Richmond Leader

Virginia Union University Athletics issued the following announcement on Feb. 5

Evidently, Virginia Union's attention-grabbing defensive effort Wednesday night was no fluke.

The Panthers defeated Johnson C. Smith 85-28, with VUU allowing its fewest points in a game since Feb. 8, 1946, when Virginia Union defeated West Virginia College (now West Virginia State) 55-27.

Saturday at Barco-Stevens Hall, Virginia State met a similar fate. Virginia Union won 81-57, holding the Trojans to one field goal through the opening 15 minutes.

"We wanted to set a tone early, send a message," said VUU guard Darius Hines-Sledd. "Rebound, defense. Didn't want to give up too many shots in the paint. We came with that energy just knowing if we come out playing hard defense, the game will be over quick."

The Panthers led 33-11 after allowing one basket in 15 minutes and VUU coach Jay Butler began liberally using his reserves on the way to season sweep of the Trojans. Virginia Union won 88-70 when these teams met in Ettrick on Jan. 15, with no fans present due to VSU's COVID policy.

Barco-Stevens Hall, home of VUU basketball since 1947, was nearly at its capacity of 2,000 for Saturday's Trojans' visit. Virginia Union (16-6, 9-3 CIAA) won its 21st consecutive home game.

"Always protect Barco," said Hines-Sledd (6 assists). "You've got to protect home court."

The Panthers apply trapping full-court pressure and then fall back into a matchup zone that Butler, a former Panthers star guard, learned from his VUU coach, the legendary Dave Robbins. If opponents crack the press and try to score in transition, waiting is 6-foot-7, 225-pound Panthers junior Raemaad Wright, an imposing defensive deterrent and shot-blocker. He had three of VUU's seven blocks Saturday.

"He goes after every shot to block," said Hines-Sledd. "It's great to have Raemaad back there. A lot of people are scared to jump with him and go up against him."

VUU began weekend activity ranked sixth nationally among Division II teams in field-goal-percentage defense (39.2%).

"Keep playing that tight D Union!" a fan yelled during the second half.

The key to that defense is "everybody is on the same page," said Hines-Sledd. "If one person misses an assignment, the next one comes and picks him up. We trap a lot, so everybody's got to be on the same page. It's a team effort."

Butler has made it clear that defensive edge is a non-negotiable requirement for Panthers who hope to join the rotation led by veterans Wright and Jordan Peebles.

"We just wanted to come out and defend," said Butler. "I told the guys, 'In February, you want to be playing at a high level,' and we've got to play great defense.

"When the guys come out and they're locked in defensively ... We talk about wanting to keep teams under 50, 60 points."

In the first half, VSU (7-12, 4-8 CIAA) went 4 of 27 from the field (14.8%), with two of those conversions 3-pointers, and committed 11 turnovers. The Trojans finished with 20 turnovers.

"The (Panthers) were flying around," said Butler. "When we look out there and we see kids playing great defense, kids flying around and trapping all over the court, I say, 'We're ready to play.'"

Tyriek Railey led VUU with 13 points in a typically balanced Panthers' scoring effort.

Virginia Union now faces Claflin University at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7, at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.

Original source can be found here.