[Game Thread] VCU @ #18 BYU (04:05 PM ET)

[u/cbbBot]

VCU 71 @ 80 BYU - FINAL

NCAA Basketball

^{Index Thread for March 20, 2025}

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VCU VCU (28-7) @ BYU ##18 BYU (25-9)

Tip-Off: 04:05 PM ET

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Game Info: ESPN

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Television: TNT

Streams:

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Recent Plays:

Time	VCU	BYU	Play
0:00	71	80	End of 2nd half
0:10	71	80	Terrence Hill Jr. made Jumper.
0:19	69	80	Michael Belle Defensive Rebound.
0:20	69	80	Michael Belle subbing in for VCU
0:20	69	80	Obinnaya Okafor subbing in for VCU

Team	FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	OR	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
VCU	41.3	39.5	66.7	31	12	15	6	2	11	23
BYU	50.0	35.0	67.9	40	14	12	6	4	12	16

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^{Last Updated: 2025-03-20 18:23:10 EDT}

[u/jim_shushu]

Brain: hedge your bets, put VCU down as winning in your bracket so if BYU loses you’re not too disappointed

Heart: SWEET SIXTEEN HERE WE COME GONNA BEAT WISCONSIN

[u/[deleted] → u/jim_shushu]

I'll be ecstatic if we can break the tourney win drought

I'll be unsurprised if we continue our 14 year tradition

[u/jim_shushu → u/[deleted]]

Sounds like VCU isn’t a great matchup for us, guess we’ll see soon. Worse comes to worst I’ll be in the postgame thread with walls of text about how we’re a cross country school and I don’t even care about basketball.

[u/flushedoutthepocket]

Both of us have already outscored Clemson lol

[u/Equivalent_Poetry339]

Don’t worry guys, I put 100 bucks on VCU. That outta do it

[u/Lame_Night → u/Equivalent_Poetry339]

Appreciate the sacrifice

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

For the first time since Jimmermania, BYU is going to make it out of the first round!

[u/kirkismyhinrich]

Lets go BYU. Just pretend like you're playing Kansas

[u/jfarbzz]

How has it taken me this long to realize this is the second straight year that we have a 6 seed BYU-11 seed A10 champ matchup lol

[u/Reasonable_Cause7065 → u/jfarbzz]

I like this year a lot more

[u/Hackcident]

“I’m not gonna say anything about his free throw shooting he’s 3/4 that’s good enough for me”

*bricks

“3 for 5”

🤣🤣

[u/flanhelsinki]

WILL THE FIRST ROUND CURSE BE BROKEN THIS YEAR?!

FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON "RELATIVE RACE"

[u/flanhelsinki]

WE GAVE UP LOSING FOR RAMADAN

[u/Seer_stoner]

Fun fact. I have never watched a BYU tourney win in my life. This feels…good. GG VCU.

[u/kakapoopoopeepeeshir]

We have 12 min left in the half and both teams have scored more points than Clemson did for their entire first half. 13 points is wild

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

You fools, Demin was merely hiding his power until BYU truly needed him in March!

[u/111cesarz]

I know its a different game but gonzaga outscored clemsons first half in 4 minutes 😂

[u/riptide123]

Vcu slowing tempo to a crawl is what so many college offenses do when things are going badly and its so stupid - more posessions is better

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

Kevin “Lisan al Gaib” Young, lead us to paradise (the round of 32)

[u/sarlacc98]

VCU is doing a good job of slowing us down but we are dominating in the paint rn

[u/OnEMoReTrY121 → u/sarlacc98]

Fous is such a luxury to have on the team. Gives the offense another dimension.

[u/No-Smoke-Please]

Rule #1 - don’t bet against the Big 12!

(Please Iowa State, don’t hurt me)

[u/GetUpOut]

Church of Threesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

[u/[deleted] → u/GetUpOut]

Unlimited points for an original joke in a BYU thread

[u/Additional_Data_Need → u/[deleted]]

It's so refreshing to see some creativity instead of the same tired jokes.

