The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University November 9, 2015 • Vol. 57, No. 10 Best All Around Nondaily Student Newspaper - SPJ Mark of Excellence awards NEWS SPORTS SPECTRUM OPINION Student deaths • 2 Free throws • 7 Jeffrey Tambor • 8 Felon’s voting rights • 11 Wade’s reign begins BRYANT DRAYTON errant passes, stifling the Sports Editor Rams offense from getting anything done. The men’s basketball team Wade went to his bench competed against California early, bringing in juniors University of Pennsylvania Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed in an exhibition match at and Jordan Burgess to pro- the Siegel Center on Friday vide a tough presence on night, defeating the visiting the boards. Burgess, a local Blaze 96-60. In what was Richmond product, found head coach Will Wade’s first his niche as well, taking official contest at the helm, his defender off the dribble more than 7,600 Ram fans and converting tough buck- came out to support the first ets around the rim. Burgess year coach. made his mark at the 15:39 Seniors Melvin John- left in the first half, he drove son and Korey Billbury got down the lane to his left, he The Basketball Is the start alongside juniors ultimately finished with his JeQuan Lewis and Mo Alie- right hand for an and-1 op- Cox, sophomore Justin Till- portunity after a sweet spin sue man got the nod as well. move to bring the Rowdy The Rams started off Rams on their feet, making slow with Tillman record- the score 10-5. ing the first bucket of the “As everyone knows, game one minute into the Treveon Graham isn’t here first half. Turnovers were anymore,” Burgess said. “I the story early, as Lewis was had to pick up my role for the beneficiary of multiple —continued on page 6 PHOTO BY BROOKE MARSH Senior Korey Billbury converts an emphatic slam during VCU’s 96-60 exhibition win against California University of Pennsylvania on Friday night. The senior transfer recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. Brotherhood: Why he stayed CJ PASCHALL us, everybody left. I went up to his three years, signaling the start of Contributing Writer office and just talked to him, and a golden age for VCU basketball, told him how much I respected him ultimately fade away. Sophomore Justin Tillman re- and wished him good luck.” But Tillman also remembers members. He remembers the two He remembers the days and why he stayed. things about VCU that stood out weeks that followed, with many The two things that brought to him, driving the heralded recruit of the team’s high-profile recruits him to VCU in the first place, were to make Rama Country his home: decommitting, and his fellow 2014 the two things that kept him here, the sense of family that surrounded recruit Terry Larrier requesting his starting with the coaching staff and the team and the coaching staff, led release from the team — Tillman incoming head coach Will Wade. by former head coach Shaka Smart. did the same. “Just talking to Coach Wade … More than a year after those “I wanted to open up my re- I didn’t even have to ask for it, but visits, said he remembers the un- cruitment and see what other he said I still could work out with pleasant night of April 2. He re- schools were interested in me,” them, he still thought I’d be a great members the night, more than Tillman said. player,” Tillman said. “Just getting seven months ago, that Shaka He said he remembers the pain to know him, building a relation- Smart left the team. of losing the coach who brought ship with him, and seeing how “(When the meeting was called) him to Richmond. Of seeing much he’s a caring guy.” I had a feeling he was going to teammates walk away. Of watch- The second factor? Even though leave,” Tillman said. “After he told ing the big plans for the next Smart had moved on, the sense of family Tillman had experienced on his recruiting visit still remained. “I’m really close with Mike (Gilmore) and Johnny (Williams), and the rest of the team,” Till- man said. “We still had a tight PHOTOS BY BROOKE MARSH bond, even though the coach left. Junior Lewis records seven assist in Fridays Sophomore Williams found success driving We thought we still could do big exhibition contest against Cal.