Rush The Court Power Rankings: VCU picked #2 in the CAA

[districtballer]

http://rushthecourt.net/2010/09/08/summ ... more-24197

For the second consecutive year, a Virginia Commonwealth Ram was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, this time being First Team All-CAA center Larry Sanders, who elected to forgo his senior season at VCU. Even with the loss of Sanders, the Colonial boasts a wealth of returning talent, especially at the guard spots. Two members of last year’s First Team are back, led by 2010 CAA Player of the Year and senior Charles Jenkins. Northeastern’s senior guard Chaisson Allen is also back, along with four seniors who made the 2010 Second Team: Delaware guard Jawan Carter, George Mason guard Cam Long, VCU guard Joey Rodriguez, and James Madison forward Denzel Bowles.

2. VCU [27-9 (11-7)] – In year one of the post-Anthony Grant & Eric Maynor era, VCU won 27 games, second-most in school history, reached the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, and won the CBI tournament. Not bad for what was supposed to be a “transition year” at Virginia Commonwealth. This year, the Rams have to deal with the heavy loss of First Team All-CAA center Larry Sanders, who finished in the top five in the league in rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage. The burden of some of that production will fall on the shoulders of 6’9 senior Jamie Skeen (8.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG), but expect the 2010-11 Rams to be a guard-oriented squad. Second Team All-CAA senior Joey Rodriguez is the top returning scorer (12.9 per game), but also led the CAA in assists (5.8 per game) and steals (1.9 per game). Seniors Brandon Rozzell (8.8 PPG), Ed Nixon (7.9 PPG), and wing Bradford Burgess (10.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG) should all see increased production this year. VCU was a bit unfortunate in close games last year, as all eight conference losses were by five points or fewer, including a four-point overtime loss to Old Dominion in the CAA Tournament semifinals. If a few of those close losses go the other way in Shaka Smart’s second year, VCU could very well be headed back to the NCAA Tournament.

Interesting to note that every single one of our 8 losses in CAA play was by 5 points or less. I think that is indicative of a lack of toughness on our part and that is something we are hopefully addressing this offseason. Toby Veal is supposed to be an upgrade in the toughness department over what we lost in the frontcourt, although Larry brought a lot more in other areas. It seems our guys did not respond well to getting that punch in the mouth last year whenever teams would start to make a run. That's something we'll have to work on improving for this season.

It is really reassuring to know that all 8 conference losses last year were by very small margins and that with a little adjustment, we could have a very successful year.

 

[mwalvlior]

Interesting to note that every single one of our 8 losses in CAA play was by 5 points or less. I think that is indicative of a lack of toughness on our part and that is something we are hopefully addressing this offseason.

have to agree with the lack of toughness and also a lack of killer instinct as was evidenced by all the huge leads we blew both in games we ended up winning and those we eventually lost. I hope Toby helps with that but also think Skeen will take on more of a leadership role in that area instead of differing with Larry gone. If we dont respond better with the upper class leadership we have it will be a long year, but here's to the adjustment.

 

[buckwheat]

Interesting to note that every single one of our 8 losses in CAA play was by 5 points or less.

it would be even more interesting if it were true.

 

[YouveBeenRammed]

Interesting to note that every single one of our 8 losses in CAA play was by 5 points or less.

it would be even more interesting if it were true.

All were but one... Northeastern had their way w/ up at the freezer. We lost by 12.

 

[districtballer]

Ahh, this is true. Still it's a pretty interesting statistic. 7 of 8 CAA losses by 5 points or less is still indicative of a mental and physical toughness issue.

I'm sure our guys know what they need to improve on. The question remains as to whether we will do it or not. This is probably our best chance to win the conference for the next 2-3 seasons. We have as veteran a backcourt as their is in the CAA right now and this is a guard's league. I would put Joey, Rozzell, and Ed up against any back court in the conference right now. When we lose them (not to mention Skeen) after this season we will most likely take a bit of a step back with our youth in both the front court and back court.

Darius will be the starting point guard and I think he'll be fine there, but we haven't seen how much he has progressed this year. Troy will probably start at the 2, and our front court will be a senior Veal and a bunch of sophomores who will still be learning the nuances of the game. I'm sure we'll be competitive, but I don't see how we are legitmately considered a realistic championship contender that year. Gotta think Mason will likely be the team to beat after this season. This is our year to do damage and make some noise in the tourney if we are going to do it. Next season we can't realistically expect it, although I do think we'll be back in that expectation zone the year after.

 

[vcu_dan]

Darius will be the starting point guard and I think he'll be fine there, but we haven't seen how much he has progressed this year. Troy will probably start at the 2, and our front court will be a senior Veal and a bunch of sophomores who will still be learning the nuances of the game. I'm sure we'll be competitive, but I don't see how we are legitmately considered a realistic championship contender that year. Gotta think Mason will likely be the team to beat after this season. This is our year to do damage and make some noise in the tourney if we are going to do it. Next season we can't realistically expect it, although I do think we'll be back in that expectation zone the year after.

bradford? or did he leave early for the nba?

