Focus Now on #19 VCU...

[coachd]

Need to keep the momentum going and hand VCU their first ever A10 Conference loss on Saturday.

The guys will need to be much more focused on Saturday as this is a hostile road game and needs to be treated as such. Let's pray we get refs who are truly neutral (and not some of the ones like we had at X).

Need to have Jerrell contribute more. Garland and Mills need to be extremely focused and make their open shots. Steve Zack - keep on doing what you've been doing. I think Tyreek will get Ramon more involved in the offense on Saturday. Rohan will see more time and DJP probably less on Saturday.

The Explorers can do this... coaches and players must bring A+ Game on Saturday.

[ltrain38]

Stop with conspiracy bs about the refs. We don't get the benefit of the doubt because we've been down, but the A-10 gains nothing by intentionally keeping one of its programs irrelevant. I'm sure VCU will get more calls on their floor, because they have a national brand and our guys need to come to play.

[theneumann64]

I'm gonna enjoy last night at least another day before I even think about VCU haha.

[luhoopsfan]

This board is going to light up with Ref conspiracy theorists around 8:45 on saturday....VCU fouls about 50 times per game, but they aren't going to get called for all of them, it's their style of play to be physical on defense and play until the get whistled...they don't care about committing 22 or 23 fouls a game, they go 10 deep.

We are going to get destroyed b/c their defense will keep our guys from getting into any kind of flow and it will trickle over to the defensive end of the floor...it's how VCU wins, they physically beat you until you give in on the defenisve end and then it's over.

Only shot is if the 3 pt shooting makes a miracle return

[Gnocchi]

Gillen did the Overbrook/VCU game and was going nuts and continually screaming, "That's a foul." VCU's defensive approach is similar to the old Georgetown style: bump and hand check all the time because you won't always get called for it. Need Duren to hang tough against bigger, physical defenders and Galloway to keep Treveon Graham under control.

[lasalle89]

If we beat VCU is LaSalle in the top 25 come Monday?

[theneumann64]

No, but we may get a couple votes as a token.

[coqui900]

I'm really excited for this game. We have four guards who can handle the rock and pass the ball. We have two other guys in Steve and DJ who can also pass the ball around. Heck, even Dunn finds himself in the right spots on the court.

We also play really great man-to-man defense and go the full court in doing so.

I legit think we have a shot.

[YOgontz Manners]

Jan 24, 2013 13:51:32 GMT -5 luhoopsfan said:

(1)...VCU fouls about 50 times per game, but they aren't going to get called for all of them, it's their style of play to be physical on defense and play until the get whistled...they don't care about committing 22 or 23 fouls a game, they go 10 deep.

(2)We are going to get destroyed b/c their defense will keep our guys from getting into any kind of flow and it will trickle over to the defensive end of the floor...it's how VCU wins, they physically beat you until you give in on the defenisve end and then it's over.

(3)Only shot is if the 3 pt shooting makes a miracle return

Point (1) is pretty accurate. Lots of handchecks and contact on dribble, contesting shot and scrambling for rebound. The "Stu" is crazy loud and the refs generally do nothing to maintain order in the asylum.

I don't buy point (2). We actually match up better with VCU than Butler and the havoc of the D will create scoring opportunities for Reke, Ty and Mon. Teams like Butler, with an established half court offense, get into trouble with aggressive D, just like we delivered last night.

I think the key to winning is (1) getting back quickly after a made hoop (they look like Loyola Marymount with Bo and Co. charging back downcourt after giving up a hoop, and (2) not made 3s but aggressively finishing off 2-1 and 3-2 opportunities after we get passed the first line of full court pressure. Passing, not dribbling, to beat the pressure is key. If Jerrell outscores Graham, we should win.

[stlexplorer]

Richmond just beat VCU in OT. We're gonna get their best on Saturday