VCU landed in the Colonial Athletic Association conference and from day one showed they not only belonged but actually ended up winning the whole shebang.  The Rams gained some national recognition not only in their success but in the way they played the game.  Utilizing a scheme that Assistant Coach Shake Smart came up that creates non-stop ‘havoc’on the defensive end the Rams proved they could play with anyone on a given night.  When you master the offensive skills through consistent practice and you play great defense it does not matter how much talent you have, you can compete with the Big Dogs.   And every now and then you can beat them as the Rams seem to be doing on a regular basis.  These Rams and the Colonial Conference in general are some of the best kept secrets in the sport but the basketball world is starting to take notice.  The Rams terrific season gave the regular Joes of Richmond a bandwagon to jump on and they worked their way towards the promised land of the Big Dance.   It ended up just a little short but the Rams gave it a heck of a go and they most definitely have set the tone for the future.  Of course things change quickly in big time college basketball and you never know who is going to come calling to either entice the wonder coach or perhaps even the entire program itself.  After all conference realignment has become all the rage recently.  

One player who has been here to see the Rams head butt their way up the ranks is none other than junior guard Gerald Henderson.  Henderson is not a player that is especially pretty to watch.  He sometimes looks awkward or slow but he does have that one thing you cannot teach.  He is a winner.  Henderson is a combo guard who will do whatever it takes to help his team win.  This home town kid (Huguenot High) was not heavily recruited but loves to compete and he understands how to play this game.  He is a solid scorer who can get to the hoop and can also hit mid-range jumpers.  He will surprise you with his defense (his steal and layup off a crosscourt pass from Johnny Newman won the epic game against rival Richmond) and he can distribute the ball.  He can guard two guards even though he gives up size as he is only 6’2 and a buck 75.  Most impressive is his leadership and desire to win.  He willed his team to win a few games and basically took the team on his shoulders at times and was the catalyst to the Rams success as much as anyone besides Barnett.   

The player most likely to start next to Henderson in the backcourt is Sophomore Calvin Duncan.  Duncan is a charismatic player who will flat out dominate games at times.  A little inconsistent, he has all the skills to be great.  His play is pro caliber at times and the fans of Richmond love his style and his demeanor as he is the most popular player on the team.  Duncan is six four and can guard bigger players as well as quick ones.  He can shoot and create shots rather gracefully. He also can get to the hoop and score and is solid on the ball defender.   He, like his teammates, is a team player who does a lot of little things but he can also heat it up.  He may not be a superstar as of yet but is a solid compliment to his buddies in the backcourt.  Fellow sophomores Rolando Lamb and Edmund Sherod are also in the mix to play next to Henderson.  These two are more natural point guards but both can bring it.  Lamb is a 6’2 180 pounder from Portsmouth who showed on the JV he can run a team getting the ball to the right guys for shots.  He is also a terrific defender and has the ability to turn it on and get some buckets when needed.  Sherod is also 6’2 and goes 170 but is more adept at distributing the ball.  He is also a solid defender but this hometown kid is a more consistent scorer though that is not his forte.  This quartet of guards is as good as there is in this conference though Barnett would not mind having someone who was a little more athletic at the two. Junior wing Jesse Dark might be that guy but did not get enough minutes to show how good he is. When he got minutes he contributed with good defense and a nice touch but alas was not happy coming off the bench.  He was consistent and is the only true smaller wing on the team who can guard quick athletic wings who can score like Johnny Newman of Richmond.  This 6’5 210 hometown kid (there are a lot of Richmond kids on this roster and I mean a lot) missed a few games which hurt but he is also a solid offensive player who probably should have got more time. Bodine, as he was dubbed around these parts, is as strong as they come and will push to start at the three this year.  If he does not start he will play plenty of minutes but Barnett would be better suited starting this stud. 

