University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts No. 10 Wake Forest Friday At 7 P.M.
12/18/2008 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2008
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UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond men's basketball team will host No. 10 ranked and undefeated Wake Forest (9-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Robins Center.
The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU and will be broadcast locally on the radio at 93.1 The Wolf. The audio broadcast and SpiderTV webcast can also be seen at RichmondSpiders.com.
Men's Basketball Season Ticket Holders, if you are making the trip to Chattanooga, don't let your tickets to the Wake Forest game go to waste. Make sure to give them to a friend or co-worker who can come support the Spiders. You can also call the Robins Center ticket office and release your Wake tickets to be given to a charity group. Call 1-877-SPIDER-1 if your tickets might go unused.
THE LATEST
Quick Hitters
Junior David Gonzalvez has exactly 800 career points ... this is Richmond's third appearance this season on the ESPN family of networks, the Spiders played Syracuse on ESPN and VCU last Saturday on ESPNU...Richmond has made at least seven three-pointers in eight of the nine games this season....junior David Gonzalvez has made at least five field goals in every game and at least seven field goals in six of the nine games, including the last three...the Spiders have won five of the last seven home games...Richmond is getting 16.8 points per game from its bench...Richmond had 24 assists against UMKC on Nov. 25, the most assists since recording 27 in a win over St. Bonaventure on March 5, 2005...the Spiders have led by at least six points in 34 of the last 41 games dating back to the end of the 2006-07 season...the Spiders have trailed at the half in only two of nine games this season and have been in no worse than a one-possession game at the half in 32 of the last 42 games...the Spiders were 12-4 last season when they shot less than 20 three-pointers and are 2-1 when they do so this season, 3-3 when the shoot over 20 three-pointers.
Stealing The Show
Last season the Spiders had 257 steals, which was just five short of the school record, led by Kevin Anderson's 55 steals which ranked 10th on the all-time single-season list. Richmond was second in the Atlantic 10 in steals and 45th in the nation in steals at 8.3 per contest. The Spiders had double-digits steals in 10 games last season, at least seven steals in all but five games and at least five steals in all but one game. Three current Richmond players were in the top-15 in the conference in steals. Freshman Kevin Anderson was third in the A-10 at 1.77, sophomore Ryan Butler (1.43) was 10th and sophomore David Gonzalvez was 14th (1.37). Richmond is averaging 7.6 steals per game through nine contests this season and has at least five steals in 41 of the last 43 games. Gonzalvez leads the team at 1.55 steals per game this season. Smith is second on the team at 1.44 per game and Anderson is at 1.22.
Causing Turnover
Last season, the Spiders were third in the A-10 in turnovers forced, causing 16.6 turnovers per game. Richmond forced the opposition into 20 or more turnovers seven times. The Spiders are forcing 15.3 turnovers per game through nine games.
Spiders' Web Reaching NBA
While the Spiders do not have a former player on any NBA rosters, three Richmond former standouts are working the sidelines in the NBA. Kevin Eastman is an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, earning a ring with the 2008 World Champions. Standout guard Ken Atkinson, a member of the 1988 Sweet 16 team, is in his first year as an assistant coach for Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks. Former guard Curtis Blair, who scored 18 points in the 1991 NCAA Tournament win over Syracuse, is in his first year as a referee in the NBA.
Spiders Pile Up A-10 Honors
Richmond freshman Kevin Anderson was named the 2007-08 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the conference's All-Rookie Team, while sophomore Dan Geriot was named Third-Team All-Atlantic 10. Geriot became just the second sophomore to earn Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors this season on March 2. Anderson was named A-10 Rookie of the Week six of the last eight weeks of the 2007-08 season. Only four players in Atlantic 10 history have earned conference Rookie of the Week honors more than Anderson's six awards. Anderson became the first conference Rookie of the Year for the Spiders since Charles Stephens won the CAA Rookie of the Year in 1999. Anderson gives the Spiders All-Rookie selections in each of the past two seasons, joining 2007 All-Rookie selection Geriot.
