UNCG 68 - VCU 80
News & Record Recap
UNCG Athletics Recap
VCU Athletics Recap
Halftime: UNCG 34 - VCU 38
UNCG Stats
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (20)
Leader Rebounds: David Williams (9)
Leader Assists: Derrell Armstrong (5)
Team FG: 26-65 (40.0%)
Team 3 Pt: 6-22 (27.3%)
Team FT: 10-15 (66.7%)
Rebounds: 31
Turnovers: 14
VCU Stats
Leader Points: Bradford Burgess (21)
Leader Rebounds: D.J. Haley (7)
Leader Assists: Rob Brandenberg (3)
Team FG: 27-48 (56.3%)
Team 3 Pt: 5-18 (27.8%)
Team FT: 21-26 (80.8%)
Rebounds: 30
Turnovers: 15
Thoughts:
UNCG again came out and took the fight to an opponent. However, the the story remains the same. UNCG took care of the ball really well for most of the game, with the exception of a four minute span. That span gave the Rams just enough breathing room to escape with a hard fought victory.
The good news is that the Spartans continue to have some of their best outings of the season. Unfortunately this good play is coming during a very difficult stretch of games. I still think that victories are coming for this team. They are playing too well to not start seeing the rewards for their hard work.
Showing posts with label VCU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VCU. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Virginia Commonwealth (8-3) @ UNCG (2-10)
When: Thursday, December 22 7 pm
Where: Greensboro Coliseum (7,617/23,500)
TV: ESPN3/Spartan All-Access
VCU Athletics
UNCG Notes
Last Game: @ Duke (L 63-90) Recap
PPG: 63.8
RPG: 35.1
APG: 10.9
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (15.0)
Leader Rebounds: Aaron Brackett (5.5)
Leader Assists: Kyle Randall (2.3)
FG %: 37.4
3 Pt %: 30.2
FT %: 61.3
VCU Notes
Last Game: UAB (W 68-49) Recap
PPG: 68.2
RPG: 32.6
APG: 12.5
Leader Points: Bradford Burgess (14.3)
Leader Rebounds: Juvonte Reddic (6.4)
Leader Assists: Darius Theus (4.9)
FG %: 41.1
3 Pt %: 35.5
FT%: 72.8
Thoughts:
VCU shoots the ball well and rebounds well.The Rams are going to press after every made basket. It will be very important for UNCG to play sound defense and try to get out on the break often to try to back VCU off of its press. It will be important for UNCG to avoid some of the problems they had last Friday night by keeping the ball out of the corners in perfect trap position for VCU. Also, look for UNCG to attack VCU with a press of its own. UNCG and VCU are the only 2 teams this year to have 20+ steals in a game versus a D1 opponent.
UNCG has shown a lot more energy as of late when playing at home. Hopefully a sizable crowd can give UNCG a boost to pull off a big upset.
Go Spartans !!!
Where: Greensboro Coliseum (7,617/23,500)
TV: ESPN3/Spartan All-Access
VCU Athletics
UNCG Notes
Last Game: @ Duke (L 63-90) Recap
PPG: 63.8
RPG: 35.1
APG: 10.9
Leader Points: Trevis Simpson (15.0)
Leader Rebounds: Aaron Brackett (5.5)
Leader Assists: Kyle Randall (2.3)
FG %: 37.4
3 Pt %: 30.2
FT %: 61.3
VCU Notes
Last Game: UAB (W 68-49) Recap
PPG: 68.2
RPG: 32.6
APG: 12.5
Leader Points: Bradford Burgess (14.3)
Leader Rebounds: Juvonte Reddic (6.4)
Leader Assists: Darius Theus (4.9)
FG %: 41.1
3 Pt %: 35.5
FT%: 72.8
Thoughts:
VCU shoots the ball well and rebounds well.The Rams are going to press after every made basket. It will be very important for UNCG to play sound defense and try to get out on the break often to try to back VCU off of its press. It will be important for UNCG to avoid some of the problems they had last Friday night by keeping the ball out of the corners in perfect trap position for VCU. Also, look for UNCG to attack VCU with a press of its own. UNCG and VCU are the only 2 teams this year to have 20+ steals in a game versus a D1 opponent.
