The Norman Transcript

National Sports

Discussion

November 3, 2012

Rams have ‘something to prove’

The Associated Press Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. — VCU and coach Shaka Smart are heading to the Atlantic 10 this season with high expectations.

The Rams have good reason to be confident.

When last we saw the Rams, they came within a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer of beating Indiana in the third round of the NCAA tournament, and those Hoosiers are the No. 1 team in this year’s preseason Top 25.

The near miss left the Rams with “a lot of confidence, a lot of motivation,” point guard and senior team leader Darius Theus said. “We still have a lot to prove. Some may say we had them on the ropes, but at the end of the day, they got the job done, and we didn’t. We still have a lot to prove.”

In the past two seasons, Smart’s team has gone from the team that shouldn’t have been let into the 2011 NCAA field and became the darlings that reached the Final Four, taking down five power conference schools along the way, to winning another tournament game last season and nearly beating the Hoosiers.

In the step up from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Atlantic 10, they were picked to finish third in the preseason, and will go into strange arenas all season expecting to impose their will.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
National Sports
  • Not his best

    ARDMORE, Pa. — Rory McIlroy started the U.S. Open with a run up the Rocky steps. He ended it going a few rounds with one of his clubs....

    June 17, 2013

  • Spurs win Game 5 to take 3-2 series lead; Green claims finals 3-point record

    SAN ANTONIO — With the old Manu Ginobili back, the San Antonio Spurs looked like champs again. One more victory and their Big Three, not Miami’s, will be the one that rules the NBA....

    June 17, 2013

  • Blackhawks seeking an edge

    BOSTON — A dominant first period gave the Chicago Blackhawks plenty of momentum. Then it disappeared. They’ve come to Boston to find it and get the upper hand over the Bruins in a very tight Stanley Cup final series....

    June 17, 2013

  • Mercury beat Shock in OT

    TULSA, Okla. — After struggling from the field in the first half, Diana Taurasi took over for the Phoenix Mercury....

    June 17, 2013

  • Gamecocks on top

    OMAHA, Neb. — It was another rough afternoon for ACC pitcher of the year Kent Emanuel....

    June 17, 2013

  • Donward slide

    ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas manager Ron Washington rarely addresses his team after games. Yet after another disappointing performance, he thought the club needed to hear from him....

    June 17, 2013

  • Stability atop the NBA

    SAN ANTONIO — Front offices across the NBA seem to be panicking a bit these days. Job security has long been an oxymoron for coaches in this league, but even by that what-have-you-done-for-me-lately standard, this offseason has been a ...

    June 17, 2013

  • APTOPIX US Open Golf Rose triumphs, more heartache for runner-up Mickelson

    ARDMORE, Pa. — A steady hand gave Justin Rose the shiny U.S. Open Trophy. A wild ride gave Phil Mickelson yet another silver medal....

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Biffle holds on to win again at Michigan

    BROOKLYN, Mich. — Greg Biffle gave Ford a milestone victory — right down the road from company headquarters....

    June 17, 2013

  • Federer wins his first title of the year

    HALLE, Germany — Roger Federer found the perfect place to end his title drought — a small town in western Germany that has a big tennis stadium and a street named Roger-Federer-Allee leading to it. Federer left Halle a winner again ...

    June 17, 2013