VCU head coach Shaka Smart

Tom Yaeger, the commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association, just did VCU head coach Shaka Smart a favor. He took away Smart’s top scorer for the Rams next game. VCU’s best known player, Larry Sanders, got busted for descending into a moment of hooliganism in Philadelphia. As a result he will sit out Saturday’s game with Delaware, serving a one-game suspension from the CAA.

Drexel’s tape of the game shows Sanders hit Drexel’s Evan Neisler in the head as they were running down the court with a little more than four minutes remaining in the first half. The Rams had the ball going down the court after a missed shot, and Sanders and Neisler were jostling when Sanders reached back and hit Neisler.

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Let’s skip the cracks about Philadelphia’s rich history of sports hooliganism, etc. With Sanders, 6-11, out of the lineup Smart has been forced to adjust. Now his team will have to find a way to win without Sanders, the much-touted, much-scouted NBA prospect. Having lost two straight CAA contests the slumping Rams (9-4, 1-3 in CAA) should feel obliged to make some adjustments.

VCU stumbled twice on their way to a 6-2 start. In both losses they spit out double-digit second half leads. Nonetheless, some of the Rams wins came over highly regarded outfits, including Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Richmond. Then Jamie Skeen, a savvy 6-9 transfer from Wake Forest, became eligible. Since then VCU has gone 3-2.

Although Skeen has added considerably to the talent level of VCU’s roster, since his entering the picture the team’s chemistry has, for the most part, looked worse.

Although there’s no reason for Rams fans to panic, there are still 15 games remaining on the regular season schedule, at present things are going in the wrong direction. It’s time for the rookie head coach to turn his collection of physically gifted players into a real team.

In the last couple of months there’s been a lot of talk about how much the Rams must miss Eric Maynor. And, they have. So far, no player has emerged to be the floor leader. They miss him especially at the end of 35-second possessions, when they need a slick playmaker with the ball who’s an equal threat to shoot the jumper or the lay-up in traffic.

Maynor is gone, but so is Anthony Grant.

Except for the freshmen, these Rams were Coach Grant’s players last year. (Skeen, a junior, practiced with the team but he wasn’t eligible.) They were accustomed to a remarkably disciplined coach who could probably stare down an oncoming locomotive. Grant, 6-5, is an imposing figure and a damn good coach.

Smart is probably on his way to being a pretty good coach, too, but he has yet to prove himself. Smart is still feeling his way. He’s at least six inches shorter than Grant and 10 years younger. Smart shows much more emotion during and after the games than did Grant. Smart has a quick sense of humor. Grant was more inclined to keep it to himself.

At this desk, it says Grant would have already taken playing time away from Sanders for wandering outside the paint too often, as he has done in recent games. One day Sanders may be genuine a three-point threat. His potential is unlimited.

But hearing/reading that head-swelling observation too many times hasn’t helped the good-natured Sanders this season. And, when a long jumper is in the air on its way to the hoop Sanders’ teammates need him down low on offense, for stick backs.

Still, no one should worry too much about Sanders. He’s a great kid and this suspension should help him get a better perspective. Sometimes watching is good. And, eventually he’ll learn to take his frustrations out on his opponents in sincere banging for position around the basket, instead of throwing hands or elbows when he’s away from the paint. If he doesn’t he’ll make a lot less money at the next level.

What Sanders should get to see by watching from the sideline is Skeen playing the post, more as it should be played. In Sanders’ absence Skeen is likely to get his first start. If Skeen responds well he should continue to start when Sanders returns.

Which will return senior small forward T.J. Gwynn, 6-4, to his role as the first guy off the bench, an instant energy boost. With this squad, it is his best role.

The Rams need to stop worrying about their lost RPI numbers. (they‘ve dropped 35 points this week.) They need to focus on executing Smart’s offense and bearing down harder on their defense for 40 minutes.

Moreover, the Rams need to pass the ball to the open man. For some reason Skeen’s teammates have been ignoring him when he presents himself for a pass. He’s better at getting wide and offering the passer a good target than Sanders is. Remember, Sanders had played only five years of organized basketball coming into this season.

Now with Sanders out of the lineup, Skeen should get the ball. If he doesn’t Smart should bench anyone who won’t pass to an open man. And, that doesn’t just mean point guard Joey Rodriguez, 5-10. It means any player who refuses to work the inside-out offensive scheme Coach Smart wants to implement.

For the rest of this season, and in whatever postseason play the Rams might earn, most of their opponents are going to try to follow what Northeastern did to beat them. Teams are going to slow the ball down and try to physically intimidate them.

Sometimes you can beat that strategy by being better running and jumping athletes, sometime you can’t. If VCU doesn’t develop its half-court offense much better than what’s been on display so far, in March the Rams will fold up like a dimestore lawn chair.

At crucial times, what’s been missing from this year’s Rams team is leadership on the floor. Sophomore Bradford Burgess’ 30-point outburst in Philly may be a good sign. Perhaps the coach should run more plays to get the ball to Burgess, 6-5, and Skeen?

At times, Smart’s Rams have shown the ability to play with anybody. Maybe beat anybody. As with most teams in the country the Rams are still a work-in-progress. Although VCU’s record in the league looks bad, so far, there’s plenty of time to fix that.

It is definitely time for VCU’s coach to crack down and get tough about who gets minutes and who doesn’t. Sulky sophomore Jay Gavin, 6-2, could benefit from watching a game or two from the bench. Saturday is the best day for Smart’s Rams to show they get it. Winning without Sanders will be a good confidence builder, if they can pull it off.

Such a win would remind all that when the clock is ticking, it’s not about stars and statistics. It’s certainly not about the past. It’s only about the team living in the moment more completely than its opposition. Winning is not the goal. It is a the sweet product of proper preparation and execution.

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– Words and photos by F.T. Rea