Ball-sharing big men sharpen Spiders' edge
It?s early, but forward Terry Allen has a shot at becoming the first University of Richmond player to average more than 20 points since 1991-92. Curtis Blair averaged 20.3 points that season. Blair is the only Spider to average more than 20 since John Newman did so in three consecutive seasons (1984-86).
Allen, a 6-foot-8 senior, averages 20.6 points as Richmond (6-3) meets Old Dominion (4-5) tonight at the Robins Center. So here come the double-teams with which Allen will inevitably deal. The Spiders seem well-positioned to overcome such defensive maneuvers.
While Allen has been UR?s leading scorer in six of nine games, the balanced Spiders have a few players capable of major offensive production. Junior forward T.J. Cline and junior guard ShawnDre? Jones each average 15 points, and junior forward Marshall Wood has come off the bench to average 11.5.
Allen clearly is willing to share when surrounded, which is likely to happen with greater frequency as defenses respond to his strong start. Allen averages 3 assists, an eye-catching number for a 6-8 forward. Allen came to Richmond with a backcourt background, which allowed him to develop floor vision and passing skill.
While at Manvel High in Houston, Allen wasn?t anchored in the low post because ?I could do some guard things better than the guards that we had,? he said. ?I?ve always had an understanding of when to pass it and when to not pass it.?
Would Allen, who averaged 3.5 assists as a Manvel senior, rather have 20 points or eight assists?
?If I could have both, that would be great,? he said.
The passing ability of Cline, who is 6-9, is even more noticeable. He averages 3.9 assists, and his hoops history also explains his knack for finding open teammates. As a high school freshman in Plano, Texas, Cline was 5-10. As a sophomore he was 6-2. Cline, the son of former ODU great and Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, grew up as a ball-distributing guard and perimeter shooter.
The Spiders are at their offensive best when Cline delivers quick passes from the high post.
?Because I?ve played the game like that for so long, it fits perfectly for me,? Cline said.
Disciplinary suspensions of three players as a result of an undisclosed violations of team rules, and the recent dismissal of one of those players, have affected Old Dominion, as has the early season knee injury suffered by 6-7 sophomore Brandan Stith (8.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Stith, the son of ODU assistant and former Virginia star Bryant Stith, could be cleared to play today.
The Monarchs, coached by former Virginia standout Jeff Jones, have struggled to consistently score, but are holding opponents to 57.8 points per game and 37.3 percent shooting (26.5 percent from 3-point distance).
?This is a great defensive team, maybe as good a defensive team as we?ve played,? said UR coach Chris Mooney.
It?s early, but forward Terry Allen has a shot at becoming the first University of Richmond player to average more than 20 points since 1991-92. Curtis Blair averaged 20.3 points that season. Blair is the only Spider to average more than 20 since John Newman did so in three consecutive seasons (1984-86).
Allen, a 6-foot-8 senior, averages 20.6 points as Richmond (6-3) meets Old Dominion (4-5) tonight at the Robins Center. So here come the double-teams with which Allen will inevitably deal. The Spiders seem well-positioned to overcome such defensive maneuvers.
While Allen has been UR?s leading scorer in six of nine games, the balanced Spiders have a few players capable of major offensive production. Junior forward T.J. Cline and junior guard ShawnDre? Jones each average 15 points, and junior forward Marshall Wood has come off the bench to average 11.5.
Allen clearly is willing to share when surrounded, which is likely to happen with greater frequency as defenses respond to his strong start. Allen averages 3 assists, an eye-catching number for a 6-8 forward. Allen came to Richmond with a backcourt background, which allowed him to develop floor vision and passing skill.
While at Manvel High in Houston, Allen wasn?t anchored in the low post because ?I could do some guard things better than the guards that we had,? he said. ?I?ve always had an understanding of when to pass it and when to not pass it.?
Would Allen, who averaged 3.5 assists as a Manvel senior, rather have 20 points or eight assists?
?If I could have both, that would be great,? he said.
The passing ability of Cline, who is 6-9, is even more noticeable. He averages 3.9 assists, and his hoops history also explains his knack for finding open teammates. As a high school freshman in Plano, Texas, Cline was 5-10. As a sophomore he was 6-2. Cline, the son of former ODU great and Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, grew up as a ball-distributing guard and perimeter shooter.
The Spiders are at their offensive best when Cline delivers quick passes from the high post.
?Because I?ve played the game like that for so long, it fits perfectly for me,? Cline said.
Disciplinary suspensions of three players as a result of an undisclosed violations of team rules, and the recent dismissal of one of those players, have affected Old Dominion, as has the early season knee injury suffered by 6-7 sophomore Brandan Stith (8.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Stith, the son of ODU assistant and former Virginia star Bryant Stith, could be cleared to play today.
The Monarchs, coached by former Virginia standout Jeff Jones, have struggled to consistently score, but are holding opponents to 57.8 points per game and 37.3 percent shooting (26.5 percent from 3-point distance).
?This is a great defensive team, maybe as good a defensive team as we?ve played,? said UR coach Chris Mooney.