UNCG has shown a lot more energy as of late when playing at home. Hopefully a sizable crowd can give UNCG a boost to pull off a big upset.
Go Spartans !!!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Rams win Despite Big Night from Evans
UNCG 86 - VCU 101
News & Record
Richmond Times-Dispatch
UNCG Athletics
VCU Athletics
Brandon Evans had a career high 26 points and Korey Van Dussen scored a career high 18 points Friday night against VCU. However, it wasn't enough to overcome 3 VCU seniors combining for 65 points (Joey Rodriguez 22, Jamie Skeen 22, Brandon Rozzell 23). Rodriguez also broke the school record for assists in a game with 17.
Trailing throughout most the game, UNCG managed to ship down the Ram lead to single digits with 3:38 remaining. However, this was as close as the Spartans would get as VCU responded with 9 straight points to put the game away.
In addition to Trevis Simpson and Taylor Hoffer being held out of the game with injuries, starting point guard Kyle Randall was held out of the game for unspecified reasons.
Positives
86 points - I was really scared that UNCG didn't have the fire power to score over 70 points this year. However, it took the Spartans only one game to prove me wrong. This new group of players seemed to not be timid in a very hostile environment. We all know that Evans and KVD have some scoring ability. But it was nice to see Henry (10 pts), Brackett (12 pts) and even David Williams (7 pts & 8 rebs) not shy away from the competition.
Drew Parker - Drew had 8 assists and 3 turnovers in his first college game. VCU pressed UNCG the whole game. So, the fact that Parker was able to show poise and find his teammates often was a great sign.
Shooting - The Spartans were a bad shooting team last year. That's a fact. This UNCG may not be a good shooting team either. Time will tell. For one game, though, UNCG shot very well in all phases of the game. 46% from the field, 44% from 3 point range and 76% is a very good night. These are the kinds of percentages that a team must shoot against a trapping/pressing team to make them pay when they don't force a turnover.
Negatives
Turnovers - Despite piling up 20 assists, UNCG gave the ball away 21 times. With the way UNCG was shooting the ball and getting to the free throw line, just a few extra possessions could have really been big. The bight side is that outside of maybe Maryland or Clemson, I don't think UNCG will see a better press this season. So, to handle it as well as they did (minus the starting PG) is a testament to the raw skill and ability of the Spartan guards.
Offensive Rebounds - Giving up 18 offensive rebounds to a team that's not much taller than UNCG is disappointing. This is another mid-major team, with mid-major size (although they have some bulk to their size). Rebounding is as much about attitude as it is about skill. Just ask Ben Stywall or Kyle Hines. So this year's version of UNCG is going to have to get tougher on the boards or they really will find themselves in trouble when they play some teams with size advantages.
Wrap up
All-in-all not a bad way to start the season. I would be have loved to seen a Spartan win. But realistically this team had too many questions coming into the game to be disappointed with this outcome. Now let's see how it goes on Sunday against Florida State.
News & Record
Richmond Times-Dispatch
UNCG Athletics
VCU Athletics
Brandon Evans had a career high 26 points and Korey Van Dussen scored a career high 18 points Friday night against VCU. However, it wasn't enough to overcome 3 VCU seniors combining for 65 points (Joey Rodriguez 22, Jamie Skeen 22, Brandon Rozzell 23). Rodriguez also broke the school record for assists in a game with 17.
Trailing throughout most the game, UNCG managed to ship down the Ram lead to single digits with 3:38 remaining. However, this was as close as the Spartans would get as VCU responded with 9 straight points to put the game away.
In addition to Trevis Simpson and Taylor Hoffer being held out of the game with injuries, starting point guard Kyle Randall was held out of the game for unspecified reasons.
