Skip to main content Skip to main content

You have permission to edit this article.

Edit

Log In
Subscribe

Guest
Logout

Read Today's E-edition

News
Obituaries
Opinion
Sports
Life & Entertainment
Brand Ave. Studios

Print Edition
Our Properties
Buy & Sell
Shopping
Customer Service
Gift Subscriptions
Weather: Live radar

Facebook
Twitter

© 2026 Lee Enterprises

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Read Today's E-edition

Subscribe

Log In

Welcome, Guest
- My Subscription
  
  Help Center
- My Account
- Dashboard
- Profile
- Saved items
- Logout

E-edition
News
Obituaries
Opinion
Sports
Puzzmo
Puzzles
Lifestyles
Public Notices
Jobs

57° Cloudy

Share This

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email

Richmond's Walz embodies commitment rare in modern college basketball landscape

Share this

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Javascript is required to use this website.

Live

The Latest: The 2026 Academy Awards get underway

Richmond's Walz embodies commitment rare in modern college basketball landscape

ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch
Mar 12, 2026
Mar 12, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago
0

Richmond's Chris Mooney, Mike Walz, Will Johnston after 75-67 loss to Loyola Chicago in Atlantic 10 tournament first round. Walz and Johnston scored 10 points apiece.

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

PITTSBURGH — The raw emotion etched across the face of Richmond senior center Mike Walz after his Spiders fell 75-67 to Loyola Chicago in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena spoke volumes pertaining to Walz's commitment to and love for the Spiders' program.

kAm%96 e\7@@E\``[ ae_\A@F?5 q6CHJ?[ !2] ?2E:G6 :D 2 C2C6 3C665 :? E@52JVD EC2?D:6?E 4@==686 32D<6E32== H@C=5 5@>:?2E65 3J }x{ 2?5 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2=]k^Am

kAmw6VD 2AA62C65 :? `_g 82>6D :? 7@FC D62D@?D :? 2 &# F?:7@C>[ ?6G6C H2G6C:?8 :? 9:D DE62572DE 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 $A:56CD 2?5 4@249 r9C:D |@@?6J]k^Am

People are also reading…

A year of transformation for the Saltville PD
Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero
Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them
Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal
Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond
Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel
Woolly mourns creator, makes forecast
Update: One victim, gunman dead after shooting in ODU classroom
Pentagon eyes Virginia Tech for senior officers in place of ‘woke’ Ivy League
Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff
Spanberger to appoint criminal justice veterans and a pastor to parole board
Smyth supervisors oppose redistricting that weakens rural, conservative areas
Southern Virginia land sale agreement OK'd for developer linked to data centers
Speyside plant in Atkins is idled, leaving about 50 people jobless
Update: ODU students disarmed and killed gunman who attacked classroom, source says

kAmQ%9:D AC@8C2> >62?D 6G6CJE9:?8] x ECFDE r@249 |@@?6J >@C6 E92? 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6[Q (2=K D2:5[ 7:89E:?8 324< E62CD 2D |@@?6J 2?5 $A:56CD 8C25F2E6 8F2C5 (:== y@9?DE@? AFE E96:C 92?5D @? 9:D D9@F=56CD :? 2 D9@H @7 DFAA@CE] k^Am

kAmQ%96C6VD 2 C62D@? x 42>6 324< 3642FD6 x ECFDE H92E 96VD 5@?6[ E96 4F=EFC6 96VD 4C62E65[ 6G6CJE9:?8 96VD 5@?6 7@C >6 2?5 >J 72>:=J] xEVD 2 E@F89 H2J E@ 8@ @FE]Qk^Am

030126-rtd-sp-urbbp01 — The University of Richmond's Mike Walz battled Loyola Chicago's Miles Rubin in Saturday's A-10 game in Chicago.
UR ATHLETICS

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7h2edc62\h2fg\cd2f\hd4a\c2hdcecc7e75Qmr9C:D |@@?6J[ #:49>@?5 DE2J:?8 E@86E96C[ H:E9 3:8\A:4EFC6 A=2? E@ 6D42A6 p\`_ CFEk^2mk^Am

kAm(2=K A@DE65 `_ A@:?ED 2?5 E9C66 C63@F?5D 282:?DE E96 #2>3=6CD] %9:D D62D@?[ 96 =65 &# W`d\`fX :? C63@F?5:?8 We]d A6C 82>6X[ 2DD:DED Wa]cX 2?5 3=@4<D W_]fX] |@@?6J 92D 42==65 (2=K 2 QG6CJ A2DD\7:CDE A=2J6CQ H9@> 96VD 925 E@ 24E:G6=J 6?4@FC286 E@ E2<6 >@C6 D9@ED] k^Am

kAmxEVD 62DJ 7@C 4@==686 32D<6E32== A=2J6CD E@ E9:?< E96 8C2DD :D 8C66?6C 2E E96:C ?6IE DE@A E96D6 52JD] (2=K[ :E D66>D[ 2=H2JD 92D 366? 8C2E67F= 7@C 9:D D:EF2E:@? 2E &#]k^Am

kAmQxEVD 2? 6G6C\6G@=G:?8 =2?5D42A6[ 2?5 J@FVG6 8@E E@ 36 8C2E67F= 7@C H92E J@F 92G6[Q (2=K D2:5] Q~3G:@FD=J[ :EVD 2 E@F89 H2J E@ 8@ @FE[ {@J@=2 A=2J65 8C62E 5@H? E96 DEC6E49] (6 4@F=5 92G6 6I64FE65 36EE6C 5@H? E96 DEC6E49 2D 2 8C@FA] qFE E96 36EE6C\6I64FE65 E62> H@? 5@H? E96 DEC6E49]Qk^Am