Las Aranas In Espana
The Spiders, or Las Aranas, as they are known in Spanish, had a very productive trip to Spain in August. Sporting specially-made European-style uniforms that said Las Aranas on the front, Richmond finished the trip 2-2, including a 95-94 overtime loss in which the Spiders overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to force OT. Richmond showed that it can score points, even without center Dan Geriot, as the Spiders averaged 91.3 points per game in the four contests. Eight of the 11 players in uniform on the trip scored in double-figures at least once. Sophomore Kevin Anderson, the 2008 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, averaged 23.7 points per game on the trip with a pair of 30-point games. Anderson scored 35 points in the overtime loss to Caja Rioja and had 30 points in the 91-77 win over Illescas Toledo. Junior Justin Harper averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds over the first two games before rolling his ankle in the opening minutes of the trip's third game. Redshirt freshman Conor Smith showed his long-range shooting ability making 15 three-pointers over the first three games of the trip and averaging 11.8 points per game. Conor Smith had a 21-point effort on seven three-pointers and an 18-point night on six treys. Redshirt freshman Josh Duinker, an Australian who joined the team in January, averaged 11.0 points and 6.0 boards per game, narrowly missing a double-double in the second game with 11-points and nine rebounds. Duinker showed that he can score inside and outside, making a pair of three-pointers in the win over Illescas Toledo to close the trip. Sophomore Kevin Smith averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds, while senior David Gonzalvez came off an injury prior to the trip to average 9.5 points, including 19 points in the trip finale. Not only was the trip beneficial to the Spiders on the court, but off the court it served as 12 days of bonding for the players and coaches. "This trip was terrific, not just because of how well our guys played, but because of what they got to experience," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. Said Anderson, "I think we've been bonding great this year, as we bond off the court, we bond on the court."
Gunning Down The Running
The Spiders have made a habit of preventing teams from pushing the tempo during Chris Mooney's tenure. In 2006-07, Richmond allowed the opposition to score more than 10 fast break points in just three of 30 games. The Spiders allowed 5.4 fast break points per game in 2006-07 and cut that down to 4.6 fast break points per game last winter. Richmond has held the opposition to eight or less fast break points in 33 of 40 games, dating back to the start of the 2007-08 season. In nine game's this season, including a match-up with the up-tempo Syracuse Orange, Richmond has allowed just 50 fast break points for a 5.6 per game average. The Spiders had 16 fast break points to Syracuse's eight on Nov. 18 in the Carrier Dome. "Controlling the transition game is key," head coach Chris Mooney says. "If you can stop a team from getting transition baskets you have a chance to guard them throughout the night."
Cutting Down Threes
Through the first nine games of the 2007-08 season the Spiders were letting three-pointers fly at a clip of 20.5 per game, making an average of 6.8 per game and shooting just 33.5 percent. In the last 21 games of 2007-08, Richmond averaged 18.7 three-pointers and made 6.7 per game. Richmond shot 20 or more three-pointers in seven of the first nine games, but took 20 or more threes just eight times in the last 21 games. The Spiders were 12-4 when they shot under 20 three-pointers, 4-11 when the shot 20 or more. Richmond is averaging 20.7 three-point attempts per game this season and making 7.9 per game.
A-10 Gets 8 In Postseason
The Atlantic 10, which has had at least four teams in the NCAA Tournament on five occasions since 1996, put eight of its teams in postseason play last season, including the Spiders. Three teams made the NCAA Tournament, four teams made the NIT and Richmond played in the CBI. That was the most postseason teams for the A-10 since 2004, when Richmond was one of four A-10 teams in the Big Dance and No. 1 ranked Saint Joseph's and Xavier advanced to the Elite 8. Last season Xavier gave the A-10 its 11th Elite 8 appearance and the conference had as many as three teams ranked in the same week. The non-conference winning percentage of .649 (122-66) was the fourth-highest winning percentage since the formation of the league in 1976-77 and was the highest since the 1993-94 campaign (.663).
