Bonnies, Rams survive semifinal stage, will meet in A-10 championship

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

The Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals proved to be double satisfaction for St. Bonaventure and VCU. 

Both the Bonnies and Rams advanced to next Sunday’s final, to be held at Dayton Arena. In the process, both avenged recent losses. The Bonnies rolled over Saint Louis, 71-53. In the nightcap at VCU’s Siegel Center, the site of both contests, VCU eliminated Davidson, 64-52. 

St. Bonaventure had suffered its worst loss of the season to the Billikens in Saint Louis a month to the day earlier, 70-59. Just last week, VCU dropped a 65-57 decision at Davidson, allowing the Bonnies to clinch the Atlantic 10 regular season championship.

Facing St. Bonaventure this year, you know what you will get: A suffocating defense and aggressive rebounding, also an offense predicated on an inside-out game highlighted by quick and unselfish ball movement. Coach Mark Schmidt’s group had plenty of that on Saturday, with a little wrinkle added in.

“They ran some high ball screens early that caught us a little by surprise,” Saint Louis’ Jordan Goodwin said. “Give them credit, they had a really good game plan.”

The Bonnies are also known for its starters logging 35-plus minutes. When Schmidt does go to his bench, he gets contributions. On this evening, Alejandro Vasquez came off the bench earlier. The Queens native buried two threes that sparked an 11-1 run. The Bonnies never looked back. 

“He scored only six points,” Schmidt said. “For us, they were very big points. The spark he gave us got us going.” 

Saint Louis coach Travis Ford concurred.

“Their starting five is talented and solid from point guard right on through,” Ford said. “To have a guy come in and do what he did, that’s tough to handle.” 

In the game at Saint Louis, the Billikens got out to an early 17-4 lead. Vasquez helped St. Bonaventure play the role of aggressor this time out, building on a 33-25 halftime lead.

“We put too much hard work in all season to give up,” said Jalen Adaway, who led the Bonnies with 17 points. 

“My freshman year, they beat us in the conference finals,” Kyle Lofton recalled. “They ended our season. We wanted to show them today while they are a great team, we are also.”

Schmidt would concur, saying, “this is as good as we played all season. To hold a team like Saint Louis to 53 points is an accomplishment.”

“Our defense was great,” he observed. “Shun (Osun Osunniyi) was our MVP. He blocked seven shots and it seemed like 17. He’s our eraser back there.”

Ford felt his group never got on track. 

“First time out I said, ‘Guys, let’s go,’” he said. “Our performance looked like we didn’t come to play. Credit Bonaventure for that.”

Prior to Ford’s remarks, Schmidt said the whole season, not just the tournament, was an adjustment. 

“Credit the Atlantic 10 for the job they did all year. We are in a pandemic, it is what it is. If you told our guys their next game was in a parking lot, they would be ready to play.”

In the second game, VCU held Davidson to 17 first half points. The Rams led, 24-17, at the break. There was concern on the part of VCU mentor Mike Rhoades. Not on the defensive end, rather it was the offense.

“We played good defense against an efficient offense,” Rhoades said. “At halftime, we emphasized sticking to the game plan, but finishing shots. First half, we had looks and would get to the rim but wouldn’t battle through contact to finish. At halftime, we all took a deep breath and in the second half, we made plays.”

Much was made of last week’s meeting between the two, a game Bones Hyland of VCU sat out injured. The big difference, beside Hyland, was points in the paint. In the game at Belk Arena, Davidson scored 34 points in the paint. In this rematch, the Wildcats were limited to 16. 

“We did a great job with the scouting report in the film room and walkthrough,” Rhoades said. “Points in the paint was a big emphasis. Our guys are young and youth can be immature, but our guys are always ready to fight. Every experience builds familiarity. Playing an offense like Richmond or Davidson runs is difficult. So I think playing them a week ago helped. Our guys did a great job preparing.”

Given the season VCU has put together, it’s almost hard to fathom, or remember, that the Rams were picked ninth in the preseason conference poll. 

“It’s been motivation,” Rhoades admitted. “To us, nine is nothing but a number. Our guys realize this. It is not who we are or what we are about, but it has been a motivator all season long.”