Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

ESPNU Recruiting Update

The success on the court for the VCU Rams appears to be making it's way off it as two of nation's premier players have trimmed their lists and the Rams are very much in the mix.

Coach Logan Martinez's connections in Texas and the midwest during his time at Texas Southern has benefited him in his move to VCU. He brought in an impressive class last year for Texas Southern before he left for the VCU program, though he wasn't able to make headway for the Rams because VCU's previous coach, Shaka Smart, used up all of the scholarships before he left for Boston College.

Martinez has gone after two recruits particularly hard, and it seems as if his efforts are paying off. and #25 overall SG Darmetreis See, who hails from Independence, Missouri, announced on Twitter that he is now down to the following schools: Marquette, Louisville, Xavier, and VCU.

He did not specify them in a particular order, but rumor has it that VCU's success and Martinez's efforts on the recruiting trail have made them the clubhouse leader. Xavier is right behind them, however, and with Mark Lyons graduating this year there is a huge need for See's services. Xavier is also having a good year and have recruited well in recent years, so it would not be a surprise if See decided to take his talents to the Musketeer program.

The other available scholarship Martinez has at his disposal appears as if it will be signed by stud C Ka'Ron Floyd, who is the #64 overall recruit in the ESPNU Top 100. Floyd is from Dallas, Texas.

Martinez is very familiar with the Dallas area considering his time on the recruiting trail with Texas Southern, and that has paid huge dividends in recruiting Floyd. Floyd also posted on Twitter recently, listing VCU, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, and Oklahoma as his final four schools. But if the rumors are true, Floyd plans on committing to VCU once the signing period begins after the NCAA tournament.

Here is the recruiting analysis of these two recruits Martinez has put so much time and effort into this season:

SG Darmetreis See - #25 Overall, #8 SG
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 206 pounds
Hometown: Independence, Missouri

Strengths:

• Good, but not great, at almost everything.
• An exceptionally smart player for being so young.
• Reliable outside shooter who can really knock shots when on a roll.
• Very good rebounder for being 6'4'' while also being a stellar defender on the perimeter and in the post if need be.
• Has a knack for getting in the passing lanes and blocking the occasional shot.
• Plays much bigger than his size would let on.

Weaknesses:

• Not an exceptional athlete.
• Very talented all-around player but is not great at any one thing, leading many to wonder what his go-to move will be in the college game.
• Could work on his stamina as well as avoiding foul trouble.
• Turns the ball over a bit too much and could stand to work on his handling and shot-creation ability.

ABL Stats: 14.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 3.3 TOPG


C Ka'Ron Floyd - #64 Overall, #4 C
Height: 6'10''
Weight: 247 pounds
Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Strengths:

• An absolute load on the inside.
• Has outstanding post moves for such a young player and gets into offensive position with ease.
• Is virtually automatic in the paint and can also hit a few shots from outside of it as well if need be - he's not a reliability from the free throw line.
• Has good hands for a big man and can pass the ball surprisingly well.
• Has good feet and can really run the floor for someone his size
• Improving as a rebounder each and every game, especially on the defensive end.
• Ahead of the curve in terms of defensive position and being a presence in the paint. Good anticipation on block attempts.

Weaknesses:

• Athleticism is not the name of this player's game - don't expect any DeAndre Jordan-type dunks out of him.
• Has questionable shot selection - tends to fall in love with playing outside of the paint a bit too much. Good coaching should help him with this problem.
• Gets in foul trouble more than he should; he's still growing into his body and needs to learn when and how to throw it around in the paint.

ABL Stats: 11.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.4 BPG, 2.8 TOPG

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

VCU vs. George Mason
2/13/10
Fairfax, Virginia

Ask reserve power forward Heath Houston what he thinks his role is on this VCU team. Wait, before you ask him, know that the man averages a little over 4 and a half points per game and less than 3 rebounds while only playing a little under 10 minutes.

Now that you know that tidbit of info, what do you think he would say if posed this question?

Actually, you don't have to think about it because I have the answer for you.

"Grab rebounds, make my layups around the basket, and don't **** up. That's pretty much what it comes down to for me."

