- After his FIBA World Cup performance, Latvia’s Arturs Zagars should get a shot at the NBAPosted 2 weeks ago
- Canada men’s basketball finally realizing potential on international stagePosted 3 weeks ago
- Cape Verde becomes smallest-ever nation to win a game at FIBA World CupPosted 1 month ago
- Where will Dillon Brooks end up next season? Five teams who make the most sensePosted 5 months ago
- NCAA Tournament Cinderellas Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Peter’s define North Jersey fearlessnessPosted 6 months ago
- The rise, fall, and rise again of the Cleveland Cavaliers: How they built a winner in the post-LeBron James eraPosted 8 months ago
- Which teams would earn spots in a permanent Premier League with no relegation?Posted 10 months ago
- He may not be remembered as well as T.J. Sorrentine, but Anthony Lamb is making Vermont Catamount history in NBAPosted 11 months ago
- Danny Ainge is screwing up the Utah Jazz rebuild by being too good at his jobPosted 11 months ago
- Will Bournemouth stay up? Cherries earn another point to stay unbeaten against non-big-six sidesPosted 12 months ago
NCAA Tournament Predictions: 5. VCU vs. 12. Akron
- Updated: March 18, 2013
Forward Juvonte Reddic (USA Today)
5 VCU Rams (26-8, 12-4 CAA)- Bracket-busting Virginia Commonwealth is back in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Rams play an intense, frenetic, trapping style that puts pressure on opponents at all times. They broke the NCAA record for turnover margin this season, forcing an amazing 19.9 per game. VCU has also been on fire from deep as of late, knocking down 43 percent of its three-point attempts in four games before the A-10 final against Saint Louis. It was three-point shooting that helped lead the Rams to the Final Four in 2011.
VCU is led by sophomore guard Treveon Graham, who averages 15.4 points per game. 6-9 forward Juvonte Redic is also terrific up front, averaging 14.4 points and 8.3 boards per game. You don’t want to leave Troy Daniels (12.1 ppg) open, either.
KEY STATS:
1st Forced Turnovers (19.9)
1st Turnover Margin (3.8-1)
11th Points Per Game (78.0)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Center Zeke Marshall (AP)
12 Akron (26-6, 14-2 MAC)- VCU may be a tough matchup for Akron given that the Zips lost point guard Alex Abreu for the season after he was arrested on marijuana trafficking charges. It’s tough to traverse the Rams’ incredible pressure with a backup point guard. Still, Akron has a chance if it can slow the game down and rely on senior center Zeke Marshall, who averages 13 points per game and is tough to handle in the paint. The Zips were ranked for a few weeks this season before losing two of three and falling out of the poll.
6-7 forward Demetrius Treadwell has an awesome name and is disruptive down low, averaging 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Tempo will be the key in their first-round matchup, and if the Zips find a way to get past VCU, the bracket looks a little bit easier for them. 4th-seeded Michigan lost to MAC champion Ohio in the first round last season.
KEY STATS:
35th Rebounds Per Game (37.9)
33rd Assists Per Game (15.0)
PREDICTION: VCU
