|
|
|
|
It is a good thing that the Richmond Spiders are not in the Atlantic 10 this season. As you may have heard, Richmond will be joining the A-10 next season. And let me tell you -- If they were in our league this season, they may have won the conference.
With the exception of Tennessee, they are the best team we have played this season and that includes Maryland, Providence, St. John?s and others.
I am not knocking any of our prior opponents -- Just pointing out how good the Spiders are.
It starts with the head coach and they have one of the best in the business.
John Beilein is now in his fourth season at the helm and he has done a terrific job. His record speaks for itself. To date, he has won over 60 games with the Spiders and he has amassed over 400 in his career.
While they have a number of excellent players, I was most impressed with the way they spread it out, offensively.
You will hear analysts talk a lot about ?spacing? and how the good teams do it very well. Well, those analysts should sit courtside for a Richmond game. It?s like a clinic.
For those of you have not had the opportunity to see them play, picture a Princeton style of play with better athletes.
They will break you down off the dribble or the pass.
Their ball movement is tremendous and they always seem to find that open man. And they have some excellent shooters. So if they get an open look, you can almost put it on the board before it rips the net.
Greg Stevenson (pictured), who is a terrific player, is averaging close to 20 points a game. He is a 6-6 kid who is shooting over 40% from three-point range and he has the ability to create his own shots.
Reggie Brown is another guy with that ability. He is providing Coach Beilein with about 15 points a contest.
They will go about eight deep and one through eight they are pretty solid.
I do not know a lot about their conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, but I?d find it hard to believe that anyone in that league is better Richmond.
They won?t lose many games, that is for sure.
And I would be even more surprised if they are not in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of what happens in the CAA Tournament.