Rising Stock
The Spiders are beginning to catch the eye of media across the country. ESPN's Andy Katz had Richmond first on his list for "Job Well Done" for the 2007-08 season. Katz had the Spiders heading a list that also included Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Miami (Fla.), Cincinnati, Pitt, Kentucky, Davidson, Cornell and Memphis. After its win over Charlotte on Feb. 2, Richmond was tabbed the Rising Stock team of the week by the Dallas Morning News in its Sunday College Basketball section. Richmond was called the Cinderella team of the Atlantic 10 by USAToday.com and the Providence Journal picked Chris Mooney as its choice for A-10 Coach of the Year.
Youth Movement
Last season Richmond had just three scholarship players in their junior and senior seasons and the Spiders received 80.3 percent of their scoring from freshmen and sophomores. Richmond's top four scorers were freshmen or sophomores. Sophomore Dan Geriot (14.3) led the team in scoring, followed by sophomore David Gonzalvez (11.7), freshman Kevin Anderson (10.7) and sophomore Ryan Butler (5.5). Freshman Kevin Smith was sixth on the team in scoring (4.6 ppg). While the Spiders are not as young this season, there is still just one senior on scholarship and freshmen will be relied upon heavily in the front court with the absence of the injured Dan Geriot.
Tenacious D
In Chris Mooney's first season at Richmond in 2005-06, the Spiders led the nation in fewest points allowed for most of the season, not allowing 60 points or more for the first 10 games of the year. The Spiders finished the year allowing 57.8 points per game, which ranked seventh in the country. In 2006-07, with five freshmen seeing the bulk of the minutes, the Spiders did not have as much success defensively, giving up over 60 points in 27 of 30 games. Last season, the more mature Spiders were fourth in the A-10 in fewest points allowed at 66.0 per game. Richmond held 16 teams to 65 points or less and did not allow over 66 points in regulation in nine of the last 12 games. The Spiders have held opponents to 50 points or less 15 times in 101 games under Mooney and have held teams to 60 points or less 30 times. Richmond has allowed over 70 points just 24 times in Mooney's four seasons and has allowed 80 or more points only eight times.
Spiders Sign Two
Richmond men's basketball head coach Chris Mooney announced the signing of Greg Robbins (Wynnewood, Pa.) and Darien Brothers (Richmond, Va.) to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period. Robbins is a 6-foot-4 All-State guard at Lower Merion High School, who is rated as the No. 88 player in the class of 2009 by The Basketball Times and The Hoop Scoop. Brothers is a 6-foot-3 all-conference guard for Richmond's Benedictine High School, who helped the Cadets to a 28-7 record and state championship. "We are very excited about our recruiting class this year," Chris Mooney said. "The two student-athletes are outstanding players and great kids. We look forward to welcoming them to the Richmond family."
Like Father, Like Son
Richmond sophomore Ryan Butler and his father Jeff Butler are the second father-son duo to play for the Spiders, joining Pat DiServio (1981-83) and Tony DiServio (1945-47). Jeff Butler was a star for the Spiders from 1975-77, leading the team in scoring both seasons. He averaged 14.3 points per game in 1975-76 and 16.3 points per game in 1976-77. Jeff Butler was later an assistant coach for the Spiders under Hall of Fame coach Dick Tarrant, who regularly attends games in the Robins Center. Ryan Butler grew up in the shadow of campus and starred at Douglas Freeman High three miles from campus.
The Young And The Restless
Richmond coach Chris Mooney got his first Division I head coaching job at the age of 32, which made him the fourth-youngest coach in the nation three years ago. Even with his youth, don't look for any grizzled veterans on the 36-year-old Mooney's staff. Associate head coach Kevin McGeehan is 35, assistant coach Jamal Brunt is 28 and assistant coach Rob Jones is 30. Directors of basketball operations Marcus Jenkins and Peter Thomas are 26 and 24, respectively.
