The VCU Rams 2022-23 Season Thread

theyaintwantit · Nov 28, 2022

PhantomRam said:
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.

Being consistently good is very hard to sustain. VCU hasn't had a losing season in this millennium which every school you noted above has experienced. VCU is a darn good basketball program. One bad hire, head coach departure, scandal, etc can massively change a program and we've had the sauce to keep the train running, though I'd say it currently is moving a little slower then it did 7+ years ago.

I'd obviously love to be ranked every season and have the hype that we did from 2011-2015, but consistently winning and making the NCAAs (in the 8-11 seed range) is probably more achievable and not an incredibly hard ask considering our current head coach and our previous head coach could do it. I think that is why VCU having a BAD offense drives a lot of us nuts. We have highly recruited players and we have a staff that has proven it can win basketball games in Division 1. Somethings gotta give....

ramluvr99 · Nov 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1596679551303974913

for everybody talking about 3 point shooting

Ramlove81 · Nov 29, 2022

PhantomRam said:
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 don't have time to look it up, sorry, but my suspicion is that there are a lot of P6 programs that have trouble maintaining success also. There are very few programs that are top programs year after year. Look at UCLA post Wooden (now they are back, but it took a long time), even UNC and UK have had down times. Indiana used to be a blue blood basketball program, not anymore...

rambunctiousrowdyram · Nov 29, 2022

ramluvr99 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1596679551303974913
for everybody talking about 3 point shooting

I mean I don’t think it’s a secret Ace is one of our best 3 point shooters and by default brings our % up. The problem is he can’t be the only consistent one if we’re gonna shoot them all the time.

Wolfpack Ram · Nov 29, 2022

ramluvr99 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1596679551303974913
for everybody talking about 3 point shooting

The level of competition also increased significantly in the last 4 games. That stat is meaningless.

ramluvr99 · Nov 29, 2022

Wolfpack Ram said:
The level of competition also increased significantly in the last 4 games. That stat is meaningless.

i disagree. we shot 25% against kennesaw st. that’s ace

Wolfpack Ram · Nov 29, 2022

ramluvr99 said:
i disagree. we shot 25% against kennesaw st. that’s ace

That's just one of the last 4 games, and Kennesaw State is a much better team than Manhattan and Morgan State. Manhattan and Morgan State are a combined 4-8 with wins over Mount Saint Vincent, Army, Penn State Greater Allegheny and Utah Valley.

ramluvr99 · Nov 29, 2022

t

Wolfpack Ram said:
That's just one of the last 4 games, and Kennesaw State is a much better team than Manhattan and Morgan State. Manhattan and Morgan State are a combined 4-8 with wins over Mount Saint Vincent, Army, Penn State Greater Allegheny and Utah Valley.

the difference between manhattan/morgan state and kennesaw st doesn’t account for a 10% lower 3 point shooting percentage. it’s ridiculous the point to that, instead of best player and point guard being out as the reason we’re struggling. i don’t understand why people aren’t willing to admit when your most important player goes down you struggle.

Violet Ram · Nov 29, 2022

Wolfpack Ram said:
That's just one of the last 4 games, and Kennesaw State is a much better team than Manhattan and Morgan State. Manhattan and Morgan State are a combined 4-8 with wins over Mount Saint Vincent, Army, Penn State Greater Allegheny and Utah Valley.

You make it sound like Kennesaw st. has a much more impressive resume. Also, FWIW, Kennesaw has the worst defense out of the mentioned.

Oh, and the point about Ace isn't just that his personal shooting percentage raises the team average, but rather his general playmaking skills also get others more/better looks.

rambunctiousrowdyram · Nov 29, 2022

ramluvr99 said:
t

the difference between manhattan/morgan state and kennesaw st doesn’t account for a 10% lower 3 point shooting percentage. it’s ridiculous the point to that, instead of best player and point guard being out as the reason we’re struggling. i don’t understand why people aren’t willing to admit when your most important player goes down you struggle.

Rhoades said this is his deepest team ever. If that’s the case the team shouldn’t be falling apart because one player is out. Especially when that player has been out before and other players had to step into his role before. Losing one player on a deep team shouldn’t result in the mentality of “Well it was fun guys but now we’re screwed.” Injuries happen. Considering the amount we have usually we should be pretty use to dealing with them these days.

Wolfpack Ram · Nov 29, 2022

ramluvr99 said:
t

the difference between manhattan/morgan state and kennesaw st doesn’t account for a 10% lower 3 point shooting percentage. it’s ridiculous the point to that, instead of best player and point guard being out as the reason we’re struggling. i don’t understand why people aren’t willing to admit when your most important player goes down you struggle.

Shriver was 5 of 13 (38.4%) from three in the first two games. In the last 4 games, Shriver is 5 of 22 (22.7%). Shriver has taken 14 more three point shots than the next closest player, Zeb Jackson. Zeb Jackson is 4 of 21 from three this year (19%) and only took one less three point shot than Ace in the first two games. Between Shriver and Jackson, they have taken 45% of the three point shots on the team. Combined, they are shooting 25% from three. Not sure how you think that is due to Ace not being in the game. Every time they have shot the ball, they thought they had an open shot. Ace on made 7 three point attempts in the first two games. He would have to shot a ton of threes at a crazy success rate to make up the 10% drop you referenced.

And FYI - the backup point guard (Jayden Nunn) had 24 points against Kennesaw State and has averaged 13.75 ppg since Ace went down.

AlienAiden · Nov 29, 2022

rambunctiousrowdyram said:
Rhoades said this is his deepest team ever.

In my opinion his deepest team ever was the 2019-20 team that flopped due to poor combos, upper classman favoritism & injuries.
Just saying

This team is deep to a certain extent. Personally I would go about 8 deep.

Mr X · Nov 29, 2022

AlienAiden said:
In my opinion his deepest team ever was the 2019-20 team that flopped due to poor combos, upper classman favoritism & injuries.
Just saying This team is deep to a certain extent. Personally I would go about 8 deep.

Agreed. I also do not think for a minute we are falling apart as some have mentioned.

TampaKAP · Nov 29, 2022

Ace playmaking and the absence thereof illustrates the importance of a playmaker and not just someone capable of bringing the ball up the court. You can look at any game and you will see numerous times where players were in optimal position to shot/score and were not passed the ball or passed the ball late. We have a roster construction issue. Historically, VCU has had more PG’s than playing time. Now we have more playing time than PG’s. Additionally, and I have down a reasonable amount of research, our other problem is the makeup of the coaching staff. MR has been successful at every other stop but I believe that is because the talent outplayed the coaching. At this level we have the talent but its not enough talent to outplay the coaching.

Wolfpack Ram · Nov 29, 2022

TampaKAP said:
Ace playmaking and the absence thereof illustrates the importance of a playmaker and not just someone capable of bringing the ball up the court. You can look at any game and you will see numerous times where players were in optimal position to shot/score and were not passed the ball or passed the ball late. We have a roster construction issue. Historically, VCU has had more PG’s than playing time. Now we have more playing time than PG’s. Additionally, and I have down a reasonable amount of research, our other problem is the makeup of the coaching staff. MR has been successful at every other stop but I believe that is because the talent outplayed the coaching. At this level we have the talent but its not enough talent to outplay the coaching.

Marcus Evans had a lot to do with Rice's success with Coach Rhoades at the helm. Injuries held him back at VCU to the point I don't think we ever saw him play at his peak.