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Game Thread: #19 VCU @ Richmond (Thursday 1/24/13)

9K views 168 replies 43 participants last post by  ExplorerSteve 
#1 ·
VCU


vs

Richmond


Records: VCU (16-3, 4-0 A 10) / Richmond (12-7, 2-2 A 10)
Game time: 7PM EST
TV: CBS College Sports Network
Radio: VCU 107.3 FM / Richmond ESPN 950 AM, The WOLF 93.1 FM
Website: VCU / Richmond
 
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#2 ·
The game is sold-out. Should be a good atmosphere.

Rams should be favored, but UR beat VCU like a drum the last time we played at the Robins Center. They were up 30 in the first-half when Harper and Anderson had that A-10 championship squad. We got redemption of sorts when we one-upped them in the NCAA tournament, but that game will obviously be fresh in our players' memories. Our juniors and seniors were on that squad and I'm sure they remember.

Despite having a better team, rivalry games are a bit different and I'm sure Richmond would like nothing more than to knock us off at their place. We'll have to be sharp to win this one.
 
#3 ·
Despite having a better team, rivalry games are a bit different and I'm sure Richmond would like nothing more than to knock us off at their place. We'll have to be sharp to win this one.
Thanks for the compliment about our team being better than VCU. High praise, considering where you guys are ranked.

We are an excellent team at home and traditionally have done well in big games at the Robins Center. (A blowout by X a few years ago is the one recent exception that I recall.)

And for those who may be wondering: No, this will not be a "home" game for VCU or anything close to it. The RC holds 9,000, and I'd be shocked if VCU has more than 1,200 there.
 
#4 ·
To this point, VCU is clearly the better squad. That said, I'm expecting a competitive game. The Spiders are not without talent. I do wish we had Derrick Williams for this game.

It's still early but Deion Taylor in the starting lineup seemed to work really well.

I was unable to watch the whole game against Charlotte, but it seemed like the Spiders used a lot fewer 3 guard lineups than previous tilts. That said VCU is so quick, we may see Richmond use a lot of 3 guard lineups.

One of the frustrating things this year for Spider fans are lazy passes near the top of the key. Lesser teams than VCU have punished the Spiders with multiple breakaway layups and dunks off these stupid turnovers. If there is even a hint of that laziness, this game won't even be close after the first 10 minutes.
 
#6 ·
Looking forward to a packed Robbins Center and an excellent game on Thursday. VCU's speed and depth could be somewhat problematic for UR but I expect the game to be won in the paint. I think Reddic has a huge advantage in the post without Derrick Williams down low. VCU has been scoring a TON in the paint off of postups, drives and offense rebounds. Obviously turnovers and points off turnovers are another key. In our OT win against SJU we scored 31 points off of 20 turnovers.
 
#7 ·
Alonzo Nelson-Ododa has all the makings of an excellent A-10 big man, but he's young and inexperienced. He'll have to grow up a bit because I'm sure Shaka will make it a point to go inside to Juvonte Reddic.

UR has explosive perimeter firepower between Brothers, Anthony, and Lindsay and we'll have to be very tight on the perimeter and take away the 3-point shot. Brothers is streaky and was a non-factor in our game last year, but he can get cooking in a hurry from out there if you let him get shots off. Lindsay torched us last year, going 7-7 from the field and scoring 19 if my memory is correct. Really impressive guard.

UR can certainly beat us, and in their house with their fans behind them, there can be no let-down from our Rams if we want to win this one. Mooney is a heck of a coach and I'm sure he'll have his guys ready.
 
#8 ·
DB, I agree 100% with your assessment. I feel like they are trying to play more up tempo this year and play a little smaller and that works in our favor. This game is absolutely one we need and should win. Can we lose? Absolutely!
 
#9 ·
One thing that killed UR last year that I'm interested in seeing Chris Mooney adjust to is that switching man-to-man defense. The game with UR was a pretty tight 1-2 possession game for most of the contest until fatigue took over where UR didn't score in the last 8 minutes or so and the Rams stretched the lead out to 20+.

On offense, we just waited for Kendall Anthony to switch onto a bigger guy on the perimeter and we just took it at him over and over. Anthony for all his offensive abilities, was a liability in that situation. I'm curious to see how Mooney remedies that this time around.
 
#15 ·
Mooney hasn't made any changes in how we defend (the one thing that drives a lot of us crazy about him). Good coaches (like Shaka) figure this out, the dumb ones haven't.

Anthony was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Deion Taylor to give us more size.

ANO is much further along defensively than offensively at this point, but Reddic should still be able to get his.

I'd like to see us pressure VCU a bit in this game just to be the aggressor a bit, which VCU likes to be.
 
