders are off -- except for taking finals -- until next Saturday when they travel across town to VCU on Dec. 11.
STORYLINES
*Today's contest marks Richmond's third meeting against a No. 1 ranked team. The Spiders are 0-2 with losses against Virginia (102-85 on Dec. 29, 1982) and Temple (69-47 on March 24, 1988) in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
*Saturday marks Richmond's final regular-season game against an ACC opponent. After losing at Virginia on Nov. 28, the Spiders carry an all-time record of 110-208 (.346) -- 0-3 under Jerry Wainwright -- vs. current ACC members.
*Spider head coach Jerry Wainwright coached at Wake from 1985-94.
*Richmond has lost 12 straight in this series and its last seven in Winston-Salem. The last time the Spiders prevailed at Wake Forest was Nov. 28, 1988 (74-61). The Spiders' most recent win in the series came in the next meeting, Jan. 15, 1990, 51-49 in the Robins Center.
*The Spider point guards are streaking. Sophomore Daon Merritt has 5+ assists in all four games, five in each of the past three. He is the only Spider to reach double-figure scoring every game. Freshman Courtney Nelson has established a career-high in points each of the past two, including eight against South Florida.
*Junior Jermaine Bucknor recorded his first career double-double while also establishing new career marks in points (18) and rebounds (13) against the Bulls.