Very well put, Heath. We all appreciate the candid answer. Now let me congratulate you on having a night that was everything BUT a "**** up" as you so eloquently put.

For a bit of context, the VCU Rams escaped with a 62-56 win over their in-state rival George Mason on their home floor less than a month ago. Houston had a pretty good game in that one, notching 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 14 minutes of action while Javonte Reddic and D.J. Haley were in foul trouble for most of the game.

Fast forward a month later - the game was just as hard-fought as that one. Only difference this time was the game was played on George Mason's home floor.

George Mason freshman PF Marqus Blackwell gave the Rams fits in the first game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while single-handedly making Reddic and Haley a none-factor.

He was injured in a previous contest before tonight's game, so he wasn't present to ruin Reddic and Haley's night. Instead, sophomore center Rod Benton channeled his inner Blackwell and did the ruining for him, bullying past the Ram frontline to a tune of 19 points and 8 rebounds while also blocking 3 shots. Mind you, Benton played in the first game and had a rather pedestrian performance, so his output in this one came as a bit of a surprise to the VCU frontline.

But, as that famous Honey Badger Youtube video so eloquently put, Heath Houston don't give a "****" (Houston would appreciate the candidacy of the word selection). The guy's in the game for 10 minutes and he goes off for 14 points and 8 rebounds, scoring 1 more than Reddic and Haley did in 39 combined minutes.

"Tonight, I felt like I needed to assert myself a bit more," Houston said. "I saw DJ and Javonte struggling with Benton inside, so I wanted to go out there, make my presence felt, and let him know that our frontline wasn't going to belly-up just 'cause he was playin' like a world-beater out there."

Houston's efforts on the boards set the tone for rest of the Rams' squad, as VCU's 35-22 edge in the rebounding department proved to be the key difference in the game.

VCU once again had trouble hitting shots from the outside as a team, but SG Rob Brandenburg helped fuel a 9-0 run in the later stages of the game by knocking down a couple of three-pointers in the face of very good defense. PG Denver Thomasson iced the game away at the free-throw line, continuing his absurd hot streak at the free throw line this season (now over 93%).

Houston's play, however, is what fueled this victory and it was something that was unexpected given his role on the team that even he admits is limited in nature.

So, Heath, how's it feel to get that 12th win in a row?

"Man, it feels amazing. Not that I'm a selfish player or anything, but when you play such a key part in helping your team win it feels even sweeter.

"Guessing they weren't expecting that from a bench player whose key instructions during a game from coach is to not fu...mess...up, eh?"

Looks like you just earned yourself some more minutes, Mr. Houston.

Virginia Commonwealth Rams at George Mason Patriots
Feb 13, 2010	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Virginia Commonwealth (22-4)	35	35	70
George Mason (9-16)	33	30	63

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Thomasson	20	2-7	1-3	6-6	1	3	1	0	3	11
I. Pleiness	18	4-9	0-1	2-4	3	3	2	0	1	10
R. Brandenberg	19	5-10	4-8	0-0	3	3	1	0	1	14
J. Reddic	20	3-8	0-0	2-3	5	1	0	1	0	8
D.J. Haley	19	2-6	0-0	1-3	12	0	1	0	1	5
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Mascoll	8	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	1	2
R. Skivolocke	11	3-6	0-0	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	6
H. Houston	10	6-9	0-0	2-3	8	0	0	0	1	14
D. Theus	12	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	5	0	0	1	0
T. Daniels	13	0-2	0-0	0-0	3	0	1	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		26-58	5-12	13-19	35	17	6	1	10	70

George Mason Patriots
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
V. Vaughns	16	4-8	1-2	0-0	0	2	1	0	0	9
C. Carson	21	3-12	2-7	2-2	1	3	1	1	5	10
L. Hancock	20	3-6	2-4	0-0	4	1	2	0	2	8
P. Bennett	20	2-3	0-0	0-0	5	2	2	0	0	4
R. Benton	21	7-14	0-1	5-6	8	1	2	3	0	19
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
B. Allen	11	2-4	1-2	2-2	0	2	1	0	1	7
R. Whack	17	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	1	0	1	0	0
J. Williams	15	2-5	0-1	0-0	1	1	0	0	1	4
C. Cole	5	1-1	0-0	0-0	2	1	0	0	0	2
R. Carey	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	2
TEAM TOTALS		24-54	6-17	9-10	22	15	9	5	9	63

The Rams will return home to face Georgia State next a week, a squad that will surely be looking for revenge after VCU absolutely throttled them in their own building 93-46 three weeks ago.

