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NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region 5. Wichita State vs. 12. VCU
- Updated: March 13, 2012
5 Wichita State (27-5, 16-2 Missouri Valley)- Wichita State is one of the most dangerous teams in the field. The Shockers are an outstanding offensive team, scoring 77.7 points per game, and shooting 48.5 percent from the floor.
Guard Joe Ragland leads the Shockers. (AP Photo)
Three players average 12-plus points per game for Wichita State, but it all starts with 7-0 center Garrett Stutz, who puts up 13.5 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Joe Ragland averages 13.4 points and 3.4 assists for the Shockers.
6-5 senior Toure’ Murry is another quality scoring option, averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Wichita State has garnered a lot of respect from experts around college basketball, including ESPN’s LaPhonso Ellis, who picked the Shockers to reach the Final Four before the brackets came out on Sunday.
Wichita State won the NIT championship last season and reached the Sweet 16 in 2006.
KEY STATS:
15th Points per game (77.7)
28th Rebounds per game (38.0)
13th Field Goal Percentage (.485)
Stats courtesy www.bbstate.com.
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12 Virginia Commonwealth (28-6, 15-3 Colonial Athletic)- They’re baaack. VCU returns to the NCAA Tournament one year after going from First Four to Final Four and captivating the nation in the process. Most of the faces are different this time around, but head coach Shaka Smart remains in place.
Forward Bradford Burgess (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
Senior forward Bradford Burgess (13.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) is the key cog on this Rams team, which caught fire in the second half of the season and won 17 of 18 games, including the CAA championship game against regular-season conference champion Drexel. VCU is 25-3 since January 4th.
Juvonte Redic and Troy Daniels also average in double figures in scoring and return Final Four experience from a year ago.
KEY STATS:
22nd Points Allowed per game (59.8)
24th Assists Per Game (12.2)
285th Field Goal Percentage (.410)
Stats courtesy www.statsheet.com.
PREDICTION: VCU Beware the Rams. Again.
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