Sophomore Kevin Anderson has scored 779 career points, needing 21 points to become just the fourth Spider to reach 800 points as a sophomore. With 19 points, Anderson would pass Dan Geriot, who has 798 through two seasons.
Quick Hitters
The Spiders have held their last six opponents under 70 points, including two of the last four to under 60 points...Richmond has held seven teams under 60 points this season and has held the opposition under 70 in 18 of its 29 games...Richmond leads the Atlantic 10 and is 44th in the nation in turnovers per game at 12.4 per game...the Spiders lead the Atlantic 10 and are 38th in the nation in turnover margin at +2.76...the Spiders have had 15 turnovers or less in 25 of 29 games...Richmond is fourth in the A-10 in field goal percentage (.459)...Richmond is seventh in the A-10 in scoring at 69.9 ppg...Kevin Anderson has made 36 of his last 41 free throws (.878) in the last nine games...Richmond is 14-2 when it shoots a higher field goal percentage than its opponent...the Spiders are 20th in the nation in 2-point FG% (.534)...Richmond had 10 blocks against La Salle, the most blocked shots in a game for the Spiders since blocking 10 shots in the win at No. 10 Kansas on Jan. 22, 2004...the Spiders have shot 50 percent or better from the field eight times this season and have shot over 45 percent in 18 of 29 games...Richmond's two guards, David Gonzalvez and Kevin Anderson, are the only teammates ranked in the top-10 in scoring in the A-10 with Gonzalvez seventh at 16.1 and Anderson eighth at 15.4 ppg...the Spiders had used the same starting lineup for the first 23 games, but have switched the starting lineup twice in the last six games. Ryan Butler was inserted into the starting lineup on Feb. 11 due to a minor ankle injury suffered by Justin Harper, and Butler has started the last six games. Harper returned to the lineup in place of Kevin Smith on Saturday against George Washington...Richmond has at least five steals in 60 of the last 63 games...Richmond has made 30 or more field goals in seven of the 29 games this season...sophomore Justin Harper is averaging 17.1 points per game if he averages at least 29 minutes...the Spiders held Rice (Jan. 3) and George Washington (Jan. 10) to under 50 points, marking the first time a Richmond team held back-to-back opponents to under 50 points since doing so on Jan. 6th and 9th, 1951 vs. Furman (29) and Maryland (48)...the Spiders had their streak of scoring 70 points in seven-consecutive games snapped in the 60-48 win over GW on Jan. 10, the longest such streak since the 1993-94 season...in his fourth season of Atlantic 10 play, Richmond head coach Chris Mooney has wins over 12 of the Spiders' 13 conference opponents with the exception Xavier...the Spiders have been in no worse than a one-possession game at the half in 49 of the last 61 games...Richmond has led by at least 20 points in six games this season...Chris Mooney, a few members of the basketball staff, athletic department staff and athletic P.R. student worker Duncan Phillips captured their second-straight University of Richmond basketball intramural championship on Feb. 16.
Spiders Pile Up A-10 Honors
Richmond sophomore Kevin Anderson was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Feb. 22 after averaging 23.5 points in wins over La Salle and Charlotte. Anderson joined fellow sophomore Justin Harper as the two Spiders to earn A-10 Player of the Week this season. Anderson was named the 2007-08 A-10 Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the conference's All-Rookie Team, while Dan Geriot was named Third-Team All-Atlantic 10. Geriot was one of two sophomores to earn A-10 Player of the Week this season, while Anderson and Harper are two of three sophomores to be named Player of the Week this year...Anderson was named A-10 Rookie of the Week six of the last eight weeks of the 2007-08 season. Only four players in Atlantic 10 history have earned conference Rookie of the Week honors more than Anderson's six awards. Geriot was an All-Rookie selection in 2007.
Las Aranas In Espana
The Spiders, or Las Aranas, as they are known in Spanish, had a very productive trip to Spain in August. Sporting specially-made European-style uniforms that said Las Aranas on the front, Richmond finished the trip 2-2, including a 95-94 overtime loss in which the Spiders overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to force OT. Richmond showed that it can score points, even without center Dan Geriot, as the Spiders averaged 91.3 points per game in the four contests. Eight of the 11 players in uniform on the trip scored in double-figures at least once. Sophomore Kevin Anderson, the 2008 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, averaged 23.7 points per game on the trip with a pair of 30-point games. Anderson scored 35 points in the overtime loss to Caja Rioja and had 30 points in the 91-77 win over Illescas Toledo. Junior Justin Harper averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds over the first two games before rolling his ankle in the opening minutes of the trip's third game. Redshirt freshman Conor Smith showed his long-range shooting ability making 15 three-pointers over the first three games of the trip and averaging 11.8 points per game. Conor Smith had a 21-point effort on seven three-pointers and an 18-point night on six treys. Redshirt freshman Josh Duinker, an Australian who joined the team in January, averaged 11.0 points and 6.0 boards per game, narrowly missing a double-double in the second game with 11-points and nine rebounds. Duinker showed that he can score inside and outside, making a pair of three-pointers in the win over Illescas Toledo to close the trip. Sophomore Kevin Smith averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds, while senior David Gonzalvez came off an injury prior to the trip to average 9.5 points, including 19 points in the trip finale. Not only was the trip beneficial to the Spiders on the court, but off the court it served as 12 days of bonding for the players and coaches. "This trip was terrific, not just because of how well our guys played, but because of what they got to experience," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. Said Anderson, "I think we've been bonding great this year, as we bond off the court, we bond on the court."
