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2017-2018 VCU Rams

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#1 · (Edited)
VCU to A-10 Billboard

 
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#527 ·
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebask...7435/vcu-band-leader-gets-more-cash-assistant
Memo to all band directors: The game just changed.

On Monday, VCU announced that band director Ryan Kopacsi has signed a contract extension, following a week filled with uncertainty.
His fans went public with their frustration. And things got real for VCU, which suddenly faced scrutiny and pressure as the story grew.

Game. Over.

From the official statement:

For 15 years, engaging Director Ryan Kopacsi has led the VCU Pep Band, The Peppas, as it entertained the masses at VCU athletic contests and other events.

That tradition will continue, as VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Friday that Kopacsi has agreed to a contract extension to remain as band director.

“Since my arrival last summer, it is clear to me how much value The Peppas bring to VCU Athletics and the university community. After several months of negotiations, we have agreed on a contract with Ryan Kopacsi to continue serving as director of the band,” McLaughlin said. “While it is our policy not to discuss specifics of any contract, I am able to say that our agreement includes an increase in salary, compensation for undergraduate classes at VCU and first-time funding for an assistant. As part of the agreement, The Peppas will have an increased presence at many additional intercollegiate events as well as VCU Athletics corporate and donor events.”
Kopacsi’s new deal also includes a school-sponsored fundraising campaign that aims to raise $100,000 to support the band in the coming years. This is huge for both Kopacsi and the band. The story alone has elevated their profiles. Plus, VCU promises a greater on-campus presence for the Peppas and more resources for Kopacsi.

Again, a week ago Kopacsi had unofficially retired.

But the people spoke. And now he’ll continue to lead one of the best bands in the country. Amazing plan if that was really the original plan. Either way, the 34-year-old wins.

If you need to reach him, talk to his new assistant.
 
#529 ·
Why would this guy want VCU or X if he could play in Florida?
(think South Beach)

Alex Kline ‏@TheRecruitScoop 4h
Florida, Miami, Mississippi St, VCU & Xavier are the finalists for 2014 Montverde Academy (FL) forward Makinde London, his coach announced.
 
#530 ·
Florida just started recruiting him and they haven't offered.

VCU also made Terry Larrier's (#38 in 2014 according to Rivals) final 6 along with Florida and Miami. He'll take officials to all 3.

Miami is nice, they also have no support for basketball with little tradition and football is king. In a year where they were ranked #1 in the country at one point and play against the ACC, they couldn't average 6,000 fans.

There are reasons Miami isn't nabbing McDonald's All-Americans every year. There's a lot more to school choices than a physical location.
 
#534 ·
VCU 7-foot center DJ Haley was a reserve for the Rams this season and left the program mid-season. He's since resurfaced as he will be transferring to USC for new Trojan Head Coach Andy Enfield and will be immediately eligible this season in the PAC-12 after graduating from VCU in 3 years during the summer.

USC Men's Basketball ‏@USC_Hoops
Please welcome 7-footer D.J. Haley to the #TrojanFamily. The VCU transfer will be eligible to play immediately. #USC
https://twitter.com/USC_Hoops/status/370969386401533952

Andy Enfield saw Haley first-hand in an 80-57 loss to VCU last season as FGCU's head coach. Haley scored 2 points and grabbed 3 boards in 15 minutes of play. Should be interesting to see how his talent and skill-level translates to the PAC-12.

USC needs size as DeWayne Dedmon was lost to the draft this past season. 7-footers are at a premium and Haley could get significant minutes on Enfield's first team at USC. It will be interesting for Ram fans to follow. Haley's a bright kid and it's nice to see him land at a great spot to continue his basketball career back in his native California.
 
#535 · (Edited)
VCU reigns as the 2013 Naismith Student Section of the Year. They backed it up yesterday. All 1,500 Rowdy Ram memberships sold out in 12 hours at $35 bucks a piece.

Last year it took close to a week for VCU to sell out its 1500 spots at $25 a piece. It took 12 hours this year at $35 each, shattering last year's record by 6 days. Nice enthusiasm being displayed for the coming season.

