VCU to A-10 Billboard
Paul Klee again will be a voter in the men’s basketball AP Top 25. Our basketball writer’s preseason ballot is due in late October – but here’s how it is shaping up:
20. VCU — Look for ESPN analyst Stephen Bardo to call some of Shaka Smart’s games in A-10
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...son-rankings-top-25-VCU-virginia-commonwealth#25: Virginia Commonwealth
The Rams’ NCAA tourney success has provided coach Shaka Smart’s program the necessary momentum to upgrade from CAA to A-10 competition. With seven key contributors from a balanced attack back, including senior point guard Darius Theus, and a strong freshman class, including top-100 recruit Melvin Johnson, there’s no reason this team shouldn’t immediately contend for the A-10 title in its first year in the league. — Scott Smith
Reasons to Believe:
The returning Rams. Bradford Burgess, last year’s leading scorer, is the only significant loss from a team that went 29-7 and beat Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament before losing a nail-biter to Indiana. Seven other key contributors from a balanced attack are back, including senior point guard Darius Theus, whose experience directing the offense will be invaluable. Sophomore guard Treveon Graham, a reserve who played in all 36 games, could be ready for an increased role after standing out in VCU’s four-game summer exhibition trip to Italy.
The Burgess legacy. Jordan Burgess, Bradford’s younger brother, offers the same kind of strong frame (6-5, 205) and baseline game as his sibling. A four-star recruit, Burgess will be expected to help replace the 32.3 minutes, 13.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game his brother produced last season.
Staying Smart. In just three years as VCU’s coach, Shaka Smart has successfully implemented his “wreaking havoc” approach of relentless fullcourt pressure. His Rams have been at their best in the postseason, winning the College Basketball Invitational in 2010, reaching the Final Four in 2011 and getting to the NCAA’s Round of 32 last March despite returning only one starter. Smart deftly blends 10 to 11 players into his rotation, and in March the Rams are usually able to wear down opponents.
REASONS TO WORRY
Conference upgrade. VCU’s new league, the Atlantic 10, had the seventh-best conference RPI last season; the Colonial was ranked 15th. The A-10 also presents plenty of challenges winning away from home. In addition to the obvious tough road trips to big arenas—Xavier, Dayton and Saint Louis—there are a number of small, bandbox-type venues in this league where the fans are right on top of teams and can make life miserable for the visitors.
3-point woes. The Rams ranked seventh among Division I teams in 3-point attempts—but they weren’t nearly as successful making them. They hit 33.4 percent of their tries, finishing outside the top 200. Making matters worse, Bradford Burgess was their second-best outside shooter (36.7 percent).
Board stiffs. The Rams had good athletes and decent size (7-0 D.J. Haley, 6-9 Juvonte Reddic, 6-6 Burgess) along the front line last year, but it wasn’t reflected in their rebounding statistics. They finished 246th in rebounding margin (minus-1.8), coming up with only 33.5 rebounds per game.
IMPACT NEWCOMER
G Melvin Johnson, freshman. The Rams received a significant midsummer boost when the 6-3 Johnson, a consensus top 100 recruit, joined VCU after Miami granted him a release from his letter of intent. Johnson, who’s from the Bronx, is considered an excellent 3-point shooter and was also recruited by Marquette, Georgetown and Villanova. Smart says Johnson can “put the ball in the basket at a high rate.”
BOTTOM LINE
The Rams’ NCAA tourney success has provided Smart’s program the necessary momentum to upgrade from CAA to A-10 competition. With most of the rotation back and a strong freshman class, there’s no reason this team shouldn’t immediately contend for an A-10 title.
Outlook: It’s almost impossible to underrate VCU at this point.
They are 18 months removed from playing in the Final Four. They have a head coach that gets massive, high-major contract offers about as often as I get a cup of coffee. They parlayed that success into an invitation from the stronger Atlantic 10, and have since been crowned a favorite to win one of the deepest, most balanced conferences in the country despite it being their first season in the league. Heck, we ranked them 21st nationally. That’s quite a measure of respect.
And still, it feels like the Rams are going to end up being better than projected heading into this season.
Shaka Smart runs a system at VCU much the same way that Bo Ryan does at Wisconsin or that John Thompson III does at Georgetown. Smart loves to press, and while some programs do that specifically do speed up the tempo or to force the offense to burn time off of the shot clock on every possession, the Rams have one goal in mind defensively: force turnovers. They led the nation in both steal percentage and defensive turnover rate in 2011-2012, according to Kenpom, a stat that shouldn’t change all that much this season given the fact that the Rams bring back all but one member of last season’s team.
Predictions?: Simply based on the strength of what is coming back, the Rams are going to be competing for the Atlantic 10 title and, most likely, heading to the NCAA tournament with a more favorable seed than they have in the last two seasons. There is room for them to grow, especially if Graham — and the younger Burgess — can adequately take on the “power forward” role on this team and, as a team, they improve their accuracy from deep. With how wide open college basketball is this season, a return to the Final Four is not out of the realm of possibility if those things happen, although I think winning the A-10 and reaching the Sweet 16 are more realistic goals (expectations?).
Who could be the teams to watch out for as we get ready to begin the 2012-13 season? Take a look below at NBCSports.com’s Mid-Major Watch List.