[u/JazzYotesRSL → u/GetUpOut]

This is the first Mormon joke in a BYU thread that legitimately made me laugh in a while.

[u/snoocoog]

Rooting for the blue Cougs today!

[u/ImpliedMustache]

Winning because our bigs are better wasn't on my bingo card.

[u/flushedoutthepocket]

Uhhh at least we look better than UGA and Clemson? That's something right?

[u/T2_JD → u/flushedoutthepocket]

Alabama State losing to Auburn by as much as Clemson losing to Mcneese is not something I saw coming.

[u/MurkySatisfaction135]

Jay Wright struggling with BYU names rn. Trevor Knell and 'EE-gor' Denim lol

[u/chappedexmo]

Saunders is Him. One of my favorite BYU players of all time

[u/kirkismyhinrich]

11 just shoving the BYU player out of the way there.

[u/mlk960]

Everyone was saying VCU defense would be a problem, but they didn't watch their games against us. BYU is too large, too physical, and too good at kicking the ball out when you collapse on a dribble.

[u/jlks1959]

Rooting for you. Glad you’re doing well today. 

[u/JazzYotesRSL → u/jlks1959]

Same. Go kill some pigs!

[u/Fearghas]

BYU's scored more points in six minutes than Clemson managed in a half.

[u/Yoduh217]

FOUSSS

[u/anzchoson]

These refs are alternating between letting them play and ticky tack. It's maddening.

[u/kublakhan1816]

I hate Saunders sitting. Next half should be good.

[u/Yoduh217 → u/kublakhan1816]

Thanks for supporting us fellow Cougars! 

[u/kublakhan1816 → u/Yoduh217]

Love this team. B12 bros

[u/[deleted]]

That half court heave sure looked like a foul in real time

But the replay showed the complete opposite lol

[u/QuieroLaSeptima → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, he created the contact. Good no call imo.

[u/RedSoxfanrrb07]

Let’s go BYU

[u/Leading_Library6600]

Egor's 27% from 3 is deceiving, its more like 70% against Mid Majors and 7% against P5 teams

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

Great move by Demin

[u/kakapoopoopeepeeshir]

Refs letting game be physical which is cool but don’t get strict with ticky tack fouls later

[u/No_Argument_Here]

Come on Cougs. Everybody dickriding VCU but I got you guys going deep. B12 BABY

[u/Zealousideal_Bite_64]

VCU either air balls a 3 or it’s nothing but net with no in between

[u/flanhelsinki]

VCU is actually just Duquesne in disguise

[u/TheIceMan068]

I really hate these teams had to play each other round 1. Both could go far

[u/wiildcat]

VCU can’t do anything about this dude, sheesh

[u/ttonk]

BYU really running on us out there. But honestly our offense has just gone cold. Our guards can’t penetrate, and our big men aren’t creating much opportunity out there.

[u/BrosephHaydn]

Well this game lived up to the hype for about 12 minutes of game time. Not sure how you outscire BYU by 11 in the second half but I guess we will see if the Rams come out with some fight (and any ideas with what do to against a 3-2 zone)

[u/QuieroLaSeptima]

This isn’t normal for us in March.

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

This team is absolutely fighting. Love to see it.

[u/A_Successful_Loser]

BYU gonna be a tough matchup for Wisco

[u/throwawaysmetoo]

BYU is a fun team.

[u/[deleted]]

THE DROUGHT IS OVER

[u/ImpliedMustache]

[u/SEJ46 → u/ImpliedMustache]

FOOOUUUUSS

[u/Balloutonu]

This is the game I’m looking forward to the most before ours. Big XII support

[u/KingKali1101]

Richie Saunders if you can hear me

[u/Qwertyioup111]

I would be rooting for byu against anyone else. Hope we get some cinema.

[u/PracticalCactus → u/Qwertyioup111]

Same to y’all, always liked VCU

[u/TheLadyMagician]

Come on BYU! Do the Big XII proud!

(I still hate you) 

[u/[deleted]]

VCU is getting whatever they want from 3 rn. Rotations are sooo slow

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

Egor starting hot is huge, need some defense on the other end though.

