Two of the A-10's hottest teams meet tonight and one seven-game winning streak comes to an end when the Rams take on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in a rematch of a January 14th blowout the black and gold suffered at the hands of Mark Schmidt and the boys. A win would keep VCU in hot pursuit of an A-10 regular season title and would help their NCAA resume needs, but the team from Olean is hoping to help sure up a top-4 seed like the Rams and will be looking to preserve their slim NCAA at-large chances as well with a win.
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VCU (20-7, 13-4)
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VCU (20-7, 13-4)
ST. BONAVENTURE (19-7, 11-4)[/HEADING=3]
A QUICK LOOK AT ST. BONAVENTURE[/HEADING=3]
The big question heading into this one for the Bonnies is the status of defensive game-changer, Osun Osunniyi. The 2021 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year is one of the best two-way players in the conference, leading this year's Bonnies in player efficiency rating (24.4) and overall box plus/minus (+7). Osunniyi went down late in the Bonnies' recent win at St. Joe's and was unable to put any weight on his ankle following the injury. He is a game-time decision according to Bonnies Head Coach, Mark Schmidt (Editor's note: I've seen a lot ankle injuries in my time covering basketball and how the players respond afterwards, and I would be STUNNED if Osunniyi is in tonight's lineup). His replacement, Karim Coulibaly, has a negative plus/minus on the season at the moment and is nowhere near the defensive threat Osunniyi is, blocking a decent 5.2% of opponent's shots, but nowhere near the 12.6% of Osunniyi. He's rebounding numbers are also well under his those of Osunniyi.
That drop-off highlights the main concern with this St. Bonaventure team, that being their apparent extreme lack of depth. The Bonnies play the least amount of bench minutes in all of college basketball and tonight may find themselves leaning heavily on the Pittsburgh transfer. And who backs up Coulibaly?
But even if the Bonnies are without Osunniyi, that leaves a number of players who have given VCU fits over the last few years, most recently Jalen Adaway supplying the nightmares with his 25-point performance against the Rams back in January. Adaway is averaging 16.8 against the Rams in the four games he's faced them. That just outpaces Kyle Lofton's 14 per game over the same stretch of games while both Dom Welch and Jaren Holmes have dropped double figures on the Rams as well.
As a team the Bonnies have struggled to meet expectations following a sweep of last year's regular and tourney titles, fighting to simply finish within the top-4, but making a late push to do just that. The biggest change from year-to-year has been a dip in defensive efficiency. Last season's Bonnies ranked 20th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, but they've fallen to outside the top-100 (No.105) this year, thanks mostly to teams finding more success from long range. Oddly enough the Bonnies check in at just 10th in A-10 play in two-point defense as well, something the loss of Osunniyi would, in theory, only hurt tonight if he can't go.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
A top-5 defense nationally and capable of turning it on now offensively as well, VCU has become a scarier opponent for A-10 foes thanks to the emergence of KeShawn Curry, Mikeal Brown-Jones and Jalen DeLoach, with Ace Baldwin and Vince Williams playing all-conference caliber seasons, Williams a potential A-10 Player of the Year candidate.
The Rams have for the most part cruised through their seven-game winning streak, but that stretch has only included one game against a top-100 foe. VCU is 4-3 against top-100 Atlantic 10 teams this season, but lost two of those games by 20+ points including the 73-53 loss at St. Bonaventure. This year however, VCU has split with the teams they own losses two, defeating Dayton and Dayton despite losing to them as well. Can they do the same with a potentially-depleted Bonnies squad?
