Richmond Preview and Game Thread -- 2/28/2026
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2026 10:46 pm
Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2026/2/ ... urday.aspx
Richmond Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html
Record: 15-13 (5-10, 11th in A-10 MBB)
Coach: Chris Mooney
PS/G: 78.0 (134th of 365)
PA/G: 74.2 (200th of 365)
SRS: 3.66 (124th of 365)
SOS: 0.74 (130th of 365)
ORtg: 112.5 (117th of 365)
DRtg: 107.0 (197th of 365)
Preseason Odds: Championship +200000
Richmond Spiders 15-13 (5-10) at Loyola Chicago Ramblers 6-22 (2-13)– 3:00PM CST, Gentile Arena, Chicago IL
After a week long break, the Ramblers return to action and host Richmond for the second to last home game where the afternoon will be highlighted by an alumni pregame event and Cerebral Palsy Awareness game.
Last Saturday at St. Joes, the Ramblers fell 75-61, dropping them to a dead last 2-13 league record. They could not put a single capable human body on Jaiden Glover and Dasear Haskins in the second half as both exploded for 23.
Richmond began the year going 13-5 over their first 18 games this year. Their best non-conference victory was over MVC leader, Belmont. Then they hit a 6-game losing streak in January. Those losses came against Saint Louis, Rhode Island, George Washington, VCU, Davidson and Rhode Island. The Spiders have since gone 2-2 since with wins over George Mason and St. Bonaventure sandwiched around losses to VCU and Davidson. Richmond has a 3-5 road record coming into this one.
In the St. Bonaventure matchup last weekend, the Spiders powered out a victory in comeback fashion on their home court 99-94. Leading the charge was Will Johnston with 21 points, two rebounds and two assists. The win improved them to 15-13 overall and 5-10 in A-10 play. The Spiders take care of the ball and commit the fewest turnovers per game in the conference (10.0). They also have the second-best three-point defense, holding opponents to 32.5 percent from the arc.
52.0% of minutes played and 46.4% of scoring return from Richmond’s 2024-25 roster. AJ Lopez leads the Spiders in scoring (13.2 ppg). He has 21 double-figure performances this season and is riding a five-game streak into Gentile. Lopez scored 20 in Richmond's win over the Bonnies last week. It was his third game this season with at least 20 points.
Both teams suck massively coming into this one. Richmond is 2-8 in their last 10 and the Ramblers are 1-9, and in these losses carry a -14.5 point differential. Despite losing 13 of their last 14 games against A10 opponents, the Ramblers still have a chance here. Richmond’s style of play should help Loyola with their high reliance and overshooting on 3-point shooting. If you recall last season, the Spiders gave the Ramblers what seemed like 50+ attempts from three and they won 87-80 in overtime because they made them. Sheldon Edwards and Jayden Dawson combined for 13-29 from 3PT land. I'm expecting Richmond's open invitation to take threes once again. Make them, there is a chance. Miss like usual, this will be another painful watch.
Richmond Probable Starters – 6-5 G AJ Lopez, 6-3 G Will Johnston, 5-10 G Mikkel Tyne, 6-6 G Collin Tanner, 6-11 C Michael Walz.
Loyola Probable Starters - Rubin, Amos, TBD, TBD, Dotson
LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS
Ramblers: 1-9, averaging 63.3 points, 31.7 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 39.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.5 points per game.
Spiders: 2-8, averaging 71.1 points, 26.2 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.7 points.
Watch / Listen – Saturday’s game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy and Chris Walker on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.
Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21
Odds: Richmond -4.5
Richmond Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html
Record: 15-13 (5-10, 11th in A-10 MBB)
Coach: Chris Mooney
PS/G: 78.0 (134th of 365)
PA/G: 74.2 (200th of 365)
SRS: 3.66 (124th of 365)
SOS: 0.74 (130th of 365)
ORtg: 112.5 (117th of 365)
DRtg: 107.0 (197th of 365)
Preseason Odds: Championship +200000
Richmond Spiders 15-13 (5-10) at Loyola Chicago Ramblers 6-22 (2-13)– 3:00PM CST, Gentile Arena, Chicago IL
After a week long break, the Ramblers return to action and host Richmond for the second to last home game where the afternoon will be highlighted by an alumni pregame event and Cerebral Palsy Awareness game.
Last Saturday at St. Joes, the Ramblers fell 75-61, dropping them to a dead last 2-13 league record. They could not put a single capable human body on Jaiden Glover and Dasear Haskins in the second half as both exploded for 23.
Richmond began the year going 13-5 over their first 18 games this year. Their best non-conference victory was over MVC leader, Belmont. Then they hit a 6-game losing streak in January. Those losses came against Saint Louis, Rhode Island, George Washington, VCU, Davidson and Rhode Island. The Spiders have since gone 2-2 since with wins over George Mason and St. Bonaventure sandwiched around losses to VCU and Davidson. Richmond has a 3-5 road record coming into this one.
In the St. Bonaventure matchup last weekend, the Spiders powered out a victory in comeback fashion on their home court 99-94. Leading the charge was Will Johnston with 21 points, two rebounds and two assists. The win improved them to 15-13 overall and 5-10 in A-10 play. The Spiders take care of the ball and commit the fewest turnovers per game in the conference (10.0). They also have the second-best three-point defense, holding opponents to 32.5 percent from the arc.
52.0% of minutes played and 46.4% of scoring return from Richmond’s 2024-25 roster. AJ Lopez leads the Spiders in scoring (13.2 ppg). He has 21 double-figure performances this season and is riding a five-game streak into Gentile. Lopez scored 20 in Richmond's win over the Bonnies last week. It was his third game this season with at least 20 points.
Both teams suck massively coming into this one. Richmond is 2-8 in their last 10 and the Ramblers are 1-9, and in these losses carry a -14.5 point differential. Despite losing 13 of their last 14 games against A10 opponents, the Ramblers still have a chance here. Richmond’s style of play should help Loyola with their high reliance and overshooting on 3-point shooting. If you recall last season, the Spiders gave the Ramblers what seemed like 50+ attempts from three and they won 87-80 in overtime because they made them. Sheldon Edwards and Jayden Dawson combined for 13-29 from 3PT land. I'm expecting Richmond's open invitation to take threes once again. Make them, there is a chance. Miss like usual, this will be another painful watch.
Richmond Probable Starters – 6-5 G AJ Lopez, 6-3 G Will Johnston, 5-10 G Mikkel Tyne, 6-6 G Collin Tanner, 6-11 C Michael Walz.
Loyola Probable Starters - Rubin, Amos, TBD, TBD, Dotson
LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS
Ramblers: 1-9, averaging 63.3 points, 31.7 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 39.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.5 points per game.
Spiders: 2-8, averaging 71.1 points, 26.2 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.7 points.
Watch / Listen – Saturday’s game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy and Chris Walker on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.
Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21
Odds: Richmond -4.5