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By Victor Sample
For Virginia Commonwealth University, there is no
question that the 2009-2010 season represents a fresh
start for the basketball program. Gone are the familiar faces
belonging to star point guard Eric Maynor and coach Anthony
Grant.
Prior to being selected by the Utah Jazz in the 2009
NBA Draft, Maynor put VCU on the national radar with
a heroic performance in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Maynor finished his collegiate career with a 95-35 record,
2 conference titles, and 2 NCAA Tournament appearances
in addition to being the university’s all-time leader in
points, assists and free throws made.
Meanwhile, Grant, the longtime assistant to Billy Donavon
at Florida and a heavily sought after candidate, left
VCU after three seasons with a record of 76-25 to become
the head coach of Alabama.
Replacing Donovan, is another former Florida assistant
(albeit for only one year), Shaka Smart, who has his eyes
on keeping the Rams atop the Colonial Athletic Conference.
The 32 year old coach may be stepping into a program
in transition, however one exceptional rock remains
in the center of it all.
Junior Center, Larry Sanders, will continue to emerge
as the CAA’s most dominant big man this season as the
focal point of the Rams attack. With an almost superhuman
7’7” wingspan, Sanders spent the offseason improving
his game by working with and against the best big men
in college basketball at camps run by NBA stars Amare
Stoudemire and Lebron James.
And, while the departure of point guard Eric Maynor
will undoubtedly be a large blow to the Rams attack, look
for junior Joey Rodriguez to step into the position with
additional depth provided by incoming freshmen Darius
Theus and Issiah Grayson. Rodriguez, a two year starter,
was second on the team in assists last season and VCU
fans should expect him to improve upon that output with
even more playing time this year.
Though some changes should be expected, one thing
fans can count on is aggressive play as Coach Smart intends
to have his team “wreak havoc” this season. Adding
to VCU’s already outstanding depth, the Rams will be
welcoming two transfers into the mix this season: Former
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year
Jay Gavin from Marist and Jamie Skeen formerly of Wake
Forest.
Oddly enough, during the 2009-2010 season VCU
will have the distinct pleasure of running into two of the
school’s former head coaches in Oklahoma’s Jason Capel
(Nov. 21st) and East Carolina’s Mack McCarthy.
The Rams will also play their annual rivalry game with the
University of Richmond on December 12th with Homecoming
falling on January 30th against Georgia State.
With the departures of Grant and Maynor, it’s easy to
see why some VCU fans are worried about the program’s
future. However, whatever you do, don’t count Shaka
Smart and the 2009-2010 VCU Rams amongst them. |
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