Bench, balance help VCU continue to win

Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart considers himself a glass half-full kind of guy.

That's why he believed that the Rams could continue to win at a high level despite losing most of the mainstays from last year's Final Four team.

"In my coaching career, as an assistant and as a head coach, every year I've seen guys get better," Smart said. "I've seen guys evolve and emerge, and I really felt like that was going to happen with this year's team."

What has emerged and allowed VCU to be 20-5, 11-2 and in a three-way share for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association is defense and depth, balance and bench.

The Rams rank 17th nationally in points allowed per game (59). Their fullcourt pressure is better and saps opponents, and they have two halfcourt hawks in Darius Theus and freshman Briante Weber.

The depth has been evident on both ends of the floor but particularly in offensive balance. VCU is averaging 67.7 points despite not having a major scorer.

Bradford Burgess, the lone senior, is 16th the CAA at 12.2 points per game. Juvonte Reddic (10.9) is 25th, followed by Troy Daniels (10.2) at 27th.

Six players average at least 7.1 points as Smart's starters and off-the-bench players have been interchangeable. Rob Brandenberg, a starter earlier in the season, averages 8.6 points and 25.7 minutes. Freshman Treveon Graham averages 7.1 points and 16.8 minutes. Weber averages 5.5 points and 20 minutes.

"I didn't think coming off last year that we would have one or two guys between the two of them who could score 35 points a game," Smart said. "I knew we were going to need contributions from a lot of different guys."

Smart is not surprised that juniors Theus and Daniels, and sophomores Reddic, Brandenberg and D.J. Haley, who played backup roles last season, have made significant jumps. Nor is he surprised that Weber and Graham have been able to play large roles.

"You don't know exactly what (freshmen are) going to do," Smart said. "You know the skills they have and hopefully some of the intangibles they bring to the table.

"We knew Briante was going to have terrific energy. We knew he was going to be a defensive presence on the floor. We knew Treveon has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. You just didn't know how quickly they'd adjust. Everyone adjusts at a different pace. Some guys take off in their sophomore year and their junior year. Other guys get it a little bit sooner."

NOTES: VCU's game against Towson tonight is expected to be the 16th consecutive sellout at the Siegel Center. The Rams likely will sell out all 14 home games this season. Limited tickets remain for the BracketBusters game against Northern Iowa on Feb. 17. The George Mason game on Feb. 25 is sold out. … One of last year's stars, Jamie Skeen, is expected be on hand for tonight's game. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 8.8 points and 4 rebounds in the Israel pro league.