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2017-2018 VCU Rams

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#1 · (Edited)
VCU to A-10 Billboard

 
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#461 ·
I guess the point was that Semaj is no longer an A-10 subject, so it really doesn't make any sense to insert that here. Maybe I have a dimmed sense of humor, but I didn't laugh at that post, it was more of a 'okay?'. I'm sure Semaj wants to learn some of that 'havoc stuff'.

I don't object to A-10 fans discussing whatever they want to as long as it doesn't involve personal attacks or trolling of our member schools or their fans. This board is for A-10 fans to do that.

Even then, I'm not condemning your post, just pointing it out for what it is which is just you using an opportunity to insert Xavier into subject matter that had nothing to do with Xavier. I guess all the Dayton fans now know that one of your players is doing pretty well. Just on virtue of who you are as a non-league fan that will be viewed differently than a fan of a league-member making a similar comment.
 
#462 ·
Even then, I'm not condemning your post, just pointing it out for what it is which is just you using an opportunity to insert Xavier into subject matter that had nothing to do with Xavier. I guess all the Dayton fans now know that one of your players is doing pretty well. Just on virtue of who you are as a non-league fan that will be viewed differently than a fan of a league-member making a similar comment.
Actually my post has absolutely nothing to do with Dayton or Dayton fans. It had to do with a VCU player and a Xavier player going to the same camp, which was the "subject matter." You had noted it for the VCU player, I was noting for our player, and attempting a small amount of humor that obviously fell flat. I do not see any connection in the subject matter or my comments to any other school besides VCU.
 
#463 ·
Right, but why bring up Xavier or your player in this thread at all?

Congratulations to Semaj by the way, that's great, and he's fully deserving. Probably going to be one of the best PG's in the country this year and could probably go to the NBA this year if he wanted to.

I just don't see where it is relevant in this thread on an A-10 board. I will admit it's a little weird right now as a transition period where you don't really have familiarity with the Big East boards and nothing really to talk about until the games start. I'm sure all this will be sorted out as you get acclimated to your new league.
 
#464 ·
Right, but why bring up Xavier or your player in this thread at all?
Simple. Subject matter. In this case it was a common camp; in earlier discussions it was a common comparisons of arenas...Siegel, Robins, Cintas. This is a message board forum, open to the public, to talk about basketball I think. And as I have adopted the Spiders (my daughter's team) and will be following them this year, I hope to have a lot to bring up as they compete in the A10.
 
#465 ·
In this case who is posting has a good amount to do with the varied reception to a similar posting stimulus.

I don't think I would think it was nearly as odd if someone from an A-10 member school pointed out Semaj was also attending. I'd probably think they might be too obsessed with Xavier, but I wouldn't call them on it either.

I have no problem with you bringing up UR stuff if that's who you want to back to justify hanging around here once Xavier starts up Big East play.

We had a very similar deal on the CAA boards after VCU left. Most remaining fans just want fans of schools who are leaving to move on. I think that's what it comes down to. It's like a messy divorce, it's always better just to cut ties and move forward.

There's always an inherent insecurity or latent discomfort when reminders of things the A-10 would like to move on from are brought up. In this case posters from schools who left would be a prime example. You could mean extremely well, and all most A-10 fans will do is just project their feelings about X leaving onto you. They'd rather forget and move on, but you're around to remind them when you're no longer part of the league.

Does that make sense? That's been my experience when I had a hard time moving on from the CAA boards as well. It's usually best for all parties to make a clean break and move on, especially when you have a rival like Dayton who undoubtedly has several fans who are insecure about being passed over while X moved on.

If you want to be a UR fan, that's cool. I just think the Xavier mentions by no fault of your own can put people on edge for no other reason than it coming from you as a X fan on an A-10 board.
 
#468 ·
That's a great question. I think many are staying on their own, individual boards to make comments. A real problem is starting up the Holyland site as a BE site. It is not user friendly. They should have gravitated to this forum's BE message board. It would have been a lot better. (and boy this is WAY off topic for a VCU thread)
 
#467 ·
It's probably a combination of it being a new league, the off season being slow in general for basketball schools, and not having played any real games yet.

There's also the very real effect of having a lot of smaller private school alumni bases.

