VCU vs. LSU is one good night’s sleep away. The anticipation continues to build as the Rams welcome #23 LSU to the Siegel Center alongside former head coach Will Wade. Enough said, let’s get to my three wishes on this night that needs no more of an introduction.
Last Wishful Batch
- Wish #1: +10 Rebounding for VCU, DENIED! (Tied at 31)
- Wish #2: Breakout Ram = Mike’l Simms, GRANTED!! (CLUTCH!)
- Wish #3: 75% or Better from Free Throw, GRANTED!! (Exactly 75%!)
Wish #1: Recruits Welcome Back Wade
Malik Crowfield, De’Riante Jenkins, Marcus Santos-Silva, and Issac Vann; these are the four Rams on this season’s VCU squad that were recruited to Broad Street by Coach Wade. Wade can downplay the amount of intensity that it’s involved in this game as much as he wants. So why not add some extra spice in the Welcome Back to the place formerly known as Wade’s World?
My first wish involves these 4 Rams mentioned. The pressure of winning the basketball game is already a heavy objective daily. Alongside getting the W, my wish is for this group to extract light’s out performances that would Blackout the Stu in celebration. Jenkins will get his as De’Riante leads VCU in scoring with 14 PPG through two games.
Vann becomes the Vannimal both defending LSU’s best and rattling the rim. Santos-Silva returns to his yard as the paint Phenom similarly to Saint Francis (PA)’s nightmares. Crowfield rising from the VCU bench like Troy Daniels throwing up treys in LA during showtime. All while Coach Wade stands on the visitors’ side of the bench starstruck.
- De’Riante Jenkins: 17 PTS, 4-of-6 3 PT
- Issac Vann: 8 PTS, 6 REBS, 3 STL
- Marcus Santos-Silva: 16 PTS, 12 REBS, 6-of-8 FT
- Malik Crowfield: 9 PTS, 2-of-3 3 PT
Wish #2: Turnovers Roam Purple
There is a similarity between VCU and LSU in the subject of turnovers. The Tigers fumbled 16 turnovers in their season debut compared to Bowling Green’s 9. 11 of those turnovers came from Wade’s starting lineup which resulted in Wade putting the time necessary in attempts at a fix before the trip to Richmond.
On this night, wish #2 if granted, let’s the turnovers roll in the Black & Gold’s favor. Coach Rhoades continues preaching and prepping VCU on ball control. As Rhoades said after North Texas if VCU turns over the ball 18 times then the Rams won’t win that many games.
Turnovers will still pop up not in favor of VCU but HAVOC comes out to play inside the Siegel Center. And it’s hungry awaiting a fitting feast on the hardwood. Especially with work-in-progress LSU prepping endurance in real-time. Water needed courtside ASAP.
VCU: 11 Turnovers, LSU: 17 Turnovers
Wish #3: Just Win Baby
I’m just like you in wanting VCU to win every game on their way to an NCAA Men’s National Championship. Wild fantasies aside, as the late Al Davis famously said, Just Win!
The narrative has already been written. Coach Rhoades and Wade expressed their thoughts to the media. VCU’s fan base prepping their signs, costumes, chants, and heavy bags of jeers. Talking time is done.
Nights like this are why fans watch VCU Basketball. A powerhouse team from a powerhouse conference deemed to be The Elite. A former blue-collar that roamed these familiar streets at the helm only to be shooed away by a bigger corporation with “better” opportunity. The only difference is that the way that same man left sat sour amongst those who at one timed cheered him passionately.
Time turned to days into weeks and years. Wondering if that day would show up on the calendar or would VCU receive a payment to void the date. Credit to Coach Wade for keeping his word and wanting “the opportunity to win on Wednesday night in a tough environment” against “a very well coached and very, very good team” in VCU.
My personal expectation is to walk out of Siegel Center damn near deaf after the final buzzer. I’ve been inside that resounding basketball sanctuary sitting in my chair dazed by the rising volume on every bounce of the ball. Add that with a former coach that makes the fanbase feel some kind of way, a legitimate team in LSU that could be dancing in March out of the SEC, and the opportunity to shock the world on a Wednesday night in Richmond, Virginia. Goosebumps.
No matter if you cheer or boo, Wednesday night will be a special night at the Siegel Center regardless of the result. My wish is that VCU is on the winning side of history rather than the latter. Let’s Play Some Basketball.
Share your Three Wishes with VCU Sports on Twitter! @VCUSports
The Day After: Work. Improve. Win
VCU vs. #23 LSU tips off on Wednesday, November 13th at 6 PM. The game will be telecasted on ESPN2 from the Siegel Center.
