Press Box: VCU men’s basketball lacking a true, proven center
Illustration by Karly Andersen.
Ryan Grube, Staff Writer
Opposing teams have outrebounded men’s basketball in 15 of the team’s 26 games this season, leaving the Rams with a meager 6-9 record in those contests.
The black and gold finished last season out-rebounded in 14 games and an 8-6 record in those outings.
The high number of rebound shortages in recent history begs the question: How can a team coached by Mike Rhoades, a coach who preaches effort and consistency, lose the rebound battle so often? What is the missing piece?
If VCU were to add a legit, dominant center to their roster, it would make rebounding much easier for Rhoades and company.
The Rams have one scholarship spot left for the 2020-21 season, and a stretch big could be a perfect answer.
We saw the success VCU alumni Jamie Skeen and Juvonte Reddic enjoyed in their time with the black and gold. Both players could knock down extended jumpers, and each displayed an innate ability to crash the glass on both ends of the floor.
Freshman forward Hason Ward has the height and potential to become a force at the forward position, but he is currently listed at just 200 pounds and has struggled with post defense in previous games for the Rams. Skeen and Reddic weighed in at 240 and 250 pounds, respectively, in their final years at VCU.
More size on the inside would create matchup problems for opponents, and it would take some of the weight off junior forwards Marcus Santos-Silva and Corey Douglas.
Rhoades’ half-court, havoc-style trap defense commands numerous rotations and switches, which often force players out of position to grab defensive boards.
The Rams coach likes the idea of having lengthy guards who can rebound, and he has recently echoed the need for rebounds in response to the recent woes on the offensive and defensive glass.
“Hit somebody and go get it,” Rhoades said after his squad’s loss at Richmond on Feb. 15. “Don’t stand there and think Marcus Santos-Silva is going to get every one. … We have some long athletic guys, but we stand there and watch.”
Rhoades’ solution worked in the second half against the Spiders, and his message translated into a huge response in VCU’s test with No. 5 Dayton on Feb. 18 — a game the Rams ultimately lost, but a performance in which the team out-rebounded the Flyers 41-31.
A proven center would take the stress off the other guys on the floor in the battle for rebounds. Instead of having five players out of position, scrapping for boards, VCU could utilize more size and elevate its transition game.
By having a bigger presence in the paint, the Rams wouldn’t need as many bodies around the basket for a rebound, and more players could get out running on the break.
An uptick in transition points would be a huge boost to an offense that has appeared stagnant at times throughout the 2019-20 campaign and has struggled to score at half-court against tougher defenses.
Rhoades has shown his preference for recruiting athletic scorers at the guard and forward positions since returning to VCU. But if the coach can target the same athleticism at the center position in the upcoming classes, the black and gold will be set up for untapped success in the near future.
What? They need a center as the top priority? That’s pure nonsense. There isn’t a shooter or real ball handler on the entire team. There isn’t a real Div 1 player in the group. Plus/minus 60 points for the most recent games. I am so tired of watching long stretches of garbage shooting or poor ball handling losing possession of the ball. The coach needs to start being the coach and bench the starters.
VCU have recruited a lot of big men, but they just haven’t committed in the past. But with Bones in the house and Ace on the way, trust me they will land one or 2. Big men love a guard that Is willing and can feed the post. We are on the right track, just be patient.
They need a ball handler. Clark looks like it sometimes. He drives the lane well. Let Bones develop into a shooter. VCU needs a couple of killer shooters. MSS is good beef inside. Put another big guy (Ward) down deep with him. I see a lot of guys standing around (OUTSIDE the 3 pt line after the ball is shot). What is that ? Complacency ? Lack of role clarity ? In the business world, people standing around the water cooler don’t last long. Find a way to add value or grab some pine. Lastly, I want to see the young guys play as a unit. Start MSS and four new guys. Might be unpredictable but I’ll take that now. Better than watch three guys stand still and watching the game on court.