I've seen HolyLandOfHoops, csnbbs, and the Big East basketballforum boards, and I agree on the lack of activity. It is interesting to observe. I think that will probably change once basketball season approaches and fans have more to talk about.
 
#469 ·
http://nbadraft.net/lebron-james-skills-academy-college-prospects
Juvonte Reddic 6-9.5, 248 lbs., 6-11.5 wingspan, PF/C, VCU, Sr.

Reddic has an intriguing combination of strength and athleticism. He's a more fluid athlete than McGary, but lacks McGary's feel on the offensive end of the floor. Reddic played well, showing a willingness to hustle and run the floor, where he was rewarded with numerous dunks. He battled hard in the paint and appears to be a guy with a shot at the first round if he can put together a strong senior season.
That's NBADraft.net's eval from the LeBron James Skills Academy.
 
#472 ·
For any NFL/Washington Redskins fans, Shaka Smart made an appearance at the Redskins Preseason Training Camp taking place in Richmond this afternoon. He met up with Mike Shanahan and they both had high praise for each other.

Redskins.com did a feature on him including a video interview. Pretty neat.


http://www.redskins.com/news-and-ev...Shanahan/fb290fd1-7f0e-4cc0-a145-48c698d9cbcf

And today they finally met in person, as Virginia Commonwealth Men’s Basketball coach Shaka Smart met Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan at training camp practice.

“I read about [Smart] when I first came in [to Washington]. I was really, really kind of awed by what he’s done since he’s been here,” Shanahan told the media. “He’s got a great record. You can see how quickly he’s turned the program around.

“Any time you go to the Final Four and accomplish what he has, you’ve got to have something special to you. I’m sure the college is very excited to have him, and rightfully so.”

The respect was clearly mutual, as Shaka Smart told Redskins Nation’s Larry Michael that Mike Shanahan’s success transcends all sports.

“No question. I think coaching is coaching,” he said. “Obviously the X’s and O’s are different depending on the sport, but in terms of motivating players, creating a connected environment on your team, creating unselfishness—I think that goes across the board.

“Coach Shanahan is one of the best.”
 
#474 ·
A lot of good VCU content in this article: http://aroundthehorns.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/point-of-contention-and-other-tidbits/

On the PG situation:
It’s sound reasoning. Weber showed considerable improvement from his freshman season when backing up Theus last year. He started in place of an injured Theus in a win at Old Dominion on Dec. 7 and provided an 8-point, 9-rebound, 10 assist, 5-steal performance. He turned the ball over just once in that game. Weber averaged 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals per game last season and posted a point-guard friendly 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

But Weber hasn’t played the position in college for any extended period of time. The excitable ballhawk has been something of a hybrid in college, a defensive disruptor with opportunistic tendencies on offense.

The only “true” scholarship point guard on the roster will be well-regarded incoming freshman JeQuan Lewis from Tennessee. Classmate Jairus Lyles played a fair amount of point guard in high school, and Smart says he’ll also be in the mix.


While Weber may be most obvious choice, Smart says the Chesapeake native is taking the necessary steps to win the job, rather than assume the role by default.

“He’s had his best summer in terms of work ethic,” Smart said. “I think he’s been learning more and more that, in order to make withdrawals, you have to make deposits first. That’s been a big emphasis with him.”

It’s August, so Smart is under no pressure to commit to a starting lineup or a rotation, but that doesn’t mean he’s not actively considering the possibilities. He said he recently drew up a list of the players that could see time at each position. At point guard, Smart says he wrote down seven players: Weber, Rob Brandenberg, Melvin Johnson, Lewis, Lyles, Treveon Graham and Torey Burston. Although Smart listed Brandenberg at the top because of seniority, he made it clear that Weber is the clubhouse leader at this stage.

“Again, maybe one of those other guys earns the spot,” Smart says. “It’s certainly not set in stone, but it’s certainly his to lose. If we played a game today, he’d get the lion’s share of the minutes.”

Weber should also benefit from a stay at Chris Paul’s invitation-only CP3 Elite Guard Camp Aug. 9-11 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“The list of guys going is pretty impressive,” Smart said. “It’s pretty much all-league guys from the biggest leagues, and I think just being around those guys, Chris Paul’s at the camp, there’s a few other professional guys there, there’s professional coaches that help coach the camp, so great people to be around.”
On 2012 ESPN100 newcomer Jordan Burgess who sat out last season:
The more he talks, the more it’s clear how much Smart likes redshirt freshman Jordan Burgess. Ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA last season, Burgess was able to practice with the team in 2012-13, but could not play in games.

