Spiders hope delay of game provides advantage
Will delay of game be a penalty or advantage for the University of Richmond?
The Spiders haven?t played since a 94-89 overtime loss to VCU on Jan. 16. Davidson?s visit to the Robins Center was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but bumped back to tonight because of snow. Nine days between games is the longest for UR since 2007-08, when 11 days separated a pair of December games.
That Spiders team followed the extended break with four consecutive victories. For this Spiders team (10-7, 2-3 A-10), a repeat would represent its best stretch of the season. After Davidson (11-6, 3-3), UR plays at George Washington on Thursday and at St. Bonaventure on Sunday afternoon. GW is 11-0 at home and the Bonnies are 8-2 at home.
UR coach Chris Mooney acknowledged that after losing a highly competitive game to rival VCU, Richmond would have preferred to play another game as soon as possible.
?That?s somewhat frustrating, but there?s no control that we have over it,? Mooney said.
The Spiders appeared fatigued late against VCU, which underscored a depth problem that can be exacerbated by foul trouble. UR has been using, basically, a seven-man rotation, though Mooney said he wants to give freshman guards Jesse Pistokache and Julius Johnson additional minutes to fortify the team through the second half of the season.
?It?s two ways. They need to force the issue and make me put them in the game, and I need to trust them and know that the experience will make them and us better for it,? Mooney said.
Richmond spent the off week addressing defensive weakness. The Spiders are allowing an average of 74 points, more than in any of Mooney?s previous 10 seasons. Opponents are shooting 46.5 percent, higher than any season since 2006-07, when UR went 8-22. While losing four of their past six, the Spiders allowed an average of 83.3 points in the defeats.
Here comes Davidson, which leads the A-10 in scoring (81.7 ppg).
The Spiders? defensive focus starts with Davidson junior point guard Jack Gibbs (25.7 ppg, 5.3 apg), who ranks third nationally in scoring.
?The night he had 43 against UMass, he had eight assists,? Mooney said of Gibbs. ?That?s another 16 to 20 points he?s accounting for himself. I think you really have to do everything you can strategy-wise and with alertness to guard him. But they have other good players.
? They?re certainly capable of beating anybody in our league.?
The snow delay would appear to be a benefit for Davidson. The Wildcats lost at Saint Louis on Wednesday night and had extra time to recover from that trip and prepare for the Spiders.
--timesdispatch.com
Will delay of game be a penalty or advantage for the University of Richmond?
The Spiders haven?t played since a 94-89 overtime loss to VCU on Jan. 16. Davidson?s visit to the Robins Center was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but bumped back to tonight because of snow. Nine days between games is the longest for UR since 2007-08, when 11 days separated a pair of December games.
That Spiders team followed the extended break with four consecutive victories. For this Spiders team (10-7, 2-3 A-10), a repeat would represent its best stretch of the season. After Davidson (11-6, 3-3), UR plays at George Washington on Thursday and at St. Bonaventure on Sunday afternoon. GW is 11-0 at home and the Bonnies are 8-2 at home.
UR coach Chris Mooney acknowledged that after losing a highly competitive game to rival VCU, Richmond would have preferred to play another game as soon as possible.
?That?s somewhat frustrating, but there?s no control that we have over it,? Mooney said.
The Spiders appeared fatigued late against VCU, which underscored a depth problem that can be exacerbated by foul trouble. UR has been using, basically, a seven-man rotation, though Mooney said he wants to give freshman guards Jesse Pistokache and Julius Johnson additional minutes to fortify the team through the second half of the season.
?It?s two ways. They need to force the issue and make me put them in the game, and I need to trust them and know that the experience will make them and us better for it,? Mooney said.
Richmond spent the off week addressing defensive weakness. The Spiders are allowing an average of 74 points, more than in any of Mooney?s previous 10 seasons. Opponents are shooting 46.5 percent, higher than any season since 2006-07, when UR went 8-22. While losing four of their past six, the Spiders allowed an average of 83.3 points in the defeats.
Here comes Davidson, which leads the A-10 in scoring (81.7 ppg).
The Spiders? defensive focus starts with Davidson junior point guard Jack Gibbs (25.7 ppg, 5.3 apg), who ranks third nationally in scoring.
?The night he had 43 against UMass, he had eight assists,? Mooney said of Gibbs. ?That?s another 16 to 20 points he?s accounting for himself. I think you really have to do everything you can strategy-wise and with alertness to guard him. But they have other good players.
? They?re certainly capable of beating anybody in our league.?
The snow delay would appear to be a benefit for Davidson. The Wildcats lost at Saint Louis on Wednesday night and had extra time to recover from that trip and prepare for the Spiders.
--timesdispatch.com
