VMI Keydets

Postgame interviews: VMI 111, Canisius 100 (CIT)

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[Immediate reactions + Zach Lewis injured]

By Nick Veronica

The Griffs looked out of it Tuesday night in a 111-100 home loss to VMI that knocked Canisius out of the CIT and ended its season.

Billy Baron said he’s still trying to digest the loss to Iona in the MAAC semifinals. Jim Baron hardly said anything of relevance, going on about how far the program has come since he took it over. I got an update on Zach Lewis out of him before he left:

Maybe the quote of the day from VMI’s Rodney Glasgow: “Coach told us, ‘Be sharks on blood.’ ”

Canisius players Chris Perez, Chris Manhertz, Billy Baron and Dominique Raney

Canisius coach Jim Baron

VMI coach Duggar Baucom and players Rodney Glasgow and D.J. Covington

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Immediate reactions: VMI 111, Canisius 100 (CIT first round)

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[Zach Lewis injured + Postgame video]

By Nick Veronica

How it happened: If you sleepwalk through part of a postseason game, odds are that will be the last game you play. Canisius got down 15-0 early Tuesday night and never recovered, getting bounced from the first round of the CIT. VMI, which owns the nation’s top scoring offense, played fast and furious, shooting as often as possible. D.J. Covington scored 37 points, the most of any Canisius opponent this season, and Rodney Glasgow finished with 27, including 5 of 9 from three-point range. Canisius’ defense, while not a strong point of the team at point this season, was especially weak.

The Griffs trailed 59-45 at halftime but showed signs of life with an 8-0 to open the second half. Billy Baron cut the deficit to two points at 76-74 midway through the second half, but that was as close as Canisius would come. The most points an opponent had scored against Canisius this season was Iona’s 101.

The 100 points were a season high for Canisius. Chris Perez had a season-high 30, two off his career high, Billy Baron had 24 and Dominique Raney had 20. The Griffs finish at 21-13 and missed a chanced to match the school record for wins. Baron became just the second player in school history to finish his career with 1,400 points, 350 assists and 300 rebounds.

What it means: This was the final collegiate game for seniors Billy Baron, Chris Manhertz, Chris Perez and Jordan Heath. Perhaps their MAAC Tournament hangover led to their poor start, but VMI was clearly the better team and the Keydets will advance to the second round of the CIT.

Lewis injured: Freshman guard Zach Lewis injured his ankle in the first half and did not return. If his injury is serious, that would be bad news for the Griffs heading into the offseason, as Lewis is the only returning starter.

Records set: VMI’s scoring led to several Koessler Center records.

This part was fun:

What’s next: Watching other teams play in the NCAA Tournament.

Canisius vs. VMI gameday 3/18/14 (CIT first round)

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By Nick Veronica

Canisius hosts Virginia Military Institute at 7 p.m. tonight in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

The teams: Canisius Golden Griffins: 21-12 overall, 14-6 MAAC (4th), 9-3 home. RPI: 98, BPI: 140, Kenpom: 110.

VMI Keydets: 19-12, 11-5 Big South (2nd in North division), 5-9 road. RPI: 220, BPI: 218, Kenpom: 219.

Demystifying VMI: The Keydets are the highest-scoring team in the country, averaging 87.7 points per game. But don’t worry about that. The Keydets are much less scary when you look deeper into their stats.

For starters, VMI scores a lot because it plays at a fast pace, not because its offense is super efficient or abnormally adept at making baskets. VMI’s adjusted tempo is the third-highest in the country, according to Kenpom, but its shooting percentage is 186th and its adjusted offensive efficiency is 142nd. Canisius shoots field goals at a better rate and averages more points per possession than VMI.

Secondly, you have look at who VMI was playing. Its four highest-scoring games of the year came against Washington College (Division III), Bluefield State (Division II), Bridgewater (D-III) and Virginia University of Lynchburg (non-NCAA). VMI did score more than 100 points against four Division I teams, but if you take out these four non D-I opponents, VMI’s scoring average falls to 83.2, which would drop it to fifth nationally, behind Iona.

Plus, it’s not like VMI’s defense is very efficient, either. Kenpom ranks the Keydets’ defense 291st-most efficient in the country, and only three teams give up more points per game. (And if you exclude the non-Division I opponents, VMI’s scoring defense falls another place, below Niagara.)

What’s a Keydet? Apparently the same thing as a cadet, if you believe About.com.

Players to watch: Despite VMI’s lack of efficiency on a per-possession basis, its players still put the ball through the hoop frequently, which should make for an entertaining game. Freshman guard QJ Peterson leads the team at 19.4 points per game. Senior forward D.J. Covington scores 18.7 ppg and, at 6-foot-9, leads the team in rebounding at 9.4 per game. Guard Rodney Glasgow averages 18.4 ppg and adds 5.6 assists. (I don’t know why D.J. has dots but QJ doesn’t. That’s how their roster has it.)

Milestones: A win would give Canisius 22 wins on the season, matching the school record set in 1994 and 1957. … With 19 points and seven assists in the postseason, Billy Baron can become just the second player in school history with 1,400 points, 350 assists and 300 rebounds. … Chris Manhertz is 14 rebounds shy of 800 for his career, which only three players in school history have accomplished. … Canisius has already set the school record for most points in a season.

With a win: Canisius or VMI will advance to the second round of the CIT and will have to await a pairing with a (relatively) nearby school. Bracket play doesn’t start until the third round. Canisius would be on the road for Round Two, and personally I’d be interested to see the Griffs play a MAC team (full CIT schedule).

Wild card: VMI is, obviously, a military school. Check out the headshots on their athletics site. Pretty badass. Plus, their coach is a little scary.

No live blog today but check Twitter for updates during the game. I’ll have reactions and postgame interviews up shortly after the buzzer.