Rams state case for NCAA Tournament with win over Northern Iowa

Quinn Casteel
Assistant Sports Editor
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VCU (23-6 overall, 13-3 CAA) added another quality win to its resume on Friday night with a 77-68 win over Northern Iowa (17-12 overall, 7-9 MVC), further stating its case for another NCAA Tournament bid.

Bradford Burgess led VCU with 17 points, and Juvonte Reddic notched his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Darius Theus came through in the clutch once again, getting an and-one and another layup in the final two minutes to give VCU a permanent advantage. The game was played in front of a national audience as part of ESPN’s BracketBusters schedule and the Rams, along with another sellout Siegel Center crowd, stole the show.

“It’s great to play on national television and to showcase what you do,” said VCU coach Shaka Smart. “The fact that we can take teams out of their style of play, and what they’re trying to do, I think that is impressive for people watching.”

VCU undoubtedly turned a few heads with their wreak-havoc style of play, forcing 19 UNI turnovers, 12 of which came off steals. Smart said he thought last year’s BracketBusters win over Wichita State got them over the edge on Selection Sunday last season, and that Friday’s game could do the same thing this year.

“There are a handful of teams, or even two handfuls of teams playing this weekend in this event that could easily make runs in the NCAA Tournament. But you’ve got to get there first,” Smart added.

Like VCU, UNI is as dangerous a mid-major as there is when it comes to doing damage in the Big Dance. The Panthers made the Sweet Sixteen in 2010 thanks to a win over Kansas and are in a similar position fighting to get on the inside of the bubble this year. That being the case, it was no surprise UNI came out ready to play. The Panthers shot 61 percent in the first half and 55 percent for the game. However, because of the turnovers they took nine fewer shots than the Rams and scored just 24 points in the second half.

“If you shoot that good of a percentage, you’re giving yourself a really good chance to win,” said UNI coach Ben Jacobsen. “But you’ve got to do some other things as well.”

Even though VCU won by nine points in the end, the game was close until the final minute when the Rams broke things open. There were 13 lead changes and 9 ties throughout the course of the night, but VCU was ready for closing time.

“It’s just important to stay aggressive even when you have a lead,” Burgess said. “You don’t want to be scared to foul and play lax defense and have them do what George Mason did last time.”

Smart said after the game that the margin of error for mid-majors hoping to make the NCAA Tournament is close to zero, but he remains confident that VCU’s impressive record gives them a viable shot at another at-large bid.

“Hopefully we caught their eye,” said a confident Burgess on the NCAA selection committee.