WSU VERSUS VCU REMATCH

[Jwetzel]

question for a VCU fan. I noticed Georgia St. got you twice this year. Is there something in particular with your match-up with them that causes more problems than other teams?

edit: sorry, misread that, you were 1-1 verses Georgia St. None the less, it was a home loss, so same question...

It was a close game. They have a new coach in Ron Hunter and he has done a tremendous job with what he came into. They started conference play on a tear before fading into the midpack. I don't know of anything in particular with the matchup that caused us problems, but it was early, we were still growing as a young team and lost a close conference game.

[GoGMU]

I'm so annoyed by this matchup. Two really cool, underrated teams pitted against each other in the first round. I'm a UNM fan and we got stuck in a similar situation, playing LBSU.
Good luck!

I'd have to agree. I'm not generally a conspiracy theorist, but it sure seems like every year the committee matches up several "mids" in the first round to get rid of potential Cinderellas early.

Regardless, I hope the Shockers bring the hammer down on VCU!

[SubGod22]

I love our George Mason friends. Really wish we could schedule a four year deal with them. Would be a lot of fun and do both programs some good.

[VCUJamaicanGuy]

question for a VCU fan. I noticed Georgia St. got you twice this year. Is there something in particular with your match-up with them that causes more problems than other teams?

edit: sorry, misread that, you were 1-1 verses Georgia St. None the less, it was a home loss, so same question...

Ron Hunter brought a very high energy personality to GSU. He also instituted a pressing defense. As the old adage says...It's tough to fight fire with fire.

[thegalen]

I love our George Mason friends. Really wish we could schedule a four year deal with them. Would be a lot of fun and do both programs some good.

Careful what you wish for. Their squad has had some serious behavior problems for some time now. It's only a matter of time before one of their players tries to "sweep the leg" Cobra Kai style out of frustration and leaves someone seriously injured.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/george-mason-ad-apologizes-to-vcu-for-senior-night-incident/2012/02/28/gIQAqgYzfR_blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/gmus-andre-cornelius-pleads-guilty-to-credit-card-fraud-is-suspended-for-10-games/2011/11/07/gIQAiHiNxM_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/15/AR2010021501322.html

http://georgemasonbasketball.blogspo...-cam-long.html ("If Cam Long is suspended tonight it will be the fifth time a player has been suspended")

http://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2907&start=0

Don't worry. That's the last I'll post about GMU on your boards. They speak for themselves! :yahoo:

[thegalen]

GSUs squad was also senior heavy (like y'alls).

[youvebeenrammed]

Hey there Shocker Fans,

VCU fan here. First of all let me say how very dissapointed I am with this matchup. You guys have a phenomenal team that can absolutely make a deep run. Also, I hate when the committee puts two fantastic mid majors together. They could have easily switched us and Texas. Let you guys beat up on Texas and let us show Cincy the Big East is overrated... but anyway I digress.

The Shockers this year are an offensive juggernaut, VCU is a defensive juggernaut, on both the full and half court. This should be a fun matchup, but I won't lie, you guys are scary! Our offense has picked up recently. Bradford Burgess is a great shooter from anywhere on the floor, Troy Daniels is lethal from three, Juvonte Reddic has a decent jumper and range, DJ Haley is a heck of a rebounder and can be physical, he has a knack for put backs, Darius Theus is a trememdous distributor and slasher, he has size and can absorb contact, Rob Brandenberg brings fantastic energy and can take it to the hoop, he is inconsistent from the field, but can get hot, Treveon Graham can flat score and get to the foul line, Briante Weber can slash and hit pull up jumpers, but he is fantastic on defense.

I'm really looking forward to this game. If we fall short I hope you guys win the whole damn thing. Good luck! I can answer any questions you have.

[newshock1234]

something crazy while i was looking at their stat sheet, they have 2 guys that have shot over 200 3 pointers a piece this year and our highest 3 point attempter is DK with 154.

[thegalen]

Am on my phone so can't double check but that's gotta be Bradford Burgess and Troy Daniels. I haven't watched too many of y'alls games but who are you best on-ball and perimeter defenders? they'll most likely be on these two VCU players when/if you're running a man D.

[SubGod22]

Am on my phone so can't double check but that's gotta be Bradford Burgess and Troy Daniels. I haven't watched too many of y'alls games but who are you best on-ball and perimeter defenders? they'll most likely be on these two VCU players when/if you're running a man D.

We almost always run man. Best on ball defenders are 6'5" Ben Smith, 6'5" Toure' Murry, 6'2" Demetric Williams and if his head is in the game, 6'4" David Kyles. I forgot 6'2" Tekele Cotton.

Smith and Murry were on the all D team in the Valley. Many feel that Williams is the best of the bunch and Tekele just keeps getting better as a player. We were voted the best defensive team in the conference and are considered one of the top defensive teams in the country. We've done a pretty good job of holding our opponents best player in check.

[RoyalShock]

To expand a little on what SubGod said, perimeter defense is our strength. Post defense isn't nearly as good. Although Ben Smith and Toure Murry can guard taller players. I believe 1st team AA Doug McDermott's worst two scoring games of the season was against WSU. We don't force a lot of turnovers but we make it difficult on your scorers. If there's one weakness among our perimeter defenders it's guarding the dribble-drive.

[1972Shocker]

The thing that perhaps impresses me the most (and perhaps concerns me the most) about this VCU team is that they have won 17 of their last 18 games. Of course the Shocks won 16 of their last 18 so not much to chose from there.

Hard far me not to expect a very competitive, close game from two teams used to winning.

[dTm]

Mad Hatter - i have just noticed that a lot of times when we are in our press the other teams shot clock goes under 10 during their possession. my comment had nothing to do with not looking at the numbers. You can crunch numbers all day if you want.If i thought the numbers were inconvenient then I can just bring up that theus and weber lead the country in steals as a backcourt duo and weber leads the country in steals per minute - but i didnt do that because i asked that we set aside the #'s just for a minute - thats all. Sometimes i think people rely too much on the numbers. Yes the #'s are clearly an indicator of a teams performance during the season. I wasnt trying to ignore the #'s at all. I just asked for a minute to set aside the #'s and just go by what you see when you watch us defend. We know you guys are good and experienced and have a real good offense. I have seen you play. Before the bracket even came out, i told my wife - the one mid major i dont want to see is wichita state - that is total respect. I have been to wichita several times. My wife grew up in hesston, ks, which is about 45 minutes from wichita. I am very familiar with the shockers and the jayhawks and the wildcats because her family is big into college basketball. How about we agree that this should be a sweet 16 matchup not a first round one and that us beating Kansas in the elite eight was awesome last year !!

Sweet 16 matchup? Wow you guys are delusional...You're a 12 seed for a reason...do you even get in without the tourney win? Well since the team that won your league didnt im guessing no.

[youvebeenrammed]

Sweet 16 matchup? Wow you guys are delusional...You're a 12 seed for a reason...do you even get in without the tourney win? Well since the team that won your league didnt im guessing no.

Delusional? No. High expectations? Yes.

The CAA in general was down this year. But the top 2 teams were very, very good. The bottom was abysmal though.

[dTm]

Delusional? No. High expectations? Yes.

The CAA in general was down this year. But the top 2 teams were very, very good. The bottom was abysmal though.

So good that only 1 of you got in.....sigh