Good Game and Video Highlights from VCURamNation

Hey Zips fans,

Just wanted to say good game to you guys. There was a small but vocal contingent of Zips fans at the Siegel Center (I assume most of whom were parents). They were very nice and cordial throughout the game. For those of you who watched the game I hope you now see what I was talking about when I said we are tough to beat at home. We were actually a little quieter than we usually are for tv games, but the 7,248 in attendance were pretty vocal for the most part. You guys aren't a bad team (20 wins is evidence enough of that), but still lost by 17 points in a game that VCU lead basically from wire-to-wire. It's not an indiction of the Zips, but more the VERY strong homecourt advantage we have at the Siegel Center. It seems that several of you were particularly harsh on your team, I can sympathize as we had several of our own fans come out with similar sentiments during our recent 2 game losing streak last week. One thing about college basketball is that you need to try and stay away from getting too emotionally high off of wins, and too low after losses. Learn to appreciate the good with the bad, and the wins will be that much sweeter when they do occur. Here are some of my thoughts on sub-plots that were discussed prior to the game:

Larry Sanders vs. Zeke Marshall: Much as I predicted, Zeke didn't get many minutes and was pretty raw all game (2 points on 1-5 shooting, 3 rebounds in 10 minutes of play)...while Larry just missed a double-double, scoring 15 points (7-9 from the field), 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 20 minutes of play due to foul trouble. Larry showed why he's an NBA prospect and Zeke is what most thought he would be from our end. He shows some solid fundamentals and a nice soft touch for a guy his size, but he's very soft and needs to be more aggressive and time in the weightroom wouldn't hurt either.

Our athleticism and talent vs. Akron's: This is hard to gauge since Akron couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with their shooting today. I think it was clear that our players were on a different level from both a strength and athleticism standpoint. We do recruit a bit of a higher level player due to our higher national profile. That said, I think Dambrot recruits a specific player for his system, and he makes it work pretty well. I do agree that playing cupcakes and loading up wins that way is probably not the best way to go, but when building a program like Dambrot is where there isn't too much tradition or previous success, sometimes building a culture of winning is more important, and that may take some time. While we weren't getting too much respect from some fans here, it's clear Coach Dambrot recognized the difference between our programs from his post-game comments.

Our messageboard community does great work covering the Rams and this game was no exception. The game video highlights as well as post-game comments from both Shaka Smart and Keith Dambrot in addition to some of the players can be found here (scroll down to view the player):

http://www.vcuramnation.com/2010/02/video-vcu-vs-akron/

Here are high-quality photos from the game action as well (scroll down to view the pics):

http://www.vcuramnation.com/2010/02/photos-vcu-vs-akron/

Once again, it was good talking to you guys and I do wish you guys the best from here on out as always! Good luck against Can't State!

URI scouting report from a VCU fan

Hi Zips fans,

Greetings from the VCU Ram Nation. As VCU is the only team that has beaten Rhode Island to this point, I thought you might appreciate a short scouting report on these guys. They are almost a mirror image of us in the way we play. It was surreal watching the teams go at it earlier this season.

URI is 10-1 and on a 6-game winning streak since their loss to us at VCU's Siegel Center on December 2nd. Even that loss was by the slimmest of margins as VCU won by 2 points and URI missed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer that would have won the game. They play 40 minutes of non-stop full court pressure. They will press you from the opening tip and they won't stop til the game buzzer sounds. They are long and athletic and will get in the passing lanes. They like to shoot the 3 and are pretty good at it. Their big scorer is Keith Cothran who dropped 16 on us but can definitely go off for more if you don't D him up. I'd say Delroy James is their most talented and versatile player and really changes the game with his skill set and size at 6'8. They have a 7 footer who will matchup with Zeke in Will Martell. He's not especially athletic or explosive, but he has a really nice perimeter shot and he'll pop from 16-17 feet and make them if your bigs don't come out on him. He actually had a season-high 18 points against us with those outside jumpers falling for him all night. Akeem Richmond is 6'1 freshman guard who is one of their sharpshooters and will hit the 3 if you leave him open. He looks frail and weak but he can really get hot from out there. Orion Outerbridge is a 6'9 forward who is probably the most athletic guy on the team and they run set plays for him off of inbounds going to the rim where he can throw it down or lay it in. Lamonte Ulmer is another strong 6'6 forward with guard skills that is very athletic and can throw it down off the fast break.

