NCAA: Shaka Smart, VCU Rams Look To Keep Wreaking Havoc

In the weeks and months leading up to the start of practices in October, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest teams, players and stories for the 2014-15 college basketball season. Each team has one burning question we’ll take a look at.

Shaka Smart has done many things since he took over at Virginia Commonwealth University. It didn’t take him very long to get far as a head coach either. In his first year at VCU, the Rams won the CBI Tournament, a lesser tournament than the NCAA and NIT tournaments, directed at mid-majors who should be rewarded for having solid seasons but not getting into the bigger tournaments through selection.

In his second year at VCU, Smart took the Rams all the way to the 2011 Final Four before falling to Butler in a tough contest. After that, the world was Shaka’s oyster. Big name schools looking for head coaches first called Smart before coaches who had been around for some time. Several times he was even linked to the University of Minnesota job as Tubby Smith was seeing his way out. Each time it was thought Smart would move on to bigger and better things, he returned to VCU, wanting to take what he had started and build it as the next great mid-major powerhouse in college basketball.

Smart is now entering his sixth season as head coach of the Rams, who have been a consistently ranked team over the past three seasons and have earned a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament the past two years. Winning isn’t always easy, especially in the mid-major ranks, but Shaka has made it the new culture at VCU and doesn’t expect to stop anytime soon.

Entering the 2014-15 season, VCU is experiencing a bit of a downer. In their lone NCAA Tournament game, the Rams ran into the buzz saw of Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks flew under the radar all season long despite winning 28-straight games. In a very fun, highly contested game, VCU lost on a last second three-pointer that sent them home in the second round. This is the first year VCU has entered a postseason tournament under Smart and failed to win a game.

One of the monikers the Rams have taken up under Smart has been aggressive, full-court, in-your-face-and-all-over-the-place defense known as Havoc. Havoc consists of quick guards forcing turnovers in the backcourt, making their opponents feel completely uncomfortable in their offensive sets. According to Synergy Sports Tech, the Rams ranked in the 97th percentile in total defense, first in the country in steals and allowed 0.8 points per possession.

Their defense leads them to offense and vice versa. When VCU scores, it allows them to set up their defensive strategy and pressure. Once they set up their pressure defense, more often than not it leads to an irratic shots from the opposition or a steal, which allows the Rams to get out on the fast break and create more scoring opportunities. When clicking on all cylinders, VCU is nearly impossible to beat, especially when their defense is on. It’s as close to the modern day version of 40 Minutes of Hell as you’re going to find.

VCU’s defensive scheme is led by it’s point guard, the lightning quick Brainte Weber. Weber led the nation in steals last season with 3.4 per game last year, even while playing in the rough and tough Atlantic 10 conference. At 6’2″, Weber may not be the biggest or the strongest, but he makes up for it with speed, quickness on his feet and active hands. He’s a very dangerous athlete and has increased his overall production every season.

Overall, the leader for the Rams this season will be Treveon Graham, who is making the most of his summer by currently participating in the LeBron James Skills Academy with the rest of the nation’s elite college players. Graham led the team in scoring last season at 15.8 points per game and ranked second behind Juvonte Reddic in rebounds at 7.0 per game. He’s led the team in scoring in each of the past two years and could see himself as the preseason’s A-10 Player of the Year and an All-American candidate.

Behind Graham and Weber are some question marks, however, as Reddic and Rob Brandenberg have now graduated, leaving some opening holes in the starting lineup. VCU does also retain Melvin Johnson, the team’s third leading scorer last season and could expect big minutes and expanded production from JeQuan Lewis and Mo Alie-Cox, both of whom were freshmen last year. Both are expected to come in and help the Rams run just a little bit more, which is a scary thought.

However, some of the bigger production may come from Shaka Smart’s best recruiting class while at VCU. In-coming freshmen Terry Larrier (#12 small forward, according to ESPN Recruitment rankings) and Mike Gilmore (#19 power forward) could be the key ingredients to a conference championship in the A-10 and NCAA tourney run. With Redic gone, Gilmore could come in and be the post that the Rams needs to have a complete team. While they run most of the time, having a big down low opens ups the floor just a little bit and gives them an inside presence as well.

Most of VCU’s non-conference schedule has not been released yet, but they will have tough games against Tennessee and at Cincinnati on their schedule, as well as the Legends Classic, which will feature Oregon, Michigan and Villanova. Had Oregon not have to dismantle their team after the rape allegations, this particular tournament could’ve had all four teams ranked in the Top 25 on November 24 when the event begins. Either game against Michigan or Villanova will be a true test of wills for VCU as the Wolverines and Wildcats will both have very solid teams entering the season. It’ll be a a great game either way.

Shaka Smart has taken VCU to new heights, where the expectations are even higher. With Weber and Graham on his side, he’s certain to lead the Rams to sixth-straight 25-win season and could even get to 30 total wins on the season if they play their cards right. Don’t expect to see a downfall from Smart’s squad. If anything, expect something great from them as they look to continue wreaking Havoc on their opponents.