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2017-2018 VCU Rams

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#1 · (Edited)
VCU to A-10 Billboard

 
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#746 ·
Rob Brandenberg's interview with Greg Burton of Richmond ESPN radio: http://stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=97&c=786&f=2097573

VCU Athletics' highlights:



GIF of Treveon Graham's reaction to the game-winning 3:



His 3 was the #3 play on SportsCenter last night:



http://espn.go.com/ncb/notebook/_/page/dailyword131113/daily-word
3. Which win was more impressive -- Wisconsin or VCU?

Katz: Wisconsin was at home playing against a depleted Florida team. VCU, which has longed to be on even footing with Virginia in the state, went to Charlottesville and won on a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left by Treveon Graham. The advantage Tuesday among non-Champions Classic teams, and now in the state of Virginia, goes to VCU.

Brennan: Wisconsin's win, good as it was, came at home over a short-handed Florida team. VCU went on the road and took a stylistic conflict against a really good Virginia team. Great win.

O'Neil: VCU's win. Shaka Smart can't get too many big conference schools to play his team (and now he'll probably get fewer), so every opportunity in one of these games is huge. To go on the road against a team that is exactly the opposite of his own and win was a big one for the team this year and the program overall.
Coach Smart post-game:

 
#747 ·
VCU recruits sign LOIs, officially become Rams


Two major recruits signed their official letters of intent to play at VCU today. Justin Tillman (6’8, 175 PF) and Terry Larrier (6’7 200 SF) kick off the class of 2014 with Jonathan Williams (5’11 170 PG) and Mike Gilmore (6’9 210 PF) expected to sign tomorrow.

The class instantly becomes VCU’s highest rated ever, ranking No.12 nationally by ESPN withTerry Larrier (ESPN No.40) the highest rated recruit to commit to the Rams since 1990 McDonald’s All-American, Kendrick Warren.


http://www.vcuramnation.com/2013/11/vcu-recruits-sign-lois-officially-become-rams/
 
#749 ·
SI's Luke Winn has VCU #11 in his current power rankings after the win over UVA. He had VCU unranked prior to the season reasoning that we would not be as effective without Darius Theus and Troy Daniels.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/co...te-spartans-top-power-rankings/#ixzz2kdxu4KDN

VCU Rams (2-0)

My biggest preseason rankings mistake was underestimating how good the Rams would be despite losing Darius Theus and Troy Daniels. The new rules don't seem to be restricting Havoc's turnover-forcing abilities, as VCU's defensive turnover percentage through two games is 27.3 -- exactly the same as it was in 2012 and nearly what it was in 2013. Tuesday's win at Virginia is the season's most stock-boosting victory outside of Michigan State's work in the Champions Classic
 
#752 ·
Yep. Larrier weighed in at 172 at the LeBron Skills Academy.

Tillman's high school coach mentioned he was 6'7.5" and 195 pounds in September when he committed: http://vcusports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2013/09/02/vcu-gets-another-4-star-commitment/

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.
 
#753 ·
Press release from VCU after receiving the NLI's for our 2014 recruiting class: http://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20131114l812un
FOUR INK NLIS TO JOIN THE RAMS NEXT SEASON

RICHMOND, Va. – One of the most highly-touted recruiting classes in VCU basketball history is now official as four future Rams signed National Letters of Intent this week.

Point guard Jonathan Williams (Richmond, Va./St. Benedict's Prep (N.J.), wing Terry Larrier (Bronx, N.Y./The Phelps School) and forwards Justin Tillman (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) and Michael Gilmore (Tallahassee, Fla./Rickards) officially signed on to play for Head Coach Shaka Smart and the Rams next season. The foursome is rated as the 12th-best recruiting class in the country by ESPN.com.

"We're very excited about this group because all four young men possess the talent, drive and work ethic to be outstanding members of our team," Smart said. "It's a class that can contribute to a great deal of winning at VCU."

Williams (pictured, right) (6'0", 175 lbs) grew up in Richmond before moving to New Jersey, where he attends St. Benedict's Prep, the same high school as current Ram Melvin Johnson. The jet-quick point guard has been described as a perfect fit for HAVOC.

He chose the Rams after receiving interest from Wisconsin, Central Florida, Seton Hall, Rutgers and many others.

"Jonny is as fast and explosive with the ball as any guard we've had. His unselfishness and ability to connect his teammates will allow him to make a big impact on our program," Smart said.

Larrier (6'8", 175 lbs) becomes the highest rated recruit at VCU since McDonald's All-American Kendrick Warren joined the Black & Gold. Rated among the top-50 players in the country by several recruiting services, Larrier (pictured, left) is an athletic wing player who possesses tremendous skill and length.

He chose the Rams after receiving interest from UConn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Seton Hall and many others.

"Terry has an extremely unique skill set for someone his height. He will play a variety of positions and could become a special player at VCU," Smart said.

Tillman (pictured, right) (6'7", 190 lbs) is a high-motor forward who brings quickness and tenacity to the Rams' frontline. His athleticism and length helped lead his Pershing High School squad to a 25-1 record last year.

He chose the Rams after receiving interest from Xavier, Dayton, Iowa, Providence, Iowa State and many others.