Up front the Rams may not have had the talent of some of the other teams in the colonial but there were not far behind.  This did not seem to get in their way even when a key member of their front line got hurt early on to begin the year.  Senior Len Creech was to be the star but got hurt in the third game of the year and missed the rest of the season.  Junior Charles Wilkins became the go to offensive player in the paint and though he is only 6’3 really stepped up to the plate.  These are the only two players left form the RPI days and have been studs since they got to Richmond.  Barnett found a pretty dang good pair to split the center position and gave the Rams the kind of post play it needed to hang with the ODU’s of the world.  Jabo as he is known around these parts can jump out of the roof and led the team in scoring and rebounding last year.  He is the kind of athlete that comes along once in awhile and though he is not the most fluid kid on the planet he doesn’t have to be.  He plays a game similar to a skywalking kid over in Raleigh.  He might be an All-American candidate but he can board as well as anyone his height in the country and yes he can finish.  He does have some issues guarding quicker wings at the three and his jump shot could get more consistent but this team needs his athleticism on the team.  Fellow junior Rich Jones is a Wilkins clone who is more comfortable inside then out even though he goes only 6’5.  He is not a terrific defender on the wing but his board work and scoring inside give him some mojo.  A pair of 6’5 juniors, Tom Motley and Rich Jones, are tough hombres who could help out down low but were stuck on the JV the last two years.  They have a lot of talent in front of them so they better step up or might never get on the Siegel Center court during a varsity game. 

Junior Lorenza Watson worked as hard as anybody and did not seem to mind as he was usually matched up against bigger, more gifted players.  He defiantly held his own.  Watson plays center and at six nine is big enough to hang.  He is not a great offensive player but he gets by with dunks and finishes and can post up when needed.  He is best on the defensive end as he matches up against the other team’s best post player and is a great shot blocker.  He averaged over three blocks a game and also was a solid board guy.  As far as consistency up front the Rams had another guy who was ready to play every night.  Junior Bernie Harris is a huge fan favorite who gives the Rams solid scoring and rebounding from the box.  He is skinny at six ten and not as athletic as his counterparts but he can play.  ‘Supernard’ as he is known to the fans in Richmond is a team leader who plays under control and has is a heck of a mentor to the underclassmen who played well last year.  When he is on the court he plays tough and like the other three posts boards and block shots but might have a better low post game.  He might not have got the minutes he got before Watson became so dominant but he did not mind and you could still hear the chants of Supernard every time he came in off the bench and from what I hear he is even bigger in Finland!   ODU is known for it’s dominant big men in the post but nobody had a better pair at center then Watson and Holmes er Harris.

An entire group of first year players who were not expecting to get much playing time stepped up and contributed nicely to the Rams successful season.  Phil Stinnie, Kenny Stancell, Mike Brown, Danny Kottak, Mike Schlegel and Martin Henlan all got their shot impress in Barnett’s revolving door between the JV and varsity.  Stinnie and Stancell played the most on varsity as they were basically slitting time at the four the second half of the year.  Both have size (6’8 n 6’9) and toughness down low though neither put up great rebounding stats.  They are both works in progress but it would not be the worst thing in the world for these two to platoon again at power forward.  Brown is 6’5 and true wing who is better on the perimeter.  He was huge on JV as there is not much room at the three with Wilkins, Jones and Dark around but he needs to get on the court.  He is Mr. Consistent.  Schlegel is a hard-nosed 6’8 and is not immune to mixing it up underneath.  He does not bring much offensively but man does he box out and set a mean screen.  Henlan is 6’10 but a complete project but has some upside.    

The VCU Rams are one of the best basketball programs in the country.  This once purely medical school has burst onto the national scene with a style of basketball that seems completely out of control and haphazard but it works and it makes kids want to come play for the great coaching staff teaching here.  Coach JD Barnett has assembled a mighty crew of assistants who in turn have taught a style of basketball that is both fundamental and entertaining as heck.  It also has brought many victories.  Barnett is also a heck of a technician and one of the best game coaches in the country.  The success of the Rams has got many suitors calling for his services.  Worry not this program has built itself the right way by not taking the quick fix of building through Juco transfers and taking questionable character kids.  There is talent here but there is also some kids who love playing the game (well most of them) and really understand how to work together.  A last second loss to Old Dominion in the Colonial Conference final and cost the Rams a trip to the Big Dance.  This team played well enough all year to get invited but not enough wins over quality high RPI teams and the still under-valued Colonial hurt in the end.  This conference should have proved by now they are deserving of having two teams at the Big Dance.  This conference was every bit as good as some of the ones that got two in and have made more big splashes on the national map than any of them.  Oh well the Rams got an NIT invited but were obviously not in the mood and ended their season against fellow Virginians, the Cavaliers of the ACC.  A disappointing end did not dampen a great season and a very solid start to what Rams fans are hoping will be a very bright future.