CAA Down to Two, as UAB Eliminates VCU
by Jay Pearlman
RICHMOND, Va. – Sometimes being the best for much of the season wears on a team, particularly mentally. The expectations, always having to win, and always being the opponent’s biggest game. We saw it happen late in the season to the New England Patriots, and something similar happened in the Colonial this winter to Virginia Commonwealth. Imperceptibly at first, the scores got a little closer, the three-point and overall defense a little less focused, the shooting a bit less accurate, even a few unforced turnovers.
Then throw in that an opponent devises a tactical scheme taking away some of a team’s strengths: Andy Reid of Philadelphia and Brian Billick of Baltimore did that. Then another coach watches those games on film – Tom Coughlin of the Giants, for example – and a team that was by far the best becomes vulnerable. For this year’s Rams of VCU, the obvious tactic was a markedly slowed pace, used to great advantage by Pat Kennedy’s Towson team in a close, slow, low-scoring quarterfinal loss in the CAA Tournament. That style was perfected by William & Mary in their stunning upset of VCU in the conference semi-final. And Mike Davis of UAB must have watched those tapes, as he utterly controlled the pace for the middle twenty minutes of Wednesday night’s game, sufficiently to hold off VCU’s late charge 80-77.
It didn’t happen all at once, as early in the game UAB was happy to play its usual back-and-forth style, led by diminutive Earl Boykins-like point guard Aaron Johnson (12 points on 3-6 shooting, 4-6 from the line, 3 rebounds, 6 assists). And VCU inched out to an eight-point lead. But then subtly, with Johnson out of the game, backup point guard Ed Berrios slowed the tempo and righted the ship, and UAB crept within 5.
After Johnson’s return, the Blazers did increase tempo for stretches, but from that point forward their full-court play was controlled by Davis, their transition offense limited only to clear opportunities, and their full-court pressure mostly eliminated. And UAB finished the first half on a 20-4 run, up 38-27, having overcome a 21-16 rebounding deficit by committing just one first half turnover, to VCU’s 9.
In that first half, Eric Maynor shot just 1-7, and freshman Joey Rodriguez 0-3 (in addition to having a devil of a time staying with Johnson). Reggie Huffman had 12 in the half on 6-6 shooting for UAB (mostly in close off Johnson’s penetration and 5 first half assists). Halfway through that game-changing run, CAA Associate Commissioner Ron Bertovich leaned over to me on press row and whispered, “This is the VCU that lost to William and Mary.” It sure was.
The second half was better for VCU, and in the face of William and Mary-like tempo dictated by UAB, Maynor willed the Rams back into the game, pulling them within 6, then 5. But the tough-minded Blazers were the better defenders this night, and ultimately also the better rebounders, and held firm. With the lead back up to 10 following the under-eight media timeout, and the pace still fully controlled by Davis, UAB’s star junior guard and 22-point scorer Robert Vaden (16 points on 6-12 shooting, 5 assists) used a screen to get free of Rodriguez and hit a monster three, giving the Blazers a 13-point lead that proved insurmountable.
Only then did we see the “real VCU” that had been dormant for 2 3/4 games. Only then did Coach Anthony Grant press (mostly) and gain control of tempo. Only then did VCU show their signature tenacious defense. Only then did Maynor take over the game at the offensive end. Only then did Rams other than Jamal Shuler hit treys. And for six glorious minutes we were treated to vintage VCU basketball, perhaps the best six minutes of the season, the funk that had begun at the hands of Pat Kennedy now finally emerged from.
In a frantic last-minute and forty with VCU fouling to extend the game, UAB made enough free throws (even Johnson) to hold onto an evaporating lead. In the last 30 seconds, a missed free throw left the difference at 4, then a trey by freshman swingman Lance Kearse (his best game that I’ve seen, 16 points on 5-8 shooting, 3 rebounds) pulled VCU within a single point. Two more made free throws left the door open for VCU to tie with another trey with 7 seconds remaining, but Maynor’s try was short. And UAB held on for an exciting post-season road win, led by junior forward Reggie Huffman (21 points on 10-11 shooting, nine rebounds).
After the game, Grant acknowledged that “we dug a hole at the 8-minute mark of the first half: consecutive turnovers, ill-advised shots, and we didn’t defend the way we did all year.” Proud of his team’s effort in the second half, Grant told the media that “we played with toughness and character in the second half.”
On his decision not to play senior forward Michael Anderson in his final game, Grant first indicated that Anderson had violated a team rule in the week between tournaments, but more importantly, “as he was coming to the end of his career, Michael didn’t show the sense of urgency we were looking for.” When I asked about the emergence of Kearse, Grant responded that “Lance has to mature. He played with confidence tonight, and didn’t worry about anything else [other than the game]. That’s a maturity… that’s a first step.”
Now it’s on to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech for the Blazers, while the Rams will inevitably reflect on what might have been following a superb regular season. And for the CAA, the focus shifts back to that “main tournament,” in which George Mason takes on Notre Dame tomorrow night, with just a bit left over for ODU’s second round CBI game against Virginia in Charlottesville on Monday.
CAA Notes and News
- With both coaches subject of coaching rumors, some media members were dubbing tonight’s game the “LSU Bowl.” And while Mike Davis controlled pace and won the game, Anthony Grant’s more measured bench decorum (and equally measured post-game media comments) compared favorably to his counterpart’s.
- As always in the NCAA tournament, “where you stand” depends mainly on “where you sit.” Tomorrow night, I’ll be sitting in New York, and may not get to see all (or much) of the Mason-ND game on CBS. Might have to sharpen my computer skills and check for that game on-line (and also determine if on-line subregional coverage is free or pay-per-view).
- As this writer heads back to Boston on Friday, kudos to the Red Sox players and team captain Mike Lowell for standing up for stipends earlier promised to their coaches and trainers. In succeeding, the Sox once again proved that in sports as in much of life, while standing up for one’s own rights often looks selfish and petty, standing up for someone else’s, or just speaking well of someone else, always looks noble. I’m gonna have to remember that, all the more so given the strength of my Hoopville editor, and of my radio play-by-play announcer.
- On the subject of radio play-by-play, tonight’s VCU loss marked the final time this winter that fans in central Virginia were able to listen to Richmond Broadcast Hall of Famer and long-time VCU Basketball voice Terry Sisisky. Having seen first-hand during the CAA Tournament – and even tonight – Sisisky’s unbridled enthusiasm for the game, for radio, and for VCU, here’s hoping that Terry remains in his courtside seat at the Siegel Center for many years to come.