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Georgia Southern vs. VCU
2/17/10
Richmond, Virginia

Junior C D.J. Haley knows his height helps mask some of the deficiencies in his game. Standing a massive 7'2'', Haley doesn't have to work as hard at getting in position and battling for rebounds or putting up shots in the paint. He can reach higher than the players in the paint with him, and that helps help snap rebounds as soon as they leave the rim.

This trait never came in more handy than it did tonight, as Haley grabbed 13 rebounds, one shy of his career high, and his presence in the paint helped force Georgia State to the perimeter, where they attempted 24 three-points and numerous mid-range jumpshots.

As has become a recent trend, the VCU offense produced very little during extended stretches in the game. The Rams dropped 93 on Georgia State less than a month ago and on the road no less. They barely reached the 60 plateau in regulation in this one.

The Rams' offense took over in the overtime period, scoring 17 points in a the extra 5 minutes. But before that, they got very little output from that side of the ball - they struggled to finish in the paint, and they only hit 2 of their 11 attempted three-pointers.

Georgia State should have won this game, and would have if not for the Haley's impact on both sides of the ball. While the VCU offense sputtered down the stretch, Georgia State's didn't get much going either. They had a series of possessions where they could have taken or extended the lead, but they settled for long-range three-pointers and weren't able to get any offensive rebounds because Haley simply gobbled them up when the Rams absolutely needed it.

Even with the Rams up in the final few minutes, Georgia State could not get the ball to the basket. Freshman star Donnie Nichols made 2 clutch mid-range jumpers in the final minute, including the tying basket with 7 seconds left. Nichols made some outstanding plays in this one, but those jumpshots were as smooth as anyone would see this season.

With the score at 61 all, VCU had a chance to win it. PG Denver Thomasson found a hole in the driving line, but an egregious foul call was missed on his layup attempt, resulting in a blocked shot and thus the beginning of overtime.

Nervous energy swept through the crowd Siegel Center as overtime loomed - the Rams had not lost a home game all season and nobody expected them to lose this one, especially after they won by 47 on the road against a team that only managed to score 46.

But D.J. Haley was confident. He saw how he had his way with the Panther frontline during regulation, and even though his own shots weren't falling they way he would like, he knew the Panthers' perimeter shots wouldn't keep falling. It just so happens they did not. And when they weren't falling anymore, he was there to grab the rebound.

VCU ran away in the overtime period, going on a 10-0 run at one point and never looking back as they won their 13th game in a row to improve to 15-1 in the CAA and 23-4 overall. Georgia State played valiantly and it was obvious they took this game personal given the results of their last matchup, but in the end their reliance on the jumpshot was what doomed them. And they can thank D.J Haley for that.

Georgia State Panthers at Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Feb 17, 2010	1ST	2ND	OT	SCORE
Georgia State (14-14)	24	37	8	69
Virginia Commonwealth (23-4)	31	30	17	78

Georgia State Panthers
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. White	27	5-14	3-10	0-0	0	5	3	0	2	13
R. Richardson	27	6-21	2-9	0-0	7	4	4	0	5	14
D. Nichols	27	8-12	1-2	3-4	4	3	0	0	1	20
W. Hoyer	25	1-4	0-1	0-0	5	3	0	1	1	2
D. Lhota	25	4-10	0-0	1-1	8	0	0	2	0	9
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
H. Doby	9	1-2	0-1	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	2
J. Vincent	11	1-3	0-0	2-2	5	1	0	0	1	4
J. Maynor	10	0-2	0-1	1-2	1	3	0	1	0	1
T. Williamson	5	2-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	4
S. Harris	7	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
T. Doyle	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		28-70	6-24	7-9	33	19	8	4	10	69

