FanPost

St.John's 87 VCU 86 by the tempo free numbers


Brooklyn, NY - Just look at the final statistics and you can tell the type game it was. Sixteen ties and 24 lead changes. Forty five hotly contested minutes. In a meeting with March-like intensity, St.John’s edged VCU 87-86 to capture the Legends Classic at Barclays Center on Tuesday. The Red Storm improved to 5-0 while the Rams fell to 4-1. The St.John’s championship took place not far from the street Red Storm coach Chris Mullin grew up on in Brooklyn.


The numbers of note:

Possessions: St.John’s 83 VCU 87

Offensive efficiency: St.John’s 105 VCU 99


Four Factors:

eFG: St.John’s 47 VCU 52

FT rate: St.John’s 33 VCU 44

OREB pct: St.John’s 22 VCU 28

TO rate: St.John’s 11 VCU 25


What St.John’s did well...Force turnovers. The Rams were guilty of 22 turnovers leading to a 21-9 St.John’s advantage in points off turnover. Obviously a significant mark in a one possession game.


What VCU did well...Shoot from the perimeter. The Rams did get some open looks. Other were contested, and they still converted. "They (VCU) made some shots we defended closely," Mullin said. "Not much you can do when they hit those type shots." For the game VCU shot 13 of 34 (38%) from three.


Leading scorers: Shamorie Ponds, St.John’s 35 points

Isaac Vann, VCU 30 points


Efficiency leaders: Ponds, 36

Vann, 38


Ponds captured tournament MVP honors scoring 67 points in two games. Vann was selected to the all-tournament team.

Rebounding numbers were deceptive. Both teams had 11 offensive boards while the Rams won the overall battle of the glass 45-36.

Beside his 30 points, Vann grabbed 11 rebounds-second to teammate Marcus Santos-Silva with a dozen.

Ponds scored on a running left hand shot just outside the lane with 5.8 seconds to play in overtime. VCU immediately came down the floor and got the look they wanted. Marcus Evans, a 12 point scorer, attempted a three from top of the key. Evans wads closely defended and shot and missed. The VCU bench thought Evans was ‘too closely’ guarded and wanted a foul. No call. Game and Legends title to St.John’s.


"Was it a foul," VCU coach Mike Rhoades said repeating a question from the media. "well there was no whistle so no foul, It is what it is but not getting the call did not make us lose. There are a number of things we could have done differently to win this game."

FanPosts are written by your fellow readers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or stance of the editors of Mid-Major Madness.