Forward characterizes coach Smart’s mantra
“Unfiltered” is how one reporter from Richmond describes Virginia Commonwealth senior Jamie Skeen.
So it was no surprise after VCU’s upset of Kansas on Sunday in the Elite Eight the way Skeen — before a room full of cameras and reporters — referred to Jayhawks forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris.
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“I came in the game thinking they were some buttholes on the court. That’s what everybody told me at least,” Skeen said. “But when I got on the court, I found out they were really cool.”
What most other people thought coming into the game was that Skeen and 11th-seeded VCU were in the deep end of the talent pool against the Morris twins and No. 1 Kansas.
But with the 6-foot-9 Skeen (26 points, 10 rebounds) holding his ground against 6-9 Marcus Morris (20 points, 16 rebounds) and 6-10 Marfieff (13 points, 12 rebounds, eight turnovers), VCU pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in tournament history to advance to the Final Four.
On a team full of personality, Skeen is the personification of coach Shaka Smart’s tournament mantra, “ACL –aggressive, confident, loose.”
“That’s what we want to be,” Smart said. “And what we want to take away from our opponents.”
| FINAL FOUR |
| VCU vs. Butler |
| When » Saturday, 6:07 p.m. |
| Where » Reliant Stadium, Houston |
| TV » CBS |
| Kentucky vs. UConn |
| When » Saturday, 8:49 p.m. |
| Where » Reliant Stadium, Houston |
| TV » CBS |
Skeen has done his part on the floor, scoring 78 points and grabbing 34 rebounds in the tournament, and off it, helping the Rams maintain their breezy demeanor.
“He really thinks he’s the best player in the country,” VCU senior Joey Rodriguez said.
“No way,” Skeen said with a smile. “I don’t know why Joey said that. I never said that. It’s not even true, honestly.”
As a junior in high school, Skeen was named Mr. Basketball in North Carolina, leading North Mecklenburg to the 4A state championship. He played two years at Wake Forest, starting as a freshman before academic issues led him to VCU.
Playing the role of “Robin,” as Skeen described it, to Larry Sanders’s “Batman,” Skeen averaged eight points and 4.5 rebounds off the bench last year.
This season, Skeen has played the lead, averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and coming up clutch in big games. In wins over George Mason and Kansas, Skeen hit four 3-pointers, playing pick and pop with point guard Rodriguez.
VCU has been the right choice for Skeen, who also considered Marquette and Seton Hall, when it came time to leave Wake Forest.
“Everybody told me I was stupid to come to VCU,” Skeen said. “They said, ‘Why would you go to VCU? They don’t get any TV time like the Big East teams do.’ But those schools are not in [the Final Four]. We are.”