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Thomasson	26	2-7	0-2	4-6	2	10	1	0	1	8
I. Pleiness	23	5-11	0-1	4-6	6	3	0	1	4	14
R. Brandenberg	22	3-7	1-4	2-2	4	0	2	0	1	9
J. Reddic	23	3-10	0-0	5-6	5	0	2	3	0	11
D.J. Haley	27	6-13	0-0	3-4	13	1	0	2	0	15
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Mascoll	11	2-2	0-0	2-2	1	0	1	0	0	6
R. Skivolocke	10	1-3	0-0	0-0	3	0	1	0	1	2
H. Houston	10	3-5	0-0	3-3	2	0	1	0	0	9
D. Theus	8	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	2	1	0	0	0
T. Daniels	14	1-7	1-4	1-2	4	0	0	0	1	4
TEAM TOTALS		26-65	2-11	24-31	40	16	9	6	8	78

VCU heads to Harrisonburg, Virginia next week to face the James Madion Dukes, who are 13-3 in the CAA and need a win to stay in the race for the regular season CAA championship. This will be the only regular season meeting between the two teams this season. The atmosphere is sure to be electric.

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Colonial Athletic Association Conference Standings - Updated: Feb 22, 2010
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	GB
VCU	23-4		15-1
James Madison	15-11		13-3
William & Mary	15-11		11-5
Hofstra	19-8		10-6
Towson	16-9		8-8
Delaware	11-15		8-8
George Mason	9-17		6-10
Drexel	12-14		6-10
Georgia State	14-14		6-10
Northeastern	12-15		5-11
Old Dominion	9-18		4-12
UNC Wilmington	5-22		4-12

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

The VCU Rams have yearned for respect all season, and their efforts are finally being recognized as they checked in as the #25 team in the nation in the latest Top 25 media poll this evening. It took longer than expected given their tough early non-conference schedule and the performance against current #1 NC State, but the Rams efforts have paid off in the form of coach Logan Martinez's first ever appearance in the top 25, regardless of program.

"We're very excited to be ranked," Martinez said. "But we know that we still have a lot of work to do and we have a huge game coming up on the road against a talented and experienced James Madison squad.

It would be a shame to put on a poor performance in our first game as a top 25 team, so we're focused on preparing for the Dukes as best we can."

NCAA Hoops Rankings - AP Top 25 - Updated: Feb 22, 2010
RK	TEAM (VOTES)	RECORD
1	NC State	21-4
2	Kansas	22-4
3	Georgetown	22-5
4	Gonzaga	23-3
5	Illinois	20-6
6	Arizona State	19-6
7	Florida	19-6
8	Saint Louis	21-5
9	Maryland	17-7
10	Dayton	21-4
11	Memphis	22-5
12	Georgia Tech	16-9
13	Louisville	19-8
14	Duke	17-9
15	Oregon	20-7
16	Michigan State	20-8
17	UConn	17-9
18	Alabama	17-7
19	Mississippi State	18-8
20	Illinois State	20-6
21	West Virginia	19-7
22	Washington	18-8
23	Wake Forest	19-6
24	Fairfield	26-2
25	VCU	23-4

[waytofailself]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Fantastic recruiting haul and congrats on breaking into the Top 25!

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Congrats on getting in the Top 25, VCU is tough to beat

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

VCU vs. James Madison
2/24/10
Harrisonburg, Virginia

It's been many a year since the Convocation Center rocked the way it did on Wednesday night. Sure, James Madison as had its fair share of success in recent years, like when they won the CAA regular season title 2 years ago and finished with a 27-9 record. This year, they've had their ups and down, but ever since conference play, this has been a different Dukes team. After finishing an abysmal 2-8 during their non-conference slate, James Madison came into the game with an impressive 13-3 record in the CAA, good for second in the league.

No game has loomed larger on the schedule for both teams during conference play than this one. This matchup was much anticipated considering this was their only regular season meeting of the year. In fact, could VCU's stellar conference record be a by-product of the fact that of the top four teams below them in the CAA standings, they have only played them a combined four times, including this game? The Rams have feasted on the lesser opponents in the conference all season long, and their visit to Harrisonburg could tell a lot about just how high(or low) the ceiling is for this club.

