Elite Eight Odds: No 1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No 11 VCU Rams
Sunday, March 27, 2011
By Gordon P. Quinn
No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (35-2) vs. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth Rams (27-11)
No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth Rams have earned a session with the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite 8 round of this year’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon at 2:20 PM ET in San Antonio.
The Jayhawks have opened as 11.5-point favorites on Sportsbook.com’s NCAA basketball odds.
On paper, this is more than a mismatch. Kansas Jayhawks has one of the most talented frontcourt trios in the country, with Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris starting down low and Thomas Robinson coming off the bench. Marcus is a face-up forward that creates match-up problems with his ability to score from the perimeter or with his back to the basket. Markieff struggled against Richmond, scoring just five points, but he is one of the best rebounders in the country and a load to handle in the paint. Robinson went for 12 points and 14 rebounds in the Sweet 16, and could start on nearly any team in the country.
VCU will attempt to counter with Jamie Skeen, an athletic forward who has stepped up down the stretch. Skeen is averaging 16.9 points in his last nine games, and has held his own against bigger frontcourts in the Big Dance. D.J. Haley and Juvonte Reddic provide depth. Can VCU Rams stop Kansas from controlling the glass?
Expect a tremendous battle on the perimeter. Virginia Commonwealth Rams has been carried through the NCAA tournament by its 3-point shooting accuracy, led primarily by Bradford Burgess and Brandon Rozzell. Burgess has proven to be a match-up nightmare for opponents due to his skill set. He slides down low and guards bigger players and rebounds effectively. He also knocked down plenty of clutch shots against Florida State. Rozzell came off the bench to score 16 against FSU; when he gets going, look out. Joey Rodriguez is a savvy point guard that has notched 21 assists in the past two games. Ed Nixon defends effectively, and Rob Brandenberg and Darius Theus provided a lift in the Sweet 16.
Kansas’ perimeter group is deep, talented and versatile. Tyshawn Taylor helped shut down Kevin Anderson on Friday; he will look to cut off Rodriguez come Sunday. Tyrel Reed is a shooter; Brady Morningstar defends and scores; Josh Selby is finally breaking out of his month-long shooting slump; Elijah Johnson is a solid backup point guard; and Mario Little can score.
VCU has all the momentum in the world right now. The Rams are channelling some of the “Mason Magic” that carried CAA brethren George Mason to the Final Four in 2006, rolling past bigger, more experienced and more talented teams on its way to Houston’s doorstep.
While overmatched on paper, VCU has been the tournament’s best story. Kansas looks like it has erased all the worries about past upsets, thoroughly dominating No. 12 Richmond in the Sweet 16. In the past, the Jayhawks have overlooked lower-seeded teams; this team is different, though. On Friday, the crowd was heavily in Kansas’ favor, but everyone loves an upset. Will leftover Richmond and Florida State fans side with the Rams?
Matching up the personnel on both sides is irrelevant for the most part. If the game were played on paper, VCU would not be anywhere near the Elite Eight. However, if the Rams are to pull the upset, they need to take advantage of a few key things. VCU is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country, using it as its primary weapon in the NCAA tournament. However, Richmond was completely neutralized on the perimeter against Kansas; VCU can’t allow that to happen.
The Rams also need to take care of the ball and not allow Kansas to force turnovers and get out in transition. Keeping Kansas off the offensive glass is also imperative. VCU was able to get away with it against Florida State, but Kansas is a completely different animal. Overall, Kansas is just playing too well right now to lose to VCU; the Rams will need a Herculean effort from the perimeter to beat the Jayhawks.
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The Pick: Kansas Jayhawks
Prepared and compiled by: Gordon P. Quinn
Source: CBS
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bradford burgess - brady morningstar - brandon rozzell - d.j. haley - darius theus - elijah johnson - elite 8 - elite eight - final four - jamie skeen
