St. Joseph's vs VCU Picks and Prediction – 2/25/2024

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In a pivotal Atlantic 10 matchup, the Saint Joseph's Hawks fly into Richmond to face the VCU Rams in a game that could significantly impact conference standings. Both teams boast identical 17-9 records but differ in conference success. With VCU sitting at 9-4 in the conference compared to Saint Joseph's 7-7, this clash at 3:00 PM on February 25th promises to be a nail-biter for fans and bettors alike. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Saint Joseph's Hawks have shown they can light up the scoreboard, averaging 76.8 points per game, ranking 89th nationwide. The offense is spearheaded by Erik Reynolds II, who averages 16.6 points per game, with Lynn Greer III dishing out 3.9 assists and Rasheer Fleming dominating the boards with 7.2 rebounds per game. However, the defense allows an average of 71.3 points per game, which places them in the middle pack nationally. 

The Hawks' recent performance has been a rollercoaster, with a 5-5 record in the last 10 games, including an impressive win against George Washington but disappointing losses to Duquesne and La Salle. Three-point shooting accuracy stands at 36.2%, making them a threat from beyond the arc.

VCU Rams, on the other hand, pride themselves on defensive prowess, allowing only 66.2 points per game, which ranks 37th in the nation. The offense, led by Max Shulga's 14.8 points per game, averages 71.6 points. Sean Bairstow's playmaking abilities, averaging 4.5 assists, and Toibu Lawal's presence in the paint, leading the team with 5.7 rebounds per game, are crucial. 

VCU's defensive strategy has been effective, particularly in limiting opponents to a 29.1% success rate from 3-point land, ranking 11th nationally. Despite a tough loss against Massachusetts, the Rams have won 7 out of the last 10 games, showcasing the capacity to bounce back.