Going into tomorrow's semi-final game of the A-10 tournament VCU is riding a seven-game winning streak. With each of those seven victories the Rams' belief in their ability to execute their game plans has grown.
As an athlete, when you have confidence that you know where you're going, and when you're going, that tends to evaporate the hesitation out of your moves. It makes a fast player faster. A well-coached team with such athletes, players who have such battle-tested confidence, can be damn hard to beat. Now that's VCU, a team showing a lot of potential.
The streak began with VCU's dramatic road-win over Rhode Island. Zeb Jackson's last-second jumper was the difference-making dagger. Coach Mike Rhoades' team finished jelling that night.
Here are my recaps of VCU's post-jelling seven consecutive wins:
Feb. 15: Final score: VCU 55, Rhode Island 54.
Location: Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island
In a nutshell: After sleepwalking through the first half, then trailing by 13 points with 11:44 remaining in the second half, VCU stole the game from Rhody with a furious late comeback. VCU led for only two minutes and twenty seconds of the game.
Coming off the bench, Zeb Jackson played only 16 minutes. However, his 15-foot jump shot in the last second put VCU in the lead by one point when the final horn sounded.
For the second consecutive game, VCU's star point guard, Ace Baldwin, had a frigid shooting hand; he went 0-for-10 from the field. Plus, VCU's best rebounder, Jalen DeLoach left the game in the first half with a leg injury. He was seen later on crutches.
So it fell to forward Brandon Johns to take up the slack. Fortunately, Johns scored 17 points, grabbed five boards and dished for three assists. Nick Kern and Jackson both scored nine points. As lackluster as their effort was for most of the contest, VCU's Rams were lucky to escape with a victory. Very lucky.
VCU's record: VCU 19-7, 10-3 in A-10.
Feb. 18: Final score: VCU 80, Fordham 61.
Location: Siegel Center in Richmond.
In a nutshell: A sell-out, Senior Day crowd (7,637) was treated to witnessing a tilt in which VCU out performed highly touted Fordham in every aspect of the action. In no way did today's home team resemble the lucky VCU squad that escaped with a one-point win in Rhode Island on Wednesday.
Today, the confident VCU team looked well-coached, even inspired. They beat a good team and in the doing VCU looked like the best team in the A-10. Guard Nick Kern hit the ground running, scoring eight of VCU’s first 11 points. He finished by sinking eight-of-nine attempts from the field. All in an eye-popping effort that set the team's offensive pace with 17 points, also a career-high.
Point guard Ace Baldwin scored 13 points and dished out 10 assists, to achieve his second career double-double. He also grabbed six steals and pulled down four rebounds. Forward Jalen DeLoach added 11 points and forward Jamir Watkins contributed 10 points. VCU made good on 51 percent (26-of-51) of its shots from the field.
VCU also forced 22 turnovers and outscored Fordham 29-15 off of those opportunities. Meanwhile, the home Rams held the visiting Rams to 34 percent shooting (20-of-59) from the field. It was probably VCU's most complete game this season.
VCU's record: VCU 20-7, 11-3 in A-10.
Feb. 21: Final score: VCU 88, StJ 63.Location: Hagan Arena in Philadelphia
In a nutshell: Shooting guard Jayden Nunn exploded for VCU’s first eight points. By halftime he had 23 on nine-for-nine shooting from the field and the Rams enjoyed a 40-to-30 lead. In the second half Nunn didn't let up. He finished with 31 points.
Showing no signs of last week's knee injury, forward Jalen DeLoach chimed in with 19 points. By the way, Nunn is the second Ram to top 30 points this season, as point guard Ace Baldwin poured in 37 at Saint Louis.The Rams simply overpowered the Hawks from the start and, truth be told, the game's outcome never really seemed much in doubt. Judging from VCU's last two lopsided wins, it appears Mike Rhoades may have his young team peaking at just the right time.
VCU's record: VCU 21-7, 12-3 in A-10.
Feb. 24: Final score: VCU 73, Richmond 58.
Location: Siegel Center in Richmond.
In a nutshell: VCU used a five-minute, 12-0, run midway in the first half to establish a working margin. The Rams never looked back. From then on, VCU methodically took Richmond apart. Halfway through the second stanza VCU led by 24 points.