Guarded Optimism
Richmond has the best scoring guard combination in the Atlantic 10 with junior guard David Gonzalvez seventh in the league at 16.1 points per game and sophomore Kevin Anderson eighth at 15.4 ppg. Richmond is the only team in the Atlantic 10 to have two players in the top-10 in the conference in scoring. Anderson has scored in double-figures in 37 of the last 39 games and Gonzalvez has scored in double-figures in 26 of the last 30 games. Gonzalvez and Anderson are both in the top 15 in the conference in field goal percentage with Gonzalvez seventh (.478) and Anderson 11th (.458).
Turning The Defense Up
The Spiders allowed 70.6 points per game through the first 10 games. Without center Dan Geriot, who is out for the entire season with a torn ACL, the Spiders were re-adjusting to playing their match-up zone with a group of inexperienced underclassmen. After allowing 86 points in a seven-point loss to nationally-ranked Wake Forest on Dec. 19, the Spiders have turned up the defensive pressure. In the last 19 games Richmond has held the opposition to 65.7 points per game.
The Truth About Harper
Sophomore Justin Harper, who was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Jan. 25, is averaging 17.1 points per game in the seven games that he has played at least 29 minutes. The Richmond, Va. native was named A-10 Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 28 points and tying a career high with nine rebounds in the win over Rhode Island on Jan. 21. Harper's 28 points were the most points scored by a Spider in the Robins Center since Reggie Brown had 31 on Jan. 5, 2002 against La Salle. The last Spider to have at least 28 points and nine rebounds in the Robins Center was Greg Stevenson. Stevenson had 38 points and 11 rebounds on Jan. 12, 2001 against McNeese State.
Causing Turnover
Last year, the Spiders were third in the A-10 in turnovers forced, causing 16.6 turnovers per game and forcing the opposition into 20 or more turnovers seven times. The Spiders are forcing 15.2 turnovers per game through 29 games this season, which is tied for fourth in the A-10. Richmond has forced 17 or more turnovers 11 times.
A Game Of Percentages
The Spiders are fourth in the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at 45.9 percent, but do not get the impression Richmond is shooting a higher percentage than its opponents every time out. In Richmond's 15 victories, the Spiders have had the advantage in shooting percentage all but once, but in 12 of the 14 losses Richmond's opponent has shot better from the field. While the Spiders have only shot under 40 percent three times in losses, Richmond is shooting 42.0 percent in its losses while shooting 49.8 percent in wins. Richmond's defense has allowed opponents to shoot 47.4 percent in its losses, while having held the opposition to 39.7 percent in wins.
Stealing The Show
Last season the Spiders had 257 steals - just five short of the school record - led by Kevin Anderson's 55 steals, which ranked 10th on the all-time single-season list. Richmond was second in the Atlantic 10 in steals and 45th in the nation in steals at 8.3 per contest. The Spiders had double-digits steals in 10 games last season and are back at it this season, with double-digit steals in five games, including a season-high 12 vs. nationally-ranked Wake Forest. Richmond is averaging 7.6 steals per game through 29 contests this season, which is third in the A-10. The Spiders have at least five steals in 60 of the last 63 games. Anderson leads the team and is 10th in the A-10 at 1.45 per game. Ryan Butler is second on the team and 13th in the A-10 at 1.41 per game, while David Gonzalvez is third on the team at 1.24 per game.
Gunning Down The Running
The Spiders have made a habit of preventing teams from pushing the tempo during Chris Mooney's tenure. In 2006-07, Richmond allowed the opposition to score more than 10 fast break points in just three of 30 games. The Spiders allowed 5.4 fast break points per game in 2006-07 and cut that down to 4.6 fast break points per game last winter. Richmond has held the opposition to eight or less fast break points in 51 of the last 59 games, dating back to the start of the 2007-08 season. In 29 games this season, Richmond has allowed just 149 fast break points for a 5.14 per game average. The Spiders had 16 fast break points to Syracuse's eight on Nov. 18 in the Carrier Dome and held Wake Forest to four fast break points. "Controlling the transition game is key," head coach Chris Mooney says. "If you can stop a team from getting transition baskets you have a chance to guard them throughout the night."
Spiders' Web Reaching NBA
While the Spiders do not have a former player on any NBA rosters, three Richmond former standouts are working the sidelines in the NBA. Kevin Eastman is an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, earning a ring with the 2008 World Champions. Standout guard Ken Atkinson, a member of the 1988 Sweet 16 team, is in his first year as an assistant coach for Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks. Former guard Curtis Blair, who scored 18 points in the 1991 NCAA Tournament win over Syracuse, is in his first year as a referee in the NBA.
Spiders Sign Two
Richmond men's basketball head coach Chris Mooney announced the signing of Greg Robbins (Wynnewood, Pa.) and Darien Brothers (Richmond, Va.) to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period. Robbins is a 6-foot-4 All-State guard at Lower Merion High School, who is rated as the No. 88 player in the class of 2009 by The Basketball Times and The Hoop Scoop. Brothers is a 6-foot-3 all-conference guard for Richmond's Benedictine High School, who helped the Cadets to a 28-7 record and state championship. "We are very excited about our recruiting class this year," Chris Mooney said. "The two student-athletes are outstanding players and great kids. We look forward to welcoming them to the Richmond family."
Like Father, Like Son
Richmond sophomore Ryan Butler and his father Jeff Butler are the second father-son duo to play for the Spiders, joining Pat DiServio (1981-83) and Tony DiServio (1945-47). Jeff Butler was a star for the Spiders from 1975-77, leading the team in scoring both seasons. He averaged 14.3 points per game in 1975-76 and 16.3 points per game in 1976-77. Jeff Butler was later an assistant coach for the Spiders under Hall of Fame coach Dick Tarrant, who regularly attends games in the Robins Center. Ryan Butler grew up in the shadow of campus and starred at Douglas Freeman High three miles from campus.
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