Richmond Spiders 2015-2016 preview
There was one word to describe the 2014-15 season for the Richmond Spiders, disappointing. The Spiders came in with high expectations and were primed for their first NCAA bid since 2011. Early in the season, the hopes of an NCAA bid were soon forgotten as losses to Old Dominion, Wake Forest, Northeastern, and James Madison left Spider fans confused and angry. But the Spiders rebounded, racking up six straight wins to end the season and earning a spot on the bubble. That bubble soon burst and the Spiders were left on the outside looking in. They were one of the "First Four Out" on Selection Sunday, the consolation prize was a #1 seed in the NIT. The Spiders made a nice little run to the quarterfinal before losing to Miami at home. The Spiders finished 21-14.
Who's Out:
Kendall Anthony: The heart and soul of the Richmond Spiders. The 5'8 giant, whose jersey will soon be in the rafters, averaged 16.4 points and 2.5 assists per game. The All Conference first team guard is irreplaceable.
Alonzo Nelson-Ododa: Zo's transfer came as a shock to all Spider fans, considering it was so late in the summer. Alonzo never fully reached his potential at Richmond. We were starting to see flashes of talent before an eye injury set him back. Alonso ended up at Pittsburgh
Kadeem Smithen: The combo guard never really got much playing time in his only year with the Spiders. The 6'3 guard transfered to Siena.
Chandler Diekvoss: Chandler redshirted during his freshman year. The guard decided to transfer to Lindenwood.
Who's In:
Jesse Pistokache: Originally committed to Charlotte, Jesse decided to rethink his decision after Alan Major was let go. A 6'3 guard from Mission, Texas, Jesse is a proven scorer with a lethal shot. He'll have a chance to play major minutes.
Julius Johnson: Julius was the first commitment of the 2015 class, as he committed in the spring of 2014 after a visit. Johnson hails from Cocoa, Florida and attended Florida Air Academy, a Florida basketball powerhouse. Johnson is a strong and physical shooting guard who is an excellent shot maker. Jesse and Julius will be battling for minutes this year.
KoVien Dominaus: KoVien was a late commit from Independence High School in Columbus, Ohio. KoVien is a 6'7 forward who can shoot the ball, but also drive to the basket. With so much depth at the forward position, a redshirt year seems likely.
Marshall Wood: Marshall comes from Virginia Tech where he spent the last two seasons. He is the second transfer in the Chris Mooney era. Wood is a 6'8 forward who can stretch the floor with his shot, but his biggest attribute is his knack for rebounding. The Spiders desperately need help in this department, where they ranked 343rd last year.
Overview:
It would be easy to write off the Spiders as an Atlantic 10 title contender with the loss of Kendall Anthony. Despite losing Kendall,the Spiders return a talented frontcourt and reigning 6th Man of the Year, ShawnDre' Jones. In order for the Spiders to reach the Big Dance in March ShawnDre' will have to fill the shoes of Kendall Anthony, which he is more than capable of doing. The junior guard averaged 10.3 points per game and 2.6 assists coming off the bench. Forwards Terry Allen and TJ Cline will be responsible for most of the scoring. Allen, a preseason All Atlantic 10 third team selection, finished second on the team with 13.0 points per game and led the Spiders with 6.7 rebounds per game. Cline, a junior forward who averaged 11.8 points per game in his first year with the Spiders, will be critical to the success of the Spiders. Cline has a flair for passing, which is overshadowed by his ability to score inside and out. The Spiders will need these three players to perform consistently in order to dance in March. The biggest question mark for the Spiders is their inexperienced backcourt. With just ShawnDre' Jones and Trey Davis returning from last year, who will emerge? Redshirt freshman Khwan Fore is one of your answers. The 6'0 guard was slated for major minutes as a freshman last year before an ankle injury sidelined him. The athletic guard is noted for his ability to pass and defend. Who else will emerge? Jesse Pistokache. The 6'3 guard has a knack for scoring. He will be seeing a lot of minutes early.
Sleepers:
Paul Friendshuh: The 6'10 redshirt freshman is coming off of an ACL injury. He won't see many minutes to start but with his ability to stretch the floor with his shot, he could be a pleasant surprise for the Spiders.
Deion Taylor: Back surgery has held Taylor back in the past two seasons. Taylor's defense played a huge part in Richmond's late run last year, but his offense has been stagnant for the past two years. If the 6'7 senior can find his shooting stroke from his freshman year, the Spiders already loaded frontcourt will become lethal.
Projection: NCAA Tournament
It's now or never for the Spiders. It has been four years since the Spiders have heard their name called on Selection Sunday. The pressure is on to deliver. Chris Mooney and his staff have assembled a great non-conference schedule where the Spiders will have many opportunities to make noise. Led by ShawnDre' Jones, the emergence of Marshall Wood and Jesse Pistokache will have the Spiders dancing in March.