Chris DiSano ‏@CDiSano44
Hats off to VCU community, athletic dept, band, u name it. Total program + game experience buy-in. 1500 student memberships sold in 12 hrs.
https://twitter.com/CDiSano44/status/371244489178116097

EDIT: The Ram Athletic Fund timed it at 11 hours and 7 minutes.

VCU RamAthleticFund ‏@VCURAF
1,500 Rowdy Ram memberships sold out in 11 hours and 7 minutes. You really don't want to go to war with the Rams. #LetsGoVCU
https://twitter.com/VCURAF/status/371278118377357312
 
#538 ·
No there are 2000 total tickets to students. The remaining 500 will be given on a first-come, first serve basis.

The Rowdy Ram Membership gives those students first-entrance in a separate student line with an ID that lets them get in before the general student population. Students without memberships are then let in. Rowdy Ram members basically guarantee themselves a spot in the student section without having to wait several hours in line.
 
#541 ·
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/23/rothstein-files-this-and-that-around-college-basketball-26/
VCU coach Shaka Smart said this week that he may play as many as 11 or 12 guys on a regular basis during the upcoming season. The Rams, who could be Smart’s deepest team since he’s been a head coach, are the prohibitive favorites in the Atlantic 10. “Playing that many guys allows us to play the way we want to play,” Smart said. “We want to always have fresh bodies out on the court.” VCU will add six newcomers to a strong returning core that won 27 games and lost to Michigan in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Rams have all the requisites to be a major factor again nationally, but need to solidify their point-guard situation by the start of conference play. Smart has said that senior guard Rob Brandenberg has worked relentlessly on his ball-handling ability this summer, and could see time at the “one” along with junior Briante Weber and freshman JeQuan Lewis.
 
#542 ·
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspo...d-guest-out-two-months-with-dislocated-ankle/
VCU’s front court depth took a hit on Tuesday morning, as junior big man Jarred Guest dislocated his ankle.

Guest will be out for six-to-eight weeks, which means that he should be cleared — if not in shape — for the start of games.

Guest, who averaged around 10 minutes per game as a sophomore, injured the ankle during a morning workout on Tuesday. NCAA rules allows players two hours of individual instruction with the coaching staff per week, so long as the groups are made up of less than four players, and it was during one of these workouts that Guest hurt the ankle.

There will be plenty of big bodies at Shaka Smart’s disposal next season. Juvonte Reddic may be the best big man in the Atlantic 10 while Florida State transfer Terrance Shannon joins the program and will be eligible immediately. Freshman Mo Alie-Cox should be able to provide minutes as well, and with Jordan Burgess eligible and Treveon Graham back for his junior season, VCU will be able to play four-guard lineups quite a bit.
 
#543 ·
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/post?id=1059

This will be Shaka Smart’s deepest team of his tenure. If you thought VCU was fast, athletic and ran guys on and off the court before, just wait until you see this season’s edition of the Rams.

The team will be anchored by two of the nation’s top frontcourt players. Juvonte Reddic has made significant strides each of his three seasons in college and is coming off a campaign in which he put up 14.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Treveon Graham (15.1 PPG, 5.8 PPG) is a matchup nightmare, a combo forward who should see more time at small forward with the addition of Florida State transfer Terrance Shannon.

“We have the type of depth we want to have,” Smart admitted.
 
#552 ·
6’7″ 2014 PF Justin Tillman (Pershing H.S./R.E.A.C.H. AAU) popped for Shaka Smart and the VCU Rams today after taking an official visit to campus last weekend. It was the Detroit native’s first official, but it was also the only one he needed to take. Tillman is a high-motor forward who really gets after it on the glass. He picked the Rams over offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Xavier, Providence, Dayton, Rhode Island, Kent State, Detroit, Indiana State, and Oakland.



ESPN: 4-stars (80 grade, #29 PF, #3 in Michigan)



Rivals: 3-stars (#148 in Rivals150)



Scout: 3-stars (#28 PF)



“Justin’s biggest strength is his motor because it allows him to run the floor and be active on the glass,” Michael Allie, Justin’s AAU coach for R.E.A.C.H Legends, said about Tillman’s strengths. “He rebounds well out of his area and is showing versatility on the offensive end.”

