VCU and St. Bonaventure both look like locks for this year's NCAA tournament, but that won't mean much today when the two are eying the prize that is this year's Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship. The Bonnies enter today's matchup as the A-10 regular season champ, looking for their first tourney title since 2012. VCU, having split the series with St. Bonaventure this season, enters  as a slight underdog that is looking for its first tourney championship since Shaka Smart's final  season on Broad St. back in 2015. Smart won yesterday's Big 12 title while former Rams head coach, Will Wade, will compete for an  SEC tourney title today. Can Rhoades and Wade match Smart's achievement and lock up three championships for former and current VCU coaches today?
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VCU (19-6, 10-4)
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VCU (19-6, 10-4)
ST. BONAVENTURE (15-4, 11-4)[/HEADING=3]
A QUICK LOOK AT ST. BONAVENTURE[/HEADING=3]
Mark Schmidt's Bonnies have hung around the top of the conference the last few seasons, but just haven't had enough to get over the hump to win an A-10 tourney title in nearing a decade now for the longtime head coach. He can do just that today to pair with his regular season title, while attempting to take the rubber match in a 1-1 tied series between these two programs this season. Schmidt's Bonnies are perhaps one of the most underrated teams in the nation right now, ranking 29th nationally, but receiving little to no national press, something they will hope to change in the week ahead when the team travels to Indianapolis for this year's NCAA tournament.
Schmidt's Bonnies aren't deep, but have one of the most talented and balanced core fives the A-10 has seen in quite a while. Conference defensive player of the Year, Osun Ossuniyi, anchors the post for the nation's 20th-ranked defense. The lanky 6'10 shot-blocker is surrounded by bucket-getters, including A-10 First Teamer, Kyle Lofton. Lofton leads the Bonnies in scoring, one of five players averaging double-digits, but may only be the team's fifth most dangerous scorer, checking in behind Jaren Holmes (13.8 ppg), Jalen Adaway (12.4 ppg), Dominick Welch (11.6 ppg) and Ossuniyi (10.3 ppg) in true shooting percentage on this year's Bonnies. It's a balanced group that sees this year's Bona team No.44 in adjusted offensive efficiency, making this A-10 representative a scary foe for whoever sees them next week and certainly a difficult challenge for the underdog Rams today.
Where there may be one weakness with this team however, is depth.
While Schmidt's starting five may be legit, he plays one of the shortest benches in the nation, ranking 347th nationally in bench minutes played. The Bonnies play a max of about seven players with a large drop-off from the starting group to the team's bench. St. Bonaventure's starting five all check in at +4.3 or better in overall box plus/minus, highlighted  by Ossuniyi's team best +8.8. His backup however, Jalen Shaw, checks in at a -4, meaning any foul trouble (or injury) to Schmidt's core group could spell trouble for the Bonnies this afternoon or going forward.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
The job Rhoades and Co. and this young Rams team have done this season has been absolutely sensational and today that have an opportunity to punctuate that with a championship performance today. The Rams have placed themselves somewhat comfortably on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble today despite boasting one of the nation's least experienced groups and doing so relatively banged up throughout the season, with a number of other issues limiting a roster that Mike Rhoades described as "an army" in the beginning of the season.
The Rams success can no doubt be linked to it's on-court leader, that being VCU sophomore, Bones Hyland. Hyland has made himself a legit early entry NBA prospect, now showing up in the first round of several NBA mock drafts, meaning this could very well be the Delaware native's swan song A-10 performance today with a championship on the line. This year's A-10 Player of the Year has been far from alone in his effort to lift VCU from preseason No.9 to title competitor today, joined by conference Third Team selection, Vince Williams, plus a next-man-up team effort that has seen VCU climb into the kenpom top-50 for the second time in the past three seasons for Rhoades. The last time VCU did it Rhoades and Co. won a surprising A-10 regular season title. This time they'll look to grab some March hardware with a victory over St. Bonaventure today.
The Rams have been what could best be described as "good enough" offensively on the year, ranking 119th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency so far, so have really gotten to today's tourney final behind what is currently the nation's  (THE NATION'S) eighth-ranked defense.
Havoc has been in full effect all season, with VCU checking in at seventh nationally in defensive turnover rate and second in steals percentage, but with a breakout performance from sophomore Hason Ward and his shot-blocking senior buddy, Corey Douglas, the Rams have added a new layer of terror to their D, adding a third-ranked shot-blocking achievement to their defense this season as well.
They'll need every bit of that defense today against a beyond tough St. Bonaventure squad that made easy work of their first two A-10 tournament opponents.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 72, BONA 70.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 60.1, VCU 64.8</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.1%, BONA 50.7%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.4%, VCU 45.8%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 35%, VCU 32.9%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 30.1%, BONA 30.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 52%, BONA 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.2%, VCU 46.2%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 37, BONA 34.3</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 17.1%, VCU 20.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24%, BONA 19.8%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Obviously foul trouble to the Bonnies core group would be absolutely massive today, with Osunniyi fouling out in two of the Bonnies four losses this season. That however, is more in control of the refs than of the Rams today, so the big key for the black and gold will be essentially replicating their last performance this past week, which was a dominant defensive effort against a Davidson team ranked top-20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency.
The Bonnies have a slew of dudes  who can go get a bucket, but the Rams were able to at least limit them beyond the arc in VCU's last win over Mark Schmidt's squad. That three-ball lockdown is likely a must today and if the Rams can do that and find a way to score around the Mutombo-esque Osunniyi, the black and gold can remove any doubt heading into tonight's selection show while picking up their second surprise win in UD Arena this season.
