The Official Beat the Kennesaw State Owls at the Stu Thread

[Mistachill]

Regarding #1, there are valid reasons for our not advancing in the NCAA’s that were outside of the coaches control. Those type of things get factored into any job evaluation. If you are so anxious to move on from Mike, consider that there’s a good chance that whoever were to replace him would not be able to do any better. If you were Ed, would you be ready to take that risk now? Also, what kind of credibility would we have with prospective coaches if we had just fired a coach with Mike’s record? Not many coaches are going to want to enter a pressure cooker where expectations border on being unrealistic.

On #2, anyone who watched us play could tell that the senior season Evans was only a shadow of his junior season self. That being said, I don’t write off that season as bad chemistry or off the court issues. Mike deserves blame for not managing that group and season better. There’s no way we should have had the regular season record that we had that year. Also, crazy family or not, could Mike have handled the MSS situation better? That’s a fair question.

On #3, I’m not much for the NIT either. I guess if we were to make it to the semis then it may be something to start getting excited about.

#1 - anytime you make a change in anything in life it could go either way. If you think matching what we used to accomplish when we now have more resources is "unrealistic" that's certainly your opinion. I would argue that a talented, confident potential head coach may look at VCU as fertile ground to plant something big.

If you're satisfied with the status quo or you think by year 10 MR will have us back to where we once was, then you can certainly keep running it back with him.

 

[Mistachill]

Again, agree to disagree.

I was at the game when he got hurt against Rhody up in D.C. and I was sitting behind the VCU bench in Columbia, SC for that UCF game. It was clear to everyone that he wasn't close to 100% for the NCAA Tournament game. So, yes, putting him at 75% is speculation on my part, but that 75% could even be too high. Come on, man, you are losing me if you can't admit the Evans injury had a major impact on all that VCU team did on both ends of the floor. It's just foolishness to suggest Evans injury was not the main reason we played poorly.

Never said his injury wasn't a major impact. What I'm saying is we had a whole team that didn't play worth a crap. If MR was able to get his healthy players to step up and we played a competitive game but we lost at the end because we didn't have a healthy Evans to close the show, you would have a point. The fact that nobody stepped up (especially our 2nd highest rated recruit since Kendrick Warren), putting the entire team's performance on Evans being less than 100% is a stretch.

 

[Ramaholic]

Opinions vary, Sparky.

I just gave you examples of blame I place squarely on Mike’s shoulders, including a horrible collapse in 2020, per your question. Otherwise, your recent post above is mostly crap with you just putting words into my mouth, which is the purview of several others on this fan forum. I’m frankly tired of folks who refuse to actually read and comprehend statements, so they take it upon themselves to put their spin on it. That’s where I draw the line. Not going to play the game anymore with people who just make stuff up.

Good luck and happy holidays.

@HBK is not a homer. He has a good basketball mind and is making fair points. He sees the good and the bad imo and prefers to focus on the good points and let some more time pass before making an opinion. I've read numerous posts throughout the years where @HBK has questioned the coaches, the admin on certain things. But at the end of the day he is a "half full" glass kind of guy and unapologetic for being that way. I like him. Rock on @HBK.

 

[smiley4284]

Shaka was getting the same criticism. It is what it is. Shaka wasn’t Wades successor or had to deal with Covid. Some of you on these Social Media sites I wonder why you are even a fan. Constructive criticism is one thing. But I’ve seen VCU has no scorers. Really?😂

 

[HBK]

Never said his injury wasn't a major impact. What I'm saying is we had a whole team that didn't play worth a crap. If MR was able to get his healthy players to step up and we played a competitive game but we lost at the end because we didn't have a healthy Evans to close the show, you would have a point. The fact that nobody stepped up (especially our 2nd highest rated recruit since Kendrick Warren), putting the entire team's performance on Evans being less than 100% is a stretch.

If I said that UCF was a bad match-up for us, given that we liked to play through MSS some and UCF was giant, then that would be an excuse. We did play like crap. UCF had something to do with it, because (news flash) they were a good team playing at full strength. As a reminder, they lost to Zion and #1 seed Duke 77-76 the next game. So, let's give them some credit. The other teams have coaches and players who want to win, too.

I'm so glad you mentioned our "2nd highest-rated recruit ever". It just goes to show why I take recruiting rankings with a huge grain of salt. Recruiting rankings and five dollars will buy you a Happy Meal. (At least, I think you can still get a Happy Meal for five bucks, but with inflation, I can't be sure. ) We all love to see highly-rated recruits come to our program, but those rankings are NOT guarantees of success, no matter the coach. Sports is as much mental as physical. DJ is a great kid, but somehow he couldn't thrive under the same coaching style and system in which both Bones and Vince thrived and ended up becoming NBA draft picks, in spite of the fact that they were lower rated recruits than DJ. Coaches coach and players play.

Specifically about that UCF game, all I'm saying is the major reason we lost is that Evans wasn't at full strength. Another big reason is because UCF was a darn good team. I wasn't at the practices between the Rhody A10 Quarterfinal and the UCF game, so I don't know specifically what the team worked on, but I am 100% certain that the staff did NOT say to our team that they should take bad shots, make sloppy passes, lose your man on defense, don't block out, and foul guys as they are shooting. Again, losing the engine of a team can be overcome, but it takes time and experience, not just a week of practice.

