For the third time this season, VCU will take on the Wildcats of Davidson College, this time with everything on the line. The black and gold dominated the Cats at the Siegel Center early in the year, then needed some late-game heroics to survive Matt McKillops squad in Belk Arena. Is the third time the charm for the tiny school from North Carolina or will the top-seeded Rams advance to the Atlantic 10 semifinals and one step closer to their goal of reaching the 2023 NCAA tournament?
VCU RAMS (24-7, 15-3)
VCU RAMS (24-7, 15-3)
DAVIDSON WILDCATS (16-15, 8-10)[/HEADING=3]
A QUICK LOOK AT DAVIDSON[/HEADING=3]
Gifted with the Atlantic 10's toughest conference schedule this season, first year head coach, Matt McKillop, did the best he could with a roster that included several key talented pieces including all-conference guard, Foster Loyer, while trying to recover from some big departures in the offseason. Gone were a ton of three-point production and a talented all-conference center, leaving McKillop to battle through a schedule that included home-and-home matchups with all four of the current top-4 seeds in this year's tournament. The Cats went 1-7 against that group, tanking their record to the No.8 seed they eventually earned for this year's tournament.
Lately though Davidson either has put some things together or has just played a more manageable schedule. The Wildcats have won five of their last six games including Wednesday night's 65-54 tourney win over St. Bonaventure. That Cats' season-long three-point struggles (Davidson ranks 288th nationally in three-point percentage) followed them for at least that game in Brooklyn, the Cats connecting on just four of their 22 attempts from distance (18.2%), but a strong defensive effort while limiting fouls allowed them to advance with the victory.
On the season those defensive struggles have been one of their biggest handicaps so far. Davidson's interior defense and inability to turn teams over have been two of their other more consistent weaknesses.
Two things they do do well though could pose a challenge to VCU today: the Rams have relied on a high-turnover percentage defense for over a decade now, but Davidson will challenge that with a turnover percentage offense that ranks top-50 nationally. They also don't commit a ton of fouls, something VCU feeds off of offensively this year and something that has had a tendency to bail out the black and gold offensive attack in the many teams the threes just aren't falling.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
Speaking of threes not falling, the Rams went 0-9 from deep in their most recent win against Davidson and only connected on 47.2% of their shots inside the arc as well. Still, VCU found a way to win on the road, something they've done all year long as the toughest A-10 visiting team in the conference this year. The fact the Rams were some how able to win...on the road...hitting zero threes to the other teams seven...is just bonkers. And that is something that is sure to worry the Wildcats today.
VCU has won six consecutive contests heading into this game, four by double-digits, the two others coming on the road by a combined seven points (although let's be honest, that GW game was a total blowout until VCU shut down their interest in that contest late, which almost ended up costing them).
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 71, DAV 70.4</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 63, DAV 68.6</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.4%, DAV 50.4%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.3%, DAV 50.3%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.6%, DAV 32%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 32.7%, VCU 32.6%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #808080;">VCU 51.8%, DAV 51.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 46.3%, DAV 51.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.3, DAV 32.6</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 16.1%, VCU 19.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.6%, DAV 17.2%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
If the nation's 21st-ranked defense shows up in Brooklyn.
Davidson's true shooting percentage in the last matchup between these two was just about 55%. That's usually a great way to win games, had it not been for VCU turning the Cats over 23.3% of their possessions. The first game the Cats posted an even better 60.4% true shooting percentage, but that time turned the ball over 28% of their possessions (plus, VCU hit a ridiculous 15 threes). The turnovers have been there in both contests, which I hope happens again today, but I'd also love to see that true shooting percentage held closer to 50% (or less!?) as well. VCU has a defense that's very capable of doing that, which if combined with just a "pretty good" offense, can result in a win.
