Recon: Richmond (and You Thought Miami Was Preppy)
March 4, 2010 Jim O'Brien I tried to talk you guys into thinking we were underdogs last week in the worst recon you've ever seen until this one. The truth is we are now officially on the outside looking in for the first time all season. I'm about to tell you something that will rock your world. I actually got multiple anonymous emails about this, that I will not republish for fear of reprisal. Here we go. This game is a must win. WOW. I know right? Here's the kicker, we could win this game, the SLU game, and make it to the championship game of the A10, and still not make the tournament. Prepare for the worst and drink like the best. Lets get right into a detailed description of what we're about to see, regardless of validity.
How we got here: Richmond's rise to the top of the Atlantic Ten isn't surprising. A small school with under 3,000 kids, most of whom have little to no knowledge of the team, and once they graduate work at subpar mortgage firms in midtown Manhattan. Blackburn described the students at Richmond as, "cake eaters who prefer bong rips over college basketball." He forgot to mention the casual cocaine addiction and not so casual madras addiction. I have a lot of friends from Richmond, the type of people that are nice to me, but not nice to the maitre'd at Canal Bar (Ed Gein, anyone?). Anyway, the Spiders take orders from the same type of person they will after graduation, a Princeton grad.
Mooney: his bowel movements could outcoach BGChris Mooney has been the Richmond head coach since 2005 and is in the midst of his second twenty win season with the Spyders. Mooney runs a Princeton offense which is based on passing, movement, and the ability to drain the three from all five positions. On paper, Dayton's defense is built to defeat the Princeton offense (more like the Argyle offense...am I right guys?!!?); we constantly pressure the ball, defend passing lanes with a long, athletic team, and utilize our depth to keep fresh legs on the court. Since '07 "we" are 3-1 against Richmond and have held them to 37%, 40%, 55% (2008 loss), and 37% shooting. Clearly the magic number tomorrow will lie somewhere between 41% and.....54%! That's some crack analysis. Suck it, Doog.
The Arachnia: One of the reasons Richmond has taken the game to the next level this season has been the health of Dan Geriot. Geriot took a medical redshirt last year after doing to his knee what's...
Errrrrrr (that's a record screeching sound, and not of the remix variety). O'B ingeniously disconnected the sprinkler system in his office building and then committed an act of arson yesterday. All in order to avoid writing this recon (we're struggling to maintain interest just like you). So from here out you'll get a mashup of inferior rambling from myself, Ollie, and the sterling prose of Mr. B., the man with Richmond love juice running down his chin.
I'm not sure where we were going with Geriot, as he's yet to make the impact that his freshman and sophomore years promised (remember, promises are just lies in the making). But after putting up 14 and 5.5 a half as a sophomore on 48% from the field and 40% from three, all thought he was on pace for an All A-10 career and a solid Spanish tenure where he played games twice a week, ate paella daily, and made his way through Spanish women like the Inquisition. Then his ACL popped and his statshave dropped across the board. Which is vexing as nobody was confusing him with Tyrus Thomas. Really, he was a rich man's Pop-A-Shot with superior ball skills. He was Pete Carril's wet dream, a big man with great range, passing ability, and well defined pecs. Now he's, more or less, a confused Kurt Huelsman.
Only Jordan Crawford stands in his wayKevin Anderson is the tiny little heart of the Spiders. He's what makes 'em go. He's the quickest guard in the league and will make a living in the paint. While, not a particularly adept distributor, the threat of him beating his defender leaves gaps for his teammates. He's getting 17.5 a game and does a great deal of his damage at the line, as he's prone to be fouled and, gasp, hits his foul shots like he's paid to (82%). He's not much of a threat from 3, but he'll still fire his fair share. While the Flyers PGs are reputed to be terrors on D, they've been exposed as dredlocked charlatans this season. They're apt to eat some poor, white PG's lunch, but are swinging gates against anyone with a head fake or a crossover. Look for Anderson to have a huge game as he did last season.
David Gonzalvez makes up the second half of the league's best backcourt. His numbers are down a bit from last year, but he's still a solid all around 2 guard. Offensively, he can shoot it a bit (44%/36%), is not afraid to grab a board (4.1), and plays some mean D. Like Anderson, he's grabbing nearly 2 steals a game. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for Gonzalvez to graduate and not because of his basketball, but because of the damned V in his last name. Is he too good to be a Gonzalez?
Justin Harper's continued development has been instrumental in Richmond's rise to glory. Coming into this season, Harper was expected to raise his game and match the hype he entered the Spider program with three years ago. He has done just that this season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 6 boards a game. Additionally, he is a superior defender, the type of player that fills in all the little holes no one else will. The same can be said of senior guard Ryan Butler. Mooney is on record claiming Butler as the best defensive player he has ever coached. I would expect that in the rare moments the Spiders aren't sitting in a zone chuckling amongst each other, Butler will be all up in Chris Johnson's business. Although not a great offensive player, Butler will fire away from the perimeter if left to his own devices.
