Rams advance to face a Georgetown and healthy Wright
It wasn’t pretty but the VCU Rams made it through their First Four bout with the Trojans on Wednesday in Dayton and will prepare to do battle with the sixth seeded Georgetown Hoyas, in the Southwest Region, on Friday.
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#11 Virginia Commonwealth (23-11, 12-6 CAA) vs. #6 Georgetown (21-10, 10-8 Big East)
Date/Time: Friday, March 18, 9:50PM ET
Venue: United Center in Chicago, IL
Broadcast: TNT
Money Line: VCU +5.5, Georgetown -240
Spread: Georgetown -5.5
Over/Under: 133.5
In their second appearance in the last three years the Rams managed to get the job done, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, thanks to their win over USC by the score of 59-46.
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Now the real test begins for VCU, who got into foul trouble, but maintained their effectiveness in shutting down the Trojans bigs, while their three-point shooting in the second half was stellar after a poor first half. Overall, it was a scrappy and a sloppy game with a lot of turnovers and poor shot selection, but a win is a win.
As for the Hoyas, they come into this year’s tournament four years removed from their last victory in the big dance. They had been one of the most consistent teams in college basketball this season until second-leading scorer Chris Wright suffered a broken bone in his non-shooting hand back in February, and they have had a tough time finding the scoring to win games ever since.
However, Georgetown got good news on just a day before Selection Sunday, finding out that Wright will play in the NCAA tournament. Combined with ubber talented Austin Freeman, who is as good a scorer as you will find, they form a wrecking ball duo.
However, the Hoyas could stutter as they try to regain their scoring rhythm, which still leaves them on the edge of an upset. Moreover, VCU is just the team that can do it too. I’m sure the locker has been buzzing with pep talks of how they dismantled perennial favorite Duke in 2007 and then the “Wizards of Westwood’, UCLA, in 2009.
The Rams rely on balanced scoring, having four players averaging at least 11 points, and another two over five points per game. They love to run and gun and throw up three-pointers, most of which they drain.
The odds makers have the Georgetown Hoyas as a -5.5 point favorite with an over/under of 133.5.
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Prediction: Can Georgetown get its groove back now that they have Wright, or will the Rams potent three-point barrage sink the Hoyas Championship hopes? Forward Jamie Skeen, should keep the G’Town defense honest, but I expect it will not be enough.
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