In the first half, the Rams certainly answered the call. Though their defense did not perform to the level coach Martinez expects out of his club (they ended up allowing 40 first half points), their offense was absolutely scorching. After struggling to create easy buckets and knock down jumpshots in the last few contests, VCU scorched the James Madison defense to the tune of 47 first half points. They shot 18-29 in the first 15 minutes, and they dictated the pace of the game. Although they didn't get a lot of stops, their pressure defense in turn helped their offense because it sped up the pace of play significantly. If not for the Dukes' ability to knock down contested three-pointers, VCU may have run away with the game and delivered the knockout blow early. As they would find out, it is something they probably wish they had done.

The crowd was relatively sane during the first half, as VCU's play on the offensive end subdued them. In the second half, it was an entirely different story.

The pace of play slowed significantly. Every half court set extended to 15...20...25 seconds. VCU's passing lanes shrunk significantly. Their jumpshots stopped fall. The battles in the paint became more physical, and it was more difficult to finish plays around the basket.

The minutes dragged by...the crowd became raucous with each defensive stop...and when a timeout was called with 7 minutes remaining the half, VCU looked up at the scoreboard to find they had scored a measly 6 points in an 8 minute span. Their lead had completely vanished, and James Madison was taking over this game.

Coach Martinez strongly emphasized shot selection and finishing plays during the timeout. Little did he know, that would be the least of VCU's problems.

James Madison recruited one of the better sleeper recruits this last offseason with the signing of C Truman Del Rosario. The 6'10'', 256 pound behemoth grew up playing ball on the rough and tough streets of Detroit, and he is all too familiar with battling bodies in the paint.

Del Rosario had a rather pedestrian first half; he made his presence felt in the paint with his size, but had trouble scoring in the paint over VCU's D.J Haley. That went by the wayside in the second half, as he completely dominated the VCU frontline after intermission.

VCU played pretty good initial defense during many JMU possessions in the second half, but Del Rosario kept possessions alive by grabbing offensive rebound after offensive rebound and helping the Dukes score on second chance opportunities. After every Del Rosario offensive rebound, the crowd grew louder and louder until the noise level in the Convocation Center was ear-splitting.

The offensive rhythm VCU attained the first half was long gone. Sure, they managed to hit a few more jumpshots and get better looks in the paint on occasion, but it didn't really matter. Every time they looked like they would take the lead, JMU would grab an offensive rebound after a miss on the other end and increase the margin. No matter how much coach Martinez implored his team to fight harder for loose balls, they still weren't able to come up with them. More often than not, it was Del Rosario who did. His efforts were the deciding factor in the game, as he spear-headed JMU's 16 total offensive rebounds to VCU's 6 and helped them score 20 second chance points while VCU only managed 4.

After that scintillating first half performance that seemed to quiet the critics regarding their newly sported Top 25 ranking, VCU's second half showing demonstrated they have a long way to go if they hope to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament. Shooting 9-28 over a 15 minute span is a definite cause for concern, as it highlights a lack of shooting touch that has reared its head on numerous occasions throughout the season, but hasn't came back to bite the Rams often. On this night, as they kiss goodbye to their 13-game winning streak, their Top 25 ranking, and see their conference lead dwindle to 1 with a senior night date with William & Mary looming, it most certainly did.

Virginia Commonwealth Rams at James Madison Dukes
Feb 24, 2010	1ST	2ND	SCORE
#25 Virginia Commonwealth (23-5)	47	22	69
James Madison (16-11)	40	38	78

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Thomasson	23	0-4	0-0	3-4	6	9	2	0	4	3
I. Pleiness	20	5-13	1-3	3-5	1	2	0	0	0	14
R. Brandenberg	19	4-10	1-7	0-0	2	3	1	0	2	9
J. Reddic	19	6-10	0-0	1-2	5	1	3	1	0	13
D.J. Haley	19	5-6	0-0	1-2	7	1	0	0	0	11
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Mascoll	13	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	0
R. Skivolocke	7	0-3	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	3	0
H. Houston	12	1-3	0-0	0-0	3	0	0	0	0	2
D. Theus	7	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	1	2
T. Daniels	12	5-6	3-3	2-2	0	2	2	0	0	15
TEAM TOTALS		27-57	5-13	10-15	26	20	10	1	10	69

