Previewing VCU
Posted by TTHS on December 4th, 2007
The young Tribe basketball season is already on life support, and it could get much worse. The Tribe travels to Richmond for the second time in a week to face VCU, the preseason #2 team in the CAA. The Rams return all-CAA guard Eric Maynor, famous for knocking Duke out of the NCAA tournament last year on a last second jumper.
VCU has had an up and down season so far. After going 3-2 in their first 5 games, with wins against teams they should beat and vice versa, the Rams lost to Hampton and then went and beat Maryland. This game will be very dependent on which VCU team shows up.
The Ram’s two-headed monster this season has been headed by Jamal Shuler, a sharp-shooting 2 guard from Arizona. He is averaging 16.6 points per game so far, with 4 rebounds per. He is near 50% from 3 on the season, and if his shot is on it will be a very long night for Tribe fans.
Eric Maynor was the best player on the team last year as a freshman, and appears to be better. He is averaging 16.3 points per game, and has 38 assists compared to 22 turnovers. His shot is not his strength, but he is known to knock down the big ones.
The Tribe will be a huge underdog in this game, and will need to take the crowd out of it early. When the fans get pumped there, the team gets on a roll with their pressing style and fast paced offense. Mann and Kisielius need to be on, and we need to pray Shuler is not.
VCU: 85
W&M: 60