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

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

ZACH JOACHIM Richmond Times-Dispatch
Mar 12, 2026
Mar 12, 2026 Updated Mar 15, 2026
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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555

zjoachim@timesdispatch.com

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