"It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." - Vince Lombardi
TOWSON, Md. - The Tiger men's basketball team is going through a metamorphosis and it's a painful process. In most cases and games, it might be tough to watch. But, one thing that this team has given so far this season is its best effort.
On Wednesday night, the Tigers lost at home by a 67-42 margin to a VCU team that has achieved more than most mid-major programs can ever dream of achieving. Coming off their Final Four run from 2011, the Rams have lost several key performers. But, they are still 17-5 overall and 8-2 in the CAA with one very important person was back - Coach Shaka Smart.
Smart followed Anthony Grant, who followed Jeff Capel - both Grant and Capel were all part of the building this terrific program.
So, it was not surprising that Smart's Rams were prepared on a night that they weren't at their best. He knew that if his team wasn't ready to play on the road, anything could happen.
"We told the guys that this is a team that has very good spirit for a team in the position that they are in," said Smart after the Rams' win. "They understand that they are in the growing process with a new coach that has a lot of energy and they are competing.
"We showed our guys the clips of the game tape against George Mason when it was a five-point game late in the game and also when they were at (Virginia) and they were in that game with a few minutes left," Smart added. "We told our guys that they were dangerous and I felt our guys did a good job respecting them."
Towson played its best game of the season on Dec. 30 when the Tigers lost at Virginia, 57-50. They followed that with a 57-48 home loss to Northeastern. They struggled at Old Dominion (75-38) and then fell at home to William & Mary, 66-49. In that game, the score was tied at 42-42 before the Tribe went on 16-0 run.
There's a pattern. The Tigers were down by just five points with 1:35 left against George Mason on Jan. 21 before Sherrod Wright hit a three-pointer. The Tigers didn't help themselves in that game by shooting 11 of 21 from the foul line.
On Monday night, the Tigers were down just 24-22 at the half against Delaware in Newark. The Hens recovered from a 22.2 percent shooting performance in the first half to outscore Towson by 17 in the second half, winning the game, 62-43.
For the most part, the Tigers have been close in most of these games and then, they got into an offensive drought while the other team goes on a big run. Against VCU, the score was tied 10-10 with 13:01 left and Towson went scoreless until Marcus Damas hit a jumper with 7:24 left. By then, VCU had a 17-12 lead and 12 seconds later, took a 20-12 lead after a three-pointer by Bradford Burgess.
This is such a young team with a very thin bench that there is very little margin for error. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not just about next season's great recruiting class.
Senior forward Robert Nwankwo is playing the best basketball of his career. In the last seven games, Nwankwo has scored in double figures six times and has had five straight double-digit rebounding games.
Against VCU, Nwankwo delivered one of his best performances of the season with 16 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and three steals. The former walk-on is now averaging 11.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
"I really wish we had Rob (when he was) a freshman or sophomore," said Towson Coach Pat Skerry. "I really think after having a whole year off that he's really playing well. He's been a consistent double-double guy against the best teams in the league. He really has a chance to play beyond Towson and do well for himself. We're really proud of how he's coming along."
For the Tigers to finally break through, they will need more than just Nwanwko to step up. And if this team continues to keep its head up, works hard in practice and goes all out in games, something has got to give.
