NCAA Basketball: Preseason top-25 mid-major power rankings for 2021-22 season
8. Richmond Spiders
The Spiders may have been the biggest beneficiary of the NCAA’s extra year, allowing 4/5ths of its starting lineup to come back for their “super senior” seasons. The exception was a big one though, with leading scoring guard Blake Francis moving on.
The good news for Richmond is that while they lose Francis, they get back Nick Sherod, a career 11.5 ppg contributor and 39% three-point shooter that missed all of last season due to a lower-leg injury. It was thought that the 6’4 guard would explore professional options but instead, he’s back for a 6th year, giving the team a lethal shooting option and a double-digit scorer.
Related Story. Richmond Spiders 2021-22 season preview. light
Sherod could start or come off the bench but it’s certain that point guard Jacob Gilyard will be the lead guard, coming off a season of averaging 12.3 ppg and 5.0 apg. Tyler Burton was the breakout performer after Sherod’s injury on the wing, leading the Spiders with 7.6 rpg while also scoring 12.0 ppg. And forwards Nathan Cayo and Grant Golden are back, one of the best frontcourt duos in all of mid-major basketball.
The health of both Sherod and Connor Crabtree (played just 4 games last season) will be important, as well as finding some production from the bench. Pressure will be on guard Andre Gustavson and big man Souleymane Koureissi to have an impact as reserves, as well as the incoming recruiting class. The Spiders may not be the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic 10 this time around but they’ll be a major threat regardless.