Game Preview: VCU vs Florida State in the Puerto Rico Tip Off

                    vs        


At the Coliseo Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico:

Head Coach: Leonard Hamilton

Projected Starters for FSU:

PG- Devin Bookert #1
Sophomore- 6'3

SG- Montay Brandon #32
Sophomore- 6'7 

F- Robert Gilchrist #14
Senior- 6'9

PF- Okaro White #10
Senior- 6'9

C-  Boris Bojanovsky #15
Sophomore- 7'3

Key Reserves

SG- Ian Miller #30
Senior- 6'3

SG- Aaron Thomas  #25
Sophomore- 6'5

PF- Jarquez Smith #5
Freshman- 6'9

C- Michael Ojo #50
Sophomore- 7'1

Characteristics of FSU:

• Florida State plays a tough nosed style defense that will try to out physical you down low on the block to get offensive and defensive rebounds.
• FSU is a very athletic big team that likes to get out on transition with their bigs trailing behind to get an easy dunk or layup.
• FSU won't beat you by making multiple shots behind the arc.
• FSU likes to get to lane and bully their way through the paint and by also feeding their big men in the post.

Advantages/Disadvantages for the Rams:

Advantages:

• The VCU guards should capitalize on the chances they get to press the ball handlers of FSU. The bigger guards of FSU will have a tough time keeping a handle of the ball from guys like Briante Weber and Rob Brandenberg.
• VCU shoots the ball much better than FSU does. So if VCU pulls ahead early than FSU could have a tough time in trying to comeback and win the game.

Disadvantages:

• FSU has some much height and brute strength down low that the VCU bigs could get overwhelmed on the boards.
• The length of FSU will disrupt many of VCU's drives to the basket, so the FSU players could have a field day blocking the shots that the rams put up.

Key Player for the Rams and Seminoles:

Terrance Shannon

Terrance Shannon has a chance to get some revenge against his former team that he just left last year. Shannon left FSU to get a fresh start and have a chance to not only win a A10 Championship, but even a chance to win chance to win a NCAA Title. Shannon will have to come up big for the Rams in this game versus his former teammates by playing more physical and aggressive under the boards than the FSU bigs. Shannon must play within himself though and not get out of control and take ill-advised shots. Shannon has been in a little bit of a slump the past two games offensively because he is still learning and adjusting to the Ram's style of play Shannon. Shannon will have a tall task in stopping, NBA prospect, Okaro White.

Ian Miller

For FSU to be successful this game, Ian Miller must be aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. The senior is the most experienced guard on the team and fills the role as the teams 6th man to provide a spark off the bench for FSU. Miller has proven over the past four years at FSU to be able to put up points in bunches by hitting shots from behind the arc and by penetrating to the basket. Miller is relied on by FSU to make outside shots for the team since they are a very sub-par three point shooting team. If Miller gets hot from outside then he will be able to penetrate to the rim and either take it himself or drop it down to the FSU big men. The veteran guard will be tough for VCU to handle, but if VCU can contain Miller then VCU should be able to beat this tough, defensively oriented FSU team.

Predicted Score:

VCU: 72

FSU: 59