Four Rams scored in double figures, led by Baldwin's 18 points. Watkins added 11. Both Kern and DeLoach scored 10 points. In all, nine of the 10 Rams who saw action in the game put numbers on the board.
VCU won the turnover aspect of the contest, 11-to-seven, and the battle of the boards, 40-to-29. VCU's bench outscored Richmond's bench, 19-to-14. Other stats of interest to Rams fans were Watkins' nine rebounds that led both teams and Baldwin's eight assists that led both teams.
With this Friday night victory, featured nationally on ESPN2, the surging Rams won the sixth of their last seven outings and they did nothing to hurt their chances to go dancing in mid-March.
VCU's record: VCU 22-7, 13-3 in A-10.
*
Feb. 28: Final score: VCU 79, Saint Louis 67.Location: Siegel Center in Richmond.
In a nutshell: The whole game was played at a frenetic pace at both ends of the court. Neither team backed off. The first half ended with Saint Louis ahead, 35-to-31.
In the second half the Rams trapping defense gradually smothered the Billikens offense. VCU forced 20 turnovers, while the Rams turned it over 12 times. The Rams made 14 steals, the Billikens made four.
VCU had six players score in double figures: DeLoach 14; Baldwin, Nunn and Kern 12; Johns 11; Watkins 10. The Rams bench outscored the Billikens bench 18-to-11. Points in the paint: VCU 52, Saint Louis 36. The Rams won the battle of the boards, narrowly; 38-to-37. However, the visitors did sink seven treys, while the home team only hit two.
Tonight, VCU beat a good team to win its fifth consecutive game. If VCU had a MVP for the game, it was probably Nick Kern. He hit six of seven shots, grabbed four rebounds and played outstanding defense in 17 intense minutes on the floor.
VCU's record: VCU 23-7, 14-3 in A-10.
*
Mar. 4: Final score: VCU 74, GW 68.
Location: Smith Center in D.C.
In a nutshell: Don't try to tell the players on these two teams that this season finale didn't matter all that much. The game's competitive spirit was obvious throughout both halves. Forward Brandon Johns set the pace for the victorious Rams, with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. It was his first career double-double.
Forward Jalen DeLoach, scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and also blocked two shots. In all, four Rams scored in double figures. The Rams outrebounded the Colonials, 35-to-29. VCU's bench outscored GW's bench, 30-to-14.
VCU led 35-32 after the first 20 minutes. So Johns promptly opened the second half with a trey and DeLoach followed with a bucket, by way of a timely steal by Nick Kern. That provided the Rams with a quick eight-point lead, 40-32.
Beginning midway through the second half, long distance gunner David Shriver went on a sudden tear and hit four 3-pointers. Boom!
As a result, at the 7:21 mark, VCU’s lead swelled to 17 points, 66-49. However, at this point the never-say-die Colonials picked themselves up and went on a 16-to-2 run, to collapse that formally comfortable lead down to just three -- with just 50 seconds on the clock, the score was VCU 68, GW 65.
Point guard Ace Baldwin seized the moment by making a play to decide the game: he dished to Johns cutting through the lane. Johns wheeled and dunked it, emphatically! Cool as a cucumber, VCU followed by going four-for-four at the charity stripe, to secure the victory and provide the final score of the regular season's last game.
VCU's record VCU 24-7, 15-3 in A-10.
*
Mar. 9: Final score: VCU 71, Davidson 53.Location: The Barclays Center in Brooklyn.In a nutshell: #1 VCU certainly began its run in the Atlantic 10 tournament with a nice performance today. The Rams appeared to believe in their plan. As they dismantled #8 Davidson, the conference's regular season champions looked prepared, intense and confident over the ordeal's entire 40 minutes.These Rams didn't hesitate much, either; they are fast. And, speaking of fast moves, swingman Nick Kern snatched nine rebounds. VCU blocked 10 shots!On offense, Baldwin, Shriver and Watkins all scored 11 points. Nunn added 10. VCU held Davidson to 37 percent shooting from the field, while shooting at a 57 percent clip, itself. VCU's bench outscored Davidson's bench, 30-to-12.With all that, truly, it was the Rams nonstop scrambling and smothering defense that did most of the dismantling in this tilt.VCU's record VCU 25-7.
To stretch my point a little further, momentum-wise, I think VCU is probably a little better team now than it was on Feb. 28, when the Rams beat the Billikens by 12 points.
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