 

[HBK]

@HBK is not a homer. He has a good basketball mind and is making fair points. He sees the good and the bad imo and prefers to focus on the good points and let some more time pass before making an opinion. I've read numerous posts throughout the years where @HBK has questioned the coaches, the admin on certain things. But at the end of the day he is a "half full" glass kind of guy and unapologetic for being that way. I like him. Rock on @HBK.

Thank you for the kind words. I try to call it like I see it.

 

[Mr X]

Our offense has been wretched for years, though. It's always been ugly, with 0 flow, 0 coordination, tons of turnovers, and tons of forcing from our players. It just doesn't really work well. The numbers bear that out - Mike has had 1 offense in the top 33% of CBB - his first year. The season's young, but the data so far points to this year's team being the worst offensive VCU team kenpom has ever recorded. In year friggin 6' of Mike Rhoades with all his guys a few times over.

The eye test proves it a million times over too. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to learn that a major reason for our drop in attendance isn't just covid or ticket prices but the fact that our style of basketball is really, really hard to watch - which would be fine if we won the games needed to get bids (cough cough UVA).

Whether we run a terrible scheme (this is my primary guess), we recruit players that don't fit that scheme (maybe some of this too), or we don't change the scheme to fit the players we have (definitely some of this) - I don't know who else's feet to lay the blame at than the staff's. It's not Marcus Evans' ankles fault that we've been bad at offense for 6 years.

I don't want to jump into the debate, but totally agree. Our style of play has become very bland. Foul or be fouled. I have been a season ticket holder for at least 5 re-seatings and am not sure if I will make it to the next. Graduated from VCU, love the program, and will always be a big fan, but as I get older and think about it, for the money I pay for donations, tickets and such, is it still worth it when I can just watch games on TV for $1000s less?

My youngest will be a junior at Tech next year, and it comes down to, VCU basketball, or switch it up and get season tickets for Tech football. I can't afford both.

Either way. I will be in attendance tonight.

Go Rams!

 

[rambunctiousrowdyram]

Im not sure if I would get hung up on the 0-1 NCAA record given the circumstances, but at the same time, 2020 was a disappointment even if we didn't "miss" the tournament and last year. Those are the marks that weigh more to me.

I'm not going to go back and find your post about offense being wretched. I don't disagree, but 2 things. I blame a portion of it on coaching and the other portion on recruiting. When ace is out, we dont have another player whose actually a PG. That's a recruiting failure and Rhoades has had the same issues for half of his tenure here.

Second, just want to note that we didn't have great offenses with Shaka. A lot of the fun and points came from pressing. Our offense back then involved a lot of perimeter weaves in the half court. Wades teams were more efficient in the half court but also kinda boring.

This idea Shaka didn’t have good offense is just stats wise not accurate. They were generally in the top 60. Our defense was lower 100s. Those were NCAA teams. Now we have top 10 defense teams with 200-300 offenses and those are not NCAA teams. If we had even a somewhat decent offense we’re a tourney team and a pretty formidable one.

 

[2012Ram]

Thank you for the kind words. I try to call it like I see it.

You do a whole of talking down to people who don't see it the same way, too.

 

[HBK]

You do a whole of talking down to people who don't see it the same way, too.

That is your opinion, which is fine. My intention is not to speak down to people. If that is what I do, or how people take it, then I certainly apologize for doing so. However, my goal is neither to insult nor demean any posters. That being said, there are some posters who can bring out in the worst in many of us. If I let them bring out the worst in me, then it is my fault. My goal is to always be respectful, and if I fall short of that, then I should be called out for it.

Bottom line, I want to believe that we all love VCU basketball. Difference of opinion is great, and I welcome it. As I posted to Chill recently, the world would be a very boring place if everyone agreed on everything all the time.

 

[2012Ram]

I don't want to jump into the debate, but totally agree. Our style of play has become very bland. Foul or be fouled. I have been a season ticket holder for at least 5 re-seatings and am not sure if I will make it to the next. Graduated from VCU, love the program, and will always be a big fan, but as I get older and think about it, for the money I pay for donations, tickets and such, is it still worth it when I can just watch games on TV for $1000s less?

My youngest will be a junior at Tech next year, and it comes down to, VCU basketball, or switch it up and get season tickets for Tech football. I can't afford both.

Either way. I will be in attendance tonight.

Go Rams!

It's just ugly ball. We muck it up so well on defense and run such an awful offense that every game ends up being two teams that turn the ball over 20+ times and shoot like 30% overall.

 

[AHEF]

The general consensus is that we have problems on offense. There are many reasons which include coaching and the players, which can be improved. I'll be at the game cheering them on! Go Rams Go.

 

[Violet Ram]

This idea Shaka didn’t have good offense is just stats wise not accurate. They were generally in the top 60. Our defense was lower 100s. Those were NCAA teams. Now we have top 10 defense teams with 200-300 offenses and those are not NCAA teams. If we had even a somewhat decent offense we’re a tourney team and a pretty formidable one.

Which stats are you referring to, because most of the major stats don't report only offensive efficiency in the half court. Creating turnovers and scoring on fast breaks can hide a lot of warts.

 

[DNB]

Courtesy of the Rhode Island Rams coached by Danny Hurley. They did it on purpose.

Certainly looked that way.

 

[Ramball]

Removing emotion from it and the numbers show our offense stinks in year 6.....and getting worse. Hopefully we turn it around when is Ace is back and get back to being around 150 on Kenpom. 😉