VCU vs. Kansas: Drawing Back the Sling—A Final Four Blueprint for the Rams

The VCU Rams entered the big dance as an epithet, exhibit C in the people's case against the tournament selection committee. 

Now, on the precipice of college basketball history, the Rams are on everybody's tongue for decidedly different reasons. Sunday at 2:20 p.m., No. 11 VCU—the lowest seed still dancing—will hope its slingshot aim is true when it faces juggernaut Kansas—the highest seed still dancing—for a ticket to the Final Four.

Kansas holds an advantage in just about every statistical category. The Jayhawks score 11 more points, grab seven more rebounds and dish out four more assists per contest than their counterparts from Richmond, Va. They won eight more games this year, in a far tougher conference. They've got potential NBA draft picks in Marcus and Markieff Morris, Josh Selby and Thomas Robinson.

Unless there's a preexisting rooting interest, everyone always pulls for the underdog in this type of situation. But is an upset here really realistic, or is Kansas going to roll?

To my mind, yes, the Rams can do it. But if they wish to follow in the glass-slippered footsteps of that other No. 11 seed out of the Colonial Athletic Association—George Mason—they'll need to draw up and execute the blueprint of their lives.

At this point, of course, your team has a sound identity. As my imaginary uncle says, you've gotta dance with the horse that brought you. Neither of these teams can change at this point, nor should they try. So it's about leveraging your existing strengths in as useful a way as possible.

The first key to that for VCU is coach Shaka Smart. Every year, the tournament produces some breakout coaching star. Jayhawks honcho Bill Self was in that position back when he took Tulsa to the Elite Eight in 2000 and Butler's Brad Stevens was there last year. In 2011, it's Smart's turn.

You can tell it's a true breakout when the pundits start talking like they knew who the coach was two months ago. I'm not going to pretend like I'm intimately familiar, but Smart's intelligence and charisma are easy to see. He radiates poise and calm. Plus, he has yet to lose in a postseason; he sports a flawless 9-0 record. That has to mean something.

On the court, VCU's big key, in my opinion, will be quick hands. VCU relies on defensive pressure to make things happen, as evidenced by the 34 steals they have in tournament play, good for second in the field behind only BYU.

The Rams know now is not the time to go conservative, either. It's risky, but if the Rams can put some fingertips on some leather, they could be rewarded with easy baskets and might get the Jayhawks thinking a little harder about ball security. That, in turn, could be the proverbial camel's nose under the tent for VCU.

Next is point guard Joey Rodriguez. The phrase "he's the straw that stirs the drink" was made for players like him. VCU has decent size, but is minus-3 in rebounding margin where Kansas is plus-8. They're not going to get a lot of second chances. They'll need their first shots to be good ones and by good ones I mean open ones. That's where having a good point guard can help and Rodriguez is just the ticket.

That brings us to the three-pointer. In terms of feet and inches, VCU actually matches up OK with the Jayhawks. Skill-wise and depth-wise, they don't. Against Florida State, the Rams chose to try and win with the three and it worked, as they went a solid 12-for-26. But they'll need more firepower against Kansas than they did against the low-scoring Seminoles.

Plus, Kansas has an extremely tight defense, especially on the perimeter. Rodriguez will need eyes in the back of his head and Bradford Burgess and Brandon Rozzell will need to be ready to pull the trigger when the ball swings their way.

Finally, there's the issue of just plain old guts. VCU has it in spades, as they showed in hanging on against Florida State and in not being cowed by the critics at the beginning of the tournament. Oh, and beating Georgetown and Purdue. Kind of a telltale there.

Is a win likely? Probably not. Vegas doesn't think so, anyway, as Kansas is a double-digit favorite across the board. But it's not so bad a matchup that an upset is inconceivable. Every proverbial cylinder will need to fire, but it can happen. As always, it'll be decided between the lines (it's not college football, after all). And if the Rams can pull it off, they'll go down in history among the sport's great Goliath-slayers.