 

[districtballer]

Whew...ok we'll still be in the conversation the year after.

Dang that kid plays like an upperclassmen I swear. If he develops a mean streak/killer instinct look out! I don't see NBA in his future the way he's currently progressing, but the kid has all the tools!

 

[vcu_dan]

Whew...ok we'll still be in the conversation the year after.

Dang that kid plays like an upperclassmen I swear. If he develops a mean streak/killer instinct look out! I don't see NBA in his future the way he's currently progressing, but the kid has all the tools!

db your point is still valid we will be a bit young but we do have a senior to lead us

 

[BaNgMyPrOgRaM]

C'mon DB, you know the drill. One SEASON at a time.

 

[rammad90]

Whew...ok we'll still be in the conversation the year after.

Dang that kid plays like an upperclassmen I swear. If he develops a mean streak/killer instinct look out! I don't see NBA in his future the way he's currently progressing, but the kid has all the tools!

DB your insight is always welcomed. Also, it is almost always spot on and unbiased. This post is no different. However, I have to state given the fact that most think Shaka is a great coach and he has brought in a high level of talent, Brad will be a Senior, Theus an experienced Junior pg, Veal a fifth year highly rated Senior we shouldn't have the drop off nor should we as a fan base accept a drop off as a natural course of things.

Also, as to the guys not taking the punch in the nose your right they didn't. However, our young coach also didn't respond to well to getting hit in the nose in those close games.

I think he(Shaka) and his team demonstrated great growth in the CBI. Given all can maintain that growth we will be fine and I for one will be disappointed if we do not make the NCAA and win a game.

 

[major ram]

i think the analogies are accurate ... and I am thinking Coach Smart and staff are pretty sharp and quick learners. If so , look out CAA

 

[vcubob]

Easy to say we need to get tougher; i didn't think we played too soft last year. I'm hoping for better results in end-game situations, either by freeing Joey up for shots or giving the ball to someone who is more capable of creating quality shots when heavily guarded.

I also look for "in game" strategy improvements. It will be interesting to see what happens if Winthrop is able to break the back court trap and get uncontested shots: Will we be able to employ a softer zone press or trap half-court to reduce the number of uncontested shots? I have not seen Winthrop and could be completely off but last in last year's 33 games they made 124 three point goals in 499 attempts, [less than 1 in 4] and 43% for 2 pointers. Seems to be a team that would rather try their luck against havoc than a more conventional inside-out defensive scheme.

Winthrop will be a good test for Havoc 2.0. I'm expecting VCU to be more consistent early in the season this year and lots of new faces to keep things interesting.

 

[districtballer]

Great post!

This season will be interesting...I do think that you're overrating Winthrop a little bit though. While a decent Big South team, we should handle them fairly easily considering 2 of their starters are suspended and they have next to no front court depth. They also have lots of questions as far as bench production. We run them ragged with the press and they will turn the ball over, even if we do get burned on occasion (which tends to happen at least a couple of times a game). They don't have the numerous options to hurt us going against a press like ours. Reggie Middleton is their back court stud, and then Andre Jones (a chucker basically) and a bunch of unproven guys. Matt Morgan is their front court stud, George Valentine will be good for boards and post defense, and that's it for them. After that it's basically either scrubs or unproven talents who have yet to produce much on the college level.

One thing I am slightly apprehensive about is our propensity as a team to crap the bed in pre-season tourneys such as these. While we could have a let-down, it's not because Winthrop by any stretch of imagination is better than us. We should beat them and by double-digits at that.

 

[BaNgMyPrOgRaM]

Winthrop is the next game on the schedule. Respect and advance.
(What is it like two and a half months from now.)
----------------
Go RAMS!
Beat Eagles!!

 

[vcubob]

I agree, VCU should win. A tactician sometimes asks "how could we lose"? Oh, VCU could sit back and play half court and trust that defense and rebounding advantages will prevail and be shocked and dismayed when Winthrop makes a few creative shots at the end and wins. Its happened against other opponents in the distant past but I have had no fear of this since Grant arrived. Pressure, constantly applied, does have its advantages against weaker opponents.

The long term appeal of the 94 ft approach is also not lost on me, recruits come to play all out, all the time and Winthrop's shooting woes should not be a reason to turn off the heat. So how could VCU lose with the heat turned on? Trap hard in the backcourt but fail to stop the ball, creating too many completed 4 on 3 opportunities forcing a change to too slow a tempo?

Granted its a slim chance and not likely at all, esp. if prepared to mix and match the press to make Winthrop work but not allow uncontested shots.

Make no mistake; this is a big game on Winthrop's schedule. They will embrace the underdog role. Late game {9:30 PM scheduled start on a Monday night}, on the road. Good time to erase some of last years early season road woes.

PS: What do we know about UNC Greensboro?