Shaka Smart’s full-court press defense has taken VCU as far as the Final Four in 2011.
So in order to prepare his Tennessee Volunteer men’s basketball team for a Rams’ defense that limited opponents to 65.2 points per game last year, head coach Donnie Tyndall tried something innovative.
While his offense practiced trying to get up the court against Smart’s “94-foot” press, players did so working against six defenders, providing what Tyndall called a “realistic” simulation of what they will see against the VCU head coach’s Rams in Annapolis, Maryland, on Friday.
“It’s been a nightmare because literally nobody is open,” junior guard Kevin Punter said. “But coach told us from the jump that it is going to feel like there are six players on the court, so just stay calm, stay focused and stay poised.”
The challenge of going up against the Rams’ press, however, may prove to be a difficult one for a UT squad which lacks experience at point guard.
Just like the two exhibition games against Pikeville and Lenoir-Rhyne, senior Josh Richardson will man the point guard spot, a position he hasn’t played since his senior year at Santa Fe High School.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Richardson said. “But I think I’m capable of taking care of the ball with pressure like that, and I have teammates that are capable of helping me out.”
Eight of those teammates, though, will be making their first road trip as a Vol, and Richardson expects the jitters of playing in the first regular season game to be present, just like they were in both exhibition games when UT fell behind early.
“I know there are going to be a few early game mess-ups because guys’ minds are going too fast because they are nervous,” Richardson said, “but I feel like if we keep it a good game until halftime, we’ll be alright.”
The experience of hitting the road to face off against a talented opponent is nothing new to Richardson – or any of the other three returning scholarship players from last year.
Last season, the Vols opened up the 2013-14 campaign with a trip to Cincinnati to match up against Xavier, eventually falling 67-63.
Reflecting back on that slow start to the season, Richardson described the mindset he’s tried to instill in this team to avoid a similar start.
“Last year, we kind of got sped up early and weren’t playing our game,” Richardson said. “This year, I’ve been trying to do a good job of staying in these guys heads about playing at your own speed and playing like we know how to play and don’t turnover to their game.”
Tyndall announced Wednesday his starting five against the Rams will include Richardson, Punter, sophomore guard Robert Hubbs III, junior forward Derek Reese and either junior forward Armani Moore, if the Vols decide to play small, or sophomore forward Dominic Woodson.
The first-year head coach also stated he expects to play nine to 10 guys Friday. One of those will not be junior guard Devon Baulkman, who did not make the trip because of a shoulder injury.
Tipoff for the Veterans Classic matchup between UT and No. 15 VCU is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
