DistrictBaller

VCU enters the AP Top 25 at #22 in the country this week. The Rams are #19 in the coaches poll.

__________________
"We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack."
- VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

BigE

VCU hosted the A10 preseason favorite, St. Joseph’s Hawks to the Siegel Center on Thursday night for a rare 9p.m. tip off that was nationally televised and the Rams did not disappoint. Needing 5 extra minutes to solidify a comeback, the Rams moved their win streak to 12 in a row after defeating the Hawks, 92 – 86 on a career night from Senior Darius Theus.

http://www.vcuramnation.com/2013/01/...s-in-overtime/

a10nick

St. Joe's must be pretty damn good to score 86 points (even in 45 minutes) against the Rams' swarming defense. I apologize for the comparison in advance but the VCU defense reminded me of the vintage Bob Huggins UC Bearcats when it seemed as though they had seven guys on the court against the opposition's 5! Unless XU's guards mature extremely quickly, the Muskies' showing vs VCU could be very u-g-l-y!

__________________
I just want the team I support to be in a stronger conference. I'd prefer it to be a stronger A-10! To me that would mean every member would have at least 2 trips to the NCAA Tourney and 5 winning seasons during each 10-year cycle. It would also be great for every program to seriously challenge for a league title (either regular season or Tourney) at least once during that same period of time.

BigE

Rob Brandenberg scored a game-high 22 points as VCU routed Duquesne 90-63 to extend the Rams’ winning streak to 13 games.

Brandenberg hit five of his eight 3-pointers and was 7-11 from the field, scoring 20+ points for the first time since last February.

The Rams jumped out to a 44-18 first half lead and never looked back, getting a huge first half from Treveon Graham who finished the night with 20 points in just 21 minutes of play.


The win moves VCU to 16-3 on the season with an A-10 leading 4-0 conference record along with the Xavier Musketeers.

It also marks the 100th win of head coach Shaka Smart’s young career.

The Rams head home to Richmond but get set for another road game as VCU travels to the West End to take on the Spiders of UofR (12-7, 2-2) Thursday night at 7PM.

VCU returns to the Siegel Center next Saturday for an 8PM home tip against the Explorers of La Salle University (12-5, 2-2).

http://www.vcuramnation.com/2013/01/...t-of-duquesne/

BigE

GRAHAM NAMED ATLANTIC 10 CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK


NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The VCU men's basketball team enters this week sporting a 13-game win streak, which is tied for the second-longest active streak in the country and is the third longest in the program's 44 year history.

During the streak, the Rams have hoped aboard "The Freight Train" and let him carry them to victory. Sophomore Treveon Graham, aka the Freight Train, did just that this past week with two 20-plus point outings in VCU's two wins. His outstanding efforts earned him Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player of the Week honors, shared with Butler's Roosevelt Jones.

"My teammates are doing a good job of getting me good looks and I've been able to knock down some shots," Graham said. "I just want to do whatever I need to do to help the team win, whether that's getting a rebound or scoring baskets, whatever it takes to win, that's what I want to focus on."

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/m...20130121daaq81

ATPTourFan

VCU, please do not lose before coming to Kingston!!

__________________
KeaneyBlue.com

DistrictBaller

We don't intend to either before, during, or after our visit to Kingston in as much as we can help it. I'm sure Shaka will have the guys' full attention after what you guys pulled off versus Saint Louis. The Hurleys have you guys on the way back.

Should be a good one.

__________________
"We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack."
- VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

DistrictBaller

Video clips from the Duquesne game:

__________________
"We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack."
- VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

ATPTourFan

Great. I'm not expecting my Rams to beat your Rams in a week, but our program needs VCU to come in HOT to bring some of their excitement to our building. Hopefully my Rams can keep the game close enough throughout and give your Rams a good in-Conf test.

__________________
KeaneyBlue.com

DistrictBaller

I'm sure our guys will be working hard to keep winning and getting better. I have no doubt we'll be tested. The A-10 has been strong competition so far.

__________________
"We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack."
- VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

ATPTourFan

Rhody and VCU split their home and home series with each team taking a close victory in their building. Rhody beat NCAA-bound VCU in 2008-09 and VCU defended their home court the following year.

__________________
KeaneyBlue.com

DistrictBaller

Yeah that was a good series. Wish we could have had that game at the Ryan Center back, but Jimmy Baron and the gang were pretty decent that year. No shame at all in that loss.

__________________
"We will wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and plan of attack."
- VCU Head Coach Shaka Smart

ATPTourFan

Of course Jim Baron found a way to blow our Rams's NCAA hopes that season despite the quality win over VCU and a 11-5 finish in the A10.

__________________
KeaneyBlue.com

twisted3829

A ranked VCU team should make a nice crowd and a rocking Ryan Center, especially if URI can pick up 2 wins this week

__________________
2010-2011 Lock of the Day Contest NIT Champion

BigE

RAMS' WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN 86-74 OVERTIME LOSS TO RICHMOND


How It Happened

It was evident right away that it would be a back-and-forth battle all night as neither team led by more than four over the game's first 12:30 minutes of action.

Richmond was the first to gain some separation as three different Spiders hit buckets and VCU couldn't get a field-goal to drop for over four minutes as UR held a 21-14 cushion.

Freshman Melvin Johnson kept the Black & Gold close with nine points in the final five minutes of the half as the teams headed to the break with Richmond holding a slight 32-29 advantage.

UR would use the arc to its advantage in the second half, hitting seven threes and pushing its lead to eight with just under 12 minutes left in regulation.

Enter Rob Brandenberg, who scored five straight points followed by three straight from Reddic and the game was squared up at 52 with 8:36 remaining.

The teams would trade buckets before Graham scored four straight points to spark a 8-0 VCU run to give the Rams their largest lead of the game at 63-56 with 42 seconds left in regulation.

After the teams traded free-throws, Richmond's Kendall Anthony was fouled on a three-pointer and hit all three shots, cutting VCU's advantage to 66-63 with 21 seconds remaining.

Senior Troy Daniels went 3-of-4 from the charity stripe, but three-pointers by Anthony and Darien Brothers in the final 15 seconds helped the Spiders send the game to overtime.

Richmond hit the first to baskets in overtime, but Graham followed with a trey to bring VCU within 73-72 with 3:51 left in overtime. The Spiders would finish the overtime period on a 13-2 run to pick up the 86-74 victory.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/m...201301250t1dyi