Richmond Basketball: 3 keys for Spiders to upset No. 11 West Virginia
3. West Virginia is among the best in 3P%-defense – but a surprise showing from beyond the arc by Richmond could keep the Mountaineers on their toes
Much of Richmond’s occasional offensive woes this season, especially compared to last year, has come from their lack of three-point prowess. A lot of that has to do with the preseason injury to Nick Sherod, the team’s best three-point shooter – but star guards Blake Francis and Jacob Gilyard have struggled to find their shooting stroke, as well.
Part of this is why the Spiders have become so much more reliant on two-pointers rather than threes – and why Golden, Cayo, and Burton have had such stellar seasons so far. That is not a knock against Francis and Gilyard, who are averaging 13.8 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.
But this is a team that shot 36.2% on three-pointers last year – the 42nd-best mark – and has dropped to 34.1% (131st) this year. Likewise, their point distribution was more even last year (32.3% on three-pointers and 50% on twos, compared to 25.7% on threes and 58.2% on twos this season).
Individually, Francis – and especially Gilyard – have seen their percentages drop. Francis (36.3% last year) has dipped a little to 35.7%, but Gilyard (36.7% last year) has fallen substantially, shooting just 24.0% from long-range to begin his final campaign.
Their lack of three-point prowess so far may not hurt them against a team as defensively-minded around the perimeter as the Mountaineers – they are holding teams to 27.0% from beyond the arc, the 50th-best mark, after all – but these are two teams who are nearly even in point distribution inside. With West Virginia having an overwhelming advantage from the line, the Spiders need something more to counteract.
If the Spiders are unable to knock down shots from long range, they will, at the very least, need to defend around the perimeter – something they are even better than West Virginia in. They have held teams to just 24.7% from beyond the arc, good for 21st, and they have done that against premier competition – Kentucky went 0-10 from three, while UNI shot an abysmal 3-19.
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This game should be a staunch defensive battle between two squads who feast inside the arc – and struggle from outside. West Virginia has the edge athletically, but Richmond has the discipline and talent needed to get the Mountaineers in trouble within the first half. Do not be shocked to see this game come down to the wire – and to see an exciting post-battle between Golden and Culver.