[u/sarlacc98]

Oh shit Catchings is good to play?

[u/jestervalen]

Let’s go vcu. Rep the commonwealth (at least win so we can all laugh at Liberty)

[u/TA404]

Jimmer the 3 x 3 superstar

[u/MeLlamoApe]

It feels good to cheer for Saunders as a neutral finally. Dude is a walking bucket.

[u/flushedoutthepocket]

We were robbed of a BYU Liberty first round game. Would've been fun.

[u/cos001 → u/flushedoutthepocket]

The Christian Nationalism Championship

[u/flanhelsinki]

Danny Ainge lookin around like "I can't wait to draft one of these guys and eventually trade them during their breakout season for some 2nd round draft picks"

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

egor demin

[u/The_Tuba_Titan]

Umm, where was this Demin during the year?

[u/QuieroLaSeptima]

Some of these foul calls are ridiculously ticky tack.

[u/kublakhan1816]

Denim turning it on for the tournament. Love to see it.

[u/[deleted]]

I love Fouss so much. I’m gonna hate to see him leave

[u/HandwovenBox]

Keep feeding Foos

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

Same gameplay as the West Virginia game. Keep getting it to Fous.

[u/Blendbeast15]

FOUS I LOVE YOU

[u/Status_Degree]

VCU can't hit anything

[u/OnEMoReTrY121 → u/Status_Degree]

BYU playing great defense the last 5 minutes.

[u/cheesecakegood]

That's a hilarious visual

[u/greatdayndamornin]

where do they grow these white bois they're HUGE

[u/sarlacc98]

Went to highschool with Richie. Great guy and love to see him succeed

[u/big_mustache_dad]

This little BYU/Wisconsin/St. Mary’s/Bama subregion is tasty

[u/Blendbeast15]

Ah, there's the headscratcher moment from Egor.

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

If Keita was a better FT shooter he'd be unstoppable

[u/Natural-Eye-393]

I don’t know who on Wisconsin is going to stop Keita. BYU I underestimated you.

[u/ImpliedMustache → u/Natural-Eye-393]

It's easy to underestimate us because we were straight ass for the first half of the season.

[u/[deleted]]

Brutal for Clemson to almost claw their way back in after that first half

[u/Leading_Library6600]

last vcu 3 was created by the ute special moving screen

[u/Blendbeast15]

Aren't we in the bonus?

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

I'm glad the bracket that really matters is doing well

(title is a little deceiving, this is mainly based on what team name i like more but overall its just kinda vibes based)

[u/Big_Stingman]

It's against teams like VCU I appreciate how deep our bench is. Can keep rotating fresh guys in.

[u/m_c__a_t]

I'm starting to wonder if there's a chance Duke loses to Oregon/Arizona. I have them going to the final four in most of my brackets but dang the ACC is somehow looking even worse than they did during the regular season

[u/OrderTime]

Nice to see all the big 12 homies coming out swinging so far today

[u/Big_Stingman]

Dang VCU has made 14 threes and hitting +40% clip.

[u/DragonFire101Gamer → u/Big_Stingman]

10/24 from 2 when the other team is 20/34 from 2 is gonna get ya

[u/loyalsons4evertrue]

BYU IS GOING TO MAKE THE ROUND OF 32

[u/T2_JD]

Good game VCU. Definitely respect how tough you guys hung in. And this is coming from a Richmond grad with respect.

[u/Greg_Coat]

BYU better buckle up

[u/Reallyouthere444]

Big 12 supremacy

[u/kakapoopoopeepeeshir]

I am very anxious right now

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

[u/ImpliedMustache]

Richie Saunders signed an NIL deal with Ore-Ida to giveaway tater tots after every win.

[u/AeroStatikk]

This is what the whole season was for. This is what we hired KY to do. It’s time.

