Virginia Commonwealth basketball coach Shaka Smart enjoys the preparation that goes into playing a team for the second time.
"You really can look at the things that worked," he said, "and the things that didn't work."
Plenty of things worked in the Rams' 91-57 beating of UNC Wilmington at the Siegel Center a month ago. But Smart isn't quite sure what to expect when VCU (7-4, 15-5) meets the Seahawks (3-8, 7-15) again in a Colonial Athletic Association game tonight at 7 in Wilmington.
The Rams are playing a team wounded and potentially motivated by the dismissal of coach Benny Moss, who was reassigned to another position in the athletic department Thursday, a day after a 39-point loss to Hofstra.
Assistant coach Brooks Lee guided UNCW two days later in a 58-53 loss to Towson. Lee, 29 and the son of a college coach, will serve as interim coach the rest of the season.
Lee said it's tough to change much at this point in the season.
"Like I told the team, 'We've got to come in and play hard, first and foremost,'" he said. "And we're going to tweak some things and we're going to mix some things around, but the main thing for this team right now is that we play hard and that we play together."
UNCW traditionally has been a powerhouse in the CAA. From 2000-06, the Seahawks went to four NCAA tournaments.
Moss, in his fourth season, went 41-74. Still, the timing of his dismissal surprised the Seahawks.
Lee said his players "were going through a lot in their hearts, in their minds and in their stomachs" before playing Towson.
"It's been an emotional roller coaster," he said. "I've spoken quite candidly about my feelings for Coach Moss and the loyalty I have for him and the respect I have for him. It's just been a tough situation.
"Now dealing with that and moving forward, I have a job to do of coaching this team, rallying these kids together and trying to get things turned around as we head into the conference tournament."
Lee played for his father, Billy, at Campbell. Billy Lee was the television analyst during his son's first game as a coach against Towson.
"His advice to me is just do your best, work as hard as you can work and trust yourself," Brooks Lee said. "Just do everything you can do to help yourself, help your staff, help your team get together, unite and move forward and try to get on a run as you get in the conference tournament."
UNCW trailed VCU 43-17 after the first half in early January. The Seahawks had 28 turnovers overall.
"They had their way with us at their place, with their pressure and their trapping," Lee said. "That's something we're going to have to prepare for as we get ready to play this ballgame."
Smart, meanwhile, is preparing his squad for a team that, after losing to VCU, beat William Mary in Williamsburg and later lost by two to Virginia. And the Rams are just 2-3 in conference road games.
"It's the same story we've talked about before," he said. "We've got be able to carry over some of the good things we did the last two games at the Siegel Center."
"You really can look at the things that worked," he said, "and the things that didn't work."
Plenty of things worked in the Rams' 91-57 beating of UNC Wilmington at the Siegel Center a month ago. But Smart isn't quite sure what to expect when VCU (7-4, 15-5) meets the Seahawks (3-8, 7-15) again in a Colonial Athletic Association game tonight at 7 in Wilmington.
The Rams are playing a team wounded and potentially motivated by the dismissal of coach Benny Moss, who was reassigned to another position in the athletic department Thursday, a day after a 39-point loss to Hofstra.
Assistant coach Brooks Lee guided UNCW two days later in a 58-53 loss to Towson. Lee, 29 and the son of a college coach, will serve as interim coach the rest of the season.
Lee said it's tough to change much at this point in the season.
"Like I told the team, 'We've got to come in and play hard, first and foremost,'" he said. "And we're going to tweak some things and we're going to mix some things around, but the main thing for this team right now is that we play hard and that we play together."
UNCW traditionally has been a powerhouse in the CAA. From 2000-06, the Seahawks went to four NCAA tournaments.
Moss, in his fourth season, went 41-74. Still, the timing of his dismissal surprised the Seahawks.
Lee said his players "were going through a lot in their hearts, in their minds and in their stomachs" before playing Towson.
"It's been an emotional roller coaster," he said. "I've spoken quite candidly about my feelings for Coach Moss and the loyalty I have for him and the respect I have for him. It's just been a tough situation.
"Now dealing with that and moving forward, I have a job to do of coaching this team, rallying these kids together and trying to get things turned around as we head into the conference tournament."
Lee played for his father, Billy, at Campbell. Billy Lee was the television analyst during his son's first game as a coach against Towson.
"His advice to me is just do your best, work as hard as you can work and trust yourself," Brooks Lee said. "Just do everything you can do to help yourself, help your staff, help your team get together, unite and move forward and try to get on a run as you get in the conference tournament."
UNCW trailed VCU 43-17 after the first half in early January. The Seahawks had 28 turnovers overall.
"They had their way with us at their place, with their pressure and their trapping," Lee said. "That's something we're going to have to prepare for as we get ready to play this ballgame."
Smart, meanwhile, is preparing his squad for a team that, after losing to VCU, beat William Mary in Williamsburg and later lost by two to Virginia. And the Rams are just 2-3 in conference road games.
"It's the same story we've talked about before," he said. "We've got be able to carry over some of the good things we did the last two games at the Siegel Center."