#12 ·
Also it should be noted that although UR has a strong home court advantage, VCU is .500 all-time at the Robins Center (14-14).

El Shaqtus, I don't think you have to worry about that. The programs couldn't have more respect for one another. Shaka and Mooney are both great people and that trickles down to the rest of their programs.

Some fans on both sides aren't too fond of one another, but other than that, it's tame compared to X-Cinci.
 
#13 ·
When evaluating what is likely to happen in an upcoming game, I usually like to rely almost exclusively on the history of what happened when the same two teams played each other years ago, with different players, coaches and philosophies. I find that analyzing those outcomes is an almost failproof way of predicting future results.
 
#14 ·
I agree, those things aren't very relevant, just providing history in the context of our rivalry since most here aren't familiar with it. Just like you felt you needed to clarify that a game at the Robins Center isn't a VCU home game for whatever reason.

This year Richmond hasn't really had a stand-out win, but having your home record is a good achievement regardless. VCU historically hasn't had too much trouble there for a road venue and VCU has one of its better teams coming into the game. Again with rivalry games, all that is moot.

Last season we had similar personel and styles of play. We return all but 1 rotation guy from last year. Richmond returns 3 of 5 of their starters from a team that lost by 22 at the Siegel Center last season, but as you said the Siegel Center homecourt is worth at least 7 points. Darien Brothers scored 2 points on 0-4 shooting in 29 minutes, Derrick Williams scored 2 points on 0-3 shooting in 25 minutes and grabbed 8 boards. Unfortunately he is out due to injury. Cedrick Lindsay was a beast scoring 22 of Richmond's 51 points on 7-10 shooting to keep Richmond in the game for most of the contest. He was a real problem for us. Kendall Anthony scored 13 off the bench on 18 shots in 32 minutes.

ANO will be a decent replacement for Garrett although his shot-blocking is not as impressive. That said, he looks like a better all-around player than Darius was with a higher ceiling. Juvonte Reddic looks like one of the premier power forwards in the A-10 so ANO will have a good test Thursday.

UR's perimeter is strong, but we have a pretty stout defense with some of the more disruptive on the ball defenders in the country. If Darien can get going, it'll be very interesting and a game we can certainly lose. Last year against the same defensive players and style, he struggled immensely. On the other hand, his games against ODU last year and Charlotte last week prove that he can go off at home. If he has a game similar to last year, we likely win. If he keeps his strong play up, it will be a very entertaining and competitive game.

There is no doubt that we should win this game if we're as good as our ranking indicates. That will be a test we have to pass. I'll be looking forward to seeing how we respond to the challenge.
 
#16 ·
This will be an excellent rivalry game. They call this the black and blue classic for a reason. It will be hard fought. VCU has the advantage in the all-time series, but several of its wins within the last 10 years were tight affairs that could have gone either way. UR fans have wanted an in-season rematch against VCU. Now, UR gets that chance.
 
#18 ·
Just don't make a drinking game out of VCU's and drink every time they say Havoc. You will probably die lol
 
#26 ·
You didn't go that route, did you? Since it is so easy, I'll just ignore it.

I'm encouraged by what happened in the league last night. VCU should win handily tonight but homecourt is key for the UR hopes, Brothers is a different player at home vs away.
 
#28 ·
Rivalries like Richmond and ODU add spice to any season, even if neither team is in the hunt for conference championship. There is emotion and history involved. No neutrality (just another game and just another opponent) in these situations. I have a memory of going to this matchup at Robbins Center many years ago and there was a large banner hanging from the rafters that read "VCU-The K-Mart of Higher Education." Those are the kind of memories that fuel rivalries.
 
#30 ·
Really looking forward to watching this game tonight and seeing the havoc deal.
Conflicted as one daughter graduated from UR, and the other is married to a VCU alum. Is making for great interfamily rivalry this year.
Really like Richmond when we use to visit. Fan, Cary St., etc. and UR's campus is spectacular. North Pole in Crozier apparently closed...that's a real bummer.
 
#33 ·
I think you'll see exactly how pumped tonight. There will be plenty of Gold in the Siegel Center West tonight!

I heard UR was playing artificial crowd noise during their practices this week. That is kind of said if true. Its a home game!
 
#35 ·
From UR's beat writer:
https://twitter.com/RTDjohnoconnor/status/294509602924527616
To prepare for the noise at the full Robins Center (9,071) tonight vs. VCU, UR practiced with amplified crowd noise blaring this week.
There looks to be a sizeable VCU contingent at the game. Per a VCU AD rep at our coaches show last night. The VCU ticket office sold over 900 tickets. That doesn't include a large number of VCU fans who ordered directly from UR either early online or in person at the UR ticket office.

Should be interesting to see the crowd make-up and how that might affect the atmosphere.
 
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