Positives
86 points - I was really scared that UNCG didn't have the fire power to score over 70 points this year. However, it took the Spartans only one game to prove me wrong. This new group of players seemed to not be timid in a very hostile environment. We all know that Evans and KVD have some scoring ability. But it was nice to see Henry (10 pts), Brackett (12 pts) and even David Williams (7 pts & 8 rebs) not shy away from the competition.
Drew Parker - Drew had 8 assists and 3 turnovers in his first college game. VCU pressed UNCG the whole game. So, the fact that Parker was able to show poise and find his teammates often was a great sign.
Shooting - The Spartans were a bad shooting team last year. That's a fact. This UNCG may not be a good shooting team either. Time will tell. For one game, though, UNCG shot very well in all phases of the game. 46% from the field, 44% from 3 point range and 76% is a very good night. These are the kinds of percentages that a team must shoot against a trapping/pressing team to make them pay when they don't force a turnover.
Negatives
Turnovers - Despite piling up 20 assists, UNCG gave the ball away 21 times. With the way UNCG was shooting the ball and getting to the free throw line, just a few extra possessions could have really been big. The bight side is that outside of maybe Maryland or Clemson, I don't think UNCG will see a better press this season. So, to handle it as well as they did (minus the starting PG) is a testament to the raw skill and ability of the Spartan guards.
Offensive Rebounds - Giving up 18 offensive rebounds to a team that's not much taller than UNCG is disappointing. This is another mid-major team, with mid-major size (although they have some bulk to their size). Rebounding is as much about attitude as it is about skill. Just ask Ben Stywall or Kyle Hines. So this year's version of UNCG is going to have to get tougher on the boards or they really will find themselves in trouble when they play some teams with size advantages.
Wrap up
All-in-all not a bad way to start the season. I would be have loved to seen a Spartan win. But realistically this team had too many questions coming into the game to be disappointed with this outcome. Now let's see how it goes on Sunday against Florida State.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
UNCG (0-0) @ VCU (0-0)
When: Friday, November 12 7:30 pm
Where: Siegel Center (7,500)
TV: None
VCU Athletics
VCU Ram Nation
Forum
CAA Zone - VCU
Spartan Notes:
- UNCG finished last season with a record of 8-23. The Spartans won 3 of their last 5 contests, though. 2009-2010 was UNCG's first season playing full time in the historic Greensboro Coliseum.
- Pete Brown, Mikko Koivisto, Kendall Toney, Montel Smith and Ben Stywall are all gone from this year's squad after graduation. Walk-on Mike Hardiman also graduated. Redshirt Sophmore DeAngelo Jackson transfered to College of Idaho.
- Stywall was a 1st team All-SoCon selection last season after averaging 14.3 points and 10.4 rebounds. He set the UNCG single season record for double-doubles (15).
- UNCG has a huge group of newcomers to this year's team. Five true freshmen join redshirt freshman Taylor Hoffer and JUCO transfers Aloysius Henry and Aaron Brackett.
- The Spartans did not play an exhibition game this season. Instead the coaches chose to play 2 closed scrimmages against Radford and UNC. Although the coaches aren't allow to discuss those scrimmages, it was revealed that UNC really got the better of UNCG.
- UNCG will be without the services of Freshmen Trevis Simpson on Friday night. Simpson is still recovering for a seperated shoulder.
- All SoCon freshman selection Kyle Randall is the team's leading returning scorer (9.5) and assists leader (2.6). Senior Brandon Evans is the team's leading returning rebounder (4.3).
- Last season, UNCG shot 38.6% from the field, 28.7% from behind the arc and 69.8% from the free throw line.
Ram Notes:
- The Rams finished last season 27-9. VCU went 5-0 in the post season College Basketball Invitational to take home the title.
