Virginia at VCU, 2 p.m. ESPNU
I was at the Virginia-VCU game last year at JPJ and it was as intense a game as I've ever attended, especially in the upper section where I was sitting, swarmed by what seemed like thousands of Ram fans. VCU won that defensive battle, 59-56, with UVa blowing a seven-point lead late in the game. A lot has changed since then. Virginia was not playing that well at that point last year. Later, Virginia would go on to win 16 of 18 ACC games, the regular-season and tournament conference titles, and two Big Dance games. VCU was upset in its first NCAA tournament game by Stephen F. Austin.
The Rams have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this year with losses to an excellent Villanova team by 24 and then to a not-as-good-team in ODU by six. VCU also struggled at Illinois State in its last game Dec. 2, but pulled out a 66-62 win. Point guard Briante Weber (8.8 points, 5.2 assists per game) did not start that contest because of team reasons, but is expected to start today. He did come off the bench in that game to notch seven points.
VCU's other top players are Treveon Graham (17.4 ppg 6.3 rpg), who hit the game-winning 3-pointer
last season, Melvin Johnson (17.1 ppg), and Jordan Burgess (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Weber doesn't shoot many 3s, but has picked his spots well this year, making four of eight. For his career, he is a below-30 percent shooter from 3. Graham is hitting 40 percent of his 3s, Johnson 38.5, and Burgess 37.5. As a team, VCU is hitting only 35.3 percent of its 3s and the Rams, who struggled from the free throw line last year at JPJ (as did UVa), are only hitting on 63 percent of their freebies.
Make no mistake, though. This Rams team has had some issues this year but the two losses came away from home. In Richmond, VCU is expected to be tougher than ever in what is going to be a raucous atmosphere. The game has been sold out for months and tickets are listed on the secondary market for more than $300. VCU has played three ranked teams at the Siegel Center and beaten them all: No. 17 Oklahoma, No. 20 Butler, and No. 10 Saint Louis.
A key factor in this game will be the health of Darion Atkins (back) and Justin Anderson (ankle), who were banged up at Maryland. At last check, they were game-time decisions. If Atkins is out, UVa loses a great ball screen and interior defender and rebounder. If Anderson is out, UVa loses its main scoring and 3-point threat. The loss of either or both could tip this game in the favor of the Rams. It should be a tight battle, and a loss at VCU would be nothing to be ashamed of for the Cavaliers. But a victory over the in-state foe would certainly be sweet.
I was at the Virginia-VCU game last year at JPJ and it was as intense a game as I've ever attended, especially in the upper section where I was sitting, swarmed by what seemed like thousands of Ram fans. VCU won that defensive battle, 59-56, with UVa blowing a seven-point lead late in the game. A lot has changed since then. Virginia was not playing that well at that point last year. Later, Virginia would go on to win 16 of 18 ACC games, the regular-season and tournament conference titles, and two Big Dance games. VCU was upset in its first NCAA tournament game by Stephen F. Austin.
The Rams have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this year with losses to an excellent Villanova team by 24 and then to a not-as-good-team in ODU by six. VCU also struggled at Illinois State in its last game Dec. 2, but pulled out a 66-62 win. Point guard Briante Weber (8.8 points, 5.2 assists per game) did not start that contest because of team reasons, but is expected to start today. He did come off the bench in that game to notch seven points.
VCU's other top players are Treveon Graham (17.4 ppg 6.3 rpg), who hit the game-winning 3-pointer
Make no mistake, though. This Rams team has had some issues this year but the two losses came away from home. In Richmond, VCU is expected to be tougher than ever in what is going to be a raucous atmosphere. The game has been sold out for months and tickets are listed on the secondary market for more than $300. VCU has played three ranked teams at the Siegel Center and beaten them all: No. 17 Oklahoma, No. 20 Butler, and No. 10 Saint Louis.
A key factor in this game will be the health of Darion Atkins (back) and Justin Anderson (ankle), who were banged up at Maryland. At last check, they were game-time decisions. If Atkins is out, UVa loses a great ball screen and interior defender and rebounder. If Anderson is out, UVa loses its main scoring and 3-point threat. The loss of either or both could tip this game in the favor of the Rams. It should be a tight battle, and a loss at VCU would be nothing to be ashamed of for the Cavaliers. But a victory over the in-state foe would certainly be sweet.
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