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Carrie Stroup here with your Ohio State vs. VCU point spread for Thursday’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (23-10) vs. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH RAMS (26-9)
NCAA Tournament – Second Round
Sportsbook.ag Line: Ohio State -4, Total: 136.5
A spot in the third round of the NCAA tournament is on the line when Ohio State takes on VCU in Portland Thursday.
Ohio State was unable to beat Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament, losing 76-67 as a 1.5-point underdog. The Buckeyes lost two of their past three games both SU and ATS heading into this tournament, allowing 72+ points in each of the three games. They’ll need to patch things up defensively or they’ll really struggle to advance any further than where they are now.
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VCU comes into this tournament after beating Dayton 71-65 as a 2.5-point favorite in the Atlantic 10 championship game. The Rams have won five straight games SU and they’ve covered in their past three as well. This offense is hot lately, averaging 73.6 PPG over the course of the winning streak.
This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams. Ohio State is 11-4 ATS after a game where it failed to cover the spread this season. The Buckeyes are 0-7 ATS in a neutral court game where the total is between 130 and 139.5 points over the past three seasons. VCU is 12-3 ATS in NCAA tournament games since 1997. F Anthony Lee (Groin) is out indefinitely for the Buckeyes and G Briante Weber (Knee) is out for the season for the Rams.
This Buckeyes team is excellent offensively, averaging 75.8 PPG (24th in NCAA) on 48.6% shooting (11th in NCAA). They know how to move the ball (15.4 APG, 25th in NCAA) and also work very hard on the glass (35.8 RPG, 94th in NCAA). The team was also solid defensively throughout the year, giving up just 62.4 PPG (74th in NCAA). That has not been the case lately though and it will need to turn things around against VCU.
G D’Angelo Russell (19.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG) is the type of player that can carry a team far in this tournament. Russell has an impressive handle for a guy that is 6-foot-5 and that combined with his quick release makes him extremely tough to cover. He’s a lights-out shooter from behind the arc (42% 3PT) and can also get his teammates shots whenever he wants to. Russell is a triple-double threat whenever he is on the floor and he’ll need to be at his best on Thursday.
G Shannon Scott (8.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 SPG) had been playing some of his best basketball of the season heading into the tournament. Over the past three games, Scott is averaging 14.7 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.7 RPG and 2.0 SPG. The senior has plenty of experience and will need to bring the same tenacity on both ends that he always does on Thursday.
C Amir Williams (6.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG) is another player with a lot of experience for the Buckeyes. The senior is an outstanding shot-blocker and will need to provide some solid minutes of rim protection against a very good VCU offense.
F Sam Thompson (10.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG) had 13 points in 34 minutes against Michigan State last game. Thompson is one of the most talented players on this team, but has scored in double digits in just two of his past five contests. He must find his game offensively on Thursday.
The Rams showed that they could put up points in a hurry this season, averaging 72.5 PPG (53rd in NCAA) on 42.0% shooting (256th in NCAA). The team had its struggles defensively though, allowing 65.5 PPG (143rd in NCAA). This game has all the makings of a shootout, but VCU will need to find a way to get timely stops down the stretch.
F Treveon Graham (16.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.6 APG) will need to play his best basketball if the Rams are going to make a run in this tournament. Graham is an incredible scorer that can finish at the rim and shoot out to the three-point line (38% 3PT). He has been a monster for VCU recently, averaging 19.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 3.0 APG over the past two contests. This Rams team is undersized, so Graham will need to continue to rebound the ball effectively going forward.
G Melvin Johnson (12.3 PPG, 1.1 SPG) has really struggled recently for the Rams, averaging just 7.0 PPG over the past two contests. Johnson averaged 19.5 PPG in the previous two games and VCU will need him to be reliable as a scorer in the tournament. He is a good outside shooter (37% 3PT) and needs to keep knocking down threes for this team.
F Mo Alie-Cox (7.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 BPG) is the closest thing the Rams have to a true post player. He has stepped up his scoring while Johnson has struggled, averaging 15.5 PPG over the past two games. Alie-Cox is averaging 4.5 fouls per game over the past two games though, and the team does not have the frontcourt depth to put up with losing him against Ohio State. He must remain disciplined while also making a big impact on the glass and on defense.
G JeQuan Lewis (8.4 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG) played very well in the conference tournament and averaged 14.0 PPG and 4.0 APG in the last two contests heading into this tournament. Lewis has struggled with his shot this season (37% FG), but can be a major x-factor if he is to get it going on Thursday.
- Carrie Stropu, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
