Richmond Spiders

The Richmond Spiders play their home games at the Robins Center on the university's tree-lined Richmond, Virginia campus, and have long carried a reputation as one of college basketball's classic giant-killers. Richmond basketball is defined by disciplined, defense-first coaching and a knack for stunning higher-seeded opponents when March arrives. Under longtime coach Chris Mooney, the Spiders became one of the Atlantic 10's most reliably competitive programs. It's a proud mid-major identity built on outworking bigger, more talented teams.

Richmond has made 10 NCAA tournament appearances and built its giant-killer reputation as far back as 1984, when the Spiders upset a Charles Barkley-led Auburn team. The program has reached the Sweet Sixteen twice, in 1988 and again in 2011 under Mooney. Richmond has never won a national championship but its history of first-round and mid-round upsets has made it a recognizable name whenever the Spiders reach the tournament. The program remains a consistent presence in Atlantic 10 postseason races.