VCU shows different kind of HAVOC in win over Wichita State

Scott Wyant
Staff Writer
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PORTLAND, Ore.–VCU’s HAVOC pressure has been defined by turnovers this season.

Thursday night was different.

Matched up with a Wichita State team full of seniors, Shaka Smart’s Rams showed that HAVOC doesn’t just consist of turnovers.

“Our presence got them out of what the style play that they normally like to play,” Smart said. “They really weren’t able to run their sets as much as they normally do.”

Down the stretch that model of HAVOC proved to be a key in VCU’s 62-59 upset of 5th-seeded Wichita State.

With just 12.0 seconds left in the game the Shockers drew up a play for one of their dynamic guards. With the Rams pressuring the perimeter, the ball ended up in 7-foot center Garrett Stutz, after he set a screen.

“I was the last option up at the top,” said Stutz.

VCU’s pressure forced the Shockers into the shot, switching on each and every Wichita State screen getting the ball out of Toure Murry’s hands.

“Murry had a shot and Troy contested it pretty well, and it forced him to pass it to Stutz,” senior Bradford Burgess said. “When we have shots like that at the end we’re in pretty good favor.”

The constant pressure wore down the Shockers. Head coach Gregg Marshall’s squad was unable to score after taking their only lead of the second half with just over two minutes remaining.

“Overall we were able to create a level of fatigue, really for both teams,” said Smart. “We’re used to playing that way. So that leaves the advantage to us.”