Four games down and #21 VCU has run the table well at 4-0. Siegel Center has been rocking during this 6 game homestand as the Rams prepare for Florida Gulf Coast in game #5. Here are my three wishes that if granted could keep VCU sitting pretty and still undefeated over the weekend.
Last Wishful Batch
- Wish #1: Recruits Welcome Back Wade, GRANTED! (Jenkins, MSS led the charge)
- Wish #2: Turnovers Roam Purple, GRANTED! (26 LSU Turnovers!)
- Wish #3: Just Win, GRANTED! (Indeed. BIG W!)
Wish #1: Turnover Hat-Trick for HAVOC?
VCU has forced 84 turnovers over their first four games of the season. HAVOC cranked the pressure to succeed from the 18 turnovers of North Texas to LSU’s 26 season-high turnover tally. Following that was a defensive encore versus Jacksonville State as HAVOC forced 21 turnovers out of the visitors.
The Eagles soaring out of the city formerly known as Lob City are in the midst of a rebuild sitting at 1-4. Granted FGCU claimed their first win of the year versus rival Florida Atlantic where the Eagles had 21 turnovers. On the season, Florida Gulf Coast has 89 total turnovers while averaging 17.8 per game.
Ball control is a crucial lesson to learn for any college basketball team. FGCU is taking night classes to catch up on this subject while the season is still carving a path. While VCU’s turnover margin sits at +4 (#65), FGCU has a -3.2 (#293). Get those hats ready for HAVOC to be showered upon the Stu.
VCU: 12 Turnovers, FGCU: 23 Turnovers
*Would be the third consecutive game where VCU forced 20+ turnovers or more (Hat Trick!)
Wish #2: Three-Point Defending Returns
Sitting at rank #150 in defending the trey, VCU is slowly climbing up that defensive mountain on the perimeter. The Rams constantly put their hands up versus the Gamecocks to finish at 21% from three (4-of-19) for VCU’s best 3 PT defense to date.
Hands arise to the heavens and noise reign down upon the Eagles on GAMEDAY to finish at 18% or lower from three. Last season VCU accomplished this task seven times; the most memorable one out of the seven was that 1-of-18 (<1%) in Olean versus Saint Bonaventure. Poor Bonnies…
FGCU’s worse performance from three this season happened versus UMBC on a 5-of-24 performance (20%). No Cinderella needed on Wish #2, just some good ol’ HAVOC.
FGCU 3 PT Percentage: 3-of-17, 18%
Wish #3: More For Corey!
Six Rams got into double-figures versus Jacksonville State to all of the Black & Gold delight during Sunday Funday at Siegel Center. Amongst the party, Corey Douglas managed 4 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes of work.
Douglas is one of those Rams that sticks to the script and delivers. Wish #3 doesn’t want #4 to go off-script but possibly channel in a certain golden Fro from recent memory that rocked that same number. Douglas doesn’t mind contact down in the paint trenches and if the HAVOC brotherhood makes it so, he will hammer the rim repeatedly against the Eagles.
He may be silent but Douglas plucks FGCU off the glass and has a good shift of 15 minutes or more while tallying up points and rebounds.
Corey Douglas: 12 PTS, 5-of-7 FG, 8 REBS, 2 BLOCKS, 1 STL
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#21 VCU returns to action versus Florida Gulf Coast in the Siegel Center on Saturday, November 23rd. Tip-off is set for a 7 PM start and can be seen on MASN and ESPN+.
