Game 23: AT University of Richmond, Saturday, February 3rd, 4:30 PM, NBCSN

[Washingtonian]

Richmond comes in with a 8-13 record/6-3 in the A-10 and 4-6 at home after winning at Davidson by a score of 66-63 on Sunday.

The schedule is here: http://richmondspiders.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

The roster is here: http://richmondspiders.com/roster.aspx?path=mbball

The stats is here: http://richmondspiders.com/cumestats.aspx?path=mbball

Grant Golden is averaging 15.9 PPG/6.1 RPG, De'Monte Buckingham is averaging 12.6 PPG/7.2 RPG (got 19 points in last season's game), Nick Sherod is averaging 11.7 PPG (got 12 points in last season's game), and Jacob Gilyard 10.3 PPG.

Last season's box score at Richmond is here: http://gomason.com/boxscore.aspx?id=6829&path=mbball

New game (although I think this happens at home more often not), predict which bench player decides to "go off" on us.

Discuss.

 

[Patriotsince81]

They were horrible OOC but have been playing well in the A10. We have owned them of late but that streak ends. We give up more than 80 once again and lose to the Spiders 84 - 72.

 

[Patriotsince81]

New game (although I think this happens at home more often not), predict which bench player decides to "go off" on us.

Keith Oddo, who has played 1 minute this year, will score 45 and lead the Spiders to victory after all 5 starters mysteriously get the runs and are forced to leave the game just after tip off.

 

[JimP]

Golden is only a freshman and already an outstanding forward. Lately I just covet other team's players. Richmond by 12.

 

[JPgmuswim]

They only have 1 senior and have been on a roll lately winning 5 in a row including Davidson and vcu on the road. Currently sitting 2nd in the standings in the A-10. Mooney blamed their OOC struggles on being young, inexperienced and having a tough schedule.

I went to this game last year and really enjoyed our win and their remodeled arena. I bought tickets for this game durning their OOC struggles planning on enjoying another easy win. Now I'm thinking the opposite is going to happen. I'm expecting the trend continues and we get killed in the post. They have a redshirt freshmen named Golden that will most likely do a lot of damage. 6'10 260. Spiders by 12+.

I love watching our team and will still enjoy myself win or lose, I know they'll fight till the end. Just may need to put down a couple extra beers before hand. Go Mason!

 

[GMU_DCU]

Richmond 83 (because everyone gets to 80 against us)
GMU 71 (because we play bad but usually keep it under 20)

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Davidson and vcu on the road.

Wow, I was at least hoping to beat the spread but not now.

I love watching our team and will still enjoy myself win or lose.

I still attend, but its getting harder to enjoy. If we play and more importantly COACH competitively, I can deal with that. We are not.

Even GSII had positive things to say about the Duquesne game because we looked like we belonged on the same court with our opponent.

All I ask is that we have a realistic chance to win the game with less than 2 minutes left. I would seriously be okay with that against Richmond.

In A10 play:

Average margin of win: 5 points (3 games)
Average margin of loss: 14.6 points (6 games)

 

[GSII]

I'm over this year. Im worried about next year. Mostly b/c of Otis and Grayer. They deserver better and this staff better do something about it.

 

[Masonfan3]

Team A.
2 Freshmen
2 Sophomores
1 Junior

Team B
2 Freshmen
1 Sophomore
2 Juniors

Both teams struggle early do to "youth" but Team A is riding a 5 game win streak because they have a halfway decent coach while Team B continues to struggle as they "trust the process."

 

[GMUgemini]

Team A.
2 Freshmen
2 Sophomores
1 Junior

Team B
2 Freshmen
1 Sophomore
2 Juniors

Both teams struggle early do to "youth" but Team A is riding a 5 game win streak because they have a halfway decent coach while Team B continues to struggle as they "trust the process."

To be fair, Chris Mooney has been in Richmond for 12 seasons.

 

[Masonfan3]

To be fair, Chris Mooney has been in Richmond for 12 seasons.

True. Only making the point that you can overcome "youth" with good coaching/game planning.

 

[GMU_DCU]

To be fair, Chris Mooney has been in Richmond for 12 seasons.

and Dambrot has been at Duquesne less than one.

 

[gmujim92]

True. Only making the point that you can overcome "youth" with good coaching/game planning.

Or by recruiting, which is much harder to do when you’re trying to rebuild a program that hasn’t won squat since 2011.

Check out Mooney’s record. His first few seasons weren’t so hot either. And he’s only been to the NCAAs twice in 12 seasons. If he didn’t have a Hewitt-style long-term contract he probably would’ve gotten fired already.

Ask knowledgeable Richmond fans and most of them would trade coaches with us in a heartbeat.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Team A.
2 Freshmen
2 Sophomores
1 Junior

Team B
2 Freshmen
1 Sophomore
2 Juniors

Both teams struggle early do to "youth" but Team A is riding a 5 game win streak because they have a halfway decent coach while Team B continues to struggle as they "trust the process."

Let's not pretend like "#FireMooney" wasn't trending on Twitter a month ago.

 

[Masonfan3]

Let's not pretend like "#FireMooney" wasn't trending on Twitter a month ago.

Not saying it wasn't. But he was able to turn his young team around. For whatever reason, this coaching staff has not been able to do that. Instead of owning up to it, we keep hearing that same BS that is "we are young" "trust the process" The problem isn't that we are young, the problem is we don't have a well balanced roster. There are a lot of teams out there that are playing with freshman and sophomores or are playing with short benches.

 

[JPgmuswim]

I’d still take Paulsen over Mooney. Richmond does have a couple of players I’d be happy to take though.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Not saying it wasn't. But he was able to turn his young team around. For whatever reason, this coaching staff has not been able to do that. Instead of owning up to it, we keep hearing that same BS that is "we are young" "trust the process" The problem isn't that we are young, the problem is we don't have a well balanced roster. There are a lot of teams out there that are playing with freshman and sophomores or are playing with short benches.

I'm not saying roster mismanagement isn't an issue (granted we have no idea about why any of the guys transferred out and I think without knowing that none of us can be sure as to whether that falls on the staff or not.) But in a league like the A10, things can change real quick for a team/coach. Richmond was losing to some horrific teams in OOC and the floor could fall out again.

My biggest concern is that we're making the same mistakes game in and game out. Grayer dribbles off his foot in the corner, Mar takes off to the hoop long before he has the ball and gets whistled for a travel, literally everything Boyd does gives me a heart attack, etc..

 

[gmujim92]

I’d still take Paulsen over Mooney.

Every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[PoorManProfit]

Ask knowledgeable Richmond fans and most of them would trade coaches with us in a heartbeat.

Come on man. It's fine if UR Fan doesn't want Mooney anymore, but to insinuate that they would want our 'lil fella is preposterous.

 

[PoorManProfit]

There is no way I can pick the Patriots to win as usual, but I'll continue to predict a close loss despite knowing they'll be blown out.

G Mas 72
Richmond 73