Three keys for UNC basketball to beat VCU in NCAA Tournament
· Yahoo Sports
North Carolina opens NCAA Tournament play in the South Region on Thursday, and the Tar Heels won’t ease into March. Instead of drawing an overmatched mid-major, UNC gets a seasoned bracket buster in No. 11 seed VCU — the type of opponent that has ended many higher seeds’ runs before they ever got started.
VCU is no stranger to this stage. The Rams have reached the NCAA Tournament 15 times since 2004, building a reputation as one of the country’s most dangerous lower seeds. They have advanced out of the first round five times in that span, highlighted by a win over No. 6 seed Duke in 2007 and their memorable Cinderella sprint to the Final Four in 2011.
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For a program that expects not just to make the field, but to win in it, another upset bid will not intimidate VCU. The Rams arrive in the bracket with history, confidence and a style of play that has tripped up power-conference opponents before — a reminder that North Carolina’s opening game could be far more treacherous than the seed lines suggest.
Here are three keys to victory for Carolina.
Limit VCU’s Sharpshooting Ability
VCU’s offense is one of the best in the country, averaging 81.6 points per game and shooting 36.7% from 3-point range, which ranks 37th nationally. North Carolina, meanwhile, has allowed opponents to shoot 34.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks 238th nationally and 14th in the ACC. The Tar Heels were last in conference play in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 38.5% from long range.
Get the Ball Inside
One of VCU’s biggest issues is putting teams on the line. The Rams commit 17.3 fouls per game, which ranks 168th nationally. The most direct way to get VCU in foul trouble is to attack the paint and play through contact.
Henri Veesaar has been the focal point of UNC’s offense, so he is going to get plenty of touches on the block and in the high post. But the Tar Heels need production from their other bigs as well. The backcourt has to put pressure on the rim, get downhill off ball screens and dribble penetration, and create paint touches. Trimble can’t be the only guard collapsing the defense and generating free-throw opportunities.
Stay Out of Foul Trouble
VCU also has plenty of depth. The Rams have nine players who have appeared in at least 27 games and average at least 10 minutes. They rank seventh nationally in bench points at 34 per game, and all but one of those rotation players average more than 5.5 points.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Three keys to beating VCU NCAA Tournament opener