VCU notes: Akron’s Dambrot sports VCU shirt - Richmond Ti... http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/vcu/vcu-notes-akr...

VCU notes: Akron’s Dambrot sports VCU shirt Posted: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 12:00 am Akron’s Dambrot sports VCU shirt Donna Dambrot, the wife of Akron coach Keith Dambrot, posted a picture on Twitter on Sunday night of her husband wearing a black Virginia Commonwealth T-shirt that includes the popular chant “You Don’t Want to Go To War with the Rams.” VCU coach Shaka Smart worked with and then under Dambrot at Akron, and they’re the best of friends. The Rams and Zips square off in the second round of the NCAA tournament Thursday in Auburn Hills, Mich. “I took this pic of @CoachDambrot a couple weeks ago as he loves this cheer by vcu,” she tweeted. “Little did I know.....” Dambrot said his wife ordered the shirt. “When I’m not rooting for the Akron Zips, I’m rooting for the VCU Rams,” he said. “Their fans are great, and I’ve got to support my guy. But I don’t know what to do with that damn shirt now.” ESPN’s Bilas on Rams’ side this time Jay Bilas isn’t providing ammunition for VCU and its fans this year. The ESPN analyst, who ripped VCU’s inclusion in the 2011 NCAA tournament, has the Rams making it to the Final Four. Bilas has No. 5 seed VCU beating No. 2 Georgetown in the South Region final, then losing to Indiana. ESPN analysts (another vocal critic in 2011), Jay Williams and do not have VCU among their Final Four picks. Bilas drew the ire of Rams fans in 2011 because he didn’t think VCU had the credentials to get in the tournament. “Indefensible,” he said of the selection committee’s at-large pick. VCU advanced to the Final Four.

This time? “I love the draw that VCU has,” Bilas said. “I think this VCU team is actually better than the one that reached the Final Four in 2011. I’ve got VCU advancing to the Final Four because of way

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they can press, force turnovers and shoot 3s.” Saint Louis coach loved Theus’ pass Even Saint Louis coach said he almost applauded Darius Theus’ behind-the-back pass that set up Treveon Graham’s 3-pointer as the shot-clock buzzer went off in the second half of Sunday’s A-10 championship game. Theus was driving to his right when the ball suddenly came flying back to Graham at the top of the key. “That behind the back pass was like the best pass I think I’ve ever seen,” Crews said. “For a (3-pointer), that was awesome. I almost applauded. That would have been probably inappropriate for me to applaud, but … I liked that. That’s good basketball there. “I love that, and that spearheaded their run.” Trailing by 13, the Rams reeled off a 13-1 spurt. They never quite caught up in a 62-56 loss. Tim Pearrell

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