VCU makes the short trip down 64 East today to take on rival ODU in what's very much a matchup between two programs that have gone in opposite directions. The two last shared a conference in 2012, the Rams winning the Colonial Athletic Association that season before winning a game in the NCAA tournament. Since then ODU has appeared in just one NCAA tournament while VCU has been in seven. The Rams are very much basketball-focused while football seems to have taken up much of the Monarchs attention, something they have struggled in as well since going DI.
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VCU (5-4)
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VCU (5-4)
OLD DOMINION (5-5)[/HEADING=3]
A QUICK LOOK AT ODU[/HEADING=3]
The Monarchs are three losses away from matching last season's total in what was a decent 15-8 showing for Jeff Jones' squad. The Rams were one of those loses last year, dispatching ODU by 23 in a mostly-empty COVID year Siegel Center, one of five top-100 losses for the CUSA squad. This season the schedule has been much easier for ODU, but the results not-so-good. ODU has five sub-150 losses so far, three more than all of last year. One of those losses was to a sub-200 Ivy League team (Penn), while two others were by double-digits including an embarrassing 77-36 L against kenpom No.184 Indiana State.
Four of ODU's wins this year have been against teams ranked 200 or below on kenpom, but that does include a somewhat surprising road win a George Mason.
As has been the case under ninth-year head coach, Jeff Jones, the 'Narchs play one of the slowest tempos in college hoops (346th nationally). That combined with a struggling offense and solid defense could make for a classic VCU v ODU rock fight tonight.
While they don't score a ton they do have three players averaging double-digits so far this year. C.J. Keyser leads that group at 13.2 points per contest. The 6'3 shooting guard is a NC Central transfer who can heat up from deep. He loves to shoot (think volume guy), but is shooting 35.7% from long range so far this year.
He's joined in that crew by 6'8 240 starting "junior" center (this is his fourth year, but listed as a junior via COVID season), Kalu Ezikpe. The Lawrenceville, GA native is an efficient scorer (60.9% true shooting percentage), a strong shot blocker and is averaging 11.9 points to go with a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Ezikpe is a presence down low, but has had some issues with foul trouble previously.
Starting point guard, Jaylen Hunter, rounds out the group at 10.4 ppg. Hunter has connected on 43.3% of his threes so far this year and is dishing out 4.4 assists per game.
ODU has played the 231st-ranked schedule so far this season according to kenpom. VCU will be just the first top-100 defense they've faced (3rd nationally), a fun fact considering even against their week schedule they rank just 300th nationally in effective field goal percentage offense.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
[caption id="attachment_30925" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3F0D8938-89E7-497B-A169-69E061446BAC.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30925" src="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3F0D8938-89E7-497B-A169-69E061446BAC-200x300.jpeg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Freshman Jayden Nunn scored a career high 20 points on 7-8 shooting in VCU's win over Jacksonville State.[/caption]
The big news for the black and gold is they saw the return of star point guard, Ace Baldwin, this week. Back from an achilles tear, Baldwin was limited to just 20 minutes of action (doctors orders) as he "eased" back into DI play, but finished with 13 points and six steals for the Rams. Baldwin's return may or may not have outshined the performance from his understudy. Freshman Jayden Nunn played his best game as a Ram in Baldwin's return, scoring a team-high 20 points on 7-8 shooting in the win. He paced the Rams on a night they finished a season-best 60.6% shooting inside the arc. They helped ease the Rams' three-point struggles that night, something that has been a problem for VCU all year following the loss of Bones Hyland to the NBA.
While VCU cheered the return of Baldwin, they were far from full strength. Ram bigs, Hason Ward and Mikeal Brown-Jones, both missed the game with injuries. Ward was on the sideline in street close and is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. Brown-Jones was completely absent and out with a concussion. Ward has struggled to start the season, but is a Rams starter and had been on of VCU's most efficient players his first two season. Brown-Jones had seen increased minutes as of late and was statistically one of VCU's best rebounders, something the Rams have struggled to do as a team this year. Their status heading into tonight is uncertain.
VCU's 14-point win was their largest margin of the season so far. While the black and gold have been elite nationally on the defensive end, they've been just the opposite on offense, keeping teams in games all year and blowing several big win opportunities. The Rams have played a very challenging schedule, however. ODU will be the lowest rating team (kenpom No.177) VCU has faced since taking on St. Peter's to start the season.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 62.9, VCU 58.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 56.9, ODU 63</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.9%, ODU 44.8%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 40.1%, ODU 51.2%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 30.6%, VCU 28.4%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.7%, ODU 37.4%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.6%, ODU 44.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 41.8%, ODU 47.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 35, VCU 32.4</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 20.5%, VCU 24%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 27.2%, ODU 22.2%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Look up at that effective field goal percentage offense number. You know how many times I've been able to put VCU in the green on that one? I don't think I've done that one this year. The fact ODU is shooting WORSE than VCU against a much easier schedule, let's you know how bad of a shooting team they are. On paper that type of shooting not only going up against a top-100 defense for the first time this year, but a TOP-3 DEFENSE...makes me drool a bit. So on that note, it's definitely one of those "if VCU plays their game, they'll win" games, but to get specific, I think the key will be for the Rams to not beat themselves. ODU needs to get to the free throw stripe to score and that's something they've done a solid job of this year. They can also turn teams over. So the Rams need to be VCU, but play a clean game. Defend without fouling, limit turnovers, basically just don't help ODU win...and VCU should pick up a road win against an old rival.