-First year coach Shaka Smart did a tremendous job of maintaining the same kind of success that the Rams enjoyed under previous coach Anthony Grant. Smart was hired after Grant left to take over at Alabama. Smart's 27 wins were the best among all first-year head coaches last season. He was previously an assistant at Akron, Clemson and Florida before taking over at VCU.
- 2 VCU players have been drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft in the previous 2 years. After all-everything guard Eric Maynor was selected by Utah after the 2008-2009 season, Larry Sanders was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks this past summer. Sanders was an All-CAA selection and the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.
- VCU defeated Virginia Union in their only exhibition game on November 4 in Richmond, 71-56. Jamie Skeen and Brandon Rozzell led VCU with 10 points. Senior guard Joey Rodriguez did not play in the game. The Rams led 41-19 at the half, before watching Virginia Union go on a 16-4 run. However, the Rams righted their ship to hang on and get the win.
- The Rams were picked to finish 3rd the CAA preseason coach's poll. Rodriguez was selected 1st team All-CAA.
- Rodriguez is the team's leading returning scorer (12.9). He also led the Rams in assists (5.8) last season. Bradford Burgess averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.
- Last season, the Rams shot 46.2% from the field, 36.6% from behind the arc and 70.4% from the free throw line.
My Thoughts:
So here it is ... "OOC Schedule Gauntlet" version 2.0. I'm afraid this version will be even more of a meat grinder than version 1.0.
After one quick glance at the Rams stats from last season, all I could think of was Richmond. VCU's stats are eerily similar to the same stats the Spiders boasted on their way to getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. I think that if VCU puts up these kinds of numbers in 2010-2011, they likely get the same kind of reward.
Coach Dement has said repeatedly in interviews that this Spartan squad had a lot of growing to do and that he didn't expect them to be very good at the season's start. Ben Stywall will be hard to replace. He always seemed to be in the right place to get rebounds and clean up bad possessions. The Spartans certainly replaced the departed seniors with an upgrade in talent. But with the talent comes youth. That's gonna be a problem.
I expect VCU to hit UNCG with a Dayton/Richmond/Akron style blitz right out of the gate. It'll be interesting to see how the new Spartans handle the blitz with the raucous home crowd. While I don't expect miracles right away, I'm looking for poise and improvement. The Spartans won more games in 2009-2010 than they did the previous season. Let's improve on those numbers this season.
It's been a long summer. Thank God it's basketball season.
Go Spartans !!!
Where: Siegel Center (7,500)
TV: None
VCU Athletics
VCU Ram Nation
Forum
CAA Zone - VCU
Spartan Notes:
- UNCG finished last season with a record of 8-23. The Spartans won 3 of their last 5 contests, though. 2009-2010 was UNCG's first season playing full time in the historic Greensboro Coliseum.
- Pete Brown, Mikko Koivisto, Kendall Toney, Montel Smith and Ben Stywall are all gone from this year's squad after graduation. Walk-on Mike Hardiman also graduated. Redshirt Sophmore DeAngelo Jackson transfered to College of Idaho.
- Stywall was a 1st team All-SoCon selection last season after averaging 14.3 points and 10.4 rebounds. He set the UNCG single season record for double-doubles (15).
- UNCG has a huge group of newcomers to this year's team. Five true freshmen join redshirt freshman Taylor Hoffer and JUCO transfers Aloysius Henry and Aaron Brackett.
- The Spartans did not play an exhibition game this season. Instead the coaches chose to play 2 closed scrimmages against Radford and UNC. Although the coaches aren't allow to discuss those scrimmages, it was revealed that UNC really got the better of UNCG.
- UNCG will be without the services of Freshmen Trevis Simpson on Friday night. Simpson is still recovering for a seperated shoulder.
- All SoCon freshman selection Kyle Randall is the team's leading returning scorer (9.5) and assists leader (2.6). Senior Brandon Evans is the team's leading returning rebounder (4.3).
- Last season, UNCG shot 38.6% from the field, 28.7% from behind the arc and 69.8% from the free throw line.