Player to Watch: Vince Williams went down with an ankle injury in VCU's blowout of UMass and did not return. He is expected to play today and has been VCU's most efficient player this season.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 71.3, VCU 65.9</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 60.9, BONA 66.4</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 50.8%, BONA 50.6%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 43.6%, BONA 50.1%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 35.3%, BONA 32.6%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 26.6%, BONA 34.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 51.4%, VCU 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.6%, BONA 48.4%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 34.9, VCU 32.5</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 15.7%, VCU 21.8%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 25.6%, BONA 18.8%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Osun sitting on the sidelines certainly wouldn't hurt. The last time VCU played St. Bonaventure without Osunniyi, they took down the Bonnies 91-63 at the Siegel Center January 20, 2020. That squad did not include Adaway and included younger versions of Lofton and Welch, but regardless, it was VCU's only squad to finish under .500 in conference play since the Rams joined the A-10. A benched big man greatly complicates things for the Bonnies and (in theory) helps open up the lanes for driving Rams. Without the 6'10 shot-blocker and just one big left on the roster, the Bonnies can't afford ANY bit of foul trouble, which in theory makes it a lot easier for the black and gold to score, VCU's biggest issue at times this season. Defensively the Rams have to be much-improved from the last meeting and must defend without fouling. St. Bonaventure finished 53.3% of their shots inside the arc in the last meeting between these two, then added 23 (23!!!) free points from the free throw stripe to just six free throws for the Rams.
One fear I have heading into this one as well is VCU attempting to play to St. Bonaventure's strength instead of their own. If/when Coulibaly comes out, the Bonnies will play a small ball lineup they aren't used to using. I'm afraid VCU will match that small ball lineup, instead of taking advantage of the potential mismatch down low by keeping in a guy like Jalen DeLoach. That said, I think Mikeal Brown-Jones' emergence may keep that from happening, the Philly native being a more than serviceable big man who can defend much smaller players, but still, I may be cringing some on the sidelines if Vince Williams ends up at Center at any point in this game, but perhaps my fears are unfounded.
Work for efficient shots on offense (play under control and attack, attack, attack!) and play defense like you're fighting for a regular season title, which we are, and pick up a massive win heading into the last game of the regular season this weekend at Saint Louis.
Kenpom: 67-62 VCU win with a 65% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 8:30PM at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA
Watch: CBS Sports 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>
The big question heading into this one for the Bonnies is the status of defensive game-changer, Osun Osunniyi. The 2021 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year is one of the best two-way players in the conference, leading this year's Bonnies in player efficiency rating (24.4) and overall box plus/minus (+7). Osunniyi went down late in the Bonnies' recent win at St. Joe's and was unable to put any weight on his ankle following the injury. He is a game-time decision according to Bonnies Head Coach, Mark Schmidt (Editor's note: I've seen a lot ankle injuries in my time covering basketball and how the players respond afterwards, and I would be STUNNED if Osunniyi is in tonight's lineup). His replacement, Karim Coulibaly, has a negative plus/minus on the season at the moment and is nowhere near the defensive threat Osunniyi is, blocking a decent 5.2% of opponent's shots, but nowhere near the 12.6% of Osunniyi. He's rebounding numbers are also well under his those of Osunniyi.
That drop-off highlights the main concern with this St. Bonaventure team, that being their apparent extreme lack of depth. The Bonnies play the least amount of bench minutes in all of college basketball and tonight may find themselves leaning heavily on the Pittsburgh transfer. And who backs up Coulibaly?
But even if the Bonnies are without Osunniyi, that leaves a number of players who have given VCU fits over the last few years, most recently Jalen Adaway supplying the nightmares with his 25-point performance against the Rams back in January. Adaway is averaging 16.8 against the Rams in the four games he's faced them. That just outpaces Kyle Lofton's 14 per game over the same stretch of games while both Dom Welch and Jaren Holmes have dropped double figures on the Rams as well.
As a team the Bonnies have struggled to meet expectations following a sweep of last year's regular and tourney titles, fighting to simply finish within the top-4, but making a late push to do just that. The biggest change from year-to-year has been a dip in defensive efficiency. Last season's Bonnies ranked 20th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, but they've fallen to outside the top-100 (No.105) this year, thanks mostly to teams finding more success from long range. Oddly enough the Bonnies check in at just 10th in A-10 play in two-point defense as well, something the loss of Osunniyi would, in theory, only hurt tonight if he can't go.