Kenpom: 70-65 VCU win with a 69% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 11:30AM at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Watch: USA Network
Listen: <a href="https://www.iheart.com/live/fox-sports-910-richmond-2461/?autoplay=true&pname=1248&campid=header&cid=index.html">Fox Sports 910 AM & 98.5 FM</a>
Live Tweets: <a href="https://twitter.com/vcuramnation">@VCURamNation</a>
Gifted with the Atlantic 10's toughest conference schedule this season, first year head coach, Matt McKillop, did the best he could with a roster that included several key talented pieces including all-conference guard, Foster Loyer, while trying to recover from some big departures in the offseason. Gone were a ton of three-point production and a talented all-conference center, leaving McKillop to battle through a schedule that included home-and-home matchups with all four of the current top-4 seeds in this year's tournament. The Cats went 1-7 against that group, tanking their record to the No.8 seed they eventually earned for this year's tournament.
Lately though Davidson either has put some things together or has just played a more manageable schedule. The Wildcats have won five of their last six games including Wednesday night's 65-54 tourney win over St. Bonaventure. That Cats' season-long three-point struggles (Davidson ranks 288th nationally in three-point percentage) followed them for at least that game in Brooklyn, the Cats connecting on just four of their 22 attempts from distance (18.2%), but a strong defensive effort while limiting fouls allowed them to advance with the victory.
On the season those defensive struggles have been one of their biggest handicaps so far. Davidson's interior defense and inability to turn teams over have been two of their other more consistent weaknesses.
Two things they do do well though could pose a challenge to VCU today: the Rams have relied on a high-turnover percentage defense for over a decade now, but Davidson will challenge that with a turnover percentage offense that ranks top-50 nationally. They also don't commit a ton of fouls, something VCU feeds off of offensively this year and something that has had a tendency to bail out the black and gold offensive attack in the many teams the threes just aren't falling.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
Speaking of threes not falling, the Rams went 0-9 from deep in their most recent win against Davidson and only connected on 47.2% of their shots inside the arc as well. Still, VCU found a way to win on the road, something they've done all year long as the toughest A-10 visiting team in the conference this year. The fact the Rams were some how able to win...on the road...hitting zero threes to the other teams seven...is just bonkers. And that is something that is sure to worry the Wildcats today.
VCU has won six consecutive contests heading into this game, four by double-digits, the two others coming on the road by a combined seven points (although let's be honest, that GW game was a total blowout until VCU shut down their interest in that contest late, which almost ended up costing them).
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 71, DAV 70.4</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 63, DAV 68.6</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.4%, DAV 50.4%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.3%, DAV 50.3%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.6%, DAV 32%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 32.7%, VCU 32.6%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #808080;">VCU 51.8%, DAV 51.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 46.3%, DAV 51.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.3, DAV 32.6</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 16.1%, VCU 19.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.6%, DAV 17.2%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
If the nation's 21st-ranked defense shows up in Brooklyn.
Davidson's true shooting percentage in the last matchup between these two was just about 55%. That's usually a great way to win games, had it not been for VCU turning the Cats over 23.3% of their possessions. The first game the Cats posted an even better 60.4% true shooting percentage, but that time turned the ball over 28% of their possessions (plus, VCU hit a ridiculous 15 threes). The turnovers have been there in both contests, which I hope happens again today, but I'd also love to see that true shooting percentage held closer to 50% (or less!?) as well. VCU has a defense that's very capable of doing that, which if combined with just a "pretty good" offense, can result in a win.
Kenpom: 70-65 VCU win with a 69% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 11:30AM at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Watch: USA Network
Listen: <a href="https://www.iheart.com/live/fox-sports-910-richmond-2461/?autoplay=true&pname=1248&campid=header&cid=index.html">Fox Sports 910 AM & 98.5 FM</a>
Live Tweets: <a href="https://twitter.com/vcuramnation">@VCURamNation</a>
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 71, DAV 70.4</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 63, DAV 68.6</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.4%, DAV 50.4%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.3%, DAV 50.3%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.6%, DAV 32%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 32.7%, VCU 32.6%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #808080;">VCU 51.8%, DAV 51.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 46.3%, DAV 51.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 33.3, DAV 32.6</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">DAV 16.1%, VCU 19.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.6%, DAV 17.2%</span>
