This is the first round of the College Basketball Invitational, with the winner to play Tulsa or Wright State on Monday. . . . Richmond has a size advantage and, presumably, a talent advantage going up against a Northeast Conference member. . . .The Bulldogs haven?t played since March 6, when they lost to Mount St. Mary?s in the NEC tournament. . . . UR fell to Charlotte in the A-10?s opening round on March 14. The Spiders? match-up defense could present problems for an opponent unfamiliar with it.
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Spiders facing series of CBI roadblocks
Robins Center not available for CBI games
This is putting the cart way before the horse for a team that has struggled on the road.
But if the University of Richmond advances to the College Basketball Invitational?s unique championship series, which employs a best-of-three format, where would the Spiders play a home game, if necessary?
The Robins Center is not available because of renovation.
The CBI, to which Richmond (18-14) was invited late Sunday night, has 16 teams, and games are played at campus sites. That?s no issue if the Spiders, who open at Bryant University (19-11) on Wednesday, win twice and advance to the semifinals.
But the CBI?s championship series, if extended to three games, would call for at least one game at the home court of each finalist. There has been no determination as to what UR would do if it reaches the championship round.
It seems likely that if Richmond makes the championship series and it lasted three games, all games would be played on the opponent?s court. UR accepted the tournament invitation assuming it would play nothing but road games.
Of moving on without home games, Spiders? senior Greg Robbins said, ?it?s not that big of a deal to me. (The school) wants to get started with renovations, and I understand that. The place is going to look awesome. I?ve already seen the blueprints, and stuff like that. I?m really excited to come back and watch games.?
Bryant plays home games at its 2,600-seat Chace Athletic Center, which has been full for two of the Bulldogs? last three games.
?I?m hoping the students will respond (on Wednesday) like they did for those games,? said Bryant coach Tim O?Shea. ?If the atmosphere is anything like it was our last few games here, I think it will be really enjoyable for both sides because it?s always fun to play in a packed gym.
?We play in a gym. We don?t play in an arena.?
Richmond is 3-12 away from the Robins Center. If the Spiders win at Bryant, they?ll go on the road to play Tulsa or Wright State on Monday.
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Spiders facing series of CBI roadblocks
Robins Center not available for CBI games
This is putting the cart way before the horse for a team that has struggled on the road.
But if the University of Richmond advances to the College Basketball Invitational?s unique championship series, which employs a best-of-three format, where would the Spiders play a home game, if necessary?
The Robins Center is not available because of renovation.
The CBI, to which Richmond (18-14) was invited late Sunday night, has 16 teams, and games are played at campus sites. That?s no issue if the Spiders, who open at Bryant University (19-11) on Wednesday, win twice and advance to the semifinals.
But the CBI?s championship series, if extended to three games, would call for at least one game at the home court of each finalist. There has been no determination as to what UR would do if it reaches the championship round.
It seems likely that if Richmond makes the championship series and it lasted three games, all games would be played on the opponent?s court. UR accepted the tournament invitation assuming it would play nothing but road games.
Of moving on without home games, Spiders? senior Greg Robbins said, ?it?s not that big of a deal to me. (The school) wants to get started with renovations, and I understand that. The place is going to look awesome. I?ve already seen the blueprints, and stuff like that. I?m really excited to come back and watch games.?
Bryant plays home games at its 2,600-seat Chace Athletic Center, which has been full for two of the Bulldogs? last three games.
?I?m hoping the students will respond (on Wednesday) like they did for those games,? said Bryant coach Tim O?Shea. ?If the atmosphere is anything like it was our last few games here, I think it will be really enjoyable for both sides because it?s always fun to play in a packed gym.
?We play in a gym. We don?t play in an arena.?
Richmond is 3-12 away from the Robins Center. If the Spiders win at Bryant, they?ll go on the road to play Tulsa or Wright State on Monday.
