University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Heads To Alabama To Open NIT Play
03/13/2017 | Men's Basketball
Richmond will face Alabama for just the fourth time in school history, and the first time since 1988. The Crimson Tide have won the previous three meetings. It is the first meeting between the two schools in the postseason.
Richmond is a six seed in the Iowa Regional. Iowa/South Dakota and TCU/Fresno State are on the other side of the bracket.
The Spiders compiled their fifth 20-win season since 2009 and advanced to the Atlantic 10 semifinals before falling in overtime to VCU. Richmond finished third in the Atlantic 10 regular season with a conference record of 13-5.
UR will be making its second postseason appearance in the last three years and seventh under head coach Chris Mooney. In 2015, the Spiders advanced to the NIT Quarterfinals after home wins over St. Francis and Arizona State.
2017 marks Richmond's ninth appearance in the NIT all-time. UR is 8-8 all-time in the NIT and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2002 and 2015.
The Spiders are led by Atlantic 10 Player of the Year T.J. Cline and All-Atlantic 10 Third Team selection ShawnDre' Jones. The senior duo will be making their second postseason appearance in their careers and are currently ranked in the top 10 in school history in a number of different categories.
The Spider underclassmen will also be looking to make a statement for the future after Khwan Fore, De'Monte Buckingham, Nick Sherod and Julius Johnson had big moments in the Atlantic 10 tournament. Buckingham earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors after recording the most rebounds by any freshman in the conference.
