In their final home game of the season, the VCU Rams (19-7) host the Richmond Spiders (14-11) at Stuart Siegel Center. The game gets underway at 7:00 pm ET on Friday, Feb. 19 and can be seen on ES2 and ES3.
The Rams defeated Rhode Island 83-67 on Tuesday. Mo Alie-Cox was the team’s high scorer with 21 points on 10-for-12 shooting. The Spiders, meanwhile, are coming off an 83-79 loss to Davidson on Tuesday. T.J. Cline had a game-high 25 points.
Over the last five games, Cline has been hot for the Spiders. During that stretch, he has averaged 21.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 three-pointers.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, the turnover story could loom large in this showdown. Richmond commits the 13th-fewest errors in the nation (TO% of 15.1%), while the disruptive defense of VCU causes the fifth-most (opponents’ TO% of 24.3%).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Rams won the first game 94-89. JeQuan Lewis was a standout player in the game, producing 29 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three three-pointers.
The Rams are attempting to build on their records of 19-7 Straight Up (SU) and 15-8 Against The Spread (ATS). The Rams are an exceptional shooting team from three-point range with a .379 three-point field goal percentage, one of the highest marks in Division I. The VCU defense has done poorly against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, allowing an average of 74.1 points per game, well above their season average of 66.7.
As for their opponent, the Spiders head into the game with records of 9-12 ATS and 14-11 SU. Richmond has done particularly well ATS over its past 10 matchups, going 7-3. The Spiders convert their shots at a high percentage, ranking 14th in the country at .489. The Spiders are one of the top teams in the country at finding the open man with an average of 17.1 assists per game.
VCU won the last meeting this season between these two teams, bumping its SU record to 7-3 over Richmond in their most recent meetings. Furthermore, with a 6-4 record, VCU has the advantage ATS. VCU held the edge in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers two times, while Richmond was never able to do so in their most recent five games.
Predictions: SU Winner – VCU, ATS Winner – VCU
Notes
VCU averages 78.0 points per game (ranked 61st). Richmond, on the other hand, allows 73.8 points per game (ranked 181st).
VCU scores 79.4 points per home game (ranked 92nd). Richmond ranks a poor 218th in points allowed on the road, allowing 80.2 points.
Ranked 74th, the VCU Rams have an offensive rating of 111.0. The Richmond Spiders rank 267th with a defensive rating of just 107.2.
The VCU Rams average 70.3 possessions per game and 1.110 points per possession, while the Richmond Spiders earn fewer possessions (69.1) but more points per possession (1.130).
The Richmond Spiders have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking 16th in the country with an eFG% of 55.7%. When their opponents have a similar or higher eFG%, the VCU Rams are 2-3.
Richmond ranks among the best in the nation in assists at 17th (17.1 assists per game). VCU is ranked 93rd with 14.8 assists per game.
VCU ranks 68th in offensive rebounding. Richmond ranks 232nd in defensive rebounding.
On average, Richmond forces a turnover rate of 17.8%. When VCU turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a winning 6-3 record.