Kenpom: 6-66 VCU win with a 41% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 1PM at UD Arena in Dayton, OH
Watch: CBS
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>
Mark Schmidt's Bonnies have hung around the top of the conference the last few seasons, but just haven't had enough to get over the hump to win an A-10 tourney title in nearing a decade now for the longtime head coach. He can do just that today to pair with his regular season title, while attempting to take the rubber match in a 1-1 tied series between these two programs this season. Schmidt's Bonnies are perhaps one of the most underrated teams in the nation right now, ranking 29th nationally, but receiving little to no national press, something they will hope to change in the week ahead when the team travels to Indianapolis for this year's NCAA tournament.
Schmidt's Bonnies aren't deep, but have one of the most talented and balanced core fives the A-10 has seen in quite a while. Conference defensive player of the Year, Osun Ossuniyi, anchors the post for the nation's 20th-ranked defense. The lanky 6'10 shot-blocker is surrounded by bucket-getters, including A-10 First Teamer, Kyle Lofton. Lofton leads the Bonnies in scoring, one of five players averaging double-digits, but may only be the team's fifth most dangerous scorer, checking in behind Jaren Holmes (13.8 ppg), Jalen Adaway (12.4 ppg), Dominick Welch (11.6 ppg) and Ossuniyi (10.3 ppg) in true shooting percentage on this year's Bonnies. It's a balanced group that sees this year's Bona team No.44 in adjusted offensive efficiency, making this A-10 representative a scary foe for whoever sees them next week and certainly a difficult challenge for the underdog Rams today.
Where there may be one weakness with this team however, is depth.
While Schmidt's starting five may be legit, he plays one of the shortest benches in the nation, ranking 347th nationally in bench minutes played. The Bonnies play a max of about seven players with a large drop-off from the starting group to the team's bench. St. Bonaventure's starting five all check in at +4.3 or better in overall box plus/minus, highlighted  by Ossuniyi's team best +8.8. His backup however, Jalen Shaw, checks in at a -4, meaning any foul trouble (or injury) to Schmidt's core group could spell trouble for the Bonnies this afternoon or going forward.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
The job Rhoades and Co. and this young Rams team have done this season has been absolutely sensational and today that have an opportunity to punctuate that with a championship performance today. The Rams have placed themselves somewhat comfortably on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble today despite boasting one of the nation's least experienced groups and doing so relatively banged up throughout the season, with a number of other issues limiting a roster that Mike Rhoades described as "an army" in the beginning of the season.
The Rams success can no doubt be linked to it's on-court leader, that being VCU sophomore, Bones Hyland. Hyland has made himself a legit early entry NBA prospect, now showing up in the first round of several NBA mock drafts, meaning this could very well be the Delaware native's swan song A-10 performance today with a championship on the line. This year's A-10 Player of the Year has been far from alone in his effort to lift VCU from preseason No.9 to title competitor today, joined by conference Third Team selection, Vince Williams, plus a next-man-up team effort that has seen VCU climb into the kenpom top-50 for the second time in the past three seasons for Rhoades. The last time VCU did it Rhoades and Co. won a surprising A-10 regular season title. This time they'll look to grab some March hardware with a victory over St. Bonaventure today.
The Rams have been what could best be described as "good enough" offensively on the year, ranking 119th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency so far, so have really gotten to today's tourney final behind what is currently the nation's  (THE NATION'S) eighth-ranked defense.
Havoc has been in full effect all season, with VCU checking in at seventh nationally in defensive turnover rate and second in steals percentage, but with a breakout performance from sophomore Hason Ward and his shot-blocking senior buddy, Corey Douglas, the Rams have added a new layer of terror to their D, adding a third-ranked shot-blocking achievement to their defense this season as well.
They'll need every bit of that defense today against a beyond tough St. Bonaventure squad that made easy work of their first two A-10 tournament opponents.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 72, BONA 70.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 60.1, VCU 64.8</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.1%, BONA 50.7%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.4%, VCU 45.8%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 35%, VCU 32.9%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 30.1%, BONA 30.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 52%, BONA 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.2%, VCU 46.2%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 37, BONA 34.3</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 17.1%, VCU 20.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24%, BONA 19.8%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Obviously foul trouble to the Bonnies core group would be absolutely massive today, with Osunniyi fouling out in two of the Bonnies four losses this season. That however, is more in control of the refs than of the Rams today, so the big key for the black and gold will be essentially replicating their last performance this past week, which was a dominant defensive effort against a Davidson team ranked top-20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency.
The Bonnies have a slew of dudes  who can go get a bucket, but the Rams were able to at least limit them beyond the arc in VCU's last win over Mark Schmidt's squad. That three-ball lockdown is likely a must today and if the Rams can do that and find a way to score around the Mutombo-esque Osunniyi, the black and gold can remove any doubt heading into tonight's selection show while picking up their second surprise win in UD Arena this season.
Kenpom: 6-66 VCU win with a 41% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 1PM at UD Arena in Dayton, OH
Watch: CBS
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 72, BONA 70.3</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 60.1, VCU 64.8</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 51.1%, BONA 50.7%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.4%, VCU 45.8%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 35%, VCU 32.9%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 30.1%, BONA 30.5%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 52%, BONA 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 45.2%, VCU 46.2%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 37, BONA 34.3</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 17.1%, VCU 20.9%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 24%, BONA 19.8%</span>
