3 Keys for BYU Basketball’s First-Round Matchup with VCU

The Cougars are ready to face a tough defensive opponent on Thursday.

The Cougars will finally get their chance to experience March glory tomorrow, just a year after their upset loss to Duquesne in last season’s tournament opener. This time, they’ll play the 11-seeded A-10 champion, VCU.

Regarded as one of the most under-seeded and dangerous teams in the tournament, VCU will challenge BYU in a matchup that requires a full 40-minute effort from Kevin Young’s squad. Here are three keys for BYU to secure a win:

Take Control Inside

VCU boasts one of the nation’s top interior defenses, with opponents shooting just 43.6% inside the arc, the fourth lowest in the country. Freshman Luke Bamgboye leads the Rams with 2.4 blocks per game, while junior Christian Fermin contributes over 1 block per game, including a 5-block performance against La Salle earlier this season.

Both BYU and VCU will rely heavily on three-point shooting, and whichever team catches fire could take the advantage. However, if neither team gains a significant edge from beyond the arc, the battles in the paint will become crucial. Keba Keita’s lob finishing and Fousseyni Traore’s post-ups will need to be sharp to penetrate one of the nation’s toughest defenses.

Even with their focus on three-pointers this season, BYU ranks 6th in the country for 2-point field goal percentage at 58.6%. If VCU can disrupt this efficiency with their shot-blocking big men and force BYU to be even more reliant on outside shooting, they could pull off the upset. Egor Demin will also be key for BYU, setting up their big men early to establish a strong game flow.

The rebound battle will be significant, particularly after a missed VCU shot. The Rams are 9th in offensive rebounding, while BYU ranks 31st in defensive rebounding. The more rebounds the Cougars collect, the less full-court pressure they’ll face from VCU.

Limit Turnovers

Despite their shocking victory at Iowa State despite 29 turnovers, BYU won’t want to replicate that performance. The VCU defense will be physical, aggressive, and relentless throughout the game.

What stands out about VCU’s defense is their full-court pressure, implemented through light ball-handler pressure or full-on traps. BYU has struggled with this type of defense all season, so they’ll need to be careful not to make costly mistakes.

VCU’s approach to guarding ball screens differs from other aggressive defenses like Houston. They play drop coverage, allowing them to cover the roller, while Houston often blitzes both defenders at the ball handler. This drop coverage should allow Richie Saunders to use his floater effectively, and Dallin Hall can drive to the lane to take advantage of defenders out of position.

Above all, the focus should be on avoiding turnovers. If BYU can limit VCU’s transition opportunities by getting stops and pushing the ball, they’ll face less pressure from the Rams’ defense. VCU ranks 34th nationally with over 8 steals per game, and they will capitalize on any signs of sloppiness from BYU.

Contain Max Shulga

VCU’s fate will largely depend on A-10 player of the year Max Shulga, who leads the Rams in scoring and playmaking, with 15.1 points and 4.0 assists per game.

Shulga is an excellent shooter, making 38.6% of his three-pointers on high volume. His shooting threat forces defenders to respect him, allowing him to exploit defenses with mid-range shots or quick drives to the basket.

As a combo guard, Shulga is both a floor general and a constant catch-and-shoot threat. The BYU defense will need to pressure him as much as possible while avoiding getting fooled by his pump fakes or deceptive moves.

BYU’s perimeter defenders must stay disciplined and keep Shulga in front of them. Given BYU’s defensive struggles this season, failing to contain Shulga could lead to a tough matchup where an NBA-caliber passer has too many easy options.

Trey Stewart’s rise this season has been a great asset for Kevin Young, and his on-ball defense could be crucial off the bench if Shulga gets hot early. Stewart’s 3-point shooting also provides an offensive option that many defensive specialists lack.

Shulga isn’t the most physical player, so BYU’s defenders must be more aggressive, even if it leads to a few fouls. If they fail to make Shulga uncomfortable, he could dominate the game.

The Cougars have what it takes to move forward, as they’ve been building for March all season. A few months ago, their tournament appearance was uncertain, but if they can limit Shulga and execute on offense, they should have no trouble advancing.