030726-rtd-sp-urbbp01 — VCUs Barry Evans was boxed out by UR's Mike Walz when the teams met at the Robins Center on Feb. 14. Walz said of the Spiders' games going forward, “we’ve got to be more gritty and physical than every team we play … That’s just a mindset we have to harness and continue with it.”
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5_f42_a7\5g73\c5h_\hd5g\_47a54_3hg_gQm#:49>@?5 =6ED `d\A@:?E D64@?5\92=7 =625 D=:A 2H2J :? D62D@?\6?5:?8 =@DD E@ {@J@=2 r9:428@k^2mk^Am

kAmy@9? w2C5E[ E96 G:46 AC6D:56?E 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 2E9=6E:4D 2E #:49>@?5[ D2:5 uC:52J E92E |@@?6J H:== C6EFC? 7@C 9:D aa?5 D62D@? 2D $A:56CD 4@249 :? a_ae\af] |@@?6J :D F?56C 4@?EC24E E9C@F89 E96 a_ag\ah D62D@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ D@FC46D]k^Am

kAm$E] q@?2G6?EFC6 4@249 |2C< $49>:5E[ @?6 @7 E96 p\`_VD =@?86DE\E6?FC65 3:8 H9:DE=6D 2=@?8 H:E9 |@@?6J[ 2??@F?465 =2DE H66< E92E 96 H:== C6E:C6 27E6C E9:D D62D@?]k^Am

kAm|@@?6JVD 56>62?@C 2?5 A9:=@D@A9J D66> E@ 6>3@5J =@?8DE2?5:?8 4@249:?8 36=:67D 2?5 2AAC@2496D DJ?@?J>@FD H:E9 4@2496D DF49 2D $49>:5E 2?5 7@C>6C &'2 4@249 %@?J q6??6EE]k^Am

kAmpE q6??6EEVD C6E:C6>6?E AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 :? a_ac[ 96 564C:65 E96 DE2E6 @7 >@56C? 4@==686 9@@AD :? H9:49 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 2 AC@8C2> DF49 2D E92E 5:DA=2J65 3J (2=K :D :?4C62D:?8=J C2C6] k^Am

kAm“%96 82>6 2?5 4@==686 2E9=6E:4D :D ?@E :? 2 962=E9J DA@E[” q6??6EE D2:5 2D 96 7@F89E 324< E62CD] “p?5 E96C6 ?665D E@ 36 492?86]”k^Am

021526-rtd-sp-urbb — Richmond center Mike Walz (21) dribbles the ball, defended by VCU forward Lazar Djokovic (17) during a basketball game at the Robins Center, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
MIKE KROPF

kAm|@@?6J H2?ED E@ 56G6=@A A=2J6CD 2D J@F?8 >6?[ ;FDE 2D q6??6EE 5:5] %9FD[ C6=2E:@?D9:AD DF49 2D E92E 7@C865 H:E9 (2=K 2C6 >@C6 4@G6E65 E92? 6G6C] k^Am

kAmQ|:<6 92D 366? 2? @FEDE2?5:?8 E62>>2E6[ 2 G6CJ 8@@5 A=2J6C[ 96VD 2 8C62E DEF56?E[ 96VD D@>6@?6 E92E xVG6 8@EE6? 4=@D6 H:E9 3642FD6 @7 2== E96 E:>6 E@86E96C[Q |@@?6J D2:5]k^Am

kAmQw6 92D :?E6C6DED @FED:56 @7 32D<6E32==] w6VD 8C62E] #:49>@?5 4@F=5?VE 92G6 2 36EE6C A6CD@? C6AC6D6?E:?8 FD] x 5@?VE <?@H :7 :E H:== 6G6C 8@ 324< E@ E96 H2J H96C6 J@F 92G6 >F=E:A=6 7@FC\J62C 8FJD 2?5 7:G6\J62C 8FJD] qFE 96VD AC6EEJ DA64:2= E@ FD] (6 2AAC64:2E6 6G6CJE9:?8 96VD 5@?6 7@C FD]Qk^Am

