A-10: VCU’s Briante Weber Expected To Play Against Toledo
No. 15 VCU Rams opened up the 2014-15 season with an 85-68 victory over the rebuilding Tennessee Volunteers in the inaugural Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md., on Friday. The Rams, who were the overwhelming preseason pick to win the Atlantic-10 this year, were without star point guard Briante Weber.
Weber was suspended for the game against Tennessee for violating team rules this summer and is expected to be on the court when the Rams hosts Toledo in the Legends Classic on Nov. 18. He was charged with petit larceny by VCU police for taking another person’s iPhone 5.
Weber also missed the Rams preseason scrimmage and their exhibition victory over California University of Pennsylvania.
While VCU was fairly impressive in their opening victory against Tennessee, the Rams need Weber to be on the court if they are to meet the high expectations the team has.
Weber, the two-time reigning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, is the catalyst for VCU’s “havoc” style of play. He led the NCAA in steals last year with 121 thefts (3.5 per game) and needs just 90 more to become the all-time NCAA record holder.
He is also an outstanding rebounder for his size due to his long-arms, explosive jumping ability and high motor. Although defense is Weber’s fortay, he has steadily improved offensively and thrives in the open court. More importantly, Weber needs to be a vocal leader on and off the court for a young Rams team.
Despite being without their ace perimeter defender, defensively VCU was on par compared to last year. The Rams forced 19 turnovers and permitted Tennessee to shoot 42.1 percent from the floor – both stats compare favorably to how the Rams performed last season.
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They also defended the 3-point line very well as the Vols made just 4-of-17 shots from beyond the arc. The biggest issues defensively, the Rams had was keeping the Vols out of the painted area and away from the charity stripe. Tennessee tallied 36 points in the paint and the Vols attempted 33 free throws as the Rams were whistled for 33 fouls.
It was on the offensive end, where Weber was missed. The Rams shot just 40.3 percent from the floor but knocked down 11 triples – thanks in large part to Melvin Johnson’s outstanding performance. Johnson scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
The Rams also committed 18 turnovers and had only four fast break points.
A big part of the VCU’s struggles on the offensive end was due to the inexperience of the Rams point guards. The three Rams who served in that capacity for the game combined for 17 points, on 5-of-10 shooting, seven assists and eight turnovers.
Sophomore JeQuan Lewis, the starting point guard for the game, was knocked out of the game after hitting his hard on the floor while battling for a rebound. He reportedly suffered a concussion and is listed as questionable for the game against Toledo.
Lewis scored three points on 1-of-3 shooting and doled out two assists in five minutes of action but he also turned the ball over three times.
Jonathan Williams, a 6-foot freshman, scored five points and had three assists along with three turnovers in 13 minutes before fouling out. Williams was just 3-of-9 from the charity stripe. Doug Brooks, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who saw very little playing last year, tallied nine points and dished out two assists to go along with two turnovers in 16 minutes.
He was 3-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Next: College Basketball Rankings: VCU And Who From The A-10?