It's finally that time of year! On Saturday evening, VCU will open the doors to the Siegel Center allowing VCU fans a chance to get a brief glimpse of the 2019-2020 roster in action. We all have certain things we'll be looking for in the intra-squad scrimmage, but I thought I'd reach out to some experts to see what they will be looking for in this game. I reached out to some of the most knowledgable resources on VCU basketball: Michael Litos, our own Mat Shelton-Eide, and VCU senior guard De'Riante Jenkins (from a recent interview we conducted with him). Below are their thoughts on what to look for in Saturday's matchup.
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Michael Litos[/HEADING=2]
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Michael Litos[/HEADING=2]
I’ll be honest. The more I think about your question, the less I realize what I’m truly “looking for.” This is about seeing the guys play basketball again. It matters mostly because the Back-and-Gold game is a tangible step to the season. It makes it more real so I guess I’m looking for the first signs of that in-season feeling. It isn’t about stats or some other trumped-up intra-squad scrimmage nonsense like how Corey Douglas runs the pick-and-roll. That’s all blather. You can legitimately extrapolate exactly nothing that comes from this scrimmage. Issac Vann may hit 4 of 5 threes, but he’s not shooting 80% for the season. Douglas may block five shots, but we already knew he can protect the rim. Don’t overthink it, and do enjoy it.
But I also realize that’s not actually an answer to your question. So here goes.
This is Marcus Evans’ team, but who else is talking? Does Bones Hyland look comfy moving guys around on the floor like a point guard should? When Santos-Silva or Douglas push around Hason Ward, do they push him five feet, or 15 feet? How many guys dive for loose balls? De’Riante is one of the nicest kids we’ve ever had… does he show up for an intra-squad game full of rattlesnake venom? We have 14 guys, each with 32 teeth. Are all 448 teeth accounted for at the final buzzer?
My point is this: the guys are going to do what they do… make/miss shots, commit/force turnovers, make correct/incorrect decisions, run to the right/wrong spot. That’s going to happen on a game-over-game basis. I’m looking for the things that allow those aspects of any game to be successful for us.
Wait, I lied. There is one stat I care about: naked three shooting percentage. We’ve got to make open threes this year. I’m watching that.
Mat Shelton-Eide[/HEADING=2]
One thing we know is true is that VCU has quite the returning group of experienced starters and a very strong defense. So armed with that knowledge, I'll be looking for hints about what the future may hold.
A couple of examples:
<ul>
<li>Corey Douglas and Marcus Santos-Silva can straight up defend, so if Hasan Ward starts finding easy buckets somehow (I'm not betting the mortgage on that), we'll know there may be something there. I expect him to use his massive wingspan to defend and grab boards, but I'm looking for hints of offensive efficiency as well.</li>
<li>I've heard Bones Hyland can really score, but I'm dying to see it in real life, particularly if... again, he's matched up against VCU defenders we know have been able to shut others down. I won't get overly excited if he has an accurate game from deep -- something this team really struggled with last season -- but I'll certainly be encouraged.</li>
<li>While I loved the guy and rooted hard for him, I just didn't see "it" from PJ Byrd at any point in his time at VCU. I'm looking for something, anything, from a backup point guard going against Marcus Evans. I expect Malik Crowfield to be the experienced backup option at that position, but with Evans finishing up his college career this March, I'm hoping I leave the Stu this Saturday somewhat excited about the immediate future of that position after his time here is done.</li>
</ul>
De'Riante Jenkins[/HEADING=2]
Competing, us competing against each other. A lot of people can say you're bringing the same team back, so the minutes are already what they are. I want to see guys competing and trying to take each other's minutes. I feel like when you have that, competing against each other, and competing WITH each other, it's a dangerous team, when it comes together. Us competing and wanting to go at each other is going to make us better.
One thing we know is true is that VCU has quite the returning group of experienced starters and a very strong defense. So armed with that knowledge, I'll be looking for hints about what the future may hold.
A couple of examples:
<ul>
<li>Corey Douglas and Marcus Santos-Silva can straight up defend, so if Hasan Ward starts finding easy buckets somehow (I'm not betting the mortgage on that), we'll know there may be something there. I expect him to use his massive wingspan to defend and grab boards, but I'm looking for hints of offensive efficiency as well.</li>
<li>I've heard Bones Hyland can really score, but I'm dying to see it in real life, particularly if... again, he's matched up against VCU defenders we know have been able to shut others down. I won't get overly excited if he has an accurate game from deep -- something this team really struggled with last season -- but I'll certainly be encouraged.</li>
<li>While I loved the guy and rooted hard for him, I just didn't see "it" from PJ Byrd at any point in his time at VCU. I'm looking for something, anything, from a backup point guard going against Marcus Evans. I expect Malik Crowfield to be the experienced backup option at that position, but with Evans finishing up his college career this March, I'm hoping I leave the Stu this Saturday somewhat excited about the immediate future of that position after his time here is done.</li>
</ul>