They have 2 point guards, Stevie Mejia, who is short but a very steady point, and Marquis Jones who is about 6'0-6'1 and a better scorer but really not a true point in the way that Mejia is. Hope and pray that their coach Jim Baron plays Marquis Jones more, for some reason he played that guy a lot and Mejia was definitely doing a much better job of running the team than he was.

Honestly, you guys probably should have scheduled stronger than you have as URI is gonna be several steps up from anything you have faced so far. They are a VERY good team, and they should beat you guys unless they completely overlook you. That said, Akron has a great coach in Dambrot who will have you guys as prepared as you can be to win. Im sure our Coach Shaka Smart may have already helped Dambrot out a bit with the scouting report as a favor to his old mentor.

Here are the game video highlights and post-game pressers of the VCU-URI game from the folks at www.VCURamNation.com which is the posting community of VCU Ram fans. It should give you a feel for the way that they play and who their go-to guys are.

http://www.vcuramnation.com/2009/12/video-...t-rhode-island/

(Click on the link and scroll down, and you'll see the video player)

Have a Happy New Year Zips fans!

Congratulations from Ram Nation!

Hey guys, I read over on the VCU boards that you guys won the MAC! Congratulations on this great accomplishment! After 23 years I'm sure it is a sweet feeling indeed!

Enjoy these moments, they are very special. It's good to see Coach Dambrot and the Zips taking the next step in becoming a basketball power. Congrats again!

Akron at VCU this Wednesday!

Hey Zips fans!

I'm back again! Just wanted to wish you all a warm welcome to Richmond, VA for the game this week. It seems like you guys are off to a good start again and your freshmen are really stepping up. It certainly looks like the Zips will be able to give the Rams all they can handle and will be a good test for the Rams heading into our contest against Blake Griffin and the Oklahoma Sooners on the 20th. Looks like Humpty is living up to his high billing so far and he's certainly taking a central role on the team.

We also have a freshman starter in 6'5 SG Brad Burgess who is showing great promise and is a starter on our squad this year. Eric Maynor returns as does shot-blocker Larry Sanders (I believe he had 7 blocks at the JAR last year). Gone is Jamal Shuler (he played injured in the game last year, but I think he did well) who is playing overseas. We are extremely young outside of Maynor and are maturing and learning every game, much like the Zips are I imagine. It should be a great contest between the two squads!

Unfortunately I'm not sure how packed the game will be since exams are over and the students are gone. We'll probably only have 5,000 or so, maybe even less. That said, I hope you guys enjoy your experience in Richmond if you choose to venture down! Safe travels and here's to a good, clean game!

Can't State SUCKS!

Congratulations

Congrats on playing a very good game. You guys kept it close. I'm kinda glad that Wood was in the game so we faced your full team. You guys did a very good job on Maynor, he was definitely not himself today. Wood is a load inside, but Sanders definitely blocked him several times in the second half and made him really change his approach to the basket. You guys have a good team, and I hope you guys do well the rest of your season. GoZips can now officially stick a sock in his mouth after all the crap he was talking. And for being lucky to keep within 20 of you guys, not quite. And the best was comparing VCU to Austin Peay. That said, I really appreciate the classy posters and fans of the Zips, you have a fine team and a good program. I look forward to seeing you guys at the Siegel Center in Richmond next year. I'm glad we won't have to see Wood again for sure. That said, it should be a decent win for us and will hopefully help our at-large profile a bit. It was nice bantering with you Zip fans. I'll be back before our game next year to chat up that game as well!