This is a tough conference

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rammad90

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The CAA is a tough conference, I started in this in an earlier post.

I mean ODU loses to Delaware, and Drexel. Drexel, loses to W&M, JMU and VCU lose to Ga State, Hofstra supposedly a bottom feeder is 5-1 beating GMU and the beat goes on.

I was initially disappointed with our performance in certain wins against lessor teams, and also wondered when we as fans would simply stop getting excited about beating the likes of W&M, or a down NU team.

However, after a little thought, I realize that this conference is a tough and on any given day/night anyone can beat anyone. The play and the players in this league continue to get better.

Therefore, I am happy with every CAA win not matter the margin and do not every look past any team on our schedule. Nothing is guaranteed.

By the way, I spent all last week supporting the noting that Shaka hadn't performed up to potential to date. I stand behind that statement. However, I am willing to state, that yesterday was the first time since those CBI games I actually saw Shaka make major adjustments that appeared to make a difference in the game.

If Shaka can continue to show this type of growth, with team focus, and a little luck we may do well in the regular season.

Go Rams!
 
rammad90 said:
By the way, I spent all last week supporting the noting that Shaka hadn't performed up to potential to date. I stand behind that statement. However, I am willing to state, that yesterday was the first time since those CBI games I actually saw Shaka make major adjustments that appeared to make a difference in the game.
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I agree with everything you said about this being a tough conference, but regarding Shaka's adjustments.. Don't you think Shaka's decision to start doubling Tomko off of every screen at UNCW made a huge difference? It completely took him out of the game and made him a non-factor.
 
xjohnx said:
rammad90 said:
By the way, I spent all last week supporting the noting that Shaka hadn't performed up to potential to date. I stand behind that statement. However, I am willing to state, that yesterday was the first time since those CBI games I actually saw Shaka make major adjustments that appeared to make a difference in the game.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you said about this being a tough conference, but regarding Shaka's adjustments.. Don't you think Shaka's decision to start doubling Tomko off of every screen at UNCW made a huge difference? It completely took him out of the game and made him a non-factor.
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I couldn't attend the UNCW game. But it is good that we scan see that adjustments are now being made as opposed to us just going out and trying to win games on talent alone.

At NE Shaka went from riding Brad to working the ball into Jamie on every possession. NE couldn't handle that adjustment. Also, keeping Ed on Allen was huge.
 
Every conference is tough... Even the Gonzagas, Dukes and Ohio States of the world normally drop some games in conference. When everyone sees the same teams over and over again the margin of victory shrinks and upsets occur.
 
This was never the case but I'm glad you're finally able to see it.

rammad90 said:
But it is good that we scan see that adjustments are now being made as opposed to us just going out and trying to win games on talent alone.

At NE Shaka went from riding Brad to working the ball into Jamie on every possession. NE couldn't handle that adjustment. Also, keeping Ed on Allen was huge.
Click to expand...
 
rammad90 said:
The CAA is a tough conference, I started in this in an earlier post.

I mean ODU loses to Delaware, and Drexel. Drexel, loses to W&M, JMU and VCU lose to Ga State, Hofstra supposedly a bottom feeder is 5-1 beating GMU and the beat goes on.

I was initially disappointed with our performance in certain wins against lessor teams, and also wondered when we as fans would simply stop getting excited about beating the likes of W&M, or a down NU team.

However, after a little thought, I realize that this conference is a tough and on any given day/night anyone can beat anyone. The play and the players in this league continue to get better.

Therefore, I am happy with every CAA win not matter the margin and do not every look past any team on our schedule. Nothing is guaranteed.

By the way, I spent all last week supporting the noting that Shaka hadn't performed up to potential to date. I stand behind that statement. However, I am willing to state, that yesterday was the first time since those CBI games I actually saw Shaka make major adjustments that appeared to make a difference in the game.

If Shaka can continue to show this type of growth, with team focus, and a little luck we may do well in the regular season.

Go Rams!
Click to expand...


Well said. I wish this would translate to respect from the national media.
 
In addition to our squad, guys like Kent Bazemore, Denzel Bowles, and even Chaisson Allen yesterday, all entertain and excite me when they play. I'd say the competition definitely surprises me or does something we wouldn't expect in the majority of our conference games. We've got some darn fine talent across most of the board for being a "mid-major conference". Just being geocentric, I love how we've got 5 fairly respectable (2-3 being consistently dangerous) VA teams while Tech and UVA get all this hype. Having all these in-state CAA rivals and Richmond as a dedicated city rival really offers us a level of competition that our players and staff seem to feed off of. We def have a pretty good thing goin on not just in the CAA, but at VCU too. 8-)


Now we gotta just convince UofR, UVA, and Tech to join... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: that will never happen.
 
!3umbles said:
In addition to our squad, guys like Kent Bazemore, Denzel Bowles, and even Chaisson Allen yesterday, all entertain and excite me when they play. I'd say the competition definitely surprises me or does something we wouldn't expect in the majority of our conference games. We've got some darn fine talent across most of the board for being a "mid-major conference". Just being geocentric, I love how we've got 5 fairly respectable (2-3 being consistently dangerous) VA teams while Tech and UVA get all this hype. Having all these in-state CAA rivals and Richmond as a dedicated city rival really offers us a level of competition that our players and staff seem to feed off of. We def have a pretty good thing goin on not just in the CAA, but at VCU too. 8-)


Now we gotta just convince UofR, UVA, and Tech to join... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: that will never happen.
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I agree every year the conference loses good players and others continue to take their place with superior performance. Over the last five years this conference has seen five NBA players in Berea, Maynor, Sanders, Neal, and Janning. Plus all the players in Europe and elsewhere the talent level has really improved.

I make this point to underscore the fact that we at VCU cannot simply rely on being more talented than other teams. We need it all coaching, inspired play, and inspired fans.

I am very happy to see that our young coach appears to making the strides necessary to compete with the likes of Coen, Larranaga, Blaine, and Bruiser.

Go Rams!
 
As evidenced by being the 10th ranked conference right now - pretty darn good. Not that we ever really had any other options anyway. I think it's growing on even those that whined for years after the Metro days.

I've loved it from day one because of being able to travel to so many road games.

It is definitely a tough conference though - good call.
 
If you had told me that before the season began that six games into conference play we'd be sharing the best conference record with JMU and Hofstra, I'd ask what you put in your Kool-Aid.
 
From an us perspective or a WTF are JMU and Hofstra doing at the top of the league perspective? :lol:

Where are all the spinners that said that the CAA was having a down year about as recently as a month ago? :shock:
 
VCU4LIFE said:
From an us perspective or a WTF are JMU and Hofstra doing at the top of the league perspective? :lol:

Where are all the spinners that said that the CAA was having a down year about as recently as a month ago? :shock:
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From a WTF perspective, but I guess I'll know once we get to play both of these teams.
 
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