Tillman averaged 21.3 ppg for the Pershing Doughboys last year who went 25-1 before losing by 2 points to eventual state champs Romulus. He’s a high-character kid with a high-level work ethic which Allie believes will serve him well as a college player.

“Anything less than a state championship at Pershing will be unacceptable for Justin this upcoming season,” Allie, a former Romulus coach and current teacher, said about Tillman’s expectations for 2013-’14.. “He should be in the running for Mr. Basketball as well, but his focus needs to be on winning and letting the individual awards take care of themselves. He has to approach every game with the mindset that he is going to dominate every offensive and defensive possession”

Tillman joins fellow ESPN 4-star Jonathan Williams in VCU’s 2014 class and will bring much-needed help inside as an interior rebounder and defensive presence. The Rams are still hunting for a versatile 4-man and a big wing with range who can play inside-out. They will continue their pursuit of targets like Makinde London, Terry Larrier, and Mike Gilmore who fit that bill and are scheduled for official visits with VCU in the next month or so. This has the makings of what could be one of the best VCU recruiting classes of all time, and Tillman will be an important addition as a rebounding presence in Shaka Smart’s Havoc attack going forward.

More video:









That last one may have the greatest video play-by-play commentary of all time.
 
#553 ·
http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/1321573.html
VCU scored a big verbal commitment on Friday.

Justin Tillman, a 6-foot-7 power forward out of Detroit (Mich.) Pershing, committed to VCU over scholarship offers from Xavier and Iowa.

“I feel like the coaches are really cool,” Tillman said about VCU. “I connected with them. I feel like I fit that program perfectly.”

Why does his game fit so well at VCU?

“I have a high motor,” he said. “I’m long, lanky and athletic. I’m used to their playing style because it’s the same playing style as my high school.”

Tillman, who also took a visit to Xavier, said his visit to VCU stuck out. He said he felt comfortable on their campus.

“I liked everything,” he said about his visit. “I got a good vibe. I looked at the engineering facility and I liked that. I talked to some of the teachers too. I just felt comfortable.”

Shaka Smart also developed a strong bond with Tillman, who ran with the Reach Legends during the spring and summer.

“It’s really cool,” Tillman said about his relationship with Smart. “He told me how he was going to use me, who I reminded him of and how he’s going to make me better as a player.
 
#555 · (Edited)
http://www.alleyesonuhoops.com/tillman-to-VCU.html
Detroit Pershing 2014 standout Justin Tillman wanted to commit before school started, he believes he has found the right place. "Watching their program from afar I felt like it would be a good fit, and then when I visited I already felt like a part of the program." Tillman told All Eyes on U Hoops. "The style that they play is a great fit for me, I'm long, tall, athletic and can get up and down." Tillman said he is working on his ball handling so he can play even more from outside the paint. "I can face up and step out and score." Tillman said "As well as finishing at the rim.

Tillman finished up his AAU career with R.E.A.C.H. Legends on a high note. "It was a pretty good AAU season, and we played really well at the end of the year. " Tillman said. "In Vegas we got to the title game of the gold bracket." Now that his AAU career is over he is focused on his senior year at Pershing. "Goals for the year, are winning the city championship, win the state championship and also be a good leader and help out my younger teammates." Justin added. "I also want to add 10 pounds of muscle."

Justin is happy to have the recruit process over, but he did enjoy parts of it as well. "It felt good having coaches call you and want to get to know you better. You get to build some strong relationships and it is always a honor when coaches want you to come to their school." Justin added. "It did get stressful at the end when I had to cut down my list of schools, so I am happy it is over." Justin listed Xavier, Iowa and Iowa State as three of the other schools he considered before committing to VCU.
http://vcusports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2013/09/02/vcu-gets-another-4-star-commitment/
Virginia Commonwealth’s assembly line of high-energy players gained another part for its Havoc style.

This one comes from the MotorCity. Justin Tillman, a 6-7 ½, 195-pound rising senior forward at Pershing High in Detroit, committed to Rams coach Shaka Smart during the weekend.

Tillman is VCU’s second four-star recruit for 2014, according to ESPN’s ratings. Point guard Jonathan Williams, who grew up in the Richmond area before moving to play at national high school programs in New Jersey, committed in March.