Smart has said previously that Burgess would have been one of the Rams’ top seven players last season, and it’s obvious the VCU coach sees the 6-foot-4 swingman as a difference-maker on the court and off.

“Jordan’s someone that’s been around our program for a long, long time because of his family and he’s someone that’s wise beyond his years, so I think he can provide leadership for us as well, once he gets his feet wet and gets acclimated to game competition,” Smart said.

Smart continued.

“He was the toughest guy in our practices last year,” he added. “And when we had a hard time with guys like Dwayne Evans at Saint Louis, we’d watch the tape and look around as coaches and say, it’s Jordan, Jordan. Not saying if we had him we’d have won that game, but certainly he helps you with a guy that’s physical on the wing.”
 
#475 ·
http://vcusports.blogs.timesdispatc...coach-shaka-smarts-wednesday-media-gathering/

On what NBA scouts are saying about Juvonte Reddic:

“Just that he’s got to get better. He’s got to get in unbelievable shape. He’s got to continue to improve his midrange shooting. He’s got to rebound at a higher level. They typically look at what they call rebounding interval, which is your minutes divided by your rebounds. … If you play 30 minutes and get 10 rebounds, that’s a 3.0. That’s kind of the standard that they look for. Ju was a 3.4 or 3.5 last year. That’s a measurable that he can attack and get better at.

“If he can average a double-double, it just stands out. There’s not a lot of guys who do that. I called a bunch of guys who I know at that level and I asked them, ‘Where does he need to improve?’ I made a whole sheet of areas where he needs to improve, things that can separate him from other guys. I shared that with him.”
On Reddic teaming with Terrance Shannon:

“I’m excited about not just those two. I’m excited about more frontcourt depth overall. Based on this summer, Jarred Guest is improved. Mo Alie-Cox is going to be able to help our team. Antravious Simmons is coming, but he’s a freshman. He’s got a lot to learn.

“When you look at Juvonte, Terrance Shannon, Jarred Guest and Mo, I think that gives you four guys who, at least going into the first day of workouts on Aug. 22, you feel like can compete with one another. … It was kind of Juvonte by himself for much of the year last year and the previous year, although D.J. (Haley) had a better sophomore year than he had a junior year.

“Any time you have competition at a position, it should make everyone better. It adds to accountability. … My biggest emphasis for those four guys is getting in unbelievable shape, and then competing with each other at a high level.”
On what things he addressed with Melvin Johnson going into the offseason:

“Just consistency as a person and continuing to get better there. Melvin, like a lot of guys, didn’t understand when he first got here the connection between who he is as a person and who he is as a player. He’s come a long way physically and mentally and emotionally. Just getting him to understand (that) continuing to make progress in our core values off the floor is going to help him as a player.

“His work ethic has been tremendous. He has just been killing himself in June and July, working so hard we almost had to kick him out of there. He really wants it. Now it’s just a matter of him understanding in the team setting how he can integrate himself and be a bigger part of what we do. I’m excited for him. I think he’ll take a big step. Most really good players do from their freshman to their sophomore year. The key with him is all going to be mental. How does he respond when something doesn’t go his way? He’s a guy who has worked so hard, I sense that he wants it almost too much. He’s got to kind of let it come and understand that basketball is a game of mistakes. Sometimes there are going to be games when you miss your first couple of shots. Just keep going, keep playing, and good things will happen.”
Tons of good stuff from Shaka at this link.
 
#476 ·
I LOL'd at the Kentucky knock
I’m excited about the guys we signed. They all can have their moments and have had their moments throughout the summer. But they’ve had a rough go of it as well in relation to our older guys, which is how it should be. If you have a program that you feel like you’re going to be successful, then usually that’s mostly dependent on your older guys, unless you’re Kentucky
 
#478 ·
Rivals #38 overall player in the 2014 class is on campus at VCU today. Terry Larrier. He was one of Shaka's main targets in the July Evaluation period.

He recently cut his list to 10: UConn, Penn State, VCU, Marquette, Minnesota, Florida State, Miami, St. Johns, Florida & Seton Hall.

