After regaining mental edge, Brandenberg thriving yet again for VCU

Adam Stern Executive Editor

With Rob Brandenberg having dropped double-digits in the scoring column in four of his last five games now, it’s easy to forget that the sophomore was in the most prolonged shooting slump of his career not long ago.

Yet with those recent double-digit scoring performances having being in BracketBusters, the CAA Tournament and against one of VCU’s biggest rivals in George Mason three times, Brandenberg himself has completely moved on from the struggles.

“What’s life without a little adversity?” Brandenberg asked rhetorically. “The shooting slump, whatever you want to call it … I don’t remember it.

“Its’ definitely made me stronger mentally … so it definitely made me a better person off the court as well. I’m just ready to play my game like everyone knows I can and just do whatever I can do make the team win.”

The way most people had known Brandenberg could play prior to the slump stemmed from his superb freshman campaign in which he played a major role in the Rams’ Final Four foray. Yet when his shot went cold midway through this season, he didn’t lose his muscle memory or his shooting form during that stretch, but he did lose his mental edge.

“It was definitely a mental road block: You can get in the gym and shoot a million shots, but it’s a whole different ball game when you get in the game,” Brandenberg said to The CT after the game. “Your mind has to be clear; you can’t play the game with a mental block in your head – you can’t do it – I passed that hurdle, and it’s all about right now.”

Right now, Brandenberg is on fire.

The shooting guard went 5-of-8 from the field – including 1-of-4 from distance – versus the Patriots. And this is one night after going 6-for-11 and 3-of-5 from distance versus Northeastern in the tournament quarterfinal.

“I credit Coach Smart and my teammates for just always telling me to keep on shooting,” Brandenberg said. “Shots are going to eventually fall. I stuck with it.”

He also helped stick the dagger to the Patriots via the Rams opening 22-0 stanza – the sort of run that had men who had been around the game for decades questioning if they had ever seen such a thing before.

“That’s one of the craziest first halves I’ve ever been a part of: Everything was clicking, defensively we were on the same page – rotating at the right time –and offensively hitting shots getting and breakaways,” Brandenberg said.

“GMU definitely came back and threw us their best punch, but we withstood it and made enough plays to win the game.” And with that win, the Rams now have the chance to win the CAA Championship – and secure an NCAA Tournament berth that Brandenberg wants to have again desperately in the process.

“The NCAA Tournament, last year, I’m not trying to really think about it, but it’s probably one of the best basketball experiences I’ve ever had,” Brandenberg said. “To have a chance to play for a berth tomorrow night on national TV: This is what you play for, so I know we’re all going to be ready to go, and we’re going to have one another’s backs.” CT