VCU still wearing down opponents

RICHMOND, Va. – The surge comes almost every game, usually in the second half.

That’s when VCU’s relentlessness “Havoc” defense that the Rams employ for 94 feet often takes its toll and the Rams gain the upper hand on another worn out opponent.

Sometimes, though, the intensity of the press overwhelms a team at the start.

The Rams (18-5, 9-2 Colonial Athletic Association) had to replace four starters from last year’s team that reached the Final Four, but they haven’t sacrificed anything on defense – even with the largely new cast.

Coach Shaka Smart’s team is second nationally in steals with an average of 10.2 per game, fourth in turnover margin at plus six, and 14th in scoring defense, allowing an average of 58.3 points.

And in the same way that watching speed on film doesn’t prepare an opponent for what it’s like in person, familiarity doesn’t seem to help teams prepare to handle the Rams’ pressure.

In the Rams’ annual meeting with Richmond, the Spiders had 10 of their 17 turnovers by halftime, but trailed only 47-45 with 11:03 to play. Thereafter, they shot 1 for 13 from the field, turned the ball over seven times and saw a close game end in a 73-51 defeat.

The Rams outscored the Spiders 20-4 in a span of less than seven minutes to put the game away, leaving Richmond coach Chris Mooney hoping fatigue wasn’t a factor for his team.

“I don’t want to think that that was the case, but it very well could have been,” he said.

Conference rival Old Dominion, which plays the Rams two and often three times a season, arrived at the Siegel Center on Jan. 21 averaging 14 turnovers. The Monarchs trailed just 38-35 with 14:33 to play, but made just three field goals and had 12 turnovers the rest of the way and lost 61-48. On the night, ODU had 25 turnovers.

The Rams are so confident that they will wear a team down, they look for the signs.

“We can see them. They’re over there grabbing their shorts, breathing heavy,” senior swingman Bradford Burgess said. “We can tell that the game is taking an effect on them.

“They’re missing shots, their shots are short, they’re turning the ball over. When we see that, we have to get even more aggressive to take advantage of their getting tired.”