Kansas comes into this game as an 11 point favorite over VCU. We ran the accuscore simulator and Kansas won 76% of the time... In other words, don't expect Shaka Smart's boys to be cutting down the nets. Still, the same could be said for them in every round. That's what comes with the territory of being a Cinderella team. Smart talked yesterday about not only his teams' success, but the fame that has come along with it.
"It's something that goes with the territory of playing and advancing in the NCAA tournament. It's just the way that our basketball culture works. It's not necessarily right or fair, it just is what it is. And I try not to get caught up in that. My wife tries not to get caught up in that. The reality is I have a phenomenal opportunity to be the coach at a school that I love and to every single day work with players that I absolutely adore and care about. And that's where my focus is and that's where my focus will be."
VCU surrendered a nine point lead against Florida St. They were outrebounded in the game and yet they still gutted out a win, but that was against #10 Florida State. Kansas is one of the most efficient shooting teams in the country and they're one of the best rebounding teams. VCU can't afford to have the kind of lapses against them that they've had against other teams in this tourney.
Still, Kansas has been blowing teams out so far in this tournament. We haven't gotten to see how they react to being a fight, but we know VCU thrives in that kind of atmosphere. That said, I expect Kansas would react just fine...
There is one interesting stat that bodes well for #11 VCU. Only four #11 seeds have gotten to the elite 8, two of them have advanced to the Final Four.
Pick: Kansas