The Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament has largely been devoid of upsets through three days of play, setting up a pair of fantastic matchups in the semifinals. In the first semifinal, while both teams are certainly playing for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, regular-season co-champion VCU will also be looking for a victory to help their at-large case.
The top seeded Rams are coming off of a 76-59 victory over St. Bonaventure, where their leading scorer Max Shulga put up just two points but put up an extremely important eleven assists. Rookie defensive ace Brandon Jennings had the best game of his young career with twelve points, five rebounds and stellar work guarding the Bonnies' star Melvin Council Jr.
Fourth seeded Loyola Chicago defeated midwestern rival Saint Louis 72-64 behind one of the best games of the season from senior wing Des Watson, who had twenty-five points on seven of fourteen shooting. The Ramblers also got a throwback performance for another senior, Jalen DeLoach, who harkened back to his excellent 2023 A-10 tournament with his former team, VCU, with a terrific two-way stretch in the second half.
How to watch VCU vs. Loyola Chicago
- Date: Saturday, March 15
- Time: 1:00 pm EST
- Venue: Capitol One Arena, Washington DC
- How to Watch (TV): CBSSN
- Streaming: CBSSPORTS.com
- VCU record: 26-6
- Loyola Chicago record: 22-10
VCU vs. Loyola Chicago odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- VCU -530
- Loyola Chicago +390
Spread
- VCU -9.5 (-120)
- Loyola Chicago (-102)
Total
- 139.5 (over -115/under -105)
VCU injury report
- Phillip Russell, G: Available (ankle)
Loyola Chicago injury report
- ON/A
VCU and Loyola Chicago series history
- VCU vs. Loyola Chicago: 3-0
VCU vs. Loyola Chicago prediction
It's hard to glean much from VCU's 84-65 victory on January 4th. Loyola Chicago was mired in a 4-8 stretch at the time when their backcourt was ravaged by injury. The Rambler's leading assist man, Kymany Hounisou didn't play, and they used an ill-fitting two center starting lineup in his stead. It also came before a huge breakout from Sheldon Edwards Jr.
However, VCU has improved as well, and the Rams are the twenty-fourth best team in the nation since that game, per Barttorvik. On that night against the Ramblers, VCU seemed to have put things away with over ten minutes to go, thanks a season high scoring performance from Phillip Russell (twenty-five points) and a double-double from Jack Clark (twelve points, eleven rebounds).
This game will largely come down to whether or not Loyola's lengthy group of guards (Hounisou, Jayden Dawson and Des Watson) can contain VCU's stellar perimeter scorers (Shulga, Russell, Joe Bamisile and Zeb Jackson). It's a terrific strength on strength battle that Loyola will likely do well in but not win. Add in the fantastic performances as of late from Clark and Luke Bamgboye, and the Rams deserve to be sizable favorites.
Prediction: VCU 79, Loyola Chicago 72