Ram Ramblings: WSSU doesn't have a lot of time to regroup

Rams will play at Johnson C. Smith on Monday night

By: John Dell | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: January 29, 2012 | 0 Comments | Post a Comment

RALEIGH - For whatever reasons Winston-Salem State didn’t look like itself on Saturday night in a 61-55 loss to St. Augustine’s.

I had gotten used to the Rams playing with that moxie and determination that helped them during an eight-game winning streak. Even with the loss of Lamar Monger, a senior spark plug, to a season-ending knee injury the Rams were rolling but that all stopped thanks to the determined Falcons.

Perhaps now they are feeling the loss of Monger, who would have certainly been upset with what happened on Saturday when the Rams had 24 turnovers and were out of sorts the whole night. Monger was back in Winston-Salem waiting for knee surgery early next month.

In the Rams locker room at Emery Gym there was a stunned silence. They hadn’t lost since late December when they suffered two losses at a tournament in Tampa, Florida so they might not have known how to react to a loss because it had been so long.

Justin Glover, who was just 2 of 10 shooting but did score 14 points, stared straight ahead for a long time while sitting near his locker. In past games, even if the Rams didn’t shoot well, they found a way to win but the Falcons, who are an improved team, made the right decisions down the stretch.

Now comes the hard part for the Rams. Do they have the ability to bounce back? They don’t have much time to sulk because they play Monday night at Johnson C. Smith.

Coach Bobby Collins blamed himself for the loss and said he probably stuck with some players a little longer instead of going to his deep bench. In particular Glover and point guard Marcus Wells both struggled and that’s something the Rams can’t have if they want to contend for the CIAA title in March.

The Rams must contend now with a very good Johnson C. Smith team at one of the hardest places to play in the CIAA. Brayboy Gym, in my opinion, is the hardest place to play and when you throw in the WSSU rivalry it’s just adds to the atmosphere.

I’ve been covering CIAA basketball for 17 years and I’ve always loved going to Brayboy. It’s the CIAA’s version of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Here are my top five gyms in the CIAA when it comes to atmosphere. I haven’t been to Chowan or Lincoln (Pa.) yet.

1. Brayboy Gym (Johnson C. Smith) – I guess I’m spoiled because I always get to see the WSSU-J.C. Smith game but it’s noisy, sweaty and the fans really get into it.

2. Spaulding Gym (Shaw) – Also known as “The Box” it’s like playing in a phone booth with very little room to move around. And when the Bears, both the men’s and women’s teams, get going the place gets very loud.

3. Gaines Center (WSSU) – I remember about eight years ago going to cover a WSSU game over Christmas break and the Rams were playing a nonconference team and about 200 fans showed up and the ball literally echoed when it was dribbled. It was a tough game to watch, but times have changed. When the band is playing and P.A. announcer B-Daht gets the students going it’s a great place to see a game.

4. Emery Gym (St. Aug’s) – On Saturday night the St. Aug’s students didn’t dare cross the line of sportsmanship so they improvised. After one questionable call on the Falcons the fans started chanting “Push it, Push it.” It sounded like something else.

5. Vaughan Center (Elizabeth City State) – I haven’t been to the Vaughan Center in a few years but remember how loud it can get when the Vikings are on a roll. It’s never easy for some of the Southern Division schools to travel all that way to play, and the hyped fans of the Vikings make it harder on opponents.

Honorable mention: Barco-Stevens Halls at Virginia Union looks like an airplane hanger and the lighting is suspect but it’s got a lot of history. Also, Capel Arena at Fayetteville State has one of the best student sections with great floor access. Those FSU students have harassed many opponents through the years.