The Richmond Spiders are going dancing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 following their win over the Davidson Wildcats to secure the Atlantic 10 title. The 6-seed completed a magical run to secure their spot and steal a bid from one of the many bubble teams still waiting to find out if they’ll make the cut.
The Spiders rallied from a six-point deficit in the final minute and a half to defeat top-seeded Davidson, 64-62. Matt Grace put Richmond ahead for good with a conventional three-point play with 19 seconds remaining.
Matt Grace time! Spiders lead 63-62!!!! #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/ycmvml2yYC
— Richmond Basketball (@SpiderMBB) March 13, 2022
Davidson had two chances to try and get even or win the game at the buzzer, but their last-second shot fell short.
The Richmond Spiders just stole a tourney bid! pic.twitter.com/ge96eZaNAD
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 13, 2022
Despite the loss, the Wildcats are considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament, making the Atlantic 10 a two-bid conference this year.
Of course, this means at least one bubble team that would have gotten into the Big Dance is now out, but such is the magic and misery of college basketball’s tournament season. Fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
The reaction from around the college basketball world to Richmond’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade was one of elation and excitement. Plenty of people started wondering which bubble team just got knocked out as well.
‼️💙❤️🕷 #OneRichmond https://t.co/GqoWcgh0J6
— Karen Loftus (@WFLAKaren) March 13, 2022
The only team from the 2021 Bahamas Championship that still has its head coach and is still playing basketball is the team that came in last (Richmond). https://t.co/4LITgheMpP
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) March 13, 2022
Richmond steals a bid. Bang bang.
More importantly, we get to watch Gilyard play college ball for at least another game. 💃
— Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) March 13, 2022
Three Quick Thoughts:
1. Richmond just knocked someone off the bubble.
2. The Atlantic 10 found a way to be a multi-bid league.
3. Chris Mooney is a dead ringer for Judge Reinhold in Vice Versa. https://t.co/0QIXl8hoaR— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2022
Richmond is the first team to ever beat the top three seeds en route to an A10 Tournament title.
This is via normal seeding, not when they went by divisions.
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 13, 2022
Richmond in. From our bracket that would mean Wyoming out. And someone, maybe Indiana or Michigan, would slide back to First Four. Richmond as the AQ from A10 can’t play in First Four.
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 13, 2022
Aaaaaaand Richmond might've just knocked Michigan out of the tournament. We'll see.
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) March 13, 2022
Given Richmond’s history of big upsets in the NCAA Tourney, you can be assured that no one wants to see them lined up across from them when the brackets are officially announced Sunday evening.
[Richmond]
