VCU vs. ODU preview
Adam Stern
Assistant Sports Editor
Game information:
- Sat., Feb. 6th
- Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center
- TV: Comcast SportsNet
Old Dominion University Monarchs:
- Tied for first in the CAA with 10-2 record (18-6 overall)
- ODU’s 4-2 on the road in CAA (Lost to George Mason and Northeastern)
- Coach– Blaine Taylor, ninth year (Record of 161-94)
- Last season accomplishments: CollegeInsider.com Tournament Champion
Probable starting lineup:
- Gerald Lee (f)
- Kenyon Carter (f)
- Frank Hassell (C)
- Kent Bazemore (g)
- Ben Finney (g)
Star watch:
- Gerald Lee: 6’10”, 250 pounds, senior from Uusikaupunki, Finland
- Finnish national team member
- Team best 14.3 ppg (10th best in CAA)
VCU
- Tied for fourth in the CAA with 8-4 record (16-5 overall)
- VCU is 7-1 at home in CAA (Lost to Northeastern)
- Coach- Shaka Smart, 1st year (Record of 15-5)
- Last season accomplishments: CAA Champions, NCAA Tournament participants
Probable starting lineup:
- Larry Sanders (f)
- Joey Rodriguez (g)
- Jamie Skeen (f)
- Bradford Burgess (g)
- Brandon Rozzell (g)
Star watch:
- Larry Sanders – 6’11”, 235 pounds, Fort Pierce, Fla.
- Team best 15.8 ppg (fifth best in CAA)
- Team leading 9.1 rebounds per game (third best in CAA)
- Third most double-doubles in CAA. (7)
VCU All-time record:
- Leads all-time series 41-38
- At home: 22-15
- At ODU: 15-21
- Neutral: 4-2
- At the Siegel Center: 9-1
- Last season’s results:
- Jan. 17, 2009 in Richmond: VCU won 61-44
- Feb. 14, 2009 in Norfolk: ODU won 65-69
- March 8, 2009 in Richmond in the CAA tournament semi finals: VCU won 61-53
Notes:
- The Monarchs had a two-game lead over the Rams in the CAA standings as of Wednesday
- ODU is the top team in the conference and third best in the nation in scoring defense allowing 55.6 points per game
- ODU and VCU rank 1 and 2 respectively in assists (both average 15.6 per game)
- ODU and VCU rank 1 and 2 respectively in steals (both average 8.5 per game)
- VCU and ODU rank 1 and 2 respectively in turnover margin
- VCU and ODU are number 1 and 2 respectively in the CAA and in the state of Virginia in home winning percentage (VCU also ranks 16th nationally).
- VCU has scored 18 more points than ODU this season, but the Rams have let up 58 more points than the Monarchs.
- VCU guard Joey Rodriguez is first in the CAA in assists and fifth nationally with 7.0 per game.
- ODU guard Kent Bazemore is first in the CAA with 2.8 steals a game.
