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VCU's Upset Bid Faces Illinois's Three-Point Barrage
21 Mar
Summary
- VCU Rams achieved the biggest comeback win in the opening round.
- Illinois Fighting Illini are 13th nationally in three-point shot rate.
- VCU struggles to defend the perimeter, ranking 113th in opponent three-point percentage.
The VCU Rams, having secured the largest comeback victory in the NCAA Tournament's opening round, now confront a significant test in the Round of 32 against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois demonstrated their offensive power with a decisive 105-70 win over Pennsylvania.
Illinois's offense heavily relies on three-point shooting, ranking 13th nationally with 50.6% of their shots originating from beyond the arc. This plays into a vulnerability for VCU, which has struggled defending the perimeter, holding the 113th rank in opponent three-point field goal percentage at 32.9%.
The Fighting Illini also excel at fundamental basketball, exhibiting the ninth-lowest turnover rate and the ninth-highest rebounding rate in the country. These strengths pose a substantial obstacle for VCU, as overcoming Illinois will likely require superior performance in rebounding and ball security, alongside exceptional shooting from the Rams.
