Richmond Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Spiders

Season Outlook

I mentioned at the start of this preview that the Spiders are now an underdog, and I do think that is accurate.  Prior to last year’s 24-7 season, Richmond’s squad went 25-40 in what would have been the freshman and sophomore seasons for most of this year’s seniors.  This is a group who have been through the wringer and back – and this is their final year to piece it all together.

That was the mentality prior to Sherod’s injury and should be even more important now with Sherod out.  Being able to replace Sherod will be difficult, but it can be accomplished through a team effort from the senior starters, the returners on the bench, and the newcomers.

Likewise, being able to meet national expectations may now appear impossible – but I also do not think it is out of the question.  If Crabtree can successfully slot himself as the replacement shooter that the Spiders need, then this team has enough talent and experience to make a deep run in the postseason.

But first, Richmond will have to navigate through an outrageously competitive Atlantic 10.  Losses to Dayton and Saint Louis – two teams that also have high national expectations – are understandable, but the Spiders will have to be careful about dropping any further games.  With Sherod out, they have become more vulnerable to those in the lower echelon of the conference.

Successfully implementing Crabtree and the improvement of Burton, Gustavson, and Koureissi is beyond crucial for Richmond.  Sherod being taken out of the starting lineup places more pressure on the other four starters – and, likewise, defenses will have an easier time with one less reliable offensive option.  If any of those four are able to step in and produce offensively, Richmond will be fine.

And for Gilyard, Francis, Cayo, and Golden, this is their final stand – and it is the best opportunity they have ever had to make some noise.  The Richmond basketball program has garnered a reputation for being “giant killers” in the NCAA tournament – and this season could produce their best March Madness showing yet.

Questions will remain leading up to the start of the season regarding Richmond’s offense and three-point shooting – and rightfully so – and time will only tell if Mooney can remedy those concerns.  If those issues are resolved, however, then one thing is guaranteed: this will still be one of the best – and scariest – mid-major teams in all of college basketball this season.