Junior David Gonzalvez has 1,177 career points, which puts him 22nd on the Spiders' all-time scoring list. Gonzalvez needs 11 points to tie Tom Tenwick (1962-65) for 21st with 1,188 points.
Quick Hitters
Richmond has scored 70 points in 19 games this season, the most 70-point games for the Spiders since the 1993-94 team had 19 70-point games...the last time the Spiders scored 70 points 20 times was the 1991-92 season...Richmond is 10-6 at home, having double-figure wins for the 16th time in the 37-year history of the Robins Center, including the second time in four years under head coach Chris Mooney...the Spiders are one of four A-10 teams to have finished in fifth place or better in the conference in the last two seasons, joining Xavier, Temple and Saint Joseph's...Anderson (7th) and Gonzalvez (8th) are the only two teammates ranked in the top-10 in the Atlantic 10 in scoring...Richmond has held the opposition under 70 points in 10 of its last 11 games and 22 of the 34 games this season...Richmond has held seven teams under 60 points this season and three teams under 50 points...Richmond has a 9-9 record outside of the Robins Center (7-7 away, 2-2 neutral)...the Spiders had the best road record in Atlantic 10 games (5-3)...Richmond has had double-figure steals in seven games this season...the Spiders are averaging 69.9 points per game, looking to become the first Richmond team to average over 70.0 points per game since Dick Tarrant's 1992-93 team averaged 72.9 points per game...all but one of Richmond's A-10 losses were by 10 points or less with the one exception a triple OT loss to Saint Louis...in his fourth season of Atlantic 10 play, Richmond head coach Chris Mooney has wins over all 13 of the Spiders' conference opponents...Richmond is seventh in the A-10 in scoring at 69.9 ppg...Richmond is 17-2 when it shoots a higher field goal percentage than its opponent...the Spiders are 33rd in the nation in 2-point FG% (.524)...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 nine times this season and have shot over 45 percent in 19 of 34 games...Richmond has at least five steals in 63 of the last 68 games...Richmond has made 30 or more field goals in seven of the 33 games this season...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)...Chris Mooney, members of the coaching staff, athletics staff and athletic P.R. student worker Duncan Phillips won their second-straight University of Richmond basketball intramural title on Feb. 16.
Turning Down The Turnovers
Richmond leads the Atlantic 10 and is 26th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game at 11.6. The Spiders also lead the Atlantic 10 and are 32nd in the nation in turnover margin at +3.00. The Spiders have had single-digit turnovers in four of the last five games and nine times this season. Richmond has had 12 turnovers or less in nine of the last 10 games and 15 turnovers or less in 29 of 34 games.
Spiders Pile Up A-10 Honors
Richmond sophomore Kevin Anderson was named Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 for the 2008-09 season, the Spiders fourth second-team All-Atlantic 10 pick in eight seasons in the league. Junior David Gonzalvez was named honorable mention All-Atlantic 10. Anderson was a two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, winning the award on March 8 after averaging 26.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in wins over No. 17 Xavier and Charlotte. He was also was named A-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 made 15 three-pointers and averaging 11.8 points per game. He had a 21-point effort on seven three-pointers and an 18-point night on six treys. Redshirt freshman Josh Duinker, 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. 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. 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 sophomore guard Kevin Anderson seventh in the league at 16.7 points per game and junior David Gonzalvez eighth at 15.8 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 43 of the last 45 games and Gonzalvez has scored in double-figures in 28 of the last 35 games. Gonzalvez and Anderson are both in the top 15 in the conference in field goal percentage with Gonzalvez 10th (.471) and Anderson 12th (.461).
Tenacious D
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. In the last nine games the Spiders have allowed just 63.2 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 Spiders have the last nine times Harper has scored in double-figures and are 10-3 in games that he scores double-figures. 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. Harper joins Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez as the only Spider trio to each score 28 points or more in the same season since the 1993-94 season.
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 eight times. The Spiders are forcing 15.2 turnovers per game through 34 games this season, which is fifth in the A-10. Richmond has forced 17 or more turnovers 12 times.
A Game Of Percentages
The Spiders are fourth in the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at 45.7 percent. In Richmond's 19 victories, the Spiders have had the advantage in shooting percentage all but twice, but in 13 of the 15 losses Richmond's opponent has shot better from the field. The Spiders have only shot under 40 percent four times in losses, but are shooting 41.6 percent in its losses, while shooting 48.9 percent in wins. Richmond's defense has allowed opponents to shoot 47.2 percent in its losses, while having held the opposition to 40.2 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 7.4 steals per game through 34 contests this season, which is third in the A-10. The Spiders have at least five steals in 63 of the last 68 games. Richmond has 253 steals, which is nine off of the school record. Ryan Butler leads the team and is 10th in the Atlantic 10 at 1.50 steals per game Anderson is second on the team and 14th in the A-10 at 1.41 per game, while David Gonzalvez is third on the team at 1.14 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 55 of the last 64 games, dating back to the start of the 2007-08 season. In 34 games this season, Richmond has allowed just 174 fast break points for a 5.1 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."
Tenacious D
In Chris Mooney's first season at Richmond in 2005-06, the Spiders led the nation in fewest points allowed for most of the season, not allowing 60 points or more for the first 10 games of the year. The Spiders finished the year allowing 57.8 points per game, which ranked seventh in the country. In 2006-07, with five freshmen seeing the bulk of the minutes, the Spiders did not have as much success defensively, but last season, the more mature Spiders were fourth in the A-10 in fewest points allowed at 66.0 per game. Richmond held 16 teams to 65 points or less and did not allow over 66 points in regulation in nine of the last 12 games. After a slow start on the defensive end this season, Richmond has held four of its last six opponents to 62 points or less. In early January, Richmond held back-to-back opponents (Rice and George Washington) to under 50 points for the first time since the 1950-51. The Spiders have held opponents to 50 points or less 17 times in 110 games under Mooney and have held teams to 60 points or less 34 times. Richmond has allowed over 70 points just 29 times in Mooney's four seasons and has allowed 80 or more points nine times.
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.
The Young And The Restless
Richmond coach Chris Mooney got his first Division I head coaching job at the age of 32, which made him the fourth-youngest coach in the nation three years ago. Even with his youth, don't look for any grizzled veterans on the 36-year-old Mooney's staff. Associate head coach Kevin McGeehan is 35, assistant coach Jamal Brunt is 28 and assistant coach Rob Jones is 30. Directors of basketball operations Marcus Jenkins and Peter Thomas are 26 and 24, respectively.
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