Tillman plays in a similar pressing scheme at Pershing, one of Michigan’s storied programs, and VCU’s style factored into his decision.

“He’s got a motor,” Pershing coach Wydell Henry said. “He runs like a deer. He’s never tired. He goes baseline to baseline in about 3-4 seconds every time down the court.”

Tillman also fits Smart’s preferred mold of players with length. He has a 7-2 ½ wingspan. He has a midrange shot and can play the 3 and 4 spots, although he’ll need to gain weight.

“He is a rebounding machine,” Henry said. “Anything around the basket, he’s getting his hands on the ball.

“He’s got tremendous upside.”

Tillman said he had offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Xavier, Dayton, Providence, Indiana State, Detroit and others. He was getting interest from several high-major programs.

Tillman missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his foot. He only played in about 7-8 games, Henry said, and averaged about 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Some SERIOUS length coming in the next few classes. Incoming redshirt-freshman Mo Alie-Cox recently measured in at a wingspan of 7'3" and 2014 F Tillman is just shy of that at 7'2.5".

http://theprepballreport.com/2013/09/02/creating-a-havoc-pershings-justin-tillman/

Tillman made a name for himself on the AAU circuit competing with the Reach Legends AAU team during the July evaluation period playing in tournaments in Las Vegas, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Justin had double digit offers, the majority of which were mid-majors with interest coming from several Big Ten schools, but shrunk the list to three with the schools being Iowa, Xavier, and VCU.

One of the main reasons why Justin picked the Rams was the relationship he started to build with the coaches and players on his official visit to the school just a few weeks ago. ”Just talking to the coaches and getting to know them and them getting to know me and how well it would fit me and going there seeing everything for my self.” Tillman went onto say that he enjoyed the company of the current players on the roster, which was another bonus for VCU with his decision, ”Meeting the players on the team, they made me feel like I was apart of the team, getting to know them and them showing me around the campus, I just thought everything about VCU was great.”

Tillman is quite an intriguing prospect. Many do not know what to position to label him as when he begins his college basketball career. He is too tall and athletic for a small guard, but too fast and has a constant motor running for a big man. With that being said, Justin will work excellent in Coach Shaka Smart’s “Havoc” style attack. “I will adapt to it really fast,” Tillman said, “it will be easier for me to get comfortable and be a great player from the start as a freshman.”
 
#558 ·
Bruce Pearl and Pete Gillen among guest speakers at VCU's Coaches Clinic this October 12th.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/201309050iscpa
SMART, RAMS SET TO HOST COACHES CLINIC ON OCT. 12TH

RICHMOND, Va. –After posting the second-highest win total in the first four years of any college coaching career (111), Head Coach Shaka Smart and his staff want to spend some time sharing their knowledge of the game with some of their peers.

Smart and his staff will host the fourth annual VCU Coaches Clinic, Saturday, October 12 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The clinic begins with a VCU practice at the Franklin Street Gym practice facility. After breaking for lunch, the participants will have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers, which include Smart himself, Bruce Pearl and Pete Gillen.

Bruce Pearl spent 19 years as a collegiate head coach with the final six coming at the University of Tennessee. During his 19 years, he made 17 NCAA Tournament trips and racked up 442 career victories. During his time with the Vols, Pearl guided his squad to the Sweet Sixteen in three of his six seasons. He currently works with ESPN's college basketball coverage.

Pete Gillen spent 20 years as a head coach at the Division I level, including stops at Xavier, Providence and the University of Virginia. He guided his squads to nine NCAA Tournament trips and racked up 392 career wins. He also was an assistant under Don Nelson for the 1994 USA Basketball National Team at the FIBA World Championships. He is currently serving as a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports Network.

Shaka Smart, head coach at VCU, has piled up 111 wins in his first four seasons with the Rams, the second-highest total by any coach in NCAA history. He has helped guide VCU to three straight NCAA Tournaments, racking up a postseason record of 12-3 over his first four seasons. In 2011, he led the Rams on what many call the most incredible run in NCAA Tournament when VCU reached the Final Four. With his "Havoc" style of play, the Rams have led the country in steals per game and turnover margin in each of the past two seasons.

