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#21 UNC (24-8) v VCU (27-7)
6:50 pm Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
TV TNT
Radio: 97.9 The Hill WCHL - Chapelboro.com
UNC Tar Heels:
#1 Kyan Evans P = 95, E = 90, I = 20, X = 55
#7 Seth Trimble P = 85, E = 10, I = 90, X = 85
#44 Luka Bogavac P = 100, E = 75, I = 45, X = 70
#13 Henri Veesaar P = 40, E = 15, I = 100, X = 70
#15 Jarin Stevenson P = 90, E = 75, I = 70, X = 80
#11 Jonathan Powell P = 0, E = 75, I = 90, X = 45
#3 Derek Dixon P = 100, E = 60, I = 40, X = 70
#1 Zayden High P = 60, E = 0, I = 100, X = 80
#4 Jaydon Young P = 35, E = 20, I = 45, X = 40
Coach Davis Wisdom = 70
VCU Rams
#6 Terrence Hill Jr. P = 80, E = 50, I = 50, X = 65
#17 Lazar Djokovic P = 95, E = 50, I = 5, X = 50
#15 Tyrell Ward P = 20, E = 80, I = 15, X = 15
#8 Michael Belle P = 90, E = 75, I = 90, X = 90
#10 Jordann Dumont P = 90, E = 10, I = 50, X = 70
#2 Jadrian Tracey P = 5, E = 60, I = 15, X = 10
#0 Brandon Jennings P = 10, E = 50, I = 45, X = 25
#1 Nyk Lewis P = 90, E = 0, I = 50, X = 70
#5 Barry Evans P = 90, E = 80, I = 25, X = 55
#22 Keyshawn Mitchell P = 75, E = 0, I = 100, X = 85
#4 Ahmad Nowell P = 0, E = 40, I = 5, X = 5
Coach Phil Martelli Jr. Wisdom = 60
This is it. Your brackets are out of your hands and your hearts are in your stomachs. You have journeyed with The Heels through trials and travails and you’re still here. You are True Carolina Blue. No recounting of the challenges is needed here but we know they have been substantial – and so they remain. The Rams of Virginia Commonwealth are a historic program, beginning as an institution in 1838, passing through the 19th century at its Richmond campus as the Medical College of Virginia and landing as VCU in 1980. They were the first men’s team to run from First Four to Final Four. Coach Phil Martelli Jr. is new at VCU and brought a bunch of new players with him. This team enters the NCAA this year having won 16 of its last 17 games, a lone away loss to #18 St. Louis marking the only blemish on their record since mid-January. They also lost to state college in Raleighwood way back in November. They won the Atlantic 10 tournament and regular season. They are led by Terrence Hill (6-3, 14.1ppg, 38% 3pt – most taken) and Lazar Djokovic (6-10, 13.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 39% 3pt). Sixth year man (yep – three redshirt seasons and at his 4th school) Jadrian Tracey (6-5) steps up to score 9.9ppg and shoot 38% from Three. Brandon Jennings is accurate from distance (40% from Three) but not a volume shooter. He’s a point guard at 6-4 and a Freshman averaging 9ppg and leading the team in steals. Nyk Lewis is another fast guard averaging 9ppg, shooting 34% from three – he’s 6-1 and also a pickpocket. Londoner Michael Belle is a 6-8 Junior who is mobile and plays Euroball (Low Volume 52% from Three – 7ppg and 5rpg). His play down the stretch has been a key for the Rams. Also in the frontcourt is Keyshawn Mitchell. At 6-11 he is the most imposing presence among the Rams (3.5ppg, 3rpg). Barry Evans is their glue guy – 6-8 and experienced – grabs 5 rebounds per and scores 7 points. Tyrell Ward completes the frontline at 6-6 he scores at a 6ppg clip. Hill, Djokovic, Tracey, and Jennings make this team a top 25-40 Three-Point-Shooting team in the country (Taking 25 and hitting 9). Oh, and they draw a lot of fouls and hit their free throws at a team clip of 74% but take 25 per game. Djokovic draws fouls at a dramatic rate.
Frontcourt: Veesaar is Einstein and Stevenson brings it all. High is calm, athletic, and smart.
Wings: Another smart guy is Jonathan Powell while Luke Bogavac has a soaring physical, a solid energy quotient, and slightly below the fold intel. Jaydon Young is a bit subpar.
Guards: Seth Trimble is physical and thinking while Kyan Evans is athletic and fired up. Derek Dixon tops out the athletic, scores high marks in the ‘want-to’ and is middlin’ in the thinking category.
Overall: Unless you skipped right to this section you know that VCU will shoot from ‘downtown’ excessively. They’ve shown that they can hit that shot so Carolina has to occupy that crucial space on the court in a way that they cannot use it. Drive them off the extended arc. They will also throw waves of fast hands and quick feet at the Tar Heel guards and wings with the intent of creating chaos (the most popular word at present is Havoc) and causing turnovers. Carolina cannot fall prey to that but rather must work through Henri Veesaar to control the pace of the game. Dixon and Trimble and Evans must keep their heads about them. Bogavac must not leave his feet to pass without a clear receiver in mind. All passes must be crisp and deliberate. The Bigs – Veesaar, Stevenson, and High must all play strong interior offense and defense. Powell’s knack for getting the ball – and timely scores – is needed. There’s a great deal of heart involved here. This is a new square one.
The team looks to be primed and ready. Expect cleverness from Veesaar, all-around tournament play from Stevenson, and senior savvy from Seth Trimble. There appears to be smarts where needed, fire in good places, and strength and speed in key spots. The gambler’s line is Carolina by 2.5. This one does look to be a real battle. Ritmos all told call for Carolina by 8.