"Justin's live body and nose for the ball make him ideally suited for our system. He reminds me in a lot of ways of Juvonte Reddic at the same stage," Smart commented.

Gilmore (6'9", 205 lbs) is a versatile four-star forward who can stretch defenses with his shooting ability and affect opposing offenses with his length and athleticism. Ranked as the 76th-best player in the country by ESPN.com, Gilmore (pictured, left) is the nephew of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore.

He chose the Rams after receiving interest from Miami, Kansas State, Georgia Tech, Wichita State and many others.

"Mike's skill and basketball instinct are tremendous for someone his size," Smart said. "He fits perfectly with how we play and will create major matchup problems for the opposition."
 
#758 ·
It's been an amazing experience being a VCU Ram fan. As fun as I'm sure it is being born into a UNC or Kansas household, getting to watch my Rams go from relative obscurity to a Final 4 and now a top-10 regular season ranking has been pretty special.

Fans of BCS schools have said for years how Shaka would have to go to one of their schools to ever do anything (or any coach at a non-BCS schools for that matter), so I love seeing how he's proven them wrong and is showing that if you build it, they really will come.
 
#764 ·
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspo...half-court-scoring-issues-becoming-a-concern/
EKU is a good team. They’ll battle it out with Belmont — another team that gave VCU fits — for the Ohio Valley Conference title. But if VCU is really going to be a top 25 team, if they really are the favorite to win what’s shaping up to be a strong Atlantic 10, they shouldn’t be getting pushed to overtime at home by Eastern Kentucky. By anyone, really.

All things considered, the Rams haven’t been all that impressive early on this season. They got blown out by Florida State. They were beaten by Georgetown. They struggled against Long Beach State and they were down 12 in the second half against Belmont.

So what’s up with VCU?

Well, they still aren’t great defensively in the half court, but that kind of comes with the territory when you press as much as VCU does. They gamble that they’ll be able to get more steals than you’ll get layups, and that in the process they’ll wear you down. In fact, they’ve gotten better on that end of the floor now that they are a better defensive rebounding team.

Where VCU is hurting a bit this season is offensively. They’re turning the ball over more this year. They aren’t getting to the offensive glass as often. Without Troy Daniels on the floor, they don’t have a knock-down three-point shooter on the roster. They’re more reliant on their defense forcing turnovers, allowing them to score in transition. Last year, 18.2% of VCU’s offensive possessions came in transition. This season it’s 23.2%. Last year, they scored 0.900 PPP in the half court, in the 85th percentile nationally. This year, they’re scoring 0.848 PPP, a pretty significant drop off.*

The thinking in the preseason was that VCU may struggle with the new foul calls affecting their defense, but in reality it hasn’t.

Excuse the coach-speak, but who on this VCU team is a ‘bucket-getter’?

It’s showing.
 
#768 ·
TEAR UP THE FLOOR, WE WILL REPLACE IT!

VCU ATHLETICS, LUMBER LIQUIDATORS AGREE TO MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP


RICHMOND, Va. – VCU Athletics and Lumber Liquidators are both organizations based in the Commonwealth of Virginia and both excel on the hardwood. Now, they're joining forces.

Wednesday, VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced a multi-year partnership with Lumber Liquidators. The agreement includes corporate partnership elements and product usage opportunities in the VCU Basketball Practice Facility and other buildings that could reach $1 million in total value.

"VCU Athletics is excited to continue our partnership with Lumber Liquidators. In spending time with Rob Lynch and his staff over the last year, it became very clear that both organizations are passionate about the city of Richmond and about achieving at the highest level," McLaughlin said. "This partnership will move us closer to our goal of building a first-class basketball practice facility for our student-athletes that will enable them to succeed athletically and academically."

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20131204sy86qf
 
#774 ·
ESPNInsider: Six 'buy-low' team candidates
Just 24 hours ago, Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators were considered an afterthought for the national title. They lost on the road against Wisconsin and then dropped another road contest at the buzzer to Shabazz Napier and the Connecticut Huskies.

Now, following a fairly easy victory Tuesday night against a talented Kansas team on national television, the Gators have picked up no shortage of admirers. Donovan’s team, which has been without its two point guards for much of the season and also began the season without Dorian Finney-Smith, is getting healthy. When Florida adds talented and athletic 6-foot-10 freshman big man Chris Walker sometime in the next month, this group will become even scarier.

Florida was a "buy-low" club prior to its victory against Kansas. We give you a half-dozen teams that you shouldn’t be sleeping on -- even after a shaky start.

And no, I’m not even going to bother mentioning Kansas or Kentucky.
Virginia Commonwealth Rams

UMass has garnered most of the A-10 attention thus far, and deservedly so. Coach Shaka Smart and the Rams were smacked and unable to make shots in Puerto Rico against an unranked Florida State team, and then lost another one in San Juan, to Georgetown.

VCU is still finding its way without its point guard and leader from last season, Darius Theus, but the Rams should get going soon. In the two losses, talented senior big man Juvonte Reddic averaged just 7.5 points and two rebounds. However, he won’t face the length, size and athleticism of Florida State and Georgetown throughout the A-10. VCU is 8-2 and could well be 14-2 heading into league play.
 
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