[u/jaysornotandhawks]

I'm obsessed with how this is the shortest matchup by total team letters on the scoreboard (VCU + BYU = 6 letters)

[u/kublakhan1816]

Richie Saunders getting NIL money for Tatter tots is funny bc his grandfather created tatter tots I think

[u/ajudge08]

Both teams with more points already than Clemson put up in an entire half lmao

[u/AtleticoFan17]

We’re starting off very aggressive. It’s great to see.

[u/No-Smoke-Please]

Let’s go Cougs! 2-0 B12 Cougars today?

[u/Status_Degree]

picking byu to lose in all my 6 brackets (for the emotional hedge) but LET'S GO COUGS. bit of a rough start, but feeling good

[u/Kant_touch]

Hate that these two are playing in the first round. Both legit

[u/codingsoft]

Hoping the altitude gets to VCU in the second half

[u/kublakhan1816]

This is going to be a nail biter. I’m glad byu isn’t lobbing up BS shots.

[u/PracticalCactus]

I hope we never have to play an A-10 team again

[u/BuschLateMe]

Naturally BYU decides they want to come back to earth offensively after absolutely torching us from three last week

[u/[deleted]]

Egor looking confident from 3 is a fantastic sign

[u/AtleticoFan17]

Damn BYU is really good defensively

[u/Blendbeast15 → u/AtleticoFan17]

We're sneaky good. We just SUCKED in the noncon and play so fast that we're fine in a shootout, but we can win rockfights too

[u/QuieroLaSeptima → u/AtleticoFan17]

So is VCU, I hate this lol

[u/Shoot_the_gaps]

Looks like a weak BYU turnout in the stands

[u/cheesecakegood]

Score is pretty close but there's a good amount to like here from BYU so far

[u/PracticalCactus]

Got two screens up right now to see both my flairs winning

[u/Remote-Molasses6192]

It’s not a nationally televised sporting event in Denver if they don’t show Red Rocks amphitheater.

[u/sarlacc98 → u/Remote-Molasses6192]

To be fair that venue is sick

[u/Shoot_the_gaps]

No response to fous, buckets all day

[u/DragonFire101Gamer]

THEY CAN'T STOP THE FOUSS

[u/Shoot_the_gaps]

I made 25 brackets with none of them with a BYU loss in the first round

[u/Equivalent_Poetry339]

Fouss chokehold wasn’t on my bingo card today

[u/TTNPMoonMan]

I JUST WANT ONE CLOSE GAME PLEASE

[u/Trubisko_Daltorooni]

This is starting to feel like almost every other VCU Tournament game since the Final Four run

[u/JazzYotesRSL]

The start of the second half should be really telling. Hopefully we can punch first to kill any hopes of a comeback.

[u/Trubisko_Daltorooni]

Can't lose the game if we never start the second half

[u/12panther]

BYU absolutely shooting the lights out

[u/TTNPMoonMan]

Should’ve just worked a full day today

[u/tarspaceheels]

Dang, now this game is getting away. Today has been very boring so far.

[u/chappedexmo]

I'm still nervous given our horrific tournament history.

[u/YouAreMadCuzBad]

BYU has so many ball handlers and 3pt shooters like half of their shots are 3s or reverse layups

[u/B_Huij]

Currently reflecting on how we lost a 21 point lead in 13 minutes on March 4th. This game isn't over yet haha.

[u/AtmosphereVarious440]

nice seeing traore playing so well considering last year

[u/Natural-Eye-393]

Ref was a little sus deciding possession there.

Something to watch.

[u/hcatehorie]

There is no basketball on currently, this is a crime

[u/[deleted]]

What on earth was Trey doing there? Bro was crawling around on all fours while his man was shooting a wide open 3

[u/SweatyBanker]

Shulga looks exhausted

[u/xProcess]

BYU is absolutely abusing VCU on the glass holy shit. Gonna be very interested to see how 45 on BYU fares against Wiscos bigs on Saturday.

[u/kylepierce722]

Not even my biased bracket is going to survive. I’m never underestimating Mormons ever again.

