Going after the Pride: VCU looks to extend win-streak against Hofstra

Jim Swing
Assistant Sports Editor
Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter

VCU freshman guard Rob Brandenberg has taken no time at all to become accustomed to Siegel Center magic.

Brandenberg, who averages just under seven points per game at home, has played his part in the Rams’ current 20-game, home winning streak that ranks fourth among active home winning streaks in the nation.

Coming off a close 80-76 win over Towson, VCU will look to keep the streak alive Thursday night as it faces first-place counterpart Hofstra in a tie-breaker that will be showcased on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

“There’s nothing like playing at the Siegel because you know the lights is on, the crowd is roaring for you,” Brandenberg said. “That’s definitely an advantage right there; we could shoot terribly or not play our best game, but it’s just something about being here that can will us to a victory.”

They may well need it Thursday. The Rams will go head-to-head with arguably their toughest challenge to date at home in the backcourt against the CAA’s leading scorer Charles Jenkins (23.7 points), who is coming off a 35-point outing in the Pride’s win over James Madison Monday night.

When questioned on how his team plans to contain the senior guard, head coach Shaka Smart sighed and said, “Good question.”

“He’s improved from last year more than anyone else in the league, and he was Player of the Year last year, so that’s what’s scary,” Smart said. “So how do we plan on containing him? Number one, we’ve got to use five guys on the court; we can’t just say, ‘OK, Ed Nixon, you take care of Jenkins’ or ‘Darius (Theus) or Rob, you take care of Jenkins’; it’s going to have to be a five-man effort on the court.”

Jenkins is accompanied by junior guard Mike Moore, who averages 14.7 points per game, comprising a guard tandem that will test the strength and durability of VCU’s guards, led by seniors Nixon and Joey Rodriguez who have taken ownership of the team.

“He’s the best player in the league by far and probably the best shot-maker in the country if you look at his numbers and percentages,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to be a tough challenge for us; Ed is probably up for it, and we’re going to have to help him out.”

The Pride (14-6, 8-1) are off to their best start in recent memory, after hiring first-year head coach Mo Cassara, who is making an early bid for CAA Coach of the Year.

“Mo’s done a terrific job, and I’ve known Mo for a while, and I’m not surprised at the job he’s done because he’s a high-level coach; he’s a quality person, and he relates really well with kids,” Smart said. “So it was a great move by Hofstra to hire him in the spring because I think the best thing that he did was he really steadied the ship quickly, and it all started with his relationship with Charles Jenkins.”

The Rams (16-5, 8-1) will look to stretch their current seven-game winning streak to eight and continue their recent success in the conference.

The winner of Thursday night’s game will take sole possession of first place in the CAA after the two teams have been knotted for over a week.

“We’re playing for first place in the CAA, for sole possession,” Brandenberg said. “So the stakes, you know they’re pretty high, but it’s going to be fun; it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

—
VCU vs. Hofstra
4 p.m., Thursday Jan. 27
Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center
Ticket information: VCUAthletics.com, 804-828-RAMS