UR vs VCU head to head

[97spiderfan]

After watching these 2 teams go at it for 90 minutes, there is little doubt in my mind, that we outplayed VCU soundly both games. Yes, last night went into OT largely because we missed a boatload of FT's at the end of regulation, had we hit even half of what we missed, we would have that game easily. We dominated the second half in there building.

I saw a couple themes in both games.

1. Our half court defense completely bottled up VCU, they were basically panic shooting all night and in the second half of the first game, because they could not figure out our half court defense. The only consistent thing they could do last night, is give Graham the ball and have him create contact and get to the FT line.

2. They can't turn us over. Our guards are just too fast and too sure handed. We ran the same out of bounds play when they scored all night and I think it worked almost every time. When they did manage to turn us over they could not convert into easy basket.

3. Our guards get most of the credit but Terry Allen was the best big man on the court in both games.

It is really difficult to beat a team three teams during the year but I kind of want to see VCU again in Brooklyn, because I think we match up really well with them and outside of Graham and Lewis, no one else on VCU scares me. I know Melvin Johnson is a scorer, but damn if he could score against us either game.

 

[SpiderHoops32]

The begging question I have is, why can't we play like this consistently??

 

[SouthJerseySpiderFan]

Maybe it's just the matchup against RPI that has more to do with it 32? They like to score off TOs and shoot plenty of 3s. UR doesn't TO the ball much and defends the 3 well. A great win indeed but maybe playing this well doesn't get the same results against teams that can run a half court offense. The end of the game lead issues has to stop. A10 tourny will probably have lots of close games not decided till the last few minutes.

Really thought RPI wasn't a team that should have stayed in the top 25 this long. Loses to Bonny and LaSalle should have dropped them out IMO. An outside shot at overtaking them for 4th but need to continue this play against 2 teams I think we are better than both on off and def. Games are on the road though but hopefully coach finds a way to get the Ws. Go Spiders!

 

[I-M-UR]

Hoops, one option of an answers may be the players just don't get sufficiently motivated enough for other foes.

 

[97spiderfan]

Originally posted by SouthJerseySpiderFan:
Maybe it's just the matchup against RPI that has more to do with it 32?

I think this is exactly it. We match up really well against RPI. I also think we are peaking now with guys fully understanding there roles. Terry and SDJ are playing lights out too, that helps. If Terry and SDJ were playing like this in December, we don't lose to Wake, Northeastern, JMU, etc..

 

[Rivercup]

Re: VCU half court offense, even over on the Ram board the fans are calling out Shaka for their half court offense (or lack thereof).

 

[SpiderK]

Rivercup, to be honest our half court offense isn't very good either. We over came that and very poor free throw shooting with defense by all, and decent rebounding for us. The guys found away to win, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop as they had been earlier in the year.

 

[spider fan]

Big part of the FT shooting was an obviously tired and often pushed around by RPI on non called fouls K Zero. He plays his heart out and is an 81% FT shooter. The FT shooting against RPI by K Zero was an anomaly and should be in the rear view mirror. We have a short bench and it shows but that just gives even more credit to the team for winning.

 

[SpiderK]

Spider Fan. +1

 

[Rivercup]

I disagree that our offense isn't very good. We move the ball well and when we get the inside - outside game going we get a lot of open looks. Our offensive issue is that we rarely have more than 3 scorers on the court at the same time. We bog down when the other team plays a sticky man for man as VCU did down the stretch. That forced us way out toward half court which does not allow a lot of ball movement.