Early season thoughts?

[wavevcu]

Wow! This is wild now that I am really thinking about it. I do feel sorry for high school kids because it seems like it is going to be more difficult for them. It will be madness for a couple of years I guess.

So if Corey and Levi come back we will have 15 guys on scholarship next season if no one transfers.

 

[Wolfpack Ram]

We are very solid at every position right now except center. Curry did a great job on the glass all 3 games. The small lineup of Vince and Curry at F and Ward at C held their own vs Memphis. At least we have options this season. No drop off at all when the bench came in

This team still needs some outside shooters not named Bones to step up. Otherwise, teams are going to start packing it in against VCU.

 

[BigE]

Not challenging you, E - or even offering a difference of opinion - I'm just wondering what you think we should pump the brakes on. Freshmen will be freshmen, but I think this particular group of freshmen can give us the ability to compete with the top of the A10. Will someone cost us a game at some point with a freshman mistake? Maybe, and maybe we'll see more than one. But I'm guessing they'll be mistakes made at 100 mph by guys who will learn from them. I'll take that.

We might see a double-digit loss or three, but I think we will be competitive, with a realistic chance to win against anyone in the league.

that sounds sufficiently measured.

 

[JDI]

So if Corey and Levi come back we will have 15 guys on scholarship next season if no one transfers.

Yes.

 

[BradRamFan]

This team still needs some outside shooters not named Bones to step up. Otherwise, teams are going to start packing it in against VCU.

Curry and Vince

 

[SwiftyClown]

It's early. We might be good, we might be decent or we might suck.

 

[Finance Ram 10]

It's early. We might be good, we might be decent or we might suck.

Profound insight.

 

[Wolfpack Ram]

Curry and Vince

I don't see it being Curry. Vince will help out, but it needs to be one of these freshman "shooters" VCU recruited.

 

[80sRam]

I don't see it being Curry. Vince will help out, but it needs to be one of these freshman "shooters" VCU recruited.

I'm watching for Banks to break out. Hope it happens.

 

[BracketForecast]

Defensive Plus-Minus through 3 games:

Hason Ward	9.4
Jimmy Clark III	6.8
Corey Douglas Jr.	3.7
Adrian Baldwin Jr.	3.2
Mikeal Brown-Jones	2.4
KeShawn Curry	1
Jamir Watkins	0.6
Nah'Shon Hyland	0.4
Brendan Medley-Bacon	0.3
Vince Williams Jr.	0.3
Levi Stockard III	-1.8
Josh Banks	-2.6

 

[VAHills]

Defensive Plus-Minus through 3 games:

Hason Ward	9.4
Jimmy Clark III	6.8
Corey Douglas Jr.	3.7
Adrian Baldwin Jr.	3.2
Mikeal Brown-Jones	2.4
KeShawn Curry	1
Jamir Watkins	0.6
Nah'Shon Hyland	0.4
Brendan Medley-Bacon	0.3
Vince Williams Jr.	0.3
Levi Stockard III	-1.8
Josh Banks	-2.6

Those numbers feel right, defense seems to pick up a notch with Ward and Clark in their limited minutes. They really bring the energy off the bench.

 

[wavevcu]

I don't see it being Curry. Vince will help out, but it needs to be one of these freshman "shooters" VCU recruited.

Josh can shoot from deep. Give him time. Its coming.

 

[ramzilla]

I think we are fighting like crazy but need a little work on logging the game.

 

[share the ball]

Last season I criticized our lack of imagination on inbounds plays underneath the basket we are shooting at - and suggested the coaches spend some off-season time looking at coaches that do that well (in the past most of our inbounds plays resulted in us throwing the ball to players 25-35 feet away from the basket and those cutting away from the basket)
This year I am seeing more creativity in our inbounds sets with more pressure being placed on the opponent to guard us and more VCU players moving toward the basket to receive passes and/or in position to shoot layup or easy shots (it also helps to have someone like Ace making the inbounds pass too and players that can adjust on the fly to how defenses are playing them)
Kudos to MR and his staff ( I am believer if you can steal an easy layup or few close shots a game they will payoff in the long-run)
Go Rams

 

[RESRam]

Last season I criticized our lack of imagination on inbounds plays underneath the basket we are shooting at - and suggested the coaches spend some off-season time looking at coaches that do that well (in the past most of our inbounds plays resulted in us throwing the ball to players 25-35 feet away from the basket and those cutting away from the basket)
This year I am seeing more creativity in our inbounds sets with more pressure being placed on the opponent to guard us and more VCU players moving toward the basket to receive passes and/or in position to shoot layup or easy shots (it also helps to have someone like Ace making the inbounds pass too and players that can adjust on the fly to how defenses are playing them)
Kudos to MR and his staff ( I am believer if you can steal an easy layup or few close shots a game they will payoff in the long-run)
Go Rams

Always thought scoring off inbound plays was a strength (perhaps the only one) of Sonny’s teams back in the day. You could almost count on getting a couple of easy buckets each game.