Game Preview: VCU vs Northeastern

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At The Siegel Center:

Head Coach: Bill Coen

Projected Starters for Northeastern:

SG- Demetrius Pollard #2
Junior- 6'2

PG- T.J. Williams #10
Freshman- 6'3

C-Scott Eatherton #43
Junior- 6'8

SF- Quincy Ford #12
Junior- 6’8
✵If healthy will start

PF- Reggie Spencer #44
Junior- 6'7

Key Reserves

G/SF-David Walker #4
Sophmore- 6'6

G/SF- Zach Stahl #33
Sophmore-

 PG- Marco Banegas-Flores #11
Junior- 6’1 

SF- Derrico Peck #24
Sophmore- 6'5

Characteristics of Northeastern:

• Northeastern is a very disciplined in half court sets on defense, where they try to hold you to taking a forced shot at the end of the shot clock. They will not take many risks, if it costs them to lose their defensive position.
• They are not a deep team, but they try to wear you down by feeding it down low to their quality big men and long offensive possessions.
• They have capable outside shooters with Quincy Ford and Demetrius Pollard.

Advantages/Disadvantages for the Rams:

Advantages:

• VCU should tear up the young guards of Northeastern’s in the full court press
• VCU has much more depth than Northeastern. The lack of quality subs should cause the huskies to make mental mistakes from being exhausted.

Disadvantages:

• VCU cannot let the slow pace offensive possessions on offense for NU make the rams forget what they do best which is get up and down the court for easy transition points.
• VCU cannot bail out NU by fouling late in the shot clock. In the loss versus Georgetown (Northeastern beat Georgetown last week), VCU fouled the Hoyas 29 times that game.

Key Player for the Rams and Huskies:

  

Rob Brandenberg

So far this season, Rob Brandenberg has been carrying the rams offensively early this season. Brandenberg has shot the ball well from outside and attacking the rim with authority. The only thing he must do now that the rams have faced adversity this year with two early season losses is become the emotional leader for VCU. With him and Juvonte being around the longest one of them most take the leadership role over. Juvonte is having his own individual struggles right now so Brandenberg must step up in that category. Brandenberg must come out with a lot of energy so the younger guys follow suit and VCU’s havoc defenses is at full strength.

Demetrius Pollard

The 757 native, Demetrius Pollard, returns back to his home state of Virginia and he and his teammates will try to pull off the upset playing at the Siegal Center this Friday. In order for the NU to get the win they will need Pollard to shoot the ball extremely well from behind the arc and handle the pressure of the rams in the press. With star small forward, Quincy Ford, being questionable for this game, Pollard will be the go to guy for the perimeter players for NU. Pollard can get hot from deep which then allows him to shot-fake and go to the rim and finish. Pollard will also be relied on by NU in taking the ball up the court because of NU’s inexperience at the guard position. Pollard does not have the best handle so he will have to be smart in breaking the press by making good passes to break it.

Predicted Score:

VCU:77

NU: 68