St. Joe's and Saint Louis are also mentioned in the article.VCU
It seems that Shaka Smart has his squad in the mid-major mix every season, and this year he’ll have to do it in a new conference: the Atlantic-10.
Darius Theus and Juvonte Reddic are two of the biggest returners for the Rams, along with shooter Troy Daniels and sophomore Treveon Graham.
Smart and the Rams got a gift in the late recruiting period, as Miami commit Melvin Johnson decommitted and pledged his name to VCU. A New York native, Johnson brings more shooting and scoring ability, likely off the bench.
Take these pieces and add it to Smart’s system, his patented “havoc” defense, and the Rams are in position to win the Atlantic-10 in their first season in the league.
Why this team will be good: Last year VCU set a school record by winning 29 games -- and it did it with almost all defense. Suffocating, frenzied, chaotic-as-hell D. At A-10 media day, Smart said his team will be "much more able offensively" but will still run the "HAVOC" defense that led it to have such a great season in 2011-12. But beyond that, look at the personnel. You can see how Brad Burgess is the only departing player of impact. And Burgess was really good. But Melvin Johnson is a top-100 player that Smart and his staff got to Richmond. (Jordan Burgess is another, but he was ruled a partial qualifier for 2012-13. Stud frosh, too.)
Talent-wise, this looks to be the best team Smart's had in his four years. There are plenty of capable guards on this team -- maybe too many, as if that's a problem. VCU will tire the hell out of teams. If it can up its effective field goal percentage from 47.6 (last year's number) even to 50 percent (an average mark), VCU will almost definitely be a top-three team in the league, as it's prognosticated.
Why this team might disappoint: The league is so good and the Rams' offense has to prove itself against a conference that had nine teams average more than a point per possession. The Atlantic 10 would be a step up from the CAA in normal circumstances, but when you factor in how six teams in this conference received first-place votes, you understand just how good the A-10 will be. And remember, VCU didn't even win the CAA last year; Drexel took it. So if the expectation level for VCU is now automatic tournament berths and at least one win (VCU "upset" Wichita State in a 12-5 matchup in Portland last March), then yes, it could disappoint. Smart knows success isn't guaranteed, and he really cautions people against thinking too highly of him or his team. He's got good players and has won in tight spots, but nothing is promised. VCU is a good program on a nice run right now. We simply don't know how it will adapt to its new league.
Also, VCU gets hurt with Jordan Burgess being a partial qualifer. Freshman Mo Alie-Cox is the other player who got hit by the NCAA, but chances are he wouldn't have even factored into VCU's plans this year.
Why this team will be good: Last year VCU set a school record by winning 29 games -- and it did it with almost all defense. Suffocating, frenzied, chaotic-as-hell D. At A-10 media day, Smart said his team will be "much more able offensively" but will still run the "HAVOC" defense that led it to have such a great season in 2011-12. But beyond that, look at the personnel. You can see how Brad Burgess is the only departing player of impact. And Burgess was really good. But Melvin Johnson is a top-100 player that Smart and his staff got to Richmond. (Jordan Burgess is another, but he was ruled a partial qualifier for 2012-13. Stud frosh, too.)
Talent-wise, this looks to be the best team Smart's had in his four years. There are plenty of capable guards on this team -- maybe too many, as if that's a problem. VCU will tire the hell out of teams. If it can up its effective field goal percentage from 47.6 (last year's number) even to 50 percent (an average mark), VCU will almost definitely be a top-three team in the league, as it's prognosticated.
Why this team might disappoint: The league is so good and the Rams' offense has to prove itself against a conference that had nine teams average more than a point per possession. The Atlantic 10 would be a step up from the CAA in normal circumstances, but when you factor in how six teams in this conference received first-place votes, you understand just how good the A-10 will be. And remember, VCU didn't even win the CAA last year; Drexel took it. So if the expectation level for VCU is now automatic tournament berths and at least one win (VCU "upset" Wichita State in a 12-5 matchup in Portland last March), then yes, it could disappoint. Smart knows success isn't guaranteed, and he really cautions people against thinking too highly of him or his team. He's got good players and has won in tight spots, but nothing is promised. VCU is a good program on a nice run right now. We simply don't know how it will adapt to its new league.
Also, VCU gets hurt with Jordan Burgess being a partial qualifer. Freshman Mo Alie-Cox is the other player who got hit by the NCAA, but chances are he wouldn't have even factored into VCU's plans this year.
The Virginia men’s basketball team will play VCU this month, a matchup thousands of fans in the state would love to see. They won’t get the chance.
The teams will play under an NCAA provision that allows a closed-door scrimmage in place of traditional preseason games. The session will operate more like a workout than a game, with coaches able to stop things for teaching and set up different scenarios.
Afterward, no stats or other information can be shared by participants.
That may work in the favor of the Cavaliers, who conducted their annual media day on Wednesday before practice.
Head coach Tony Bennett gave a grim report as it relates to his point guards.
Both are currently injured. Senior Jontel Evans suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, while sophomore Malcolm Brogdon had surgery in March for a broken bone in his left foot.
As for the scrimmages, it’s something the coach has done every year since arriving. The Cavaliers will host VCU at John Paul Jones Arena, and travel to Baylor for their other preseason slot. That also will be a closed-door scrimmage.