Richmond Basketball head coach Chris Mooney has built a reputation for defense, which has suited the Atlantic-10 program pretty well over his 20-year tenure. But the Spiders are off to a slow start: They are 1-3 four games into the 2024-25 season and on a three-game losing streak. So, does the ever-changing college basketball landscape put Mooney’s job in jeopardy?
Richmond hasn’t gotten off to quick starts lately, as the Spiders have won two or fewer games in four straight seasons. The Spiders, who are the defending Atlantic 10 regular-season champions, last had a winning record after the first two weeks of the season in 2020-21. 2017-18 was the last time the Spiders started out 1-3, and they finished that season with 12 victories.
Richmond usually plays a tough nonconference schedule. Last year, the Spiders had a nonconference schedule ranked 207th, which was their worst this decade. However, the Spiders have had a pretty easy road this season with 326th ranked schedule, with their only victory coming against Division II Mount Olive (101-68).
Richmond Spiders Basketball Profile: Is Chris Mooney On Hotseat and Delonnie Hunt Emerging As an NBA Prospect
Richmond’s first loss came at home against Marist, where the Spiders were outscored 20-12 over the final eight minutes. The Spiders allowed the Red Foxes to shoot 50% from three (14 of 28) and were outrebounded 38-34, including 11-8 on the offensive glass.
Richmond then got manhandled by a better Charlotte team on the road. Their latest loss was at Bucknell (80-76 2 OT), a game they led by 21 in the first half and by five with two minutes to go. The Spiders were the definitively better team on Saturday in Lewisburg (PA).
Spiders’ Mistakes Against Bison
Richmond attempted 23 more field goal attempts, though the Spiders made just three more shots than Bucknell. The Spiders collected eight more offensive rebounds than the Bison (11-3) and forced 22 turnovers, 15 of which came on steals. But coaching mistakes cost the Spiders the win.
Granted, the outcome against Bucknell might have been different if 6-foot-11, 250-pound center Michael Walz had been able to play. Walz is the Spiders’ tallest player and would have likely made Bucknell’s star forward, Noah Williamson, work harder for the success he ended up having.
Williamson finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, dominating the more undersized frontline of Jonathan Beagle, Ryan Soulis, and DIII grad transfer Jack D’Entremont. Williamson was 9 of 13 from the field, including 8 of 11 from inside the arc, and attempted 11 free throws.
Not Doubling Noah Williamson
Mooney made several coaching mistakes against Bucknell, most of them on the defensive end. His biggest mistake was not doubling or having his guards “dig” down on Williamson every time he touched the ball, especially in the second half.
The Spiders occasionally doubled Williamson and had pretty good success in the first half (turnovers or missed shots), though he did a better job in the second half in the low post. When the Spiders came in the second half, they mainly doubled as they didn’t really dig down, but Williamson picked up the speed of his play and beat it.
Not Controlling The Tempo
Mooney also didn’t have the Spiders guards pressure the Bison guards full court or dictate the tempo despite having a huge advantage in speed. The Spiders’ biggest team strengths appear to be their guard’s ability to defend and the speed of their perimeter play.
While Richmond forced the Bison into 22 turnovers, including 15 in the first half, they didn’t take advantage of Bucknell’s guards’ poor ball-handling. The Bison average 15.8 turnovers a game, which is 37th most in the nation. All four of the Bison’s main ball-handlers turn the ball over 20% of the time and are responsible for over nine turnovers a game.
Richmond did force a few turnovers when they picked up full court late in regulation and at the end of the two overtime periods. The Spiders probably pressured fullcourt ten times and forced three turnovers.
Another issue against Bucknell was they didn’t push the tempo. Some of that had to do with the Bison doing an excellent job at getting back defensively in transition, as the Spiders only totaled four fastbreak points against Bucknell. The Spiders totaled 29 fastbreak points in their first three contests.
On the few occasions that Mooney had Mikkel Tyne or DeLonnie Hunt push the pace against Bucknell, they found some success. However, Williamson was there to erase a few shots of Tyne and Hunt late in the contest.
DeLonnie Hunt Developing Into An NBA Prospect
Richmond does not have a great track record of turning players into NBA prospects. Only four former Spiders have played in the NBA, including two since Mooney took over. Jacob Gilyard, whom Cleveland released during training camp this fall, is the most recent Spider to play in the NBA (49 games; 2022-24).
Hunt is a talented two-way guard who can play with the ball in his hands and without it. A little on the small size at 6-foot and 175 pounds, Hunt is lightning quick and an excellent finisher at the rim. He also moves well without the ball, has the ability to get to the free-throw line, and has solid defensive instincts. Additionally, he has a nice, smooth-looking left-handed jumper with outstanding range.
