I hate to refer to any game as a "must win", particularly in a season where GW has no legitimate shot at receiving an at large berth.  Nevertheless, the return game against Richmond comes real close to qualifying.  The Spiders have one true road win all year (at UMASS), have lost 5 straight games, and have lost 4 of these without Delonnie Hunt, arguably their best player who broke a bone in his foot.  Hunt had 19 points and 6 steals against GW in the first meeting.  To Richmond's credit, those 5 losses are by an average of 6.6 points per game, with just one by double figures.  So they are remaining competitive, but they haven't been winning lately..  

Richmond Spiders (Game 2)
Date: Wednesday January 29th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Charles E. Smith Center (Washington, DC)
TV: ESPN+
Analytic Ranks: 221st (KenPom), 216th (Bart Torvik), 217th (Haslametrics), 220th (EvanMiya)
NET Ranking: 242nd (Quad 4 game)
2024-25 Projected Record: 10-21, 5-13 (14th in A10)

Game 1 Result: RICH 66, GW 61 (Drumgoole 27 points, Buchanan 11 points, Moss 11 points)
Team Preview: Link
Richmond Record Since Last Matchup: 1-5 (Win @ UMass; Losses @ GMU, vs. URI, @ St. Bona, vs. SLU, vs. Davidson)

Offensive Efficiency: 266th (KenPom), 264th (Bart Torvik), 246th (Haslametrics), 253rd (EvanMiya)
Defensive Efficiency: 164th (KenPom), 156th (Bart Torvik), 170th (Haslametrics), 176th (EvanMiya)
Pace: 292nd (KenPom), 283rd (Bart Torvik), 290th (Haslametrics), 282nd (EvanMiya)

Projected Starting Lineup:
#1 G Mikkel Tyne (Sophomore; Toronto, Canada) - 7.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 spg; 35% FG, 24% 3-PT, 70% FT per 29.2 mpg/20 GP
                Game 1 @ Richmond: 7 points, 2 rebounds; 3-9 FG, 1-5 3-PT in 27 minutes.
#11 G Jason Roche (Senior; Berkeley, CA) - 6.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg; 42% FG, 41% 3-PT, 65% FT per 21.2 mpg/19 GP
                Game 1 @ Richmond: 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 block; 1-6 FG, 1-6 3-PT in 24 minutes.
#7 F Dusan Neskovic (Graduate Student; Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina) - 14.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg; 43% FG, 28% 3-PT, 85% FT per 23.8 mpg/20 GP
                Game 1 @ Richmond: 17 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals; 4-12 FG, 1-6 3-PT, 8-8 FT in 18 minutes.
#33 F Apostolos Roumoglou (Junior; Xanthi, Greece) - 5.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 apg; 32% FG, 27% 3-PT, 44% FT per 27.1 mpg/20 GP
                Game 1 @ Richmond: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal; 2-5 FG, 1-3 3-PT in 23 minutes.
#21 C Mike Walz (Junior; Berwyn, PA) - 6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.1 apg; 53% FG, 47% 3-PT, 82% FT per 19.6 mpg/19 GP
                Game 1 @ Richmond: 2 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists; 0-2 FG, 2-2 FT in 25 minutes.

Projected Bench:
#8 G B. Artis White (Graduate Student; Canton, MI) - 3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.3 apg; 22% FG, 17% 3-PT, 70% FT per 20.5 mpg/13 GP
               Game 1 @ Richmond: 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal; 2-7 FG, 1-5 3-PT in 18 minutes.
#9 F Jonathan Beagle (Junior; Hudson Falls, NY) - 8.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg; 56% FG, 43% 3-PT, 71% FT per 20.2 mpg/20 GP
               Game 1 @ Richmond: 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block; 1-2 FT in 15 minutes.
#5 G Collin Tanner (Sophomore; Creedmoor, NC) - 2.9 ppg, 2 rpg; 36% FG, 29% 3-PT, 80% FT per 16.2 mpg/20 GP
               Game 1 @ Richmond: 7 points, 2 assists; 3-5 FG, 1-2 3-PT in 15 minutes.
#40 George Washington III (Sophomore; Austin, TX) - 1.9 ppg; 50% FG, 50% 3-PT, 75% FT per 3.9 mpg/7 GP
               Game 1 @ Richmond: DNP

Conference Marks (A10 play only):
Team FT Percentage: 85.1% (1st) (nearly 8% better than the second best team in conference)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.9 TO/G (2nd)
Scoring Defense: 64.9 PPG (4th)
Opponent 3-Point FG Percentage: 30.4% (5th)
Opponent FG Percentage: 40.9% (5th)
Assist Turnover Ratio: 1.28 AST/TO (6th)
Steals Per Game: 6.9 SPG (7th)
3-Point FGs Made: 7.7 3PM/G (9th)
Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 11.7 TO/G (9th)
Team Defensive Rebounds: 24.3 DRPG (9th)
Combined Opponent Rebounds: 36 RPG (10th)
Opponent FT Percentage: 73.2% (10th)
Assists Per Game: 12.6 APG (11th)
Scoring Margin: -2.9 PPG (11th)
Blocked Shots Per Game: 1.9 BPG (14th)
Team 3-Point FG Percentage: 29% (14th)
Team FG Percentage: 38.9% (14th)
Combined Team Rebounds: 29.7 RPG (15th)
Rebound Margin: -6.3 RPG (15th)
Scoring Offense: 62 PPG (15th)
Team Offensive Rebounds: 5.4 ORPG (15th)

Individual Leaders (A10 play only):
Scoring:
Dusan Neskovic - 16.9 PPG (7th)

Rebounding:
Mike Walz - 7.4 RPG (9th)

3-PT Field Goal Percentage:
Jason Roche - 38.2% (19th)

Free Throw Percentage:
Dusan Neskovic - 91.1% (2nd)

3-PT Field Goals Per Game:
Jason Roche - 2.2 3PM/G (13th)

Keys/Trends:
- Despite shooting under 39% from the field, Richmond has practically ignored offensive rebounds. Between the GW and UMass games, the Spiders came down with 20 total offensive boards. In the five games since, they've had a combined 18. GW has struggled with finishing defensive possessions with a board at times, but the goal is to concede five o-boards or fewer in this game.