(Penn.) the lane, recording 11 points Friday night. things here.” And so, just days after reports surfaced that he had requested his release from the school with intent to transfer, Tillman took to Twit- Changing of the Guard ter to announce he was staying with the team. MARCUS BLACKWELL Darius Theus took the lead of the assists per game. Lewis said he “I have decided to be here with Staff Writer Rams’ offense, with back-to-back feels Wade gives the team the my brothers and stay at VCU … successful seasons while leading push they needed to be successful RAMNATION!! #Brotherhood With two of the team leaders the team in assists. Finally, for the and understands they have what #Family.” from last year, Briante Weber and past three years at VCU the heart it takes. Even though Tillman remem- Treveon Graham, moving on to and soul of “Havoc” has been Bri- “Coach Wade has been tough, bers the past, the 6-foot-7 small the professional level, there is now ante Weber, who graduated lead- not sugarcoating anything,” Lewis forward now focuses on the road an opening for someone to move ing the country in steals and lead- said. “He’s hard on us because he ahead. With the graduation of stars into the position of both on-and- ing the team in assists. knows what we can do.” Treveon Graham and Briante We- off the court leadership. In VCU’s Former head coach Shaka Williams, entering his second ber, as well as the departure of Lar- past, the point guard position has Smart was able to provide specific season as a Ram, played just 10 rier, Tillman steps into a new role spearheaded the team’s attack and insight to the position, thanks to minutes a game last season, but as a consistent starter. In only his heading into this season, there the fact he played point guard at this year will see a huge increase second year, Tillman should see a will be new faces at the position. Kenyon College from 1995-1999. in playing time as he adjusts to a vastly increased role for the Rams. Since Eric Maynor’s sophomore Smart instilled his passion into his bigger role. Stepping into the spotlight, he season in 2007, the VCU point players, while having an extra em- “I’m ready. This offseason I sets his goals for the season higher guard has been consistently one phasis on his guards. worked a lot on my shot,” Wil- than ever before. of the most important assets on Entering this new season with liams said. “Last year teams would “I want to be on the A-10 De- the team, whether it is offensively new head coach Will Wade there go under screens on me so this fensive Team,” he said. “I want to or defensively. When Maynor will be two guards that will look year I’m coming back being a bet- be one of the best sophomores in graduated as VCU’s all-time lead- to take over the offense. in the ter shooter. I just got to keep get- the country … offensively and de- ing scorer in 2009, his understudy, past, it is unprecedented for VCU ting better as a player.” fensively, in rebounding and block- Joey Rodriguez, was passed the to having question marks around VCU has become known across ing shots.” torch. During Rodriguez’s time the point guard position. The two the country for its aggressive, hec- Tillman pondered the question as the starting point guard, he was contenders will be junior Jequan tic defensive style of play. Despite a moment more before finishing able to help lead the Rams to their Lewis and sophomore Jonathan Weber and Smart no longer being PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP his thought. Sophomore Tillman looks to provide athleticism and activity most successful year to date, the Williams. Last year Lewis played at VCU, the Rams are preparing “I just want to be a standout classic “Final Four” season. 22 minutes a game, averaging 8.5 to use that same style with these on the boards as he adjusts to his starting role. player,” he said. Following Rodriguez’s stint, points and just fewer than three —continued on page 6 2 The Commonwealth Times In this section: Student deaths, safe neighborhoods, news GOP updates. briefs LOCAL FBI: Bank robber strikes for 5th time Three VCU students pass away in northern Va. The FBI says a bank robber known as the “Forever Loyal Bandit” for a slogan on a T-shirt he wore has struck again in north- ern Virginia. unexpectedly, two from fatal falls The most recent robbery attributed to the man occurred on Friday in Arlington. SARAH KING flagged down in reference to a per- works for the Student Media Cen- the tough transitions of middle and The FBI says the man handed a teller a note Executive Editor son down in the roadway. ter. Wright said she and Ducic were high school, Chris Ducic’s capabil- FREE UNIVERSITY RESOURCES demanding money at the Capital One Bank “Officers located an adult male, friends since elementary school.