Coach Chris Mooney joins Tom and Porter with opening night just around the corner. He talks about what he learned from two tough road exhibitions, the Spiders’ team speed and feel for the game, and the work still ahead on defense.

We also get into possible lineups, Will Harper’s growth, what Aiden Argabright is being asked to do as the team’s leader, and how Sam Simmons could affect the game on both ends of the floor. Plus, what we learned about coach's gatorade cup.

Porter is back, and just in time for A-10 basketball. Tom and Porter break down the preseason awards and polls, including Richmond’s ninth-place ranking on the men’s side and eighth-place spot on the women’s side. They discuss Ally Sweeney’s first-team honors, the conference’s new coaches, and what the preseason picks might—and might not—say about the Spiders.

Tom also shares stories from his first A-10 Media Day: the hype room, and the Richmond crew’s quiet van ride to DC. Plus, a look at what the men’s scrimmages revealed, what Coach Mooney is watching, and what’s ahead for the podcast.

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Tom flies solo from Northern Virginia after Richmond’s 90–81 loss to JMU in the second scrimmage of the preseason. The final score made it look closer than it felt: JMU repeatedly got into the lane, while the Spiders struggled to defend one-on-one.

There were bright spots, including hot first-half shooting from McCaffrey and Kaiser and a stronger showing from Harper. Tom breaks down what worked, what needs attention before the season opener, and why the defense has to improve.

Plus: a beautiful but very loud arena, a denied media pass, the fading Richmond–JMU basketball rivalry, memories of Steve Hood and Kent Culuko, and a question for listeners: is there a worse conference name than “the American”?

Don't worry, Porter returns soon.