Men’s basketball off to fast start in A-10
In what was seemingly the largest crowd over the school’s winter break, VCU fans showed up in droves to watch the Rams beat the Flyers handily, 74-62.
Jim Swing
Sports Editor
The stage was set in anticipation for a celebration. Black and gold t-shirts lined the Siegel Center for the first-ever “Stripe the Stu,” ringing in VCU’s inaugural Atlantic 10 matchup against Dayton.
The atmosphere had all the makings of an in-state rivalry game, but it wasn’t. In what was seemingly the largest crowd over the school’s winter break, VCU fans showed up in droves to watch the Rams beat the Flyers handily, 74-62.
“It was crazy, man. I feel like we’ve got the best fans in America,” VCU senior guard Troy Daniels said. “To see our fans in black and gold, it helped us out throughout the game and Dayton wasn’t just playing against 12 players; it was playing against the Siegel Center.”
On its opening night in the conference, VCU introduced itself to the Atlantic 10 in the only way it could, turning Dayton over 26 times and producing 15 steals. The Siegel Center grew deafening early in the second half when Daniels hit back-to-back three-pointers to push VCU’s lead to five.
But it didn’t come easy. Dayton hung with the Rams and their raucous crowd up until the waning minutes of the game.
“Well here we go, it’s Atlantic 10 play,” VCU head coach Shaka Smart said after the game against Dayton. “I think tonight was a great indication of how intense and how hard-fought games are going to be in this conference.
“It was such a higher level of intensity and urgency compared to nonconference games and I have a feeling a lot of them are going to be like that.”
And so goes Atlantic 10 play, VCU has learned. Three days later the Rams were thrust into a dogfight at St. Bonaventure, eventually coming away with a 72-65 victory. These down-to-the-wire, grind-it-out type victories are likely what VCU face on a nightly basis in the Atlantic 10.
“It’s very different from the CAA, I can say,” Daniels said.
VCU couldn’t have asked for a better start to the conference slate. Two quick wins, one at home and one on the road following a strong nonconference schedule. VCU’s leading scorer Treveon Graham has averaged 20.5 points a game over the first two games. Sophomore Briante Weber had 11 steals over that period and Darius Theus dished out 11 assists.
But the road to the Atlantic 10 tournament in Brooklyn doesn’t get any easier.
Four of VCU’s next seven conference games are on the road, including trips to Duquesne, Rhode Island, Charlotte and crosstown rival Richmond.