NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early hot seat power rankings for 2021-22

7. Chris Mooney

Few mid-major teams on the national level suffered as disappointing of a 2020-21 season as the Richmond Spiders, who had initially entered the offseason with dark horse Final Four expectations – and, despite losing their premier three-point shooter to an ACL tear, were still considered one of the most dangerous mid-major squads in the country under Chris Mooney.

Those expectations were only furthered by a quick 4-0 start to the season, which included what appeared to be an impressive dismantling of Kentucky at Rupp Arena.  An ugly blowout at West Virginia quickly erased the Spiders’ spot in the AP Poll, where they had been ranked 19th after the win at Kentucky – and, despite floating around the bubble picture throughout a lengthy portion of the season, the Spiders were never able to recover.

Instead, the Spiders – who have not reached the NCAA Tournament since their improbable Sweet 16 run in 2010-11 – finished eighth in the Atlantic 10, falling to Duquesne in the opening game of the conference tournament before qualifying for the NIT and dropping a quarterfinal tilt to Mississippi State.  Ultimately, they made it further than any Atlantic 10 team in a postseason tournament – but it was still a disappointing season for a Richmond team that had higher expectations.

Now, the Spiders will enter next season with similar expectations, returning four of their five starters from this past season, as well as Nick Sherod, the premier shooter who tore his ACL.  Time will tell if Mooney and Richmond can rebound from the loss of Blake Francis, who opted for professional waters after leading the team in scoring with 16.1 points.

Mooney may be the second-longest tenured coach in the A-10 presently – but with just two NCAA Tournament berths under his belt, and none since 2011, the pressure may finally be on after what was meant to be Richmond’s best season yielded a dud.  With one more go-around with his core group, this may be the best chance Mooney has at finally breaking through the stigma – or it could potentially be his last in Richmond.