Weber basks in tournament spotlight

Jim Swing
Sports Editor

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In between the final buzzer and the postgame press conference, Briante Weber had to pop in a pair of bright, square, diamond-encrusted earrings.

The flashy accessories beamed in the bright lights of the Barclays Center media room. But nothing was as beaming as Weber’s Havoc-wreaking performance that – in more ways than one – lifted VCU to a 71-62 win over UMass in the Atlantic 10 semifinals.

The sophomore guard had 11 points, three assists and two steals, but all that seemed like much more. Weber is menace on the court, but on this day, in a game of this magnitude, he appeared even crazier than usual.

Just 4:21 remained on the clock in the second half when Weber came away with a steal and found sharpshooter Troy Daniels in the corner for a 3-pointer to put the Rams ahead by eight.

Weber trotted back across midcourt, smiling and pointing at the party going on in a corner section largely occupied by VCU fans.

“I feed off of them,” Weber said. “It’s basically like playing a home game.”

It’s hard not to notice Weber on the court, but take random glances at him and chances are you’ll see that crazed look in his eyes. The look of a predator spotting his prey.

It’s his energy that best defines him, though. At home games he elects to sit on the edge of a table next to the bench rather than on the bench. He claims it’s due to a groin injury that happened awhile back, but chances are it’s because he can’t wait to re-enter the game.

“He’s the most energetic guy I’ve been around in my entire life,” VCU head coach Shaka Smart said.

VCU has Havoc and then it has Bri-fense, also known as in-your-face, good-luck-keeping-possession-of-the-ball defending, although they are really one in the same.

Daniels took the honor of deeming Weber “Mr. Havoc” Saturday night.

Weber had five steals against St. Joseph’s in the tournament quarterfinals, bringing his career total to 170, which ranks sixth all-time at VCU. His 93 steals broke the school’s single-season record, passing Rolando Lamb’s record of 88 set in the 1984-85 season.

Currently in his sophomore season, Weber will likely hold the school record for all-time steals (257, Lamb) by the time his college career is through.

On Sunday afternoon he’ll play in his second conference championship in two seasons. When VCU defeated Drexel in last year’s Colonial Athletic Association’s title game Weber shed tears in the embrace of his mother.

It’s he that embraces the spotlight – whether he expected it or not.

“I expected to play in championships,” Weber said. “But not this soon.”