A QUICK LOOK AT VCU[/HEADING=3]
A top-5 defense nationally and capable of turning it on now offensively as well, VCU has become a scarier opponent for A-10 foes thanks to the emergence of KeShawn Curry, Mikeal Brown-Jones and Jalen DeLoach, with Ace Baldwin and Vince Williams playing all-conference caliber seasons, Williams a potential A-10 Player of the Year candidate.
The Rams have for the most part cruised through their seven-game winning streak, but that stretch has only included one game against a top-100 foe. VCU is 4-3 against top-100 Atlantic 10 teams this season, but lost two of those games by 20+ points including the 73-53 loss at St. Bonaventure. This year however, VCU has split with the teams they own losses two, defeating Dayton and Dayton despite losing to them as well. Can they do the same with a potentially-depleted Bonnies squad?
Player to Watch: Vince Williams went down with an ankle injury in VCU's blowout of UMass and did not return. He is expected to play today and has been VCU's most efficient player this season.
TALE OF THE TAPE[/HEADING=3]
Scoring Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 71.3, VCU 65.9</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 60.9, BONA 66.4</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 50.8%, BONA 50.6%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 43.6%, BONA 50.1%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 35.3%, BONA 32.6%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 26.6%, BONA 34.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 51.4%, VCU 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.6%, BONA 48.4%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 34.9, VCU 32.5</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 15.7%, VCU 21.8%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 25.6%, BONA 18.8%</span>
VCU WINS IF[/HEADING=3]
Osun sitting on the sidelines certainly wouldn't hurt. The last time VCU played St. Bonaventure without Osunniyi, they took down the Bonnies 91-63 at the Siegel Center January 20, 2020. That squad did not include Adaway and included younger versions of Lofton and Welch, but regardless, it was VCU's only squad to finish under .500 in conference play since the Rams joined the A-10. A benched big man greatly complicates things for the Bonnies and (in theory) helps open up the lanes for driving Rams. Without the 6'10 shot-blocker and just one big left on the roster, the Bonnies can't afford ANY bit of foul trouble, which in theory makes it a lot easier for the black and gold to score, VCU's biggest issue at times this season. Defensively the Rams have to be much-improved from the last meeting and must defend without fouling. St. Bonaventure finished 53.3% of their shots inside the arc in the last meeting between these two, then added 23 (23!!!) free points from the free throw stripe to just six free throws for the Rams.
One fear I have heading into this one as well is VCU attempting to play to St. Bonaventure's strength instead of their own. If/when Coulibaly comes out, the Bonnies will play a small ball lineup they aren't used to using. I'm afraid VCU will match that small ball lineup, instead of taking advantage of the potential mismatch down low by keeping in a guy like Jalen DeLoach. That said, I think Mikeal Brown-Jones' emergence may keep that from happening, the Philly native being a more than serviceable big man who can defend much smaller players, but still, I may be cringing some on the sidelines if Vince Williams ends up at Center at any point in this game, but perhaps my fears are unfounded.
Work for efficient shots on offense (play under control and attack, attack, attack!) and play defense like you're fighting for a regular season title, which we are, and pick up a massive win heading into the last game of the regular season this weekend at Saint Louis.
Kenpom: 67-62 VCU win with a 65% chance of a Rams victory.
Game tips at 8:30PM at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA
Watch: CBS Sports 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: #ff0000;">BONA 71.3, VCU 65.9</span>
Scoring Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 60.9, BONA 66.4</span>
Effective Field Goal% Offense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 50.8%, BONA 50.6%</span>
Effective Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 43.6%, BONA 50.1%</span>
3-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 35.3%, BONA 32.6%</span>
3-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 26.6%, BONA 34.8%</span>
2-Point Field Goal%: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 51.4%, VCU 49.9%</span>
2-Point Field Goal% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 45.6%, BONA 48.4%</span>
Rebounds per game: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 34.9, VCU 32.5</span>
Turnover% Offense: <span style="color: #ff0000;">BONA 15.7%, VCU 21.8%</span>
Turnover% Defense: <span style="color: #339966;">VCU 25.6%, BONA 18.8%</span>
