Busting Brackets
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VCU Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Rams to beat Wichita State Shockers

By Bryan Mauro

RICHMOND, VA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Mike Rhoades of the VCU Rams calls a play in the first half during a game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Stuart C. Siegel Center on December 7, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Mike Rhoades of the VCU Rams calls a play in the first half during a game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Stuart C. Siegel Center on December 7, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 05: Nah’Shon Hyland #5 of the VCU Rams  (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 05: Nah’Shon Hyland #5 of the VCU Rams  (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

3. Throw the first punch

The Shockers play in one of the country’s best arenas. The Koch Center is going to be rocking especially on a Saturday afternoon. The Shockers are 9-1 and will likely be favored in this game. All those things are already working against a good VCU team. The Rams will need to weather the storm and be able to operate their offense and defensive sets in this hostile environment. VCU is a team who relies so much on communication on defense. The crowd noise can drastically affect that and make the Rams very uncomfortable on that side of the floor.

VCU sits at 8-2 currently and their two losses came away from Richmond in the Emerald Coast Classic against Purdue and Tennessee respectively. VCU did pick up a signature win against LSU and former coach Will Wade on their home floor before Thanksgiving. The Rams, much like The Shockers will do on Saturday, were able to use their own hostile environment to their advantage. The VCU crowd was relentless and played a huge part in the outcome of the LSU game.

The best way for VCU to neutralize the noise and the environment is to get an early lead and make some early shots. In the loss to Purdue, the Rams had a terrible time shooting from deep. If they can make some early shots and stick to their game plan the Rams should be able to neutralize the Shocker crowd. That task is not as easy as it may seem, the Shockers do not lose much at home and VCU has yet to face a crowd like this that all season, it is a lot different when the entire crowd is against you.

If VCU wants any chance in this game they are going to have jump out early and force the Shockers to make big plays, survive the runs and continue to make shots.  Punch first, and then punch back harder.  That will make the Shockers uncomfortable and start to quiet the crowd.