He mentioned to Dave Telep that he has 4 lock visits, VCU, Florida, Miami, and Florida State.

Going to be tough, but schools like Arizona and UConn have offered that haven't been considered as highly as VCU has in this recruitment. It should be interesting to follow.
 
#479 ·
This is a guy our staff seem to want BADLY. He appears to be the piece that Shaka has yet to attain and clearly feels can make the difference in winning 1 or 2 games and having a shot to win the whole thing. Clearly that's all speculative, but it seems pretty clear. WE WANT TL badly!
 
#480 ·
A big wing who can shoot and move up or down a position changes looks on both sides of the ball. Changes the game.

Larrier's a legit 6'7/6'8, has a great 3-point stroke, and is freakishly athletic. In a full-court pressure scheme a guy like that at the top of the press, or even as a madman off the inbounds is a huge match up problem for most teams. He has the length and vertical jump to really obscure passing lanes and the lateral quickness to stunt off the ball handler and recover quickly despite being much bigger than the guys he'd be defending. If he's on the back-end of the press all those attributes would also work to his advantage as an interceptor, whether high or low.

On offense, a guy like that running the floor, being able to finish at the rim like he can, and having the 3-point stroke that he does obviously makes him a no-brainer. It's also why he's exploded up the recruiting charts this summer.

Shaka was at almost every one of his games this July and really made him a priority. With the other schools on his list, it'll be tough to pull off, but we're certainly going at him hard and selling him on fit with the style, playing for Shaka, and winning a whole lot in a place that supports basketball as it's marquee sport.

He's been on several unofficial visits to VCU and took in a couple of games last year so he knows what the Siegel Center is like which is a huge plus for us. Our atmosphere is one of those things that can set us apart from football schools with relatively weaker enthusiasm and support for basketball.

We'll see what happens. When you're going for a top-50 prospect, nothing is close to guaranteed. It's exciting to follow though.
 
#481 · (Edited)
#482 · (Edited)
VCU's Treveon Graham also was invited to CP3's Elite Guard Camp in Winston-Salem, NC and will join teammate and A-10 DPOY Briante Weber: http://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20130809lwtw6g

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – One thing is for sure. Treveon Graham won't have any problem filling out the "what did you do with your summer" essay that some professors request.

Graham's busy summer on the hardwood continued as the rising junior will join classmate Briante Weber at this weekend's CP3 Elite Guard camp in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"It's really been an incredible summer that has been a great experience for me. It's definitely been humbling to be around all these great players all summer and something that I'm looking forward to learning a lot from," Graham said. "Any chance I get to better myself is something that I know will help our team back at VCU."

The CP3 Elite Guard Camp is an invitation-only camp for the top high school and collegiate point guards from North Carolina and across the country, held in CP3's hometown of Winston-Salem, NC. This will be an opportunity for some of the rising stars in the game of basketball to learn on the court from one of the game's best floor leaders. Fresh off another outstanding NBA season, CP3 is bringing his experience, as well as an elite group of instructors to help a new group of guards.

Graham is coming off a breakout year with a team-leading 15.1 points per game average and 5.8 rebounds per game, which ranked second on the squad. His outstanding play earned him All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honors and VaSID All-State First Team accolades.

The Temple Hills, Md. native scored in double-figures in 31 of VCU's 36 games, including seven 20-plus point performances.


Both are in extremely impressive company. Should be a great experience for both of them.
 
#484 ·
I honestly don't expect to see him getting many reps at the 1 this season. I do think Shaka wants several of our guards to develop their ball skills just because of how versatile that makes the offensive attack in transition. Not having to worry about who initiates the break due to ball-handling deficiencies is a great asset.

Expect Treveon to go up against P.J. Hairston a lot. They are by far the 2 strongest guards at Camp. PJ measures in at 6'5, 225 and Tre is 6'5, 218. The next biggest guard is at 205. Hairston and Graham will match up quite a bit, and it will be great for Tre's game.

Even if Graham doesn't get many in-game reps at 1 this season, this kind of high-level instruction and skill-development is amazing for Graham's overall progress as a player. His handle and dribble are things I've thought he could improve on for some time now, and taking advantage of this camp will make him even more dangerous than he already is on the offensive side of the ball.
 
#485 ·
Roy Williams suspended Hairston from the UNC team. I'm guessing that he is probably not at the camp. Then again, I don't see Semaj on that roster, so who knows.

