
Checking in on Ryan Odom, who I’m told is one of the three top candidates of an informal UVA Basketball search committee, his VCU team won at home last night, 78-62, over Saint Louis.
It was a tale of two halves: the Rams led 47-42 at the break, largely by dominating the offensive glass (13 offensive rebounds vs. nine defensive rebounds for Saint Louis), which translated into a 17-3 advantage in second-chance points.
The second half was a pitched defensive battle, which VCU won 31-20 by forcing 13 second-half turnovers (on 31 SLU possessions, an unfathomable 41.9 percent forced-turnover rate) and holding the Billikens to 6-of-19 shooting from the field and 1-of-9 shooting from three.
This is the basic math to successful basketball: 22 VCU offensive rebounds, 19 forced turnovers, led to the Rams getting off 35 (!) more shots from the field (72-37).
Other things to like about the style of play:
- VCU was 12-of-21 on shots at the rim. For the season, according to data from CBB Analytics, the Rams average 11.4 makes on 17.1 shots at the rim. For comparison, Virginia, this season, averages 7.6 makes on 13.2 shots at the rim.
- Shooting in the paint (including shots at the rim): 19-of-35. For the season, VCU averages 14.6 makes on 24.9 shots in the paint; UVA averages 11.4 makes on 22.6 shots.
- Fast-break points: 15. Season average for VCU: 10.9. UVA fast-break point season average: 3.1.
Some overview observations
The pace that Odom plays at isn’t all that much more up-tempo. Last night, VCU had 66 possessions, and on the season, the Rams are averaging 66.5, which ranks 238th nationally, per KenPom.
Virginia averages 60.5 possessions, per game, which ranks 363rd, dead-last, nationally.
One thing that stands out: VCU gets a lot more of its shots in transition (VCU: 16.4 percent of its field goal attempts, UVA: 3.7 percent) and on offensive putbacks (VCU: 6.7 percent, UVA: 4.7 percent).
UVA gets a lot more of its shots in the halfcourt game (UVA: 91.6 percent, VCU: 76.4 percent).
Odom’s defense is good: KenPom ranks VCU 26th nationally in adjusted points per possession (0.960). Virginia is having a historically bad season on the defensive end this year, giving up 1.021 points per possession, which ranks 100th nationally.
The emphasis on ball pressure on D leads to a +4.7 percent advantage in turnover rate. (UVA is in the negative, at -3.2 percent.)
The approach to attacking the offensive boards translates to a +6.4 percent rebound rate advantage. (UVA, again, is in the negative, at -7.0 percent.)
Bottom line
There’s a lot to like here.
Odom’s system gets more shots in transition, creates more scoring opportunities with pressure defense and offensive rebounding, puts an emphasis on getting the ball into the paint to create scoring opportunities at the rim and for shooters on the three-point line on kickouts.
It’s also infinitely more aesthetically pleasing, but that’s what it is.