First Round Preview – East Rutherford Region
by Neal Heston
(4) Wake Forest vs. (13) VCU
The first-ever meeting between the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons
and the VCU Rams will certainly be an important one, with the victor
moving on to face Florida or Manhattan in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament.
Wake Forest may look like a lock on paper, but the Deacons
shouldn’t necessarily look past VCU. On both sides of the floor, there
will be youth and inexperience. The Rams are making their first
appearance in the tournament since 1996, and Wake Forest fills the
floor with one of the youngest rosters in college basketball, having no
scholarship seniors.
Experience aside, the Deacons do have the advantage in the
offensive aspect. With 17.2 points per contest Justin Gray leads a
young squad that ranks second nationally in scoring with 83.8 points
per game. He is one of five Wake Forest players averaging in double
figures, so it is no secret to VCU that a victory lies in stopping this
potent offense.
VCU and Wake Forest enter Thursday’s contest on opposite ends
of the roller coaster. The Rams are riding an eight-game winning
streak, while the Deacons have dropped three consecutive decisions.
