VCU looks to continue recent success over Akron

Zachary Holden
Staff Writer

Not many college basketball teams can say they’ve played a non-conference opponent five times in the last six years. VCU and Akron can.

The Rams and the Zips will meet for their fifth time since 2007. All four previous meetings have been VCU wins. A combined nine points separated the teams in the first two matchups.

The most recent meeting last season turned into a nail-biter. Down 12 at one point in the second half, the Rams battled back to send the game into overtime. VCU came away winners, 75-74, thanks to a final second layup by Darius Theus.

Theus has had recent success against the Zips. In two games played, he’s had 10 points and five assists each time.

“You can always use that as a confidence thing knowing that you played well against a team, but I never really go into a game thinking about scoring,” Theus said. “I just want to get my teammates involved and get those guys going and build confidence in them. From there, I just play my role.”

Likely NBA first-round draft pick Zeke Marshall is someone the Rams are going to have to do a lot to keep contained. In last season’s overtime thriller, Marshall had 10 points, six blocks and three rebounds. Now, in his senior year, he’s averaging 13 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.

“Marshall was terrific (last year) and he’s been great all year long,” VCU head coach Shaka Smart said. “He’s done what college basketball players are supposed to do, he’s gotten better and better each year.”

With DJ Haley’s recent departure from the team, it leaves the Rams without a player over 6-foot-9. This means players like Juvonte Reddic, Justin Tuoyo and Jarred Guest are going to have to play at their best to prevent the 7-foot, 235-pound Marshall from having a big game.

Although Marshall is a force to be reckoned with, Smart insists he cannot be the team’s only focus come Thursday night.

“I think the mistake that a lot of teams make is they get consumed with him and going at him and getting him in foul trouble,” Smart said. “It takes away from the rest of (a team’s) typical game plan. We’ve just got to do what we do on offense.”

Akron’s season-long starting point guard, Alex Abreu, was suspended indefinitely from the team following an arrest on drug charges, which will work to the Rams’ advantage. The arrest came just before the Zips went into the MAC tournament, which they won.

Starting at point guard now is freshman Carmelo Betancourt. Although he has played in all 32 games this season, he only started four. Facing a young, inexperienced point guard is something the Rams said they are going to try to capitalize on.

“We’ll try to use that to our advantage knowing that he’s never seen the press like that before,” Theus said.

VCU and Akron don’t tip off until 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, the final game of the day at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. The long, all-day wait is something Smart and his players aren’t used to, but he said he doesn’t think it’s much cause for concern.

“I’d rather play the last game than the first game,” Smart said. “There is something to be said about watching for a little bit throughout the day that calms nervousness.

“At the end of the day, it’s up to the individual player and his teammates to be fired up,” he continued. “If you’re not fired up at this time of year, there’s something wrong with you.”