VCU finds way to beat ODU despite Burgess’ woes

Jim Swing
Sports Editor
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Bradford Burgess won’t graduate until May, but the VCU men’s basketball team is getting a pretty good feel for what life will be like when he’s gone.

Burgess, the Rams’ lone senior, has played a minuscule 42 minutes over the past two games due to foul trouble. Do the math, and that averages out to just barely over half of each game. Not very average for a team’s best player and only senior.

Burgess played just 23 minutes against William & Mary Thursday night and fouled out towards the end of regulation.

Saturday night against Old Dominion wasn’t much different with Burgess racking up three fouls by the early stages of the second half and recording just 19 minutes on the night. Still, the young VCU team torched its arch-adversary to the tune of a 61-48 win in front a sold out Stuart C. Siegel Center.
You could say they’re learning to deal without their unquestioned leader.

“It says the young guys are growing up,” VCU head coach Shaka Smart said. “And they’re playing better and better, and they’re getting used to stepping up and asserting themselves.”

The Rams beat the Monarchs with solid contributions off the bench and balanced scoring from a plethora of different guys.

Juniors Troy Daniels and Darius Theus posted double-digits and freshmen Briante Weber and Treveon Graham combined for 12 points. Sophomore guard Rob Brandenberg was able to channel in and break his horrific shooting slump with eight crucial points despite being removed from the starting lineup for the first time in seven games. Even walk-on junior David Hinton – who receives very limited playing time – came in for two minutes and gave ODU a taste of his own brand of havoc.

“It just means anybody can step up at any time,” Hinton said. “Coach tells us we need 13 people every game so whenever you’re numbers called you’ve got to step up; if somebody’s down you’ve got to help them up.”

For parts of the second half, Burgess became an afterthought. Substitutions came and went but still he remained a cheerleader on the bench. Tell any Rams’ fan Burgess would score just two points in his last game against ODU at home and they’d probably roll their eyes. Tell them he’d rack up just five points in his last two outings and you’d be pointed towards the exits.

Reality can be harsh, but looking on the bright side of things the Rams are winners of two-straight when their leader has been a non-factor.

“He’s got the confidence in us to step up and for us to make plays also just like we have in him,” Theus said. “So we’re not worried about that at all.”

In the last two games, VCU has gotten 96 percent of its scoring from guys without the name Burgess on the back of their jerseys. Freshman Treveon Graham – a near spitting-image of Burgess on the court – stepped in and provided the aggressive factor with his eight points and seven rebounds.

“Brad’s still our best player. He just has been in foul trouble the last couple of games, and it’s hard to get into a rhythm when you’re not on the court for an extended period of time,” Smart said. “But I’m proud of the way Tre stepped in for him, and other guys stepped up and made plays.”

Burgess’ absence in the last two games has by no means been a good thing, but the Rams are winning without him on the floor. VCU’s young core is learning to overcome, adapt and win when he’s confined to the bench. Perhaps it’s just a glimpse into what the future will be like when he’s gone.

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Photos by Chris Conway