James Madison Dukes
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
T. Craven	27	2-5	1-2	2-2	5	8	3	1	8	7
A. Davis	27	5-9	0-2	4-4	1	4	1	0	1	14
A. Semenov	27	5-13	3-7	4-6	9	3	2	1	1	17
T. Flores	19	3-12	0-1	0-0	7	0	0	0	1	6
T. Del Rosario	26	7-11	0-0	5-7	8	1	2	2	1	19
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Moore	9	2-5	1-3	0-0	2	0	0	0	0	5
C. Jackson	3	1-2	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	1	0	2
C. Dawson	5	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	2
M. Ainge	6	2-4	0-0	2-2	3	0	0	1	0	6
TEAM TOTALS		28-62	5-16	17-21	36	16	8	6	12	78

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

The James Madison Dukes went into their game Friday night with an outside shot at sharing the CAA championship with VCU. They had just knocked off the Rams on their Senior night, and needed to defeat a tough Delaware squad on the road (no easy feat, just ask the Rams) and hope for a VCU loss to William & Mary, who took them to overtime earlier in the year, if they wanted a share of the title. They would share the title, but JMU would earn the #1 seed and an automatic bid to the NIT because they would own the tiebreaker over the Rams.

Unfortunately for the Dukes, they played the complete opposite of the way they performed against VCU. Delaware absolutely crushed them on their Senior night, 81-54, which eliminated the Dukes from championship contention.

With this game finishing up before the VCU game, the Rams can go into the Senior night contest against William & Mary much looser and play aggressively to win the game instead of playing not to lose.

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

William & Mary vs VCU
2/27/10
Richmond, Virginia

The VCU Rams walked into the Seigel Center Saturday evening facing a lot less pressure than they would have had James Madison handled their business and won on the road against Delaware. With them losing, VCU was handed the CAA regular season championship before their game against William & Mary began, capping off a better than expected conference season for coach Logan Martinez and his Rams.

The Rams entered the season as one of the more experienced teams in the conference, but they could be considered below a few teams in terms of talent. With preseason favorite Old Dominion crumbling from the very start of the season due to their youth and lack of cohesion, VCU took the reigns of the conference and never really looked back as they clinched the conference crown.

Now, they wanted to send their seniors out on a high note in their last game in Richmond.

It certainly wasn't easy. Much like the first game between these two teams that went into overtime, William & Mary Francois almost single-handedly willed them to a victory. He was spectacular, accounting for 21 points on just 12 shots, and created offensive opportunities for his teammates by consistently beating his man, usually VCU G Rob Brandenburg, off the bounce.

That's when Martinez switch up is defensive strategy. He took Brandenburg off Francois during the earlier stages of the second half, and put bigger and stronger guard Iker Pleiness on him. The move paid off - although Pleiness did not have an efficient scoring day, he was able to bother Francois and keep him from getting in the lane with his bulk.

With 7:23 to go and the score 58-54 in VCU's favor, the Rams suffocated the Tribe, thanks in large part to Pleiness' defense on Francois, and held them to 2 points over a 5:12 span. By the time William & Mary was able to score again, the game was essentially over. When VCU wasn't scoring, they were grabbing one of their 11 offensive rebounds and milking the clock, much to the delight of coach Martinez after their putrid effort on the boards in the last contest.

No matter the outcome, VCU could be proud of their efforts and the way they performed during conference play this year. After a convincing 70-60 victory on an emotional Senior Night over the third-place team in the conference, coach Martinez will tell you that a 16-2 record in the Colonial Athletic Association looks a whole lot better than 15-3.

