VCU vs. ODU notes

CT Sports Staff
Commonwealth Times’ Sports Twitter

Probable starters:
VCU
G Darius Theus
G Rob Brandenberg
G/F Bradford Burgess
F Juvonte Reddic
C DJ Haley

ODU
G Kent Bazemore
G Donte Hill
G Marquel De Lancey
F Nick Wright
F Chris Cooper

Quick Hits:
– VCU leads the all-time series 43-42.
– Last season the two teams exchanged blows at each other on their respective home courts with VCU defeating ODU at the Ted Constant Convocation Center before the Monarchs came and stole a win at the Siegel Center. The bitter rivals met once again in the CAA Championship Final where ODU came out on the winning end of a 70-65 thriller.
– VCU and ODU have combined for a 433-193 record, including six CAA Championships.
– ODU senior forward Chris Cooper has been everything the Monarchs needed and more coming into the season. Cooper averages 10.1 rebounds per game, which ranks 23rd in the country along with having recorded 10 double-doubles this season, good for eight in the nation.
– Tonight’s game will feature two guys who aren’t afraid to pick their opponent’s pocket. VCU freshman guard Briante Weber ranks 15th in the nation with 2.42 steals per game, while ODU senior guard Kent Bazemore is 21st in the country with 2.37.

CAA Stats Rankings
ODU
Scoring Offense: 8th (64.7)
Scoring Defense: 4th (61.7)
FG PCT: 11th (.400)
FGPCT DEF: 5th (.412)
3PT FG PCT: 10th (.304)
REBS: 2nd (38.8)
REB Margin: 2nd (+4.9)
AST: 2nd (12.8)
STLS: 3rd (9.3)
BLKS: 7th (3.9)

VCU
Scoring Offense: 3rd (68.4)
Scoring Defense: 3rd (60.2)
FG PCT: 11th (.400)
FGPCT DEF: 6th (.427)
3PT FG PCT: 6th (.325)
REBS: 7th (35.0)
REB Margin: 8th (+0.7)
AST: 7th (12.0)
STLS: 1st (9.7)
BLKS: 8th (3.5)

They said it

Shaka Smart on VCU-ODU rivalry:
“It’s a great rivalry, it’s two very very good programs that have a history of going back-and-forth at one another. For the fans it’s become very very heated, I think probably the fans hate each other a lot more than the players or coaches, there’s a respect there among certainly our players and our coaches for them and their program. Now, we want to win just as much as anybody. It’s always a great environment in the Siegel Center but it’s going to be a higher level of energy and excitement in the arena.”

Bradford Burgess on rivalry:
“It’s a great rivalry, I’m excited, everybody’s excited. They beat us pretty good last year at home so that’s on our minds as well. But you know you got to approach it just like another game and we’re going to prepare for them, they’re going to prepare for us us and hopefully be a better game than last year.”