Ram Notes:
- The Rams finished last season 27-9. VCU went 5-0 in the post season College Basketball Invitational to take home the title.
-First year coach Shaka Smart did a tremendous job of maintaining the same kind of success that the Rams enjoyed under previous coach Anthony Grant. Smart was hired after Grant left to take over at Alabama. Smart's 27 wins were the best among all first-year head coaches last season. He was previously an assistant at Akron, Clemson and Florida before taking over at VCU.
- 2 VCU players have been drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft in the previous 2 years. After all-everything guard Eric Maynor was selected by Utah after the 2008-2009 season, Larry Sanders was selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks this past summer. Sanders was an All-CAA selection and the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.
- VCU defeated Virginia Union in their only exhibition game on November 4 in Richmond, 71-56. Jamie Skeen and Brandon Rozzell led VCU with 10 points. Senior guard Joey Rodriguez did not play in the game. The Rams led 41-19 at the half, before watching Virginia Union go on a 16-4 run. However, the Rams righted their ship to hang on and get the win.
- The Rams were picked to finish 3rd the CAA preseason coach's poll. Rodriguez was selected 1st team All-CAA.
- Rodriguez is the team's leading returning scorer (12.9). He also led the Rams in assists (5.8) last season. Bradford Burgess averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.
- Last season, the Rams shot 46.2% from the field, 36.6% from behind the arc and 70.4% from the free throw line.
My Thoughts:
So here it is ... "OOC Schedule Gauntlet" version 2.0. I'm afraid this version will be even more of a meat grinder than version 1.0.
After one quick glance at the Rams stats from last season, all I could think of was Richmond. VCU's stats are eerily similar to the same stats the Spiders boasted on their way to getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. I think that if VCU puts up these kinds of numbers in 2010-2011, they likely get the same kind of reward.
Coach Dement has said repeatedly in interviews that this Spartan squad had a lot of growing to do and that he didn't expect them to be very good at the season's start. Ben Stywall will be hard to replace. He always seemed to be in the right place to get rebounds and clean up bad possessions. The Spartans certainly replaced the departed seniors with an upgrade in talent. But with the talent comes youth. That's gonna be a problem.
I expect VCU to hit UNCG with a Dayton/Richmond/Akron style blitz right out of the gate. It'll be interesting to see how the new Spartans handle the blitz with the raucous home crowd. While I don't expect miracles right away, I'm looking for poise and improvement. The Spartans won more games in 2009-2010 than they did the previous season. Let's improve on those numbers this season.
It's been a long summer. Thank God it's basketball season.
Go Spartans !!!
VCU Previews, Scrimmage Notes and Dement's Comments
Sort of a weird grouping of things to post tonight. We've got less than 24 hours before the season gets underway. So let's start with some previews of opponent #1, Virginia Commonwealth.
- Here is a VCU preview from USA Today. This quote is frightening to UNCG fans ...
-VCU Ram Nation posted this game preview. It is very tough to argue with the author's logic here ...
Here is a YouTube video from the Tom Ward Tipoff Luncheon that basically echos those same comments.
And finally, Jeff Goodman had an article leaking some of the info from the UNCG-UNC scrimmage on Oct 30.
- Here is a VCU preview from USA Today. This quote is frightening to UNCG fans ...
Deep and aggressive on defense, this is a lineup that can make life uncomfortable for any opponent, no matter the NCAA classification.- Rush the Court's CAA preview predicted VCU to finish 2nd in the Colonial and get a #12 seed in the NCAA tournament. They also selected PG Joey Rodriguez to the All-Conference team.
-VCU Ram Nation posted this game preview. It is very tough to argue with the author's logic here ...
Friday’s matchup has 2 teams each introducing 6 new players into their lineups and having lost their star all-conference player from last season. The difference is that one team went 27-9, while the other went 8-23.Coach Dement was on Sports Drive with Taylor Zarzour this morning and talked about his concerns with having a young team and very difficult schedule. He said that the team was young and he thought they would definitely improve throughout the season.