William & Mary Tribe at Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Feb 27, 2010	1ST	2ND	SCORE
William & Mary (16-12)	25	35	60
#25 Virginia Commonwealth (24-5)	32	38	70

William & Mary Tribe
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Bostner	17	2-6	0-1	0-0	3	2	2	0	2	4
B. Brompong	18	2-6	0-1	0-0	3	4	1	0	2	4
A. Francois	23	9-12	1-2	2-2	3	1	0	1	1	21
O. Prince	19	2-5	0-0	2-2	4	1	0	0	0	6
W. Fadipe	17	3-7	0-1	1-2	3	1	2	2	0	7
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Galliard	12	3-6	1-2	2-2	2	1	0	0	1	9
M. Rum	11	1-3	0-1	0-0	2	2	1	0	2	2
F. Heidring	14	1-3	0-0	0-0	2	2	0	0	1	2
B. Whitlatch	10	0-2	0-0	0-0	2	2	0	0	1	0
T. Rusthovan	9	2-2	0-0	1-3	0	0	0	2	1	5
TEAM TOTALS		25-52	2-8	8-11	24	16	6	5	11	60

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Theus	11	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0	0	0	0
T. Daniels	11	2-6	2-5	0-0	1	1	0	0	3	6
I. Pleiness	19	4-11	0-3	2-4	4	3	3	0	2	10
D. Hinton	2	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0
J. Reddic	22	5-10	0-0	4-6	10	1	1	0	0	14
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Thomasson	19	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	8	1	1	1	2
R. Brandenburg	16	7-11	5-8	0-0	0	0	1	0	0	19
D.J. Haley	19	2-7	0-0	1-2	6	2	0	0	0	5
J. Mascoll	13	0-1	0-0	0-0	3	1	1	0	0	0
R. Skivolocke	5	2-4	0-0	0-0	2	1	0	0	0	4
H. Houston	12	5-7	0-0	0-2	5	0	2	0	1	10
TEAM TOTALS		28-60	7-16	7-14	33	18	10	1	7	70

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

2010 CAA Year in Review

Pre-season Conference Prediction

1. Old Dominion (79)
2. Hofstra (78)
3. VCU (77)
4. Georgia State (75)
5. William & Mary (75)
6. UNC Wilmington (74)
7. George Mason (74)
8. Towson (74)
9. James Madison (72)
10. Northeastern (72)
11. Delaware (72)
12. Drexel (71)

Final Conference Standings

Colonial Athletic Association Conference Standings - Updated: Mar 1, 2010
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	GB
VCU	24-5		16-2
James Madison	16-12		14-4
William & Mary	16-12		12-6
Hofstra	20-9		11-7
Towson	18-9		10-8
Delaware	12-16		9-9
George State	15-15		7-11
Drexel	13-16		7-11
George Mason	10-18		7-11
Northeastern	12-17		5-13
Old Dominion	10-20		5-13
UNC Wilmington	6-23		5-13

CAA Player of the Year

SF Isaiah Philmore (Towson) - 18.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 41.3% FG, 36.3% 3PT

CAA Stat Leaders

NCAA Basketball Leaders - Updated: Mar 1, 2010
Points	PPG	Rebounds	RPG
1. SF Isaiah Philmore (Towson)	18.7	1. PF Cam Rollins (Old Dominion)	8.6
2. PG Chris Fouch (Drexel)	18.0	2. C D.J. Haley (VCU)	8.1
3. PF Cam Rollins (Old Dominion)	14.5	3. SF Isaiah Philmore (Towson)	7.4
4. C Will Fadipe (W&M)	13.5	4. C Will Fadipe (W&M)	7.2
5. SG Rashaad Richardson (GSU)	12.9	5. PF David Imes (Hofstra)	6.7
Assists	APG
1. PG Denver Thomasson (VCU)	6.6	1.
2. PG Rylan Farmer (GSU)	6.1	2.
3. PG Giovanni Leadbetter (Hofstra)	5.2	3.
4. PG Caleb Clyburn (Delaware)	4.5	4.
5. PG Chet McKnight (Towson)	4.3	5.