While scoring is his best attribute, Hunt does not have elite athleticism and needs to continue to improve as a shooter and playmaker. Hunt is off to a good start to the season, scoring at least 17 points three times, including topping the 20-point mark twice. He averages 19.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals with shooting splits of 54.7/30/64.3.
Hunt has a lot of work to do to earn an NBA opportunity. But if he continues to develop, he could earn an invite to the Portsmouth Invitational and G-League Elite Camp.
Johnny Newman is arguably the best-known Richmond Spider basketball player. He played 16 seasons in the NBA. Justin Harper, Newman, and John Schweitz are Spiders who have been drafted.
Final Word
Richmond has plenty of time to turn things around with three very winnable games in their next four contests. Starting with tonight’s game when Richmond hosts Maine, the Spiders play four straight at the Robbins Center, where they are 17-2 since the start of last season and 40-10 since 2021-22. Richmond also hosts Division II Florida Tech, Louisiana Tech, and Ball State during this homestand.
Mooney and his coaching staff have much to figure out, specifically on the offensive end. The Spiders rank 299th in offensive efficiency as they are 271st in shooting percentage (42.6%), 346th in 3-point percentage (26%), and 346th in assists (9.6).
Hunt is an offensive talent, and while Richmond runs a lot of action, Mooney may need to unleash him on the offensive end as he is the Spiders’ only creator. Transfers Dusan Neskovic and Beegle do possess some ability to put the ball in the hoop. Neskovic, who is a career 37.1$ 3-point shooter, averages 11.3 points on 46.7% shooting. Meanwhile, Beagle is putting up a very efficient 12.0 points a contest with shooting splits of 80/100/78.9.
If the Spiders, who were picked to finish seventh in the A-10, are not to have a forgetful season, they will have to be better defensively and play faster. The Spiders have done a solid job defensively, ranking in the nation’s top half in defensive rating.
Richmond is holding its opponents to a 38.9% field-goal shooting percentage. The Spiders have also done a relatively good job defending the 3-point line, with opponents shooting 31.7%.
However, the Spiders are undersized and not an overly athletic team, particularly up front. As a result, fouling has been an issue, particularly for the Spiders’ forwards.
Expectations Aren’t High For Spiders
Despite Richmond winning the Atlantic 10 last season, expectations weren’t high coming into the 2024-25 season, as they lost eight letter winners and four starters. The Spiders were picked to finish seventh in the A-10 Conference preseason poll.
Here is what Riley Frain of Mid-Major Madness said about the Spiders before the season:
With all four of Richmond’s top contributors in 2023-24 either opting to transfer or being out of eligibility, this transfer class will be the defining factor in how the Spiders progress.
While George Washington III brings high-major experience from Michigan, Richmond added some proven veterans as well in Dusan Neskovic, B. Artis White and Jonathan Beagle.
Additionally, two-time national champion and former UConn recruit Apostolos Roumoglou is something of a wildcard and brings an interesting developmental piece to this roster.
Returners like DeLonnie Hunt, Mikkel Tyne, Jason Roche and Michael Walz will be heavily relied upon, but behind this transfer class, Richmond is latent with upside potential.
Mooney’s Future
But back to Mooney. The 52-year-old Philadelphia native is probably unlikely to lose his job. He has done a fantastic job with the Spiders, probably the fourth-best program in the Atlantic 10. Besides defense, he is known for player development and in-game coaching adjustments.
Mooney is the longest-tenured coach in Richmond’s history, with 20 games and 620 games. He has also registered a 349-271 record, though his 56.3% winning percentage is only fourth-best in school history. He has posted 14 winning seasons, including eight 20-win campaigns and 16 campaigns with at least a .500 record.
Mooney has led Richmond to three of its 10 NCAA Tournament berths. The Spiders are 3-3 under Mooney, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2011. Mooney’s squads have also captured two of the Spiders’ six conference tournament titles, though last year’s shared regular season title is his only crown. Plus, he signed a contract extension through 2026-27 this summer.
“Chris is one of the most successful and respected coaches in college basketball and has been a tremendous ambassador for our University and Athletics Department for more than a generation,” Richmond athletic director John Hardt said at the time of the extension. “He has demonstrated the ability to adapt to major changes across college athletics in recent years, and I heard from Spiders everywhere how proud they were of our team’s accomplishments and character this past season. I’m looking forward to this upcoming year and many more with Chris leading our program.”
