VCU's identity is defense, but offensive lulls plague the Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Trying times often prompts one to look for normalcy. As the calendar turns to the new year, there is no need to look further through VCU's patented defense.
Once again, defense is the identity for the Rams as they are looking for a venture back into the NCAA Tournament. Statistically, no team is more dominant on the defensive side of the court in the entire country.
But as great and imposing as they are with their backs to their own basket, all it takes is a few empty offensive possessions to completely thwart that work.
This was seen in the Rams' Wednesday loss to St. Bonaventure, in which VCU led by 15 at the halftime break. A cold spurt to start the second half erased all of their first-half efforts. All the Rams could muster in the first six minutes was a lone 3-point basket. Their work foiled and the momentum of the game completely swung in the Bonnies' direction as they cruised to a 70-54 win.
"A tale of two halves, a second-half implosion," head coach Mike Rhoades said postgame. "I thought we did some great things in the first half, we played the right way and then they came out with momentum in the second half, and we showed a lot of immaturity."
Their always-great defense set the tone in the first twenty minutes. Rhoades even went as far as to call it their best defensive half of the season by limiting St. Bonaventure to only 25 points. With six blocks and three steals, the Bonnies were held to 12 possessions where they were able to score. VCU was en route to a blowout road victory.
It didn't matter much, though, because of their putrid second twenty minutes. VCU was outscored 45-14 and shot 19%. There were numerous stretches where the team went scoreless, including the final five and a half minutes of the game.
It's not the first time the young Rams, who have nine underclassmen on the roster, have struggled to score in stretches. This was by far, though, the worst it had been exploited by an opponent and turned the game on its head.
"Our lack of offense and poor decision making started affecting our defense and then we were gambling. I thought our defense in the first half was very solid," Rhoades said. "We've had some moments like this, but this one was the worst of the year against a good team and they took advantage of it."
Entering Wednesday night's contest, VCU forced its opponents to turn the ball over a quarter of the possessions, which is seventh-best in Div. I. And when they are earning turnovers, it's by getting clean steals. Only one team in the NCAA takes the ball away more than the Rams do at 11.5 steals a game.
While the defense kept the offense afloat for a brief period, back-to-back-to-back dunks, two by All-Atlantic 10 honoree Osun Osynniyi, crushed the Rams' spirts midway through the second half. The Bonnies had several transition baskets off of their own steals and the Rams were all turned around.
For a team with NCAA Tournament aspirations and sitting on the bubble of several bracketology projections, that has to change. Although, it is not entirely unexpected for a team that only returned one starter from a year ago. The inexperience showed through, preventing the defense from performing at its peak.
As Selection Sunday nears, it's evident VCU's defense remains as dominant as it was during Shaka Smart's 'havoc' days. The only question is will the offense make sure it does enough.
"The first half is the potential we have. The first half is what we're capable of and we've done it multiple times this year. The second half was immaturity and our response to adversity, how it affects our play - that's the teachable moment, there it is right there and we imploded," Rhoades said. "And instead of getting a huddle tighter and everyone take a deep breath... our emotions take over and our immaturity takes over. And we just got to continue to get better at it we got to mature."
