VCU Basketball off and running
The VCU Rams opened the Shaka Smart era with a bang against Bethune-Cookman on Friday night. Playing the fast paced, high-pressure style that their coach has hammered into them since his first day on the job in March, the Rams outplayed the Wildcats from wire to wire to give Smart his first win as a head coach.
The VCU Rams opened the Shaka Smart era with a bang against Bethune-Cookman on Friday night. Playing the fast paced, high-pressure style that their coach has hammered into them since his first day on the job in March, the Rams outplayed the Wildcats from wire to wire to give Smart his first win as a head coach.
The Rams used strong shooting from behind the arc and a steady stream of easy baskets from their pressure defense to sail to a 77-51 victory to start the 2009-2010 campaign on a solid note. Joey Rodriguez led a balanced attack of four players in double figures as the Rams played their first game in four years without NBA first round draft pick Eric Maynor.
The Rams jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the first three minutes behind a trio of three-pointers and a stifling full-court pressure defense. After their slow start, the Wildcats were able to pull back into the contest momentarily in the first half, capitalizing on VCU turnovers to even the game at 17 midway through the first half. The Rams answered with a 24 – 4 run to finish the half, capped off by two big dunks by CAA player of the year candidate Larry Sanders. The Rams coasted from there and the game was never close again, to the delight of the 6,741 fans in attendance at the (newly named) Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stewart C. Siegel center.
“It feels great” Smart said of getting a victory in his first game at the helm. “I was really pleased with our effort. Our energy early was terrific.” But Smart was clear that his team won’t be celebrating for too long with a tough road game coming against Western Michigan on Wednesday night: “We’ve got a lot to work to do offensively and defensively. We certainly have a long way to go.”
If the defending CAA regular season and tournament champions are going to make a return trip to the NCAA tournament, it is likely that no player will be a more important piece of that puzzle than Sanders. While the 12 point, 6 rebound performance was certainly impressive, his four personal fouls in 22 minutes of play was a reminder to all VCU fans of the downside of having a tremendous shot blocker in the paint.
In addition to Sanders and Rodriguez, VCU got a solid game from Jay Gavin – a transfer from Marist College – who scored 12 points. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.” Gavin said of his first game in a Rams uniform. “It’s been a year and eight months since I played a game that counts. It was a great crowd, a great time. To finally get to this moment, it feels good.”
Bethune-Cookman put up a valiant effort, led by 21 points from sophomore C.J. Reed, last year’s MEAC rookie of the year. The coach’s son was held to just 5 of 16 shots from the field, slowed by a steady stream of VCU perimeter defenders.
After a game at Western Michigan on Wednesday night, the Rams return home for a battle against the Oklahoma Sooners, in Coach Jeff Capel’s return to the Siegel Center court.
(Photo courtesy of VCU Ram Nation)
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I give this article’s author TWO THUMBS UP. The Pulitzer is in his future ….
Foul trouble for Sanders against Bethune-Cookman–not a good sign. Did the Rams play mostly zone on defense? Trying to protect Sanders from fouls and hiding the diminutive Rodriguez might be challenging. Nice article, HT!
Well-written debut, Mr. Thompson. If I had thumbs (or hands for that matter) I would give you two thumbs up. Go Rams!