The Numbers Game: "A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers."
| PPG | FG% | FT% | 3P% | RPG | ORPG | DRPG | APG | TPG | SPG | BPG | FPG | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
UD | 70.2 | 42.1 | 66.6 | 33.7 | 39.2 | 12.0 | 26.8 | 15.1 | 14.4 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 19.8 |
 |
RICH | 68.6 | 44.6 | 69.9 | 34.8 | 32.7 | 9.0 | 23.7 | 12.7 | 11.5 | 8.4 | 4.9 | 17.6 |
|
UD Opponents | 61.6 | 39.2 | 64.6 | 31.2 | 32.7 | 10.1 | 22.6 | 11.0 | 14.2 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 18.8 |
|
RICH Opponents | 60.8 | 39.0 | 70.4 | 28.4 | 37.6 | 13.1 | 24.4 | 9.9 | 15.7 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 17.9 |
Rest your worthless bones, your end is nighRichmond is the most efficient team UD will face this season, they never waste a possession. They play very heady basketball, take smart shots and protect the ball. Defensively, they are just as sound, allowing just over 60 points a game. The Spiders are sneaky athletic in the frontcourt. Although the backcourt deservedly gets much of the focus, Butler and Harper are vital to this team's success on the defensive end. The one downfall of this team has been in the rebounding department. Chris Mooney's team routinely gets outrebounded, an area the Flyers can hopefully capitalize on.
Prediction: WE NEVER LOSE AT HOME...only on the road. If UD comes up short, they will end the year 4-7 on the road, just 2-6 in A-10 play. A roadie against a top-25 caliber team on Senior night? It's safe to say UD's chances are slim to none, and Slim just walked out of the building (my Uncle, the one who did time, used to say that. No clue what it means). Richmond's backcourt will likely be too much for UD to handle, and the fact that Richie excels on the defensive end does not bode well for the Flyers either. The Spiders are 3.5 point favorites, and I think that's giving UD too much credit.
It will be interesting to see what Gregory's mindset will be tonight. Will he stick to his guns, the strategy that has the Flyers sitting at 8-6 in the league, or press on with a different look -- perhaps increasing the minutes for UD's most valuable weapons. Although BG's gameplan is predicated on throwing as many fresh bodies at the opposition as possible, tonight's game would seem to be a rather opportune moment to change things up a bit. There is nothing left to lose, Dayton has painted itself into a corner. Might as well throw everything against the wall and see what, if anything, sticks.
Richmond wins this one, 67-60.
Reader Comments (36)
Great American Psycho reference
Lowery apparently rolled an ankle and may not play. It sucks that he got hurt, but the thought of him not playing doesn't scare me. London staying out of foul trouble and playing 32-34 minutes may be the only chance UD has in this one, with or without Lowery available.
@Adam: What makes you more confident in London than Rob?
I think it's a crapshoot with either of them, but with Rob at least you have the chance of a big scoring game.
I'm telling you right now, London is going to get abused by Anderson. Perhaps, the lack of a backup PG forces London to play more conservatively and thus less likely to get blown by. One can hope.
My dick is longer than Mooney's. I win.
DAYTON IN A SHOCKER ... 68-52!
Best scene ever ...
"Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite."
Anyone remember that horrid Vince Vaughan "Psycho" remake?
Turrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible.
John is the new Swampy Meadows. "Adrian Payne is signing with Dayton just because." "Dayton is winning tonight just because." John, care to make a bet on tonight's game? I want some action.
Donoher ... I am not being serious at all. Why the fuck are you comparing me to Swampy?
All I have said the past two weeks is I have been expecting losses. I have changed my tone since Duquense ... I am not a retarded fan, I am an educated one.
Dayton will most likely lose by 3-6 points.
Don't confuse my options of at-large positioning "IF" they win with blind faith ... I am just stating facts if somehow they pull one out of their ass. Just because they suck on the road doesn't mean I will stop watching, it just means I watch with a little less faith.
wow, i really hope rob doesnt play. for a guard, he is terrible at ballhandling, and makes too many stupid passes. london doesnt turn the ball over 5 times a game and get pick pocketed in the backcourt
Oliver--when was the last time, if ever, that RLow showed well in the red road unis?
@Ollie - It's more about the mean. With Lowery there's a small chance he'll go off for 22pts/4rbs/6asst, and a decent chance he'll pull a Xavier road game performance. With Warren barring foul trouble you get 5pts/4rbs/6asst just about every game. The offense runs better, the transition game runs better and the defense runs better. London's the better PG.
@Rich: Hell of a question. After a bit of research, it was last season. He played surprisingly well on the road, averaging 10.7 vs. 5.3 at home. Point taken, though.