(I'm still worried about the Rams, if Shaka skipped the Seal camp.)
 
#486 · (Edited)
Roy Williams' authority does not extend to unrelated basketball activities over which UNC has no jurisdiction. The CP3 Camp which is entirely unaffiliated with UNC Basketball would qualify as one.

Hairston is at the camp.

Dave Telep ‏@DaveTelep
Gabe DeVoe is handing Michael an NBA 2K beat down. Pangos and Hairston no help at all. pic.twitter.com/Q741ceS3Fa


That's him standing behind the coach, Gonzaga's Kevin Pangos is in the back and Gabe Devoe (Clemson commit) is playing Dave Telep's son Michael in a round of NBA2K. This was taken in Winston-Salem today where the CP3 camp is taking place. Dave Telep is there evaluating the high school portion of the camp.

Semaj Christon is not at CP3 Camp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shaka hasn't been at these SEAL sessions, they are being accompanied by our strength and conditioning coach Daniel Roose.

Coaches and AD staff take part in our Hell Week which is several weeks from now. In the interim, recruiting in July and entertaining prospects on visits in August have been taking up most of our staffs' time. Our team has been doing SEAL sessions throughout this time.

We've upped the ante every year with SEAL training. This year has seen far more frequent sessions than in years past. Coach Roose has decided to make it a more regular part of our off season training program.

I'm sure you'll see Shaka going through the paces with his troops when the time calls for it.
 
#487 ·
My bad. I thought you had posted pics last year of Shaka at the Seal camp.
Very surprised that Hairston went to the camp even if UNC doesn't have anything to do with allowing him. The player represents his school and being under suspension wouldn't seem appropriate to attend.
 
#488 ·
I understand the feeling, but doesn't change the fact that CP3 Camp issues invites to individuals and not schools. P.J. is well within his right to attend and as one of the better guards in the country, it's a great opportunity for him.
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Shaka actually did SEAL sessions on his own last year with another group of non-basketball folks.

In the past we only used SEAL training in isolated incidents at the end of our off season strength and conditioning program in September. We started it in 2011 as a surprise with 3 days (MWF) in our 'Hell Week', last year we pushed it to 5 days. Shaka was at all of those. We'll have our Hell Week again this fall and Shaka will be there for that.

This year we have been doing SEAL sessions far more frequently and Daniel Roose has been leading them. Shaka comes in when he's able, but this is a much busier time in July/August for coaches with recruiting and visits.

Here are some articles explaining the last 2 years of training:

2011: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/31975211/1



2012: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab...nse-week-navy-seal-team-222012260--ncaab.html



We actually started SEAL training as soon as all of our players got here in June this year as a regular part of our off season training program as opposed to a one-week cap-off to it.

With Shaka in Colorado Springs for the Team USA U-19 tryouts, then Prague for the FIBA U-19 World Championships, then on the road all through July, and now entertaining a whole lot of guys on campus during the quiet period, it's not quite the same for him as a 1-week stretch in September like the last 2 years. He'll definitely participate in that stretch this year as he always has. Our assistants and AD staff usually join them in that as well.

These early sessions this year are all led by our S&C Coach. Our assistants and Shaka are doing their jobs securing the next wave of talent for VCU in the meantime. You'll see them participating in the exercises when they usually do in September.
 
#489 ·
Update from Day 1 of the camp.

They had a 1-on-1 tournament among all the college players for the chance to get to play Chris Paul 1-on-1 last night.

Treveon Graham beat Memphis's Joe Jackson in the final for the chance to play CP3.


https://twitter.com/TheCAJasonSmith/status/366256336205381633


https://twitter.com/jamesjunior21/status/366022559688445952


CP3 predictably killed him, but a great opportunity nonetheless.


High School 1-on-1 winner Tyler Ulis and College 1-on-1 winner Treveon Graham taking 1-on-1 lessons from NBA All-Star Chris Paul.
 
#491 ·
As Graham and Weber's experience at CP3 camp ends, Rob Brandenberg and Jarred Guest are just starting up their European tour.

They left with their group from Philadelphia this evening and will arrive in Munich, Germany in a couple of hours. They'll play 5 games in 9 days and tour Munich and Prague as well.

Should be a great cultural and basketball experience for both of them.
 
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