[u/[deleted]]

Solid game overall from the cougs, but our 3PT defense has been ABYSMAL. We’re lucky VCU didn’t punish us

[u/Zealousideal_Bite_64]

Why do I feel like VCU is shooting 80% from 3 in the second half

[u/apiaryaviary]

Holding BYU under 80 is genuinely impressive

[u/codingsoft]

VCU still scaring the shit outta me with these 3s

[u/kublakhan1816]

GG BYU. Absolute control of the game with a tight beginning. Good luck Saturday.

[u/Zealousideal_Bite_64]

FINALLY

[u/Idkcantthinkofaname_]

Been one of the most fun VCU seasons in a while, gonna miss this team

[u/15Warrior15]

Good job Blue Cougars !!!

[u/Machiavelli127 → u/15Warrior15]

I picked Houston as the national champs so that the smackdown the red Coogs gave us don't hurt so bad 😂

[u/Leading_Library6600]

You know I really think the issue last year was that we were running our offense through an overweight Egyptian who should have had season ending injury that december, and it worked really good through conference play but Khalifa's body just couldnt handle playing basketball through ramadan.

[u/[deleted]]

This game brought to you by hour long "Stand-ups" and "I don't have anything for this cadence meeting but if I turn my camera off I'll get called out"

[u/The_Fishbowl]

Did they sent the Tabernacle to the tournament game?

[u/shawn131871]

This game should be a good one to watch. 

[u/Kruger-Dunning]

I think this is the year that BYU overperforms. This team has a killer instinct and fight in the way I've never seen except for the final Jimmer team, but it also has a really good Xs Os coach that can actually adjust (I dont think any BYU team ever wasnt one dimensional).

[u/I_really_enjoy_beer]

All games being on commercial at the same time is probably exactly like witnessing a 9/11 during the Great Depression

[u/DowntownsClown]

For the love for dear old Virginia!

[u/SteelCurtainFTW]

originally picked vcu to the s16 but faded them last min and now have byu to the s16

[u/DionWaiteress]

Can’t wait to watch AJ Dybantsa next year

[u/Equivalent_Poetry339]

First thoughts, both teams are playing well but thank the lord this isn’t Houston again.

[u/AtleticoFan17]

Holy shit that would have been insane

[u/Useful-Message7544]

Going in for the what now??

[u/justaverage]

Did they just say “VCU stays in the zone” while VCU was on offense?

[u/ImpliedMustache]

Keba drawing all the fouls

[u/PracticalCactus]

The good news is we have more points than Clemson at halftime

[u/Weltal327]

I would be so mad at this officiating if I had a team in this game. It’s pretty bizarre.

[u/cheesecakegood]

There's definitely been some VCU grabbing that hasn't been called either

[u/flanhelsinki]

Utah State Aggie Legend Ryan Odom

[u/kakapoopoopeepeeshir]

This game is gonna go down to the very last second isn’t it

[u/TA404]

Question for BYU fans, who's the GOAT comic, Jim Gaffigan or Brian Regan?

[u/RFthewalkindude]

[u/flanhelsinki]

How Glen Powell is famous is beyond me. I've seen better acting from my family's christmas eve luke 2 reading

[u/Aquadude12]

These soft rebound foul calls are kinda annoying

[u/[deleted] → u/Aquadude12]

So annoying. Just let them play.

And quit putting Keba on the line PLEASE

[u/shawn131871]

This game has the flow of an 8-9 game. 

[u/AtmosphereVarious440]

byu! (in my final 4 back to back years lol)

[u/Big_Stingman → u/AtmosphereVarious440]

Wouldn't recommend hitting Vegas anytime soon.

[u/underscore55]

Best game of the day so far. Let’s keep it up boys

[u/rainmaker2332]

am i tripping or did they not add a point to the scoreboard after that VCU free throw??

[u/Romonohomo]

My brain is singing Egor Demin to the tune of Evil Woman hy ELO. 

[u/cringemagician]

Finally, a good fucking basketball game

[u/volunteergump]

Rooting for VCU strictly because they counted down 10 seconds early.

[u/Hickory-Lime16]

BYU fans, do you all like your white uniforms with the white lettering? Maybe I'm old school, I just really don't like the look.