[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR 
        REACHING THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT'S SWEET SIXTEEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of 
Richmond men's basketball team for a remarkable 2010-2011 season, which 
culminated in an Atlantic 10 Conference Championship as well as a berth 
to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball 
Tournament.
  The University of Richmond, which is located in the heart of 
Virginia's Seventh Congressional District, boasts a long tradition of 
excellence on the basketball court. Since 1984, the Richmond Spiders 
have earned an impressive 9 bids to compete in the NCAA Tournament and 
have reached the Sweet Sixteen on two of those trips.
  This past March, along with cross-town rival, Virginia Commonwealth 
University, the Spiders captivated the entire City of Richmond as one 
of two teams advancing to the Sweet Sixteen--a feat matched by only two 
other cities since 1980.
  The 2010-2011 season was one full of accomplishments for the 
Spiders--setting a school record for number of wins, 29, and points 
scored, 2,577. On several occasions, the Spiders defied the odds to 
beat top-tier programs. In November, the Spiders pulled off the upset 
by shocking the then-8th ranked Purdue Boilermakers by a score of 65-
54. After gaining a berth to the NCAA Tournament, the Spiders carried 
their seven game win streak into a game against the fifth seed, 
Vanderbilt, and proceeded to knock off the favorite in the opening 
round of the tournament.
  Several Richmond players took home individual honors this past season 
as well. Senior guard Kevin Anderson--the 2010 Atlantic 10 Player of 
the Year--continued to pile up individual accolades, garnering both 
First-Team All-Conference honors as well as being named the 2011 A-10 
Tournament MVP. Senior forward Justin Harper also earned First-Team 
All-Conference honors and subsequently was drafted 32nd overall in this 
past June's NBA Draft. Kevin Smith, a senior forward, also was named to 
the A-10 All-Defensive team.
  The Spider's success on the basketball court should come as no 
surprise. Led by head coach Chris Mooney, the University of Richmond 
has established itself as not only a leader in the A-10 but also one of 
the nation's elite. Mooney's Spiders have reached the NCAA Tournament 
in back-to-back years, and have also finished inside the Top 25 of the 
ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll the past two years. The Spiders have shown 
that they do not shy away from competition--having won seven of their 
last ten games against ranked opponents.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending the Richmond Spiders men's 
basketball team, Coach Mooney, President Ed Ayers, and the entire 
community at the University of Richmond for a spectacular season and I 
wish them well this season.

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