Kenpom: 58-57 VCU win with a 59% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 8PM at the Ted in Norfolk, VA
Watch: Stadium
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>
The Monarchs are three losses away from matching last season's total in what was a decent 15-8 showing for Jeff Jones' squad. The Rams were one of those loses last year, dispatching ODU by 23 in a mostly-empty COVID year Siegel Center, one of five top-100 losses for the CUSA squad. This season the schedule has been much easier for ODU, but the results not-so-good. ODU has five sub-150 losses so far, three more than all of last year. One of those losses was to a sub-200 Ivy League team (Penn), while two others were by double-digits including an embarrassing 77-36 L against kenpom No.184 Indiana State.
Four of ODU's wins this year have been against teams ranked 200 or below on kenpom, but that does include a somewhat surprising road win a George Mason.
As has been the case under ninth-year head coach, Jeff Jones, the 'Narchs play one of the slowest tempos in college hoops (346th nationally). That combined with a struggling offense and solid defense could make for a classic VCU v ODU rock fight tonight.
While they don't score a ton they do have three players averaging double-digits so far this year. C.J. Keyser leads that group at 13.2 points per contest. The 6'3 shooting guard is a NC Central transfer who can heat up from deep. He loves to shoot (think volume guy), but is shooting 35.7% from long range so far this year.
He's joined in that crew by 6'8 240 starting "junior" center (this is his fourth year, but listed as a junior via COVID season), Kalu Ezikpe. The Lawrenceville, GA native is an efficient scorer (60.9% true shooting percentage), a strong shot blocker and is averaging 11.9 points to go with a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Ezikpe is a presence down low, but has had some issues with foul trouble previously.
Starting point guard, Jaylen Hunter, rounds out the group at 10.4 ppg. Hunter has connected on 43.3% of his threes so far this year and is dishing out 4.4 assists per game.
ODU has played the 231st-ranked schedule so far this season according to kenpom. VCU will be just the first top-100 defense they've faced (3rd nationally), a fun fact considering even against their week schedule they rank just 300th nationally in effective field goal percentage offense.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
[caption id="attachment_30925" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3F0D8938-89E7-497B-A169-69E061446BAC.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30925" src="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3F0D8938-89E7-497B-A169-69E061446BAC-200x300.jpeg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Freshman Jayden Nunn scored a career high 20 points on 7-8 shooting in VCU's win over Jacksonville State.[/caption]
The big news for the black and gold is they saw the return of star point guard, Ace Baldwin, this week. Back from an achilles tear, Baldwin was limited to just 20 minutes of action (doctors orders) as he "eased" back into DI play, but finished with 13 points and six steals for the Rams. Baldwin's return may or may not have outshined the performance from his understudy. Freshman Jayden Nunn played his best game as a Ram in Baldwin's return, scoring a team-high 20 points on 7-8 shooting in the win. He paced the Rams on a night they finished a season-best 60.6% shooting inside the arc. They helped ease the Rams' three-point struggles that night, something that has been a problem for VCU all year following the loss of Bones Hyland to the NBA.
While VCU cheered the return of Baldwin, they were far from full strength. Ram bigs, Hason Ward and Mikeal Brown-Jones, both missed the game with injuries. Ward was on the sideline in street close and is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. Brown-Jones was completely absent and out with a concussion. Ward has struggled to start the season, but is a Rams starter and had been on of VCU's most efficient players his first two season. Brown-Jones had seen increased minutes as of late and was statistically one of VCU's best rebounders, something the Rams have struggled to do as a team this year. Their status heading into tonight is uncertain.
VCU's 14-point win was their largest margin of the season so far. While the black and gold have been elite nationally on the defensive end, they've been just the opposite on offense, keeping teams in games all year and blowing several big win opportunities. The Rams have played a very challenging schedule, however. ODU will be the lowest rating team (kenpom No.177) VCU has faced since taking on St. Peter's to start the season.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 62.9, VCU 58.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 56.9, ODU 63</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.9%, ODU 44.8%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 40.1%, ODU 51.2%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 30.6%, VCU 28.4%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.7%, ODU 37.4%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.6%, ODU 44.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 41.8%, ODU 47.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 35, VCU 32.4</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 20.5%, VCU 24%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 27.2%, ODU 22.2%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Look up at that effective field goal percentage offense number. You know how many times I've been able to put VCU in the green on that one? I don't think I've done that one this year. The fact ODU is shooting WORSE than VCU against a much easier schedule, let's you know how bad of a shooting team they are. On paper that type of shooting not only going up against a top-100 defense for the first time this year, but a TOP-3 DEFENSE...makes me drool a bit. So on that note, it's definitely one of those "if VCU plays their game, they'll win" games, but to get specific, I think the key will be for the Rams to not beat themselves. ODU needs to get to the free throw stripe to score and that's something they've done a solid job of this year. They can also turn teams over. So the Rams need to be VCU, but play a clean game. Defend without fouling, limit turnovers, basically just don't help ODU win...and VCU should pick up a road win against an old rival.
Kenpom: 58-57 VCU win with a 59% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 8PM at the Ted in Norfolk, VA
Watch: Stadium
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: #ff0000;">ODU 62.9, VCU 58.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 56.9, ODU 63</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.9%, ODU 44.8%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 40.1%, ODU 51.2%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 30.6%, VCU 28.4%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24.7%, ODU 37.4%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 47.6%, ODU 44.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 41.8%, ODU 47.1%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 35, VCU 32.4</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">ODU 20.5%, VCU 24%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 27.2%, ODU 22.2%</span>
