New VCU Wrinkle Gives Rams Big Potential

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Natty

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Something you may have noticed over the last few games and certainly something I’ve likely made you aware of if you frequent our forum, is VCU’s dabbling into a new two-big lineup this latest chapter of the season.
The black and gold have opted for a small ball look most of the year, playing 6’5 senior wing, Mike’L Simms, the majority of the minutes at the four spot. The Highland Springs grad turned Ram by way of JUCO transfer is currently the fifth-most played player on the team, averaging a VCU career-high 23.3 minutes per contest including 25.5 minutes per contest over VCU’s last four. But within that four-game winning streak, the Rams have done a little more experimenting with the rotation.
Lately, VCU has brought Corey Douglas in at the four alongside starting center, Marcus Santos-Silva, typically around that 16-minute mark in the first half, then has even dabbled in giving freshman Larry Sanders clone, Hasan Ward, minutes alongside Douglas for yet another two-big look with...
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AlienAiden

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@Natty, wow! I did not know Simms has averaged 23 minutes a game. I did notice that he logged the most minutes in the La Salle game though.
 
Natty

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duncanlamb said:
It's not a new wrinkle. It's a conventional lineup.

Rhoades has been using 2 bigs in the lineup since he got here.
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It's new to this year's team.

Can you add up how many minutes we played any combo of Corey, MSS and Hasan over our first 18 games?

Also Sean being 6'9 last year did not make him a "big". He shot more threes than twos as a Ram and ranked seventh on last year's team in offensive rebound percentage and sixth on last year's team in defensive rebound percentage (and tied for fifth in blocks percentage). He was big, but not "a big". We have yet to have this combination of good defensive bigs under Rhoades. We had big guys, but no one who could defend and do what this trio can do.
 
Natty

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The main thing to focus on in this article is we have been world-beaters with two bigs (particularly Corey & MSS, but Has and Corey have shown promise as well) and A-10 average when we aren't playing two bigs. The points per minute margin is shocking to me. It's like two completely different teams.
 
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Natty said:
It's new to this year's team.

Can you add up how many minutes we played any combo of Corey, MSS and Hasan over our first 18 games?

Also Sean being 6'9 last year did not make him a "big". He shot more threes than twos as a Ram and ranked seventh on last year's team in offensive rebound percentage and sixth on last year's team in defensive rebound percentage (and tied for fifth in blocks percentage). He was big, but not "a big". We have yet to have this combination of good defensive bigs under Rhoades. We had big guys, but no one who could defend and do what this trio can do.
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We rotated corey, MSS and Mobley all the time, played Corey and MSS together in the UVA game. I agree Mobley was soft but he defended the others team's 4 and MR ran the high low action through Mobley all the time.

Again, this really isnt new.
 
AlienAiden

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duncanlamb said:
We rotated corey, MSS and Mobley all the time, played Corey and MSS together in the UVA game. I agree Mobley was soft but he defended the others team's 4 and MR ran the high low action through Mobley all the time.

Again, this really isnt new.
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Stay focused DL. As usual you are straying from what is happening now.
 
AlienAiden

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duncanlamb said:
All I am saying is that it cant be new if Rhoades has been playing Corey and MS together for the last 2 years.

Its like saying Mike Rhoades just discovered fire.
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I would have to look at the combos but most of the season he has been subbing Douglas for Silva and usually having a smaller line-up or Williams in with Douglas. It was actually a new wrinkle as Natty has pointed out. In the A10 a bigger line up with two bigs is helpful.
 
Valley drop step

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Natty said:
It's new to this year's team.

Can you add up how many minutes we played any combo of Corey, MSS and Hasan over our first 18 games?

Also Sean being 6'9 last year did not make him a "big". He shot more threes than twos as a Ram and ranked seventh on last year's team in offensive rebound percentage and sixth on last year's team in defensive rebound percentage (and tied for fifth in blocks percentage). He was big, but not "a big". We have yet to have this combination of good defensive bigs under Rhoades. We had big guys, but no one who could defend and do what this trio can do.
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Playing a wing at PF has been standard for years. It’s fine when it’s Tre. Vince has enough heft many nights. Rhodes has tried Vann and Simms. They are completely unsuited for it, leaves us to vulnerable. To keep doing it as a first option against most teams at this point is just f’ing stupid.
 
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Valley drop step said:
Playing a wing at PF has been standard for years. It’s fine when it’s Tre. Vince has enough heft many nights. Rhodes has tried Vann and Simms. They are completely unsuited for it, leaves us to vulnerable. To keep doing it as a first option against most teams at this point is just f’ing stupid.
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The only time UR had their way on Tuesday night was when VCU had Simms playing the 4. Cayo was finding his way to the basket and Golden was able to score with ease because Silva was on an island.
 
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