Here is a YouTube video from the Tom Ward Tipoff Luncheon that basically echos those same comments.
And finally, Jeff Goodman had an article leaking some of the info from the UNCG-UNC scrimmage on Oct 30.
UNC Greensboro was overwhelmed talent-wise by UNC, but there were a few bright spots: Junior college big men Aloysius Henry and Aaron Brackett – as well as 6-foot-7 wing David Williams – all competed and showed flashes.No one from the university is allowed to discuss these "closed" scrimmages. I've recieved no reports from the UNCG-Radford scrimmage (and I don't expect to hear anything about it).
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
UNCG's "Secret Scrimmages"
According to Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports, The Spartans will be holding "Secret Scrimmages" against UNC and Radford. Find his entire list is here ...
*I've listed other SoCon games and other teams of interest.
*I've listed other SoCon games and other teams of interest.
SECRET SCRIMMAGES
Fri., Oct. 29
Samford at Kennesaw State
Sat., Oct. 30
Clemson at Georgia
Virginia Tech vs. Georgetown
Wake Forest at College of Charleston
George Mason at Richmond
VCU at La Salle
High Point at East Carolina
Sun., Oct. 31
UNC at UNC Greensboro
UT Chattanooga at Ole Miss
Wofford vs. Belmont at Maryville College
Fri., Nov. 5
Radford at UNC Greensboro
Sat., Nov. 6
Charlotte at Virginia Tech
Liberty at Appalachian State
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
New Schedule Released
UNCG has released it's 2010-2011 basketball schedule. There are 15 home games including restarting a rivalry with a crosstown rival. Times haven't been finalized and and I'm sure that TV can move dates if needed. Also, tomorrow is the last day to renew season tickets (which, sorry guys, the new baby is keeping me from doing this year). Single game tickets go on sale October 22 through Ticketmaster.
Nov. 12 @ VCU
Nov. 14 Florida State
Nov. 21 Va Tech
Nov. 27 @ ECU
Nov 29 NC A&T
Dec. 2 @ Wofford
Dec. 6 Furman
Dec. 8 @ Maryland
Dec. 15 @ Wake Forest
Dec. 18 @ Clemson
Dec. 22 Richmond
Dec. 29 Duke
Jan. 6 Samford
Jan. 8 Chattanooga
Jan. 10 Elon
Jan. 13 @ App State
Jan. 17 Davidson
Jan. 20 Ga Southern
Jan. 27 @ Chattanooga
Jan. 29 @ Samford
Feb. 2 App State
Feb. 5 @ Western Carolina
Feb. 7 Citadel
Feb. 12 @ College of Charleston
Feb. 15 Miami (FL)
Feb. 19 @ Elon
Feb. 21 Western Carolina
Feb. 24 @ Ga Southern
Feb. 26 @ Davidson
March 4-7 SoCon Tournament*
* Chattanooga, TN
Nov. 12 @ VCU
Nov. 14 Florida State
Nov. 21 Va Tech
Nov. 27 @ ECU
Nov 29 NC A&T
Dec. 2 @ Wofford
Dec. 6 Furman
Dec. 8 @ Maryland
Dec. 15 @ Wake Forest
Dec. 18 @ Clemson
Dec. 22 Richmond
Dec. 29 Duke
Jan. 6 Samford
Jan. 8 Chattanooga
Jan. 10 Elon
Jan. 13 @ App State
Jan. 17 Davidson
Jan. 20 Ga Southern
Jan. 27 @ Chattanooga
Jan. 29 @ Samford
Feb. 2 App State
Feb. 5 @ Western Carolina
Feb. 7 Citadel
Feb. 12 @ College of Charleston
Feb. 15 Miami (FL)
Feb. 19 @ Elon
Feb. 21 Western Carolina
Feb. 24 @ Ga Southern
Feb. 26 @ Davidson
March 4-7 SoCon Tournament*
* Chattanooga, TN
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