VCU is right on the bubble heading into this game. Can the Rams get a big road win over a dangerous Duquesne squad?
TV schedule: Saturday, January 26, 2:00 pm ET. ESPN+
Arena: AJ Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Atlantic 10 is looking to continue being a multiple bid league, despite the troubles that mid-major conferences are having overall. This year has been difficult especially, with the non-conference not doing the A-10 favors overall. However, one team is on the verge of an at-large bid – if they can keep winning.
VCU 13-6 (4-2) has the best resume out of all of them, with wins over Temple, Texas, Hofstra and Wichita State. In what’s being considered a weak bubble, the Rams have a legit shot at not needing the automatic bid.
But they’ll have to avoid losses that could hurt down the road, such as this week’s defeat at Rhode Island. There were only three total made three-pointers in the game, but the wrong set of Rams won as far as VCU fans are concerned. That loss still has them in the tournament picture according to our latest Bracketology, falling to a 12 seed.
They’ll have another tough road game this weekend, this time against Duquesne 14-5 (5-1). After losing their league opener to Davidson, the Dukes have won five straight, with the last one versus conference leader Saint Louis. It was one of the program’s highest profile wins of recent memory, pushing the Dukes to the top of the A-10 ladder.
Marcus Weathers had 19 to beat the Billikens, with Eric Williams posting a double-double while point guard Sincere Carry dishing out seven more assists. The freshman ball handler has been a key addtition for Duquesne, along with the transfers that head coach Keith Dambrot has brought to the program.
Duquesne has no hopes for an at-large but this may be the best team the program has had since arriving in the A-10 in 1982. They’ve only had a 20+ win season once in decades and win would move them a bit closer to that elusive mark.
VCU won last season’s meeting but both teams are much improved a year later. With what should be a great crowd in Pittsburgh, the Rams will have a tough atmosphere to deal with. And the Dukes offense is just good enough to squeak by VCU for a program defining week.
Prediction: VCU 63 – Duquesne 64
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