VCU senior guard Jonathan Williams (10) goes up to take a shot past Seton Hall. (Image credit: AP Photo/Mel Evans)
VCU had one more chance to secure a quality nonconference win with their visit Saturday to Newark, New Jersey. The Rams were winless in four games which could have been resume-builders, their 90-67 loss to Seton Hall extended that streak to five.
“Disappointed in our play,” first-year head coach Mike Rhoades said afterwards. “We’ve been fighting like crazy all year long. And finding ways in games like this to get back in them and give ourselves a chance. But we didn’t give ourselves a chance today. And Seton Hall had everything to do with it.”
Rhoades is right about the effort of VCU this season, it’s been there. In their previous game, a 71-67 defeat at home to Texas, the Rams rallied from 19 points down in the second half to take a late lead. But Texas rallied late for the victory.
That Texas loss provided an extra stinger for VCU. In that game, the home team welcomed back former coach and current Texas head coach Shaka Smart. It was an emotional night for Smart, VCU, and the fans. This was a coach who won 163 games in six season there, he took the Rams to the 2011 Final Four.
VCU head coach Mike Rhoades was an assistant coach to Shaka Smart. Now it’s his time to lead the Rams. (Image credit: Dean Hoffmeyer)
Smart brought stability to VCU, but they’ve struggled to fill that void since his decision to move on to the Longhorns. They thought they had the right man to succeed Smart with Will Wade but, two seasons later, he bailed for LSU. The aftermath of Wade’s surprise exit was uncomfortable.
If losing to Smart and Texas was emotionally draining, then getting blown out by Seton Hall had to be rock bottom.
VCU Can Turn It Around With Conference Play
VCU dropped to 5-5 on the season, they have three games left before opening their Atlantic 10 conference schedule against Fordham. VCU is also banged up, they’re missing sophomores Issac Vann and Malik Crawford because of ankle sprains. Their window to get a quality non-conference win closed with the loss to No. 19 Seton Hall. But there’s time to figure it out.
The Atlantic 10, again, is shaping up to be a three-team race this season. Rhode Island and Dayton will be in the conversation. But the Flyers, much like VCU, are also in a transition with first-year head coach Anthony Grant. It shouldn’t go unnoticed Dayton just lost to Penn, the Flyers first loss to an Ivy League school.
The Atlantic 10 will be fortunate to even get two bids this season for the NCAA tournament. If VCU can get it together, and seniors Justin Tillman and Jonathan Williams continue to lead the way, they can still make plenty of noise in the conference tournament.
But first, Rhoades has to get his team re-focused.
“We’re not pointing the finger. We’re not making excuses.” Rhoades said. “We’re going to go back to work. And we’re going to work harder, we’re going to work smarter. And we’re going to figure this out, and we’re going to get better because I like our team a lot.”
