VCU wins thanks to Shaka Smart and Derwin Kitchