Final Four effect: VCU utilizes run as a stepping stone for progress

Jim Swing
Sports Editor
Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter

Nearly three months after the fact, when asked what his favorite moment was during VCU’s unforgettable run to the Final Four, Shaka Smart is rendered nearly speechless.

“Why don’t you ask my wife?” he utters, attempting to pass the buck. He lets out a breath of fresh air and reminisces over the month that changed his life and the program he represents.

The second-year head coach collects his thoughts, lets out a smile and releases a direct answer.

“The most pure joy was after we beat Florida State; because of the five wins, it was a close game,” he said.

Smart has always been one to entertain a challenge, so naturally, he selects the toughest moment his team faced in the NCAA Tournament.

“They took the lead and then Brad hit that shot; that was the one time that, if you watch our bench after Rob blocked the shot and we won the game, that was the one moment where just pure joy and just unrefined enthusiasm happens.”

The aftermath has turned Smart and the Rams’ organization into a brand name. “VCU” and the term “upset” have practically gone hand in hand. A National Spelling Bee commentator even referred to a Cinderella contestant as “the VCU” of the event.

But Smart embraces the exposure he and his program have received.

“Because of the media attention and because of us being on TV so much, we’re a lot more recognizable,” he said. “You go out to eat and a lot of people want to buy you dinner now, which is fine.”

Smart is not the only piece of VCU’s conspicuous puzzle that has felt the rippling effects of its journey to the Final Four.

All three of his assistant coaches received interview for coaching positions at other Division I programs.

Mike Rhoades was looked at by Boston University for the vacant head coaching position. Purdue and Louisville examined Will Wade for an open assistant coaching job.

But for one, he found the perfect fit.

After 21 years of coaching at the high school and college level at seven different locations, Mike Jones always teetered with the notion of becoming a head coach.

In the last five years, interviews came and went, but he chose to keep a selective mindset, turning down multiple offers.

Then, with help from a Final Four appearance on his resume, Jones received an offer from Radford to fill its head-coaching void he just couldn’t pass up.

“It helped me a lot,” Jones said. “I think people recognize that it’s not easy to get there, so when our team made it there obviously everyone was looked at in a different light so I think it certainly helped raise my awareness with other ADs around the country.”

Jones said that during an interview with the hiring committee, the run was brought to attention and that it’s not uncommon for him to be approached about the historic run throughout Radford’s campus.

“It makes me smile every time I think about it,” he said. “I’ve worked in the profession for a long time – over 20 years playing and coaching at the high school and college level – so it was very gratifying.”

As the eligibility expired for VCU’s four seniors, a look to a future playing professional is of the inevitable.

For Jamie Skeen – considered a potential NBA Draft pick – the possibility of even being tossed into the conversation would never have happened unaccompanied by his performance in March.

“It helped me out a lot,” he said. “Without it I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t even be here talking about it.”

After going undrafted in the NBA Draft, Skeen set his sights overseas, signing a contract with ASVEL Basketball Club in Lyon, France.

With help from VCU’s march to the Final Four, Smart is confident that all four of his graduated seniors will play at the next level.

“The words Final Four will forever be connected to them, particularly for the seniors who really led the way,” Smart said. “I think all four of those guys are going to end up playing for money this next year which is a great thing to play the game you love and get paid to do it; it’s terrific.”

In Smart’s mind, the words Final Four don’t represent the past; they represent what’s possible in the future.

With freshman Rob Brandenberg, DJ Haley and Juvonte Reddic receiving quality minutes throughout postseason play, the experience is irreplaceable.

“When you go to the Final Four, when you advance in the NCAA Tournament, it gives you a kind of feel for what you’ve got to do to win big,” Smart said. “That’s something everyone on our team gains, whether they played 30 minutes or whether they played five minutes. Now hopefully a lot of the guys that played lesser minutes will be able to step up and expand their role.”

For Smart, it’s not about the glitz and glamour. It’s not about unveiling a Final Four banner at the Siegel Center at the beginning of next season. It’s about staying motivated and building on it.

“We want to continue to build this program and make it bigger and better than it’s ever been,” he said. “We got to the NCAA Tournament. We went to the Final Four. When you do that, you’re hungry to do it again and go further.”

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