Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 5 teams off to surprising starts in 2020-21 season

By Jason Burgess

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 05: General view of Nike basketballs caught in the basket prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on February 5, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 05: General view of Nike basketballs caught in the basket prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on February 5, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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Richmond Basketball
NCAA Basketball Richmond Spiders Blake Francis Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

Richmond Spiders 6-1

Unlike Clemson, Chris Mooney’s Richmond Spiders were the overwhelming preseason pick to win the Atlantic 10, and thus far they look every bit the part. But like Clemson, the Spiders who were ranked No. 19 in the country found themselves out of the rankings after their first loss of the season, a 10-point loss to No. 11 West Virginia.

Besides that game, the Spiders have a clean sheet that includes a double-digit win over No. 10 Kentucky at Rupp Arena, a win over the Missouri Valley’s Northern Iowa, and Vanderbilt.

Offensively, Richmond relies heavily on its starters, with three of the five averaging over 30 minutes per game and all five averaging between 11 and 16 points per game. This is a senior-laden team with the quartet of Nathan Cayo, Grant Golden, Blake Francis, and Jacob Gilyard combining to average 55.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 12.1 assists, with sophomore Tyler Burton adding 11.7 points while leading the team in rebounding with 8.4 per game.

What makes this team tough is that senior leadership and the fact that they don’t get rattled because they have been through the ups and downs of a basketball season and they know how important it is to take care of the basketball, only turning it over 12.6 times per game.

Richmond may be expected to win the Atlantic 10, but outscoring Kentucky by 16 in the second half on the road really opened eyes as to just how good they can be.

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