Rams show how unconventional they really are

Jim Swing
Sports Editor

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A lecture on Shaka Smart’s philosophy was what one reporter wanted.

The game against Saint Joseph’s in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals was firmly in hand with under five minutes left, but VCU was jacking up 3-pointers early in the shot clock.

A 13-point lead with 4:45 left and the Rams weren’t attempting to take any time off the clock, it was almost as if they were toying with the Hawks.

Smart was basically being questioned as to why he and his team weren’t using conventional wisdom.

But then the VCU head coach gave his answer, and suddenly – instantly – it all made perfect sense.

“I don’t know if you know too much about us,” Smart said. “But we’re not conventional.”

The same team that plays such a physical brand of defense that they run the risk of committing a foul almost every time the opponent has the ball was just taking another risk.

This time in a win-or-go-home situation, but it didn’t matter.

VCU shot four 3-pointers in the final 4:04 when its lead was as much as 13 points. Troy Daniels, who was 4-of-13 from deep on the night, missed two 3-point attempts early in the shot clock in transition with freshman Melvin Johnson joining him on a 2-on-1.

“If you got a wide open three for Troy Daniels, wide open, toeing the line, I’m taking that,” Smart said. “Now, maybe conventional wisdom says otherwise, but I’ll take my chances with that. I’ve seen that guy make too many shots.”

Valid point, and yes he has. Daniels has shattered the VCU record books like they’re made of glass over the past two seasons.

In his junior year he broke VCU’s single-season record for 3-pointers in a season with 94. This year, he’s one-upped himself, making 111 of them.

He’s hit at least one 3-pointer in his last 41 games, which is the fourth longest in college basketball.

Daniels needs 32 more 3-pointers to pass B.A. Walker for first on VCU’s all-time list of 3-point field goals. Depending on how deep of a run the Rams can make in the NCAA Tournament that could be a realistic goal.

“Coach Smart gives us the green light and we were just taking shots and he didn’t have a problem with it,” Daniels said.

The root of the question came from what St. Joseph’s was able to do in response to the missed 3-pointers.

It enabled the Hawks to climb out of a 13-point deficit and make it a four-point game with 11 seconds left. Langston Galloway, Carl Jones and Papa Ndao combined to hit four 3-pointers over the final 5:49 of the game, making the final margin of victory just three points in a game that didn’t seem that close.

But the matter of the fact is VCU still won, and Daniels has all those statistics to support the fact that he has earned the right to toss up a 3-pointer whenever he pleases.

“On some of those possessions it didn’t go our way because we missed, they got the rebound and not as much time came off the clock,” Smart said. “But that’s a gamble I’m willing to made, because that’s going to pay off most of the time.”