VCU was once the Cinderella of the NCAA tournament. In 2011, head coach Shaka Smart led the team to a win over Kansas to earn a spot in the Final Four. Akron enters this match-up looking to become a Cinderella in their own right, as a 12th-seed attempting to upset a fifth-seen.
Smart has installed a well-oiled defense and fast-paced offense at VCU that has served the program well. This will be the team's third-straight tournament appearance and their highest seeding since being No. 2 back in 1985. Smart has turned down multiple offers from bigger programs, deciding to remain at VCU and continues to improve the program year after year.
The team will be hard to beat. They have four double-digit scorers, led by Treveon Graham who is averaging 15.5 points per game. Akron counters that 7-foot center Zeke Marshall. He is the MAC's and NCAA's active all-time leading shot-blocker. He averages a team-high 13 points per game.
While Akron will beat VCU in size, VCU has better scoring. Size could be an advantage for Akron as long as they can slow down the pace of play with VCU. They will be playing without guard Alex Abreu who was suspended for drug trafficking charges. This will make the game a challenge for Akron since VCU's defense has the nation's highest turnover rate. Akron is coming off of a 19-game win streak. If they can get up on VCU early, they may have a solid chance at becoming the Cinderella VCU once was.
