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Title: VCU stuns Kansas, advances to the Final Four
Source:
Washington Compost
URL Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sport ... 2011/03/27/AFg5OUkB_story.html
Published: Mar 27, 2011
Author: Steve Yanda
Post Date: 2011-03-27 17:14:16 by Happy Quanzaa
Keywords: Go Rams!, Eat crow Dicky Vitale!
Views: 5353
Comments: 6
SAN ANTONIO – On Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth’s diminutive point guard, Joey Rodriguez, called the Kansas Jayhawks – winners of seven straight Big 12 titles and at times this season considered the nation’s best team – bullies. On Sunday, Rodriguez and the Rams sent the bullies home to Lawrence. With a 71-61 win over top-seeded the top-seeded Jayhawks, 11th-seeded VCU ensured its astonishing NCAA tournament run will include a trip to Houston to play in the Final Four. Senior forward Jamie Skeen led all scorers with 26 points, and senior guard Brandon Rozzell chipped in 12 points off the bench. The Rams made 12 of 25 shots (48 percent) from three-point range, the third time during VCU’s five-game NCAA tournament procession in which it shot better than 45 percent from that distance. After a first half in which they were run ragged by VCU’s incessant burn, the Jayhawks turned the tables at the start of the second half. Kansas executed a 12-2 run that cut its 14-point halftime deficit to four and re-awakened an overwhelmingly pro-Kansas crowd. Then Rodriguez, the Rams’ unquestioned floor leader, picked up three personal fouls in a 41-second span and was forced to the bench. Kansas cut VCU’s lead to two. Throughout VCU’s endearing postseason run, they claimed immunity to pressure or intimidation. And indeed, when Kansas pressed and attempted to intimidate VCU in the second half on Sunday, the Rams responded. Skeen chose VCU after transferring out of Wake Forest three years ago, in part, he said, because he dreamed of emulating the success of former Rams stars Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders. After scoring 15 points in the first half Sunday, Skeen steadied the Rams during Kansas’s second half push. He scored seven of VCU’s 11 points after the Jayhawks cut its deficit to two and helped the Rams reassume a double-digit advantage. By the first media timeout of the game, the Jayhawks had watched their 6-0 lead cut down to one and already were appearing fatigued. The Morris twins, 6-foot-10 Markieff and 6-foot-9 Marcus, trudged off the court and hunched over with their hands on their knees as soon as they reached the huddle. They had been the source of Kansas’s early success, and they ended up factoring significantly into the Jayhawks’ largest halftime deficit of the season. Marcus and Markieff combined to score 20 of Kansas’s 27 points before the break, but that tally would have been even higher had the twins not shot a combined 3 for 8 from the free throw line. As the half progressed, the Jayhawks seemed to deviate from the game plan that had served them so well early on. The Rams’ persistent pressure forced Kansas to commit eight first-half turnovers, six of which were made by Markieff Morris. During a 15-2 VCU run, Markieff committed a three-second violation, traveled and was called for a charge, guard Mario Little stepped on the baseline and guard Tyshawn Taylor also was whistled for a charge. yandas@washpost.com
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#1. To: Happy Quanzaa (#0)
That's got to be the biggest upset since NC State's win over Houston.
By Times-Dispatch Staff SAN ANTONIO – The incredible story continues. Virginia Commonwealth built an 18-point first-half lead, weathered a comeback by top-seeded Kansas, and claimed a 71-61 victory and a place in the Final Four. The Rams (28-11), the third 11th seed to make it to the Final Four, will play Butler on Saturday in Houston. Kansas, ranked second in the country, stormed out of halftime with a 17-5 run to pull within two with 13 minutes remaining. But VCU responded with a spurt of its own. The Jayhawks never got within five the rest of the way. Jamie Skeen had 26 points. Brandon Rozzell added 12. VCU bombed in 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the first half while taking a 41-27 lead. The Rams hit 9 of 16 shots from behind the arc. They only took 13 shots inside the line. Down 8-5, the Rams nailed a trio of 3-pointers and went on a 15-2 run. Back-to-back-to-back 3s by Skeen, Joey Rodriguez and Skeen made it 26-15. The lead grew to 18 when Rozzell drained an off-balance 3-pointer with less than four minutes remaining. Skeen had 15 points – six at the free-throw line – and Rozzell 12 at the half. Kansas, meanwhile, was 10 of 32 from the floor. The Jayhawks were 2 of 11 on 3-pointers and 5 of 12 at the free-throw line.
Kansas, meanwhile, was 10 of 32 from the floor. The Jayhawks were 2 of 11 on 3-pointers and 5 of 12 at the free-throw line. VCU was hot and Kansas was cold.
The Rams have been smokin' hot through the whole tournament (that Dicky Vitale & Jay Bilas said they didn't belong in, BTW). Don't take nothin' away from Coach Smart, he had 'em ready with the right game plan for every opponent. Kansas was cold because they were stunned and knocked cold in the first 5 minutes. They weren't ready to play, they thought it was just going to be a scrimmage to get ready for the Final Four.
No doubt about it, but shooting over 50% from behind the 3 point line isn't "normal" for VCU.
VCU stuns Kansas
#2. To: Ibluafartsky (#1)
#3. To: All (#0)
VCU beats Kansas 71-61, wins first Final Four berth
VCU's Joey Rodriguez celebrates his teams victory over Kansas in the Southwest Regional Final at the
Alamodome.
Published: March 27, 2011
Kansas sits dejected as the game winds down in VCU's victory during the Southwest Regional Final.
#4. To: Happy Quanzaa (#3)
The Rams hit 9 of 16 shots from behind the arc.
#5. To: Ibluafartsky (#4)
VCU was hot and Kansas was cold.
#6. To: Happy Quanzaa (#5)
Don't take nothin' away from Coach Smart, he had 'em ready
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