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- For the first time in more than a decade, Richmond will be playing in March Madness.
- When the clock expired, the Spiders’ head coach’s family was emotional and it was a very special moment.
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Richmond basketball may have been the six-seed in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, but that didn’t stop the Spiders from punching their ticket to the Big Dance. Head coach Chris Mooney’s family was in the crowd and their reaction is priceless.
Richmond, which went 23-12 in the regular season, is largely made up of transfers who were looking for an opportunity to finish out their college career with an NCAA Tournament-caliber team. As of early last week, that didn’t appear to be the case.
The Spiders were not projected to be granted an at-large bid to March Madness. They had to pave their own way to the field of 136 and that’s exactly what they did.
Richmond began its postseason run with a win over Rhode Island, and then VCU and Dayton to reach the A-10 Tournament final against Davidson. Mooney’s team kept the winning streak going on Sunday, but it was a nail-biter.
The Wildcats took a one-point lead at halftime and the Spiders held strong in the second half. After Richmond took a one-point lead with 19 seconds left, the camera cut to Mooney’s family in the crowd.
They were nervous, excited, shocked and every other emotion imaginable all at the same time.
Chris Mooney’s family with every late game March emotion in one shot pic.twitter.com/bGhWPSOWyq
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) March 13, 2022
When the clock finally hit zero and the Spiders officially made their first NCAA Tournament since 2011, the Mooney family was overjoyed and overcome with emotion.
The Mooney family is absolutely overjoyed to be going dancing. pic.twitter.com/ebGeuhHbZj
— CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2022
The Mooney family as Spiders crash the bracket for first time since their 2011 Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/KUHPNtn5N9
— David Teel (@ByDavidTeel) March 13, 2022
This is what March is all about.