It's round 2 of VCU versus Dayton today in UD Arena and a monster resume opportunity for the black and gold. A win would help VCU keep pace with the Davidson Wildcats for the A-10 regular season title race while giving Mike Rhoades' squad a head-to-head tie-breaker over former VCU coach, Anthony Grant and his Flyers. It is also VCU's last top-100 road opportunity, meaning an away game win for the Rams today would be a crucial step towards VCU's NCAA at-large hopes.
<h4>VCU (18-6, 9-2)
DAYTON (16-8, 8-3)</h4>
<h4>A QUICK LOOK AT DAYTON</h4>
Starting with the big news of the weekend, Dayton's already limited depth took a considerable hit this weekend with an injury to UD's Trey Landers. The 6'5 junior forward was the Flyers' leading rebounder at 7.1 per contest and was one of three Flyers averaging at least 30 minutes per game this season. His absence takes Dayton down to just seven scholarship players and should mean an increased role for freshman guard, Dwayne Cohill.
Landers saw most of UD's small forward minutes this season, but his absence will likely land the 3-man duties to both 6'2 sophomore Jordan Davis in Dayton's small ball lineup and 6'7 Ryan Mikesell when the Flyers go big.
Dayton played essentially just seven players in their recent road blowout of Rhode Island (77-48), meaning if Grant was uncomfortable going deeper than seven in a 30-point win, expect a six-man rotation today against the Rams. Against a VCU team that goes 12 deep and is one of the top-40 teams in the country at getting to the free throw stripe, that should create quite the challenge for Grant and his staff.
On the season, Dayton ranks 43rd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency and not surprisingly checks in at No.1 in A-10 play thanks to their ability to get to the rack and finish. The Flyers are hitting 57.8% of their twos in Atlantic 10 action and don't hurt themselves with turnovers like VCU can be prone to doing. Ram fans got a taste of that earlier in the year when Dayton hit 56.4% of their shots inside the arc at the Stu and turned the ball over just 12 times in a close loss that came down to the last minute.
Defensively Dayton has been very solid, checking in just outside of the top-100 on the year and currently sit at No.5 in the A-10 on that side of the ball. The Flyers are limiting Atlantic 10 opponents to just 44% shooting inside the arc and held VCU, a 53.1% on the season two-point team, to just 45% at the Stu.
How Landers' absence effects the Flyers on both sides of the ball remains to be seen, but statistically speaking the Flyers defense looks as though it could be the most likely candidate for a drop off with Landers ranking third on the team this season in defensive box plus/minus.
The Flyers play one of the slowest paces in basketball, ranking 318th nationally in adjusted tempo and will most certainly look to keep that pace against a VCU team that likes to play a lot of players and get up and down for 40 minutes.
<h4>A QUICK LOOK AT VCU</h4>
The Rams have been on a bit of a tear as of late, riding a five-game win streak and winning their last four by an average margin of 19.3 points per contest. The black and gold have bounced around the top-10 in defensive efficiency this year and currently check in at No.5 nationally at shutting teams down. VCU ranks No.1 in-conference on that side of the ball, as one would expect and have provided some balance with the A-10's No.4 offense.
VCU's only two major flaws in A-10 play have come via turnovers on offense an a tendency to pile up the fouls on D.
When the Rams are hitting threes, they are almost impossible to beat, but that is a skill that has been very up and down for the black and gold. VCU shot 16.7% from deep in both of their Atlantic 10 losses, but have shot over 43% from distance in four of their Atlantic 10 wins this season.
One huge reason for VCU's conference success has been the rise of Rice transfer, Marcus Evans. Evans has posted 104+ offensive ratings in eight of VCU's last nine contests thanks to a relentless attack of the hoops, and improved assist rate and a reduction in turnovers from his time in the non-conference.
Add improved three-point shooting from wings De'Riante Jenkins and Issac Vann and VCU offensive attack is starting to worry opposing teams almost as much as their defense.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
<h4>VCU (18-6, 9-2)
DAYTON (16-8, 8-3)</h4>
<h4>A QUICK LOOK AT DAYTON</h4>
Starting with the big news of the weekend, Dayton's already limited depth took a considerable hit this weekend with an injury to UD's Trey Landers. The 6'5 junior forward was the Flyers' leading rebounder at 7.1 per contest and was one of three Flyers averaging at least 30 minutes per game this season. His absence takes Dayton down to just seven scholarship players and should mean an increased role for freshman guard, Dwayne Cohill.
Landers saw most of UD's small forward minutes this season, but his absence will likely land the 3-man duties to both 6'2 sophomore Jordan Davis in Dayton's small ball lineup and 6'7 Ryan Mikesell when the Flyers go big.
Dayton played essentially just seven players in their recent road blowout of Rhode Island (77-48), meaning if Grant was uncomfortable going deeper than seven in a 30-point win, expect a six-man rotation today against the Rams. Against a VCU team that goes 12 deep and is one of the top-40 teams in the country at getting to the free throw stripe, that should create quite the challenge for Grant and his staff.
On the season, Dayton ranks 43rd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency and not surprisingly checks in at No.1 in A-10 play thanks to their ability to get to the rack and finish. The Flyers are hitting 57.8% of their twos in Atlantic 10 action and don't hurt themselves with turnovers like VCU can be prone to doing. Ram fans got a taste of that earlier in the year when Dayton hit 56.4% of their shots inside the arc at the Stu and turned the ball over just 12 times in a close loss that came down to the last minute.
Defensively Dayton has been very solid, checking in just outside of the top-100 on the year and currently sit at No.5 in the A-10 on that side of the ball. The Flyers are limiting Atlantic 10 opponents to just 44% shooting inside the arc and held VCU, a 53.1% on the season two-point team, to just 45% at the Stu.
How Landers' absence effects the Flyers on both sides of the ball remains to be seen, but statistically speaking the Flyers defense looks as though it could be the most likely candidate for a drop off with Landers ranking third on the team this season in defensive box plus/minus.
The Flyers play one of the slowest paces in basketball, ranking 318th nationally in adjusted tempo and will most certainly look to keep that pace against a VCU team that likes to play a lot of players and get up and down for 40 minutes.
<h4>A QUICK LOOK AT VCU</h4>
The Rams have been on a bit of a tear as of late, riding a five-game win streak and winning their last four by an average margin of 19.3 points per contest. The black and gold have bounced around the top-10 in defensive efficiency this year and currently check in at No.5 nationally at shutting teams down. VCU ranks No.1 in-conference on that side of the ball, as one would expect and have provided some balance with the A-10's No.4 offense.
VCU's only two major flaws in A-10 play have come via turnovers on offense an a tendency to pile up the fouls on D.
When the Rams are hitting threes, they are almost impossible to beat, but that is a skill that has been very up and down for the black and gold. VCU shot 16.7% from deep in both of their Atlantic 10 losses, but have shot over 43% from distance in four of their Atlantic 10 wins this season.
One huge reason for VCU's conference success has been the rise of Rice transfer, Marcus Evans. Evans has posted 104+ offensive ratings in eight of VCU's last nine contests thanks to a relentless attack of the hoops, and improved assist rate and a reduction in turnovers from his time in the non-conference.
Add improved three-point shooting from wings De'Riante Jenkins and Issac Vann and VCU offensive attack is starting to worry opposing teams almost as much as their defense.
