VCU Ram Nation

Photos – VCU v. ODU (CAA Semi-finals)

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:46:08 +0000

In perhaps one of the biggest games of the CAA tournament this year, ODU was able to stop the energy that VCU had coming off tournament wins against Delaware and George Mason. ODU will now move on to the NCAA tournament (with an automatic bid) while VCU hopes for an NIT bid.

Smart named as a finalist for first-ever Ben Jobe award

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:44:13 +0000

RICHMOND, Va. – At the age of 32, Head Coach Shaka Smart is already making his name known around the country after leading the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball team to 22 wins in just his first season with the Rams.

Smart was recently honored for his tremendous success with the Black & Gold by being named one of 15 finalists for the first-ever Ben Jobe Award, which recognizes the top minority head coach in NCAA Division I basketball.

The Award, which is given out by CollegeInsider.com, is named for coaching legend Ben Jobe who spent the majority of his career at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and won 524 games in 31 years. He is best known for his accomplishments at Southern University, where he took the program to four NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT berth.

A 30-member selection committee will vote this month and the winner of the inaugural Ben Jobe Award will be announced at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

“This is a tremendous honor for me and it’s one I won’t take lightly,” Smart said. “It’s because of the hard work that the players, our staff and everyone that is involved with VCU basketball that I am able to in the listed with all of these great coaches. I look forward to many more great years with VCU basketball.”

Highly regarded by legendary head coaches such as Billy Donovan, Keith Dambrot and Oliver Purnell, Smart has led the Rams to their fourth straight 20-plus win season that included victories over Oklahoma, Richmond, Rhode Island, Old Dominion and George Mason.

Smart and the Black & Gold are taking the week to prepare for their postseason destination, which will be determined on Sunday evening.

2010 BEN JOBE AWARD FINALISTS
Tommy Amaker – Harvard
Mike Anderson – Missouri
Tevester Anderson – Jackson State
Tony Barbee – UTEP
Todd Bozeman – Morgan State
Ed Cooley – Fairfield
Mike Davis – UAB
Stan Heath – USF
Ron Hunter – IUPUI
Sydney Johnson – Princeton
Johnny Jones – North Texas
Marvin Menzies – New Mexico State
Shaka Smart – VCU
John Thompson III – Georgetown
Cliff Warren – Jacksonville

Video: Rams run in the CAA Tournament

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:15:54 +0000

After knocking off Delaware Friday during the first round of the CAA Tournament, the Rams advanced to Saturday’s match up that gave the Rams another chance at revenge.

After losing to the Patriots of George Mason in regular season play, the Rams were determined to force a different outcome. Brandon Rozzell, guard, made sure that the Rams didn’t slip by hitting 4 huge three pointers in the 2nd half to carry the Rams against GMU.

Looking to lead the season series over the ODU Monarchs, the Rams came out looking tough against the regular season champs. The Rams pulled ahead by 12 at one point but losing a large lead has been the Rams “M.O.” this season as they were dropped by the Monarchs in Sunday’s Semifinal.

LIVEBLOG: VCU v. ODU

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:08:09 +0000

Round 3 in a tied up series pits the CAA’s greatest rivals in a battle for ultimate bragging rights and a chance to play for the CAA title. The Rams handed ODU a 12 point loss in Richmond this past February, but ODU got their revenge with a 3 point home win, locking up the CAA regular season title.

Can’t make it to the game? Join us here, in our live blog chat room at 3PM for live play by play and score updates.

VCU vs. ODU

Rozzell HUGE in second half, Rams Advance

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:29:32 +0000

VCU came into it’s quarterfinal game a 9 point favorite over George Mason, …for most of the afternoon, the Patriots looked like a great bet. That is until Brandon Rozzell caught fire in the second half, hitting 4 monster threes to bust the game wide open.

The teams traded buckets in a game that saw 10 ties and 11 lead changes. Then, with the score tied at 53, VCU shifted into an extra gear and never looked back.

Rozzell hit back-to-back threes to extend VCU’s lead to 6. The Rams took that momentum and ended the game on a 22-7 run, resulting in a 75-60 win which secured a date against ODU in the conference semi-finals.

Rozzell ended the game with 14 points, 12 of which came from beyond the arch.

Larry Sanders and Joey Rodriguez had 17 points each in the win. Sanders added 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for his second double double of the tournament.

Rodriguez lead all players with 5 assists and grabbed 3 rebounds to go along with his two steals on the day.

The Rams had trouble containing forward Ryan Pearson who lead all scorers with 22 points.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, Pearson wasn’t enough as only one other player, freshman Luke Hancock, found double digits.

The Rams held Mason to just 25 second half points on 39% shooting.

Junior guard Cam Long was responsible for sending the regular season meeting into overtime, but was held to just 4 points, going 2-12 from the field.

The win moves VCU to 22-8 heading into a rematch with Old Dominion, who handed VCU its last loss of the season exactly one week ago.

Tip off is at 3PM with the winner moving on to the Final on Monday night.

Photos – VCU knocks off George Mason

mmorton — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:25:53 +0000

The Rams knock off George Mason in Round 2 of the CAA tournament, sending VCU to the semi-finals for a matchup against Old Dominion University.

LIVEBLOG: VCU v. George Mason

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:19:49 +0000

The Rams passed their first of hopefully four tests yesterday, defeating Delaware 66-49. Today’s challenge comes with an added degree of difficulty, as VCU will take on 4th seeded George Mason in a rematch of a Feb. 9th road OT loss. If you can’t make it to the game be sure to hit up the live blog and for game chat and real time score updates.

VCU vs. GMU

Photos – VCU vs. Delaware (CAA Tournament)

mmorton — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:46:22 +0000

VCU beats Delaware 66-49 in their first game of a 4-game battle to the CAA Championship.

Rams advance, on to George Mason

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:34:37 +0000

VCU’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.

LIVEBLOG: VCU v Delaware

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:14:46 +0000

VCU v. Delaware

A point here, a stop there, and VCU might have avoided the 5th seed and the challenge of having to become the first team to ever win four straight games to win a CAA title. Well they didn’t…so history starts TODAY!

Live blog, comin atchya…2:30PM. Chat it up with Ram Nation as we watch VCU take on the Delaware Blue Hens in first round CAA tournament action!