The VCU Rams 2022-23 Season Thread

Wolfpack Ram said:
DeLoach is averaging 5.6 turnovers per 40 minutes playing time. Watkins is averaging 5.2 turnovers per 40 minutes played. And neither player is a primary ball handler. Clean up on aisle 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I don't understand how/why the sloppiness! Would benching these guys help? Or can we not afford to bench them given Ace's injury?
 
northernvatiger said:
I don't understand how/why the sloppiness! Would benching these guys help? Or can we not afford to bench them given Ace's injury?
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Neither one of them plays Ace's position. Ace can't make sound decisions for them. That's on them and them alone.
 
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Wolfpack Ram said:
Memphis ran him off of the three point line. Shriver is a set shooter and needs space to set his feet and get his shot off. Memphis completely took that away from him. Pretty sure other schools are also going to figure out what Memphis did to lock him down. It's not rocket science.
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I’d like to see Ace back in the lineup before I give up on Shriver. You are right that he is a set shooter, but my hope is that having Ace as the main facilitator can improve his game.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
I think we are saying the same thing. You state that he was bullied by Memphis and I stated he was run off of the three point line. In essence, Memphis did not allow Shriver the time to set his feet and time to shoot. Yes, they were physical with him, and pushed him off of the three point line not allowing him to get a set shot. As I stated earlier, other schools will figure that out and play the same type defense against him. At the end of the day, the A-10 is much tougher competition than the America East or DII basketball. What worked for Shriver at lower levels may very well not work at the level his is at now.
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Yeah, I see what you mean. We’re on the same page.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
Memphis ran him off of the three point line. Shriver is a set shooter and needs space to set his feet and get his shot off. Memphis completely took that away from him. Pretty sure other schools are also going to figure out what Memphis did to lock him down. It's not rocket science.
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But if he is playing the 4 and pulls the other teams 4 away from the lane to close out the 3 it should open the lane a bit. Still would like to see him hit a few shots if he's going to get minutes.
 
Well, the first 35 minutes last night was one of the worst performances by our team that I can remember. We couldn’t shoot, pass, catch or defend. But what we did have was players playing hard, not giving up and finding a way to win. We struggle against quick, fast opponents- teams who play sort of like our best havoc days. But our team has character. As a fan for as long as I can remember - Franklin Street Gym days- I have always been proud of the character of the players we recruit and the way we play the game “the right way” as Coach Rhoades says often. There have been a few exceptions who left (or were asked to leave) . We are not a Power 5 school and now the under the table money is over the table. We won’t get the one and dones and I am happy with that. For reasons of family, friends or current or former players, we do get some top recruits or players who were not highly recruited but should have been. Most go on to graduate and have solid careers. I am proud of the VCU Ram tradition. We’ll be ok.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
DeLoach is averaging 5.6 turnovers per 40 minutes playing time. Watkins is averaging 5.2 turnovers per 40 minutes played. And neither player is a primary ball handler. Clean up on aisle 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Watkins offers defense and scoring. Deloach is straight up a liability. I think MR should try to go small or give Lawal or Fermin emergency minutes.
 
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In theory once we get into A10 play with teams we are familiar with we should get on a roll along with Dayton and SLU but honestly I don’t know about that. Everyone is gonna be better and certain teams will start to be rebounding under new coaches. We’re likely gonna have some stumbles and likely a few WTH losses. Definitely feels like we might all be fist fighting for one bid this year. Though maybe if like SLU wins the reg season and another wins the tourney we get two in.
 
dwhite said:
Watkins offers defense and scoring. Deloach is straight up a liability. I think MR should try to go small or give Lawal or Fermin emergency minutes.
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Watkins is also a liability to some degree if he is turning the ball over 5.2 times per 40 minutes played. That's basically 5+ more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. Add in DeLoach and now you are almost at 11 more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. That could potentially lose you a lot of close games down the stretch.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
Watkins is also a liability to some degree if he is turning the ball over 5.2 times per 40 minutes played. That's basically 5+ more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. Add in DeLoach and now you are almost at 11 more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. That could potentially lose you a lot of close games down the stretch.
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My hope is that as Jamir continues to play this season, he will start to turn the ball over less.
I try to remind myself that until our home game against Manhattan, the last time he played in a Division 1 basketball game was the 2021 A10 Title game vs St. Bonaventure. That's 20 months between basketball games. His body appears to be back, but it can take some time to mentally come back from an injury.
 
Wolfpack Ram said:
Watkins is also a liability to some degree if he is turning the ball over 5.2 times per 40 minutes played. That's basically 5+ more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. Add in DeLoach and now you are almost at 11 more possessions per 40 minutes for the opposing team. That could potentially lose you a lot of close games down the stretch.
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Watkins is getting back into game shape after missing last year though. I think he'll clean his stats up as the season goes on.
 
So, I had a bit of time today so I started looking at non P6 programs that had had success in the past but was not able to sustain it for more than a few years. In looking at the landscape I realized that to maintain a program at our level is incredibly difficult. Also remember that we have had 2 A10 programs that were No 1 at times, UMASS and St Joe. Also, St Louis, Richmond, Dayton and La Salle have all had years where they finished in the top 25. But none of these teams have been able to sustain (maybe UMASS) a streak like VCU. Other non P6's not able to sustain success, GMU, Tulsa, Temple, DePaul, Bradley, WKU, New Orleans, UAB, Princeton, Butler, Southern ILL, Murry, Wichita St and UNLV.

So, ok, the goal is consistent success and growth upon that success, but at our level is incredibility hard to maintain. All these teams had their day, but I doubt any of those teams strike fear in any opponents today.

So, does this solve any of our offensive problems and make me feel better about this year, well no. But the perspective is welcome in that we have had, for a non P6 program, an incredible run since 2009.
 
I'd really enjoy an athletic group that can press. Ferman under the rim. Kern and Zeb and Nunn at full court with Lawal being the fifth. That is an athletic bunch that could be a problem. Sure Lawal and Ferman are rookies, but they are all fast. We need that group on the floor if and when we press.
 
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