The VCU Rams opened the Shaka Smart era with a bang against Bethune Cookman on Friday night. Playing the fast paced, high-pressure style that their coach has hammered into them since his first day on the job in March, the Rams outplayed the Wildcats from wire to wire to give Smart his first win as a head coach.
The Rams used strong shooting from behind the arc and a steady stream of easy baskets from their pressure defense to sail to a 77-51 victory to start the 2009-2010 campaign on a solid note. Joey Rodriguez led a balanced attack of four players in double figures as the Rams played their first game in four years without NBA first round draft pick Eric Maynor.
