X (Twitter): @TreyKelleher3 (https://twitter.com/treykelleher3)
DAYTON, OHIO- VIRGINIA (+2.5) VS. COLORADO STATE
By the skin of their teeth! After sweating out the East and South regions on Sunday's selection show, Virginia finally heard their name called during the Midwest reveal. Tony Bennett and the Hoos will be headed to Dayton to face off against Colorado State to earn a spot in the Round of 64 as the #10 seed vs. #7 Texas on Thursday night.
Colorado State was projected to be safely in the field to most bracketologists and most are shocked to see them having to play in Dayton. The Rams finished the season with a 24-10 record, 10-8 in the Mountain West, and claim wins over Boston College (Neutral site: 86-74), Creighton (Neutral site: 69-48), Colorado (@ Home: 88-83), and the other 5 Mountain West teams that made the field (Utah State, Nevada, Boise State, San Diego State, and New Mexico).
This is a solid basketball team that is very well coached on both sides of the floor. According to KenPom, Niko Medved's team is 42nd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 38th in adjusted defensive efficiency. They don't live and die by either, they aren't spectacular at either, but they are solid at both. In other words, this is a dangerous team that plays well-rounded basketball.
CSU Starting Five:
G- 6'0" Isaiah Stevens (Sr.) 16.5 PPG, 7 APG, 3.1 RPG
G- 6'4" Josiah Strong (Sr.) 6.7 PPG, 1.6 APG, 2.5 RPG
G- 6'6" Nique Clifford (Sr.) 12.2 PPG, 2.9 APG, 7.5 RPG
F- 6'8" Patrick Cartier (Sr.) 10.5 PPG, 1.9 APG, 2.6 RPG
F- 6'7" Joel Scott (Sr.) - 12.9 PPG, 1.4 APG, 6.0 RPG
Notice anything? There is a ton of experience on this team, 6 of the 7 guys we will see Tuesday night are seniors. The other? Jalen Lake, junior guard (6.2 PPG, 1.3 APG, 1.6 RPG). The Rams play great team basketball. They move the ball around well, averaging 7th best in the nation with 17.8 APG, are smart with the basketball (9.9 TO per game), and play sound defense.
Star Player: Isaiah Stevens. He is a jack of all trades and the true definition of a point guard. Stevens shoots the ball well, he is a one-of-a-kind passer, is creative around the rim, and rarely turns the ball over. When he is at his best he makes everyone around him better.
If Virginia wants to win this game they need to slow Isaiah Stevens down and force the Rams to rely on someone else. As the ACC Defensive Player of The Year, Reece Beekman is the right man for the job. Let Reece go to work, and let the Packline Defense do its thing and it should be enough to rattle Colorado State.
This game will come down to which UVA offense we see. If they are struggling on offense, it will be a very tight and frustrating game to watch as the defense will have to save them once again. If the offense is clicking, UVA properly exposes CSU's lack of size and the Packline is business as usual, I like their chances of moving on to play Texas.
oh- and for the love of all things good, make your free throws boys!
Prediction: Virginia 64 Colorado State 58
Lets. Go. Hoos!
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