There was no team party to celebrate the University of Richmond's pairing announcement in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.

After all, it was nearly 2 a.m., yesterday when the Spiders learned they would play at Virginia in tonight's CBI first-rounder. The UR coaching staff sent text messages to players at their living quarters.

"We were actually waiting for the text," said Richmond forward Jarhon Giddings. "We're excited to play in the postseason, and especially because we're playing Virginia."

Hoos envy. Thirteen Division I programs in the state have it, to some degree. The Cavaliers bring a legacy of national success, a home-court palace, and a longtime affiliation with the ACC, commonly regarded as the land's premier league.

The Spiders' enthusiasm regarding tonight's assignment is obviously linked to the fact that UR is in growth mode, with 10 freshmen and sophomores among 13 scholarship players. Here are 40 more minutes to develop. The icing?

"It's Virginia, and that is a big deal," said Chris Mooney, Richmond's third-year coach.

In addition to the presumed motivational edge, short preparation time may supply UR with an advantage. The Spiders operate out of a Princeton-style offense and defend with a matchup zone. On each end, that's a bit unusual.

Said UR guard David Gonzalvez: "We see [the Cavaliers] on TV all the time. Those guys have never seen us, and hopefully, they don't respect us."

According to Mooney, who said he wishes UR could play U.Va. every year, the Spiders will not use this game as a building block for next season. Seniors Gaston Moliva and Oumar Sylla will be involved as they have all season.

Richmond's 15-man roster includes only three Virginians: Giddings, who spent his first 17 years in Blacksburg before moving to North Carolina, and Richmonders Ryan Butler and Justin Harper. But all Spiders evidently still appreciate that U.Va. is the state program by which others are measured.

"They were disappointed we didn't play [Virginia] during the regular season," Giddings said of the non-Virginians on UR's team. "So I don't think this opportunity is lost on them at all."
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.