CAA Tournament Bracket

Washington DC
Verizon Center

First Round -

8. Drexel
9. George Mason

5. Towson
12. UNC Wilmington

6. Delaware
11. Old Dominion

7. Georgia State
10. Northeastern

Quarterfinals -

1. VCU vs Drexel/George Mason

2. James Madison vs Georgia State/Northeastern

3. William & Mary vs Delaware/Old Dominion

4. Hofstra vs Towson/UNC Wilmington

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

CAA Conference Tournament

First Round Results

#8 Drexel 66 #9 George Mason 70

#5 Towson 85 #12 UNC-Wilmington 67

#6 Delaware 74#11 Old Dominion 63

#7 Georgia State 67 #10 Northeastern 53

__________________________________________________ ________

Quarterfinal Matchups

#1 VCU vs #9 George Mason

#4 Hofstra vs #5 Towson

#3 William & Mary vs #6 Delaware

#2 James Madison vs #7 Georgia State

[HarkTheSound]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

#9 George Mason vs #1 VCU
3/6/10
Verizon Center, Washington D.C.

Heath Houston must really hate the color green.

Some of his best performances of the season have come at the expense of the George Mason Patriots, and tonight was no different as the power forward scored 11 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists in 15 minutes off the bench to propel the VCU Rams to a win over George Mason in the first round of the CAA Tournament 74-54.

George Mason started the game off brilliantly and with a lot of energy befitting of a team that needed to continue winning if they had any hope of making the NCAA Tournament. After an ally-oop that put them up 10-3 in the opening 5 minutes, coach Logan Martinez gathered his players to help them regroup and refocus.From there on, it was all VCU. They methodically came back and took the lead and held it going into the half at 36-33.

After intermission, the outcome was never really in question. Using balanced scoring and stingy defense, the Rams built the lead point by point. When they weren't making field goals, they were shooting at the foul line where the disparity between the two teams was quite remarkable. VCU shot 22-28 from the free throw line while George Mason made just 3 on only 3 attempts.

Whereas VCU continued to drive to the basket and draw fouls, the Patriots were clanking three-pointers, as they only hit 3 of their 16 attempts. With only 3 made free throws and 3 three-pointers, the Patriots dug themselves a hole they could never recover from.

George Mason Patriots at Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Mar 6, 2010	1ST	2ND	SCORE
George Mason (11-19)	33	21	54
Virginia Commonwealth (25-5)	36	38	74

George Mason Patriots
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Wright	23	2-8	0-3	0-0	2	6	2	1	3	4
C. Carson	19	4-8	1-5	0-0	0	3	0	0	2	9
L. Hancock	23	3-6	0-1	1-1	2	2	0	1	0	7
J. Arledge	22	4-9	0-2	0-0	6	0	3	1	2	8
R. Benton	18	5-13	0-0	0-0	3	0	1	1	0	10
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
B. Allen	6	0-1	0-0	2-2	4	2	0	0	1	2
R. Whack	9	3-4	1-1	0-0	3	1	0	0	0	7
V. Vaughns	4	1-2	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	3
J. Williams	15	2-7	0-1	0-0	4	1	1	0	0	4
P. Bennet	10	0-3	0-1	0-0	2	0	1	0	1	0
TEAM TOTALS		24-61	3-16	3-3	26	15	8	4	9	54

Virginia Commonwealth Rams
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Thomasson	21	2-7	0-0	6-7	1	6	3	0	1	10
R. Brandenburg	16	3-7	2-5	0-0	0	1	0	1	0	8
I. Pleiness	19	3-8	1-2	3-3	3	4	1	0	3	10
J. Reddic	18	4-12	0-0	6-7	6	2	1	0	1	14
D.J. Haley	23	3-6	0-0	3-5	14	1	0	1	0	9
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Mascoll	10	2-2	0-0	1-2	2	0	0	0	1	5
R. Skivolocke	6	1-4	0-0	0-0	4	0	0	0	1	2
H. Houston	15	4-5	0-0	3-4	8	2	0	0	0	11
D. Theus	9	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0
T. Daniels	16	2-7	1-4	0-0	0	0	0	0	2	5
TEAM TOTALS		24-58	4-11	22-28	40	17	6	2	9	74

[waytofailself]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Oh no! Drexel!

But well done against George Mason. Hopefully you can smash through the rest of the CAA Tournament.

[southernmetalhead]

Re: Career Coaching Legacy of Logan Martinez (CH2K8)

Taking care of business in the CAA. Finish strong.