- The Spiders have unsurprisingly struggled to put up points since DeLonnie Hunt went down four games ago. Since that time, they are averaging just 59.5 ppg.

- GW has struggled mightily from deep the past couple of weeks, ranking dead last in three point shooting in conference play. Richmond is barely better, as they are just 29% themselves. In the past six games, they've shot above 32% from deep just once (against George Mason).

- With Hunt out, Dusan Neskovic has been the heart of the Spider offense. He's finished under 10 points just once in conference play (@St Bonaventure). In the four games that Hunt has been out, the Dartmouth transfer is just 6/26 (23.1%) from deep - probably a sign of increased defensive attention. To his credit, he's been money from the FT line, making 24 of 27 during this same time period. Hopefully, GW doesn't send him to the line eight times again like they did last time.

- Apostolos Roumoglou, who knocked down a huge three in the first meeting between the two teams, has started the past five games for UR. The native of Greece is just 7/28 (25%) in the four contests that Hunt hasn't played, and has made just two total threes in that time.

- Mike Walz has been one of Richmond's more consistent players in terms of efficiency, but can be prone to picking up fouls. Since the GW game, he has finished with at least three fouls in five of six games. He did a good job against Rafael in the first meeting, but in general CC has adjusted to feature Slim a lot more since that game. Hopefully, the Revs will do a better job of going after Walz Wednesday evening.

- Mikkel Tyne is just 3/21 (14.3%) from deep in conference play (although to his credit, he has taken fewer shots from deep lately). I thought in the SLU game the Revs played Anya a lot tighter than they needed to. You want to force a guy like Tyne to try and beat you with made jumpers rather than allow him to get to the rim. He has shot under 40% from the field in nine of UR's last ten games. Sounds a bit like Jacoi having a sophomore slump.

- While Richmond as a team isn't shooting the ball particularly well, Jason Roche has seen a bit more success the past three games. He's shot 9/17 (52.9%) from deep since mid-January. Hopefully, it will be easier to account for that given he's attempted just seven two point shots all year (and just one in A10 play). For the season, Roche has finished in double figures just five times. Two of those have come in UR's last three contests.

- Jonathan Beagle has averaged seven field goal attempts in Richmond's last three games, which is above his season average. In UR's last game against Davidson, Beagle attempted two threes which is definitely uncharacteristic. Prior to that game, he had attempted just five shots from deep all season.

- Collin Tanner is just 2/12 (16.7%) from deep since the GW game. He has also attempted just two FTs through seven conference games. In Richmond's two wins, he's scored a combined 17 points (8.5 ppg). Since the Spiders began conference play 2-0, Tanner has put up just nine points total across five games.

- Western Michigan transfer B. Artis White has appeared in 13 games for the Spiders. In games where he has attempted more than two shots (eight games), he has shot 40% or better just once. He has made multiple threes just once all season.

- George Washington III has logged 13 total minutes of action since January 15th. Prior to that, he had seen just 14 minutes all year. We were robbed of the GW vs GW matchup in the first meeting, but we could be treated to a brief appearance for GWIII in Wednesday's game.

Projected Score: GW 71, Richmond 63. 78% chance to win (KenPom). Bart Torvik predicts an 81% GW victory. ESPN gives the Revs a 79.8% chance at a W.
 

Colonials by 15 tonight. Wire to wire.

Gwmayhem wrote:

Alum1 wrote:

Colonials by 15 tonight. Wire to wire.

I am of the mindset that this is what should happen.  However, the Spiders have been hanging with most opponents including those they have played on their current losing streak.  It's a credit to Chris Mooney, and frankly, a big challenge for CC:  beat an undermanned team who has already beaten you and plays a distinctive style.  Let's hope we've learned some things from a month ago.

Agree with you. The -8.5 is a heavy lift in that context, but I may have to go big with the good guys. I have a feeling (which is also why I have a job).

What are these refs doing?  3 offensive fouls on us, but letting them push off and even calling us for a hand check when they push off.

Last edited by Free Quebec (1/29/2025 7:26 pm)

Long Suffering Fan wrote:

Did announcers say why no Bevins?

He's sick

Ugly officiating, ugly offensive execution, ugly foul shooting, ugly camerawork, some good hustle.
Second half needs less ugliness

3 possessions in a row without a turnover and we get 7 points.

10 points on 6 possessions because only one turnover.

Also, Autry is doing a great job anticipating those sideline passes.

This game should not be close yet Richmond plays with discipline and under control. As opposed to GW who plays loosely and out of control.  Zero execution

Very happy that Hutch came alive in the second half, and that Gerald got his outside shot back. But what’s going on with Jun? Is he still that hurt?

Last edited by DC Native (1/29/2025 8:59 pm)