Each clinic participant will receive a VCU Nike polo, a clinic booklet and admittance into the coaches social. The cost of the clinic is $70.00 per person attending.

Please fill out the registration form linked above and submit payment to address listed on the form.

For more information, contact Nate Edick at (614) 326-9059 or vcuramscoachingclinic@gmail.com. For updated news and information on the clinic, follow "@VCUCoachClinic" on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
 
#559 · (Edited)
14 of VCU's 16 A-10 conference games will be televised on a national TV network. 5 on ESPN/ESPN2 alone. Massive TV coverage.

In addition VCU will have UVA on ESPN2, UNI and FSU on ESPNU, and if the Rams beat FSU in Puerto Rico, 2 games on ESPN2, 2 on ESPNU if we lose. That's 10 games on ESPN networks. If the Rams make the A-10 tournament final again, that's on ESPN as well. The Governor's Hoops Classic game against Virginia Tech will be national televised on NBCSN. Boston College will also be on a TBD national TV network.

As far as the postseason goes, A-10 quarters (NBCSN), semis (CBSSN), and finals (ESPN) are all nationally televised.

That's 21 guaranteed NATIONAL TV games for VCU so far with 3 more in the conference tournament if we get to the A-10 finals.

10 years ago VCU didn't have a single nationally-televised game. Just 5 years ago we hoped that we would be able to get the CAA's one ESPN2 game for ODU-VCU.

We've come a LONG, LONG way. Many power conference basketball programs aren't going to get this kind of national TV coverage this season.

Also many thanks to X and Butler for allowing us a bigger piece of the A-10 exposure pie. If VCU's future is in the A-10, I certainly don't think we'll be hurting for exposure for the next 8 years if we keep trending the way we have under Shaka.
 
#560 ·
http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20130905xmxwuo
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – In recent years, the success of VCU Basketball and the appeal of its telegenic "Havoc" style of play has served to connect legions of Rams fans across the country. This year, those fans should feel even closer.

Fourteen of VCU's 16 Atlantic 10 Conference games will appear on national television in 2013-14, the league announced Wednesday. In all, VCU's 21 regular season national TV contests shatter the previous program record of 18, set last year.

"We're very appreciative of the opportunity to play a record number of national TV games," Head Coach Shaka Smart said. "Our fans have done a terrific job of creating a frenzied atmosphere at the Siegel Center, and this type of exposure allows people across the country to see what VCU and Havoc are all about."

Wednesday's announcement guarantees VCU a third straight season with at least 20 nationally televised games. The Rams' 10 regular season games on the ESPN family of networks are also a program record, breaking previous mark of six in 2011-12.

In addition to the conference games, the December 28 game against Boston College will be a nationally-televised game. The specific network will be announced soon.

More VCU games are expected to be televised through the Rams' regional and local television partners. Those announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
 
#561 ·
One of the strongest corollaries with VCU’s decade of recent success has been its string of terrific point guards. Behind the heady play of guys like Dom Jones, Eric Maynor, Joey Rodriguez and Darius Theus, the Rams have piled up the wins.

As time passes, we remember the conference championship and NCAA appearances and forget that people once questioned whether or not these floor generals were up to the task. Although Maynor showed flashes as a freshman in 2005-06, people worried about his awkward jumper. Joey Rodriguez’s biggest problem when he took over as starting point guard in 2009-10 was that he wasn’t Maynor. Similarly, Theus grabbed the controls after Rodriguez led the Rams to the Final Four. Try following that.

Although each torch passing felt like a crossroads to some, by the time each player graduated, they had forged an unforgettable legacy. With Theus gone, there’ll be another torch-passing in 2013-14. Logic and VCU Coach Shaka Smart have each suggested that the man to carry it – at least initially – will be junior Briante Weber. Last month, Smart praised Weber’s work ethic this summer and said the springy 6-foot-3 guard was the frontrunner at the point. “It’s certainly not set in stone, but it’s certainly his to lose,” he said. “If we played a game today, he’d get the lion’s share of the minutes.”
Read more on the case for Briante Weber as a good replacement for Theus here: http://aroundthehorns.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/solving-for-bri/
 
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