Rams advance, on to George Mason

IMG_6048VCU’s road to a CAA championship won’t be an easy one, but the Rams are 1/4 of the way to their goal after dominating Delaware 66-49.

The win was the first of four needed victories in order to earn the automatic bid and repeat as CAA champs. No team has ever won four in a row.

Larry Sanders dominated the Blue Hens to the tune of 15 points, 13 boards, and 3 blocks. This afternoon was the first time Larry has hit double digit scoring since being named CAA Player of the Week two weeks ago. Sanders averaged just 6 points in VCU’s final two games of the regular season, a win over JMU and a 3 point road loss at Old Dominion.

The Rams were able to build an early lead with some hot long range shooting, hitting 58% of their three pointers in the first half.

Bradford Burgess and Joey Rodriguez hit 5 of the Rams 7 first half threes.

Rodriguez finished with 12 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals on the afternoon. Burgess rounded out VCU’s double digit scorers at 10 points, all coming in the first half.

The win advances VCU to the second round where they will face George Mason in a rematch of a February 6th overtime loss.

Ram Nation post game PAR’TAY

GibsmallerHey Ram Nation, lookin for a quick bite after the VCU game Friday? Join us in the lounge at Gibson’s Grill immediately following the VCU v. Delaware game located at the corner of 7th and Broad St., just a block away from the Coliseum!

The party kicks off at 5:00 and lasts as long as you wanna be there, be it a full belly, closing time, or when you’re ready to watch the next session’s games. Food specials on pizza, nachos, quesadillas, not to mention happy hour drink specials!

Hope to see you there and GO RAMS!

VCU gets verbal from D.J. Haley

img_5378Scout.com is reporting 6’11 center, D.J. Haley, has verbally committed to VCU. The Palmdale, CA native visited VCU February 13th where he took in the Akron Bracket Busters game.

Haley is said to be a long, athletic big man who can run the floor and has a knack for finishing with style.

D.J. followed his visit to the capitol city with one to Drake University of the Missouri Valley Conference. He received offers from Drake and Iowa State among others.

Haley is Shaka Smart’s fourt recruit for the 2010 class. He joins 6’7 wing Reco McCarter from Goldsboro, North Carolina, 6’7 Toby Veal from Northwest Florida State Junior College, and 6’2 shooting guard Rob Brandenburg of Gahanna, Ohio.

ODU clinches NIT bid, VCU 5th seed in CAA tourny

img_5965The Rams were unable to close out the Old Dominion Monarchs in a 73-70 road loss in front of a sold out Ted Constant Convocation Center.

The CAAs best rivals traded buckets until a Ben Finney 3-pointer gave the Monarchs the lead for good. VCU had several chances to tie, including a last second Rozzell three that just missed.

The Rams shot an impressive 52% from the field, unfortunately 4% worse than the Monarchs at 56% as a poor defensive effort resulted in the Ram’s 7th road loss of the season.

Bradford Burgess lead VCU with 13 points on 5-8 shooting to go with his 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Jamie Skeen was the only other Ram to find double digits, adding 10 points in just 17 minutes of play.

Leading scorer Larry Sanders was held to 6 points, going 2-7 from the field.

After winning CAA Player of the Week honors, Sanders has been held under single digit scoring in back to back games for the first time this season.

This was also the first time both Sanders and Joey Rodriguez (9) were held to single digits since the teams last meeting, a 12 point win for the Rams three weeks ago. Rodriguez added 5 assists and a team leading 5 rebounds in the loss.

The loss coupled with a William & Mary (20-9, 12-6) win at UNCW bumped VCU (20-8, 11-7) down to the 5th seed where they will attempt to become the first ever team to win four straight games in the CAA tournament.

VCU wins, now what?

JoeyLeaderJoey Rodriguez came out with guns-a-blazing, scoring 18 of his 24 points in the first half of VCU’s 76-62 victory over the JMU Dukes.

The game was a battle of styles as VCU’s guards traded baskets with JMU’s Denzel Bowles, who went off for 31 points on 13-17 shooting.

VCU’s backcourt proved to be too much for the Duke’s in front of a packed senior night crowd, as Rodriguez, Ed Nixon (10), Bradford Burgess (16), and Brandon Rozzell (10) were able to hit the big shots when it mattered most.

The win moves VCU to 20-7 on the year, 11-6 in the CAA, which is currently good enough for 4th place.

The Black and Gold moved up the rankings after both William & Mary and Drexel dropped home games to CAA bottom feeders.

Currently, VCU owns the tie-breaker over William and Mary having won it’s game against the CAA’s top team, ODU. VCU can wrap the 4th seed up with a win over ODU.

A win would give VCU the tie-breaker over the Tribe as it would put VCU at 2-2 against the teams tied for first (if Northeastern wins at George Mason). William and Mary finished 1-2 against ODU and Northeastern this season.

VCU’s last win in Norfolk was by 10 points just two seasons ago.

VCU & Coach Smart land verbal commitment for 2011

Kasey_Wilson_July_09_copy[1]ESPN.com and SWFLHoops.com is reporting that Coach Smart has landed his first verbal comittment for the 2011 season. Kasey Wilson is a 6’6″ junior forward from North Port High School in southwest Florida.

Wilson is currently ranked as the #1 player in SWFLHoops.com’s class of 2011 and comes with high praise from other scouts. He had official visits with University of Georgia, University of Ohio and Florida Atlantic.

Wilson averaged 13.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in the 2008-2009 season.

ESPN.com Scouting Page

SWFLHoops.com interview with Wilson