VCU’s new basketball coach Shaka Smart

Nov. 13: Tonight a new era began on Broad Street; VCU’s  new head coach of men’s basketball, Shaka Smart, won his first game at the Siegel Center. While the Rams have an impressive non-conference schedule this year, they opened their season with a cupcake. Bethune-Cookman played hard but was over-matched: VCU 77, B-C 51.

“I’m pleased with our guys’ effort tonight,” Smart said. “We played well in spots, but definitely had some lulls as well. It’s a solid first step in a long journey.”

Joey Rodriguez VCU’s junior point guard paced the Rams offense with 17 points. He added four steals in his 27 minutes on the floor. Junior forward/center Larry Sanders scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Rams in his 22 minutes in the game. Sophomore guard/forward Bradford Burgess scored ten points and got five boards in 27 minutes of play.

With the style Smart has his team playing — fast, fast, fast — he said no one can last for long, so he had his players shuffling back and forth to the bench every time the clock stopped.

“I’d like to play nine guys, or more,” said Smart, who used 12 players tonight. “The way I want to play, and we’re certainly not there, yet, you just can’t play six, seven, eight minutes at a time … unless you’re Superman.”

Freshman guards Darius Theus and Troy Daniels both looked good and got to play more than they might have because it was a blowout. Both appear ready to help Smart’s squad right away.

The Wildcats C.J. Reed led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 5-for-16 from the field. The Rams swarming defense held their guests to hitting 34.7 percent from the field.

In the second half it was announced to the crowd of 6,741 that former Rams star and now NBA rookie, Eric Maynor, started his first game for the Utah and rang up a double-double tonight. In leading the Jazz to a win over the Philadelphia ‘76ers Maynor’s stat line was 13 points, 11 assists and four rebounds. Needless to say the news went over well.

Next up for VCU is a Wednesday road game at Western Michigan (7 p.m.).

The Rams next home game is on Sat., Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. That game will bring from Oklahoma Sooners head coach Jeff Capel back to the Siegel Center for the first time since he coached the Rams, 2002-06.

Click here to watch the post-game new conference.

Click here to see the game’s box score.

– Words and photo by F.T. Rea