First-round tilt contrast of styles
VCU wants to play fast; Saint Mary’s slows things down
ALBANY — Not all men’s basketball teams are created equal.
That will be on exhibit at 2 p.m. Friday, when the first of four NCAA Tournament games — matching Saint Mary’s (Calif.) and Virginia Commonwealth — at MVP Arena gets underway.
The fifth-seeded Gaels, from Moraga, Calif., are the West Coast Conference’s top team in scoring defense (60.1), 3-point defense (.325), field-goal defense (.415) and rebound margin (+7.2).
The Rams, seeded 12th out of Richmond, Va., are the jackrabbits of the Atlantic 10, having forced their opponents into double-digit turnovers in 33 of 34 games. They rank 17th nationally in defensive efficiency (94.1), sixth in defensive turnover percentage (24.6) and 11th in steal percentage (13.1). Defensive efficiency measures the points a team allows per 100 possessions.
“We know they want to play slow, and our style of play is much faster,” VCU forward Brandon Johns said. “We know we can cause hectic chaos for teams. We definitely want to speed the game up, get them out of their comfort zone.”
VCU (27-7) is on a ninegame winning streak, having swept three games in the A-10 Tournament by double-digit margins. Led by guard Adrian “Ace” Baldwin, the conference Player of the Year, the Rams will try to make it a 94-foot game. The Gaels (26-7) will try to keep things in the half-court.
“It’s a clash of styles, for sure,” VCU coach Mike Rhoades said. “We’re going to be us because that’s what got us here. But they’re going to be them. They’re going to do what they do.”
Randy Bennett, in his
22nd season as Saint Mary’s head coach, insisted Thursday that the contrast isn’t as large as many believe.
“We’re more alike than dis-alike,” Bennett said. “I guarantee you, if you talk to their coach, our philosophies on what you have to do to win in general, and to win this game, will be pretty much in line. They’re good defensively. They turn you over. They pressure a little more than we do, but their defensive on-ball coverage is similar. Their commitment to defense is similar.”
Each team has its conference Defensive Player of the Year — Baldwin for the Rams, fifth-year guard Logan Johnson for the Gaels. Those two also lead their teams in scoring.
“I really love defense, and I take pride in that,” said Baldwin, who expected to be matched up on Johnson. “I want to guard their best guy so they can make me better. I just love competing.”
Both schools have extensive postseason experience. The Rams are making their 19th NCAA appearance, their third under Rhoades, who is in his sixth season as head coach. They advanced to the Final Four in 2011, when Rhoades was an assistant coach under Shaka Smart.
Saint Mary’s is in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time. Including the National Invitation Tournament, the Gaels have been invited to the postseason for 16 consecutive seasons, the fourth longest active streak behind Kansas, Michigan State and WCC rival Gonzaga. They advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2010.