Maryland win not just a victory on the scoreboard

The BB&T Classic wasn’t just another
basketball tournament for VCU. No,
the game against Maryland wasn’t just
about making baskets, playing defense.
This game was about confidence.
This game was about getting back to
Rams basketball. This game was about
playing 94 feet. This game was about
getting back to what earned the Rams
a school record number of wins and a
CAA title.

Going into Sunday’s game, it was
no secret the team wasn’t playing up
to its potential. The Rams stuttered on
offense early in wins over Maryland-
Eastern Shore and Houston and failed
to execute in times of need in losses to
Miami, Arkansas and most recently to
Hampton. For the first time all season,
the Rams were able to put together a
complete game-40 minutes of excellent
basketball on both ends of the court.

This is not to say that VCU didn’t
make any mistakes – it committed 12
turnovers in the first half, but went on
to commit only two in the second half.
The veteran backcourt of Eric Maynor
and Jamal Shuler played its most
complete games of the season. Maynor
finished the game with the same poise
he showed against George Mason and
Duke last season, finishing with 25
points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Shuler registered a career-high 30 points,
including 19 in the first half.

However, it wasn’t just the veterans
who held things together. Freshmen
Ed Nixon and Lance Kearse combined
for 12 points in 39 important minutes
of action. Kearse and first-year point
guard Joey Rodriguez both knocked
down clutch-free throws with less than
a minute to play to help the Rams build
a 10-point lead.

But besides the obvious improvement
on offense, where the Rams shot 47.3
percent, was the intensity and effort.
VCU players constantly hit the floors
for loose balls, battled on the boards
for rebounds and didn’t show fear while
playing against their ACC opponent.
Perhaps one of the biggest plays of the
game for VCU didn’t result in any points,
but merely showed a renewed enthusiasm
and work ethic. With about 6:30
to play in the second half, Maynor took
a three that bounced hard off the back
rim. It appeared that a Maryland rebound
would lead to a fast-break opportunity
and possibly a swing of momentum.
However, Rodriguez swooped in from
outside the three-point line and into the
paint and knocked the ball back outside
to the friendly hands of Shuler. The play
didn’t result in points – but the effort
and the passion were there.

Now that the Rams have played
a complete 40 minutes, it will be
interesting to see where the season goes
from here. If the passion, intensity and
offensive prowess from the Maryland
victory continue, it will be hard to keep
the Rams out of the NCAA tournament
for the second straight season. And with
the combination of youth and veteran
leadership and talent contribution, VCU
has nothing but time.