021526-rtd-sp-urbb — Richmond center Mike Walz (21) shoots the ball over VCU guard Brandon Jennings (0) during a basketball game at the Robins Center, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
MIKE KROPF

kAm|@@?6J H6?E @? E@ D2J E92E[ 2E #:49>@?5[ 96VD 2=H2JD 2:>65 E@ C64CF:E QC62==J 8@@5 A6@A=6Q H9@ 42? 92?5=6 E96 F?:G6CD:EJVD C:8@C@FD 24256>:4 DE2?52C5D] k^Am

kAmQ$@ E92EVD DA64:2=[ E96 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2C6 C62==J DA64:2=[Q 96 D2:5] Q}@H J@F 92G6 E@ 72DE\7@CH2C5 E9@D6 3642FD6 J@F 92G6 8FJD 7@C 2 =:>:E65 2>@F?E @7 E:>6] w@A67F==J E92E H:== 492?86[ 9@A67F==J H6 42? 492?86 :E :? @FC AC@8C2>] qFE :E 766=D =:<6 E92EVD 2 C62==J 5:77:4F=E @?6 E@ @G6C4@>6]Qk^Am

PHOTOS: VCU escapes Richmond, lively Robins Center in 97th Capital City Classic

Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555

zjoachim@timesdispatch.com

Locations

Virginia

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Catch up on the RTD's coverage of the Atlantic 10 Tournament

Catch up on the RTD's coverage of the Atlantic 10 Tournament

A collection of articles about VCU and Richmond men's basketball from Pittsburgh

Richmond's Chris Mooney, Mike Walz, Will Johnston after 75-67 loss to Loyola Chicago in Atlantic 10 tournament first round

Richmond's Chris Mooney, Mike Walz, Will Johnston after 75-67 loss to Loyola Chicago in Atlantic 10 tournament first round

Richmond's Chris Mooney, Mike Walz, Will Johnston after 75-67 loss to Loyola Chicago in Atlantic 10 tournament first round. Walz and Johnston …

Richmond lets 15-point second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to Loyola Chicago

Richmond lets 15-point second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to Loyola Chicago

The looks of despondence and frustration on the Richmond sideline over the final seconds told the whole story.

VCU's Hill, Djokovic, Lewis, Jennings; UR's Argabright highlight all-Atlantic 10 honors

VCU's Hill, Djokovic, Lewis, Jennings; UR's Argabright highlight all-Atlantic 10 honors

Four VCU standouts earned all-Atlantic 10 honors Wednesday as the league's conference tournament commenced, and Richmond's Aiden Argabright wa…

'Sky's the limit' for Richmond's Aiden Argabright. Can Spiders keep the all-A-10 honoree?

'Sky's the limit' for Richmond's Aiden Argabright. Can Spiders keep the all-A-10 honoree?

"I don't know what the future holds. Hopefully I get to stay back next year. I love this program, I love everything about it."

Recommended for you

Watch Now: Related Video

VCU's Phil Martelli Jr. after 70-62 win over Dayton in Atlantic 10 tournament championship game

VCU's Terrence Hill Jr., Nyk Lewis, Michael Belle after Rams downed Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 championship

VCU's Terrence Hill Jr., Nyk Lewis, Michael Belle after Rams downed Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 championship

VCU's Terrence Hill Jr., Nyk Lewis, Michael Belle after Rams downed Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 championship

VCU's Brandon Jennings after Rams beat Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

VCU's Brandon Jennings after Rams beat Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

VCU's Brandon Jennings after Rams beat Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

VCU's Lazar Djokovic after Rams took down Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

VCU's Lazar Djokovic after Rams took down Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

VCU's Lazar Djokovic after Rams took down Dayton 70-62 in Atlantic 10 tournament final

Facebook
Twitter

Sites & Partners

The Bland County Messenger
The Floyd Press
Richlands News-Press
Smyth County News & Messenger
Washington County News
Wytheville Enterprise
Bristol Herald-Courier

Services

Manage Subscription
Contact Us
Advertise
Newsletter Signup
Public Notices
Join our Team
Licensing
Shopping
Dealer Returns

© Copyright 2026 SWVA Today, 460 W. Main St. Wytheville, VA 24382

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Do Not Sell My Info | Cookie Preferences

Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.

You are logged in

Switch accounts

Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In

Sign Up

Account processing issue - the email address may already exist

User information

Username (Optional)

This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!

* First name

* Last name

* Email Address

Your email address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.

* Password

Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.

* Confirm Password

Confirm your password.

CAPTCHA

Have an account? Log In

You're all set!

Thank you .

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

OK

Log In

Invalid password or account does not exist

Email Address

Password

Forgot your password?

Email me a log in link

Admin login Subscribe

Need an account? Sign Up

Reset Password

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

Email or Screen Name

CAPTCHA

Forgot Password

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Email me a log in link

Account Email

CAPTCHA

Promotional Offers

Enter Promo Code

No promotional rates found.

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

An error occurred

Secure & Encrypted

What's your email address?

Email

Password

Confirm password

What's your name?

First name

Last name

Who is this gift for?

Recipient name

Recipient email

Optional message for the recipient

Who is this gift from?

Purchaser name

Purchaser email

Delivery date

Delivery date

What's your billing location?

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Country

What's your delivery address?

Copy billing location

Address

City

State

Zip code

Country

Phone

Subtotal:

Total:

How would you like to pay?

I Agree to the Subscription Terms of Use.
This service will be automatically renewed and your credit card billed once it nears expiration.

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

You're all set!

Thank you.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.

OK

An error occurred

This offer is currently unavailable.