Grant likes the way his team is playing
He's questioned his team's defensive toughness a few times this season, but Virginia Commonwealth basketball coach Anthony Grant likes what he sees going into this weekend's Colonial Athletic Association tournament at the Richmond Coliseum.
The top-seeded Rams closed the regular season with two of their best overall performances, a 71-52 victory over James Madison and a 69-41 victory over Georgia State.
Those romps followed a loss to Nevada in which VCU blew an eight-point lead late, prompting a lengthy players-only meeting after the game.
"We all sat down and talked about why we lose, why things don't go exactly the way we want," forward Larry Sanders said. "We all focused in on our defense."
VCU went back to doing what it does best - pressure teams - against JMU and Georgia State. The Dukes, without two injured starters, had 17 turnovers and shot 32 percent. The Panthers had 21 turnovers and shot 33 percent.
"I like the way we're playing," Grant said. "I like our cohesiveness. I like our mentality.
"In tournament play, anything can happen. What you want to do is take care of yourself. That's all we can worry about. How are we playing? Are we doing the things we need to be doing? I feel like our team is. We've just got to take that momentum and carry it forward."
VCU has a bye in Friday's first round. The Rams (21-9) take on the winner of No. 8 Georgia State and No.9 Delaware in the quarterfinals Saturday at noon. VCU swept Georgia State and split with Delaware during the season.
Belt will have its place
Grant had a chain made as a symbol of unity in 2007, and the Rams carried it with them on the bench during the CAA and NCAA tournaments. Senior guard Eric Maynor said the championship belt Grant had made last week will have a similar honor.
"It's going to follow us from here on out," Maynor said.
Grant purchased the belt online and had some of the engraving done in-house. One side highlights VCU's three straight regular-season titles. The other says "win."
Sanders said everybody "went crazy" when Grant unveiled the belt during a video session on Friday.
"I wanted to give them a sense of accomplishment," Grant said. "You play for championships. All those guys came here to win championships. That's the No. 1 goal for us when we start the season, to win the regular-season championship. We accomplished goal No. 1.
"I think those guys are proud of their accomplishment, proud of the program and the tradition that is VCU. That was just a way to acknowledge that."
Maynor credits team
Maynor paid tribute to VCU's past and present after his jersey joined those of Gerald Henderson, Calvin Duncan and Kendrick Warren in the Siegel Center rafters on Saturday.
"All the great players who have come through here, I'm honored to be up there with them," he said. "It's a great accomplishment.
"All the stuff I've done in my career, I always tell people I couldn't have done it if I didn't have four other guys on the court with me, or the other guys who've got my back on the bench. I always give credit to those guys because without them I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this." - Tim Pearrell
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