@Adam: I can buy that. Just disappointing that we've reached a point where we prefer the guy who will do less damage. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009/2010 Dayton Flyers!
John...apologies. You have a track record of being super optimistic. Which is not a bad thing. I was just worried about you.
That and I don't go to Vegas for another 2 months so I need my gambling fix.
@ Rich ... probably Marquette
@ Donoher ... my three weeks of fun ended after the LaSalle win. Since then I've had no faith ... and even missed two games something that hasn't happened in 6 years.
Trust me I am not jacking off to my computer screen like Swampy when Paul Williams hits a shot, which Ironically enough happens so infrequently he could probably stay up to speed ... and then preparing my one sentence "articles."
I guess it is hard to get sarcasm over the internet ... which is where I have been at for about a month.
I will say this though, if they somehow win tonight (assuming they win Saturday) they will drag me back in.
Handsome Joe: "When they're at UD Arena, they're the Lakers. Away, not so much."
I have seen this movie many times, and I know how it ends.
I would pay attention and actually care about the Flyers tonight...but I have to return some videotapes
@The Gentlemen Who finished the recon: This is the best recon I've ever written and I take full credit for it.
@240: I was worried no one would catch that
@John: Don't listen to Donoher...he's into that whole Yale thing.
@ 240 ... awesome! Easily Christian Bale's finest role.
@ OBrien, haha ... I can see Donoher getting rammed in the ass by a Yale kid while he is gagged with a Smashburger ........... and liking it.
@ Timmycouch ... how did it turn out last year? Yeah, that's what I thought.
I was reading the convo with Oliver and Adam and im on Adams side because Londons the better point gaurd I've lost all confiendence in Rob hadling the ball in big moments, and shooting the last shot (saint joes??)...I think that if london stays out of foul trouble and actually trys to help the team out SCORING then he can drive to the basket or try to invent some type of shot that works............london will make it way harder for them to score, and even steals and just the overall flow of the game. And if UD wants to win this game we better not be turning the ball over, making stupid choices like oops that we don't need to do, or not making easy shots. We can totally win this game if we don't make stupid choices and dumb plays...LETS GO FLYERS!!!
Defense - "Poor, predictable Lowery. Always picks dribble."
Lowery - "Good ol, dribble"
not a bad first half. i don't expect richmond to shoot 11% from 3 in the second half, however maybe top flight will hit a field goal in the second half as well....... why does lowery even touch the ball with less that 30seconds left in a half. constantly gets it stolen
Rob Lowery would get a turn over on a reach around.
So...pretty much everything happened exactly as we expected, right?
i cannot believe they just lost that game.... actually, yeah i can. un-fucking-believable. I can't wait to read stories after they win a first round A-10 tourney game at home about how they know theyre underdogs, etc etc. and that they believe in themselves... who really gives a shit.
I'm glad Richmond covered...what is Vegas doing with those odds?
Who the fuck wants to watch these assholes on Saturday?
Didn't you love how Gillen was in awe about how Richmond was actually still in the game? Big secret Pete, stay with Dayton, let them beat themselves with turnovers. And was that the all time worst play coming out of a time out at the end of a game ever?
Top seed in the CBI still within reach...
How incredibly unsurprising.
we are the worst team in the country at holding the lead at the end of the game on the road. blame gregory
Most underachieving senior class in UD history?
Play that sums it up the season: London hands ball in bounds. Chris Wright walks out of bounds. Turnover. Richmond hits a 3 right after.
I don't know why I continued watching this season. I stopped expecting them to win games, but then once every game started I would get my hopes up that maybe just maybe they would win one of these close games. Should have trusted my instincts and given up a long time ago. Band of Brothers strike again!
Can't wait to give the seniors a big round of applause on Saturday...as in can't wait to see you go...
*Special note to Kurt Huelsman for actually playing a legitimate game of division 1 basketball tonight, I guess that 129th start in a row is a charm.
WE PLAY OUR BEST WHEN OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL!!!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
seriously, cannot wait until these seniors leave. marcus got stripped twice in a row w/ less than 130 left in the game. at least next year w/ no dreadheaded pg's, we will be able to hold onto the ball
here is some shit house rat material via DDN comments section
By lax20
March 4, 2010 10:49 PM | Link to this
X fans don’t cry when you get your tail handed to you in the A-10 tourney. UD will qualify with the automatic bid. Bank on it. Team is to talented to not make it.
Did anyone else see when BG called timeout at the end of the game after Rob fell? He says something to the guys in the huddle and then 5-6 guys raise their hand. I pictured him asking who wanted to shoot this possession. It looked like a grade school huddle. Please tell me you saw this.
@Tweeds - Absolutely saw that. Looked like he said "Who wants the ball?" The guys all raised there hands like the dumb kid in class who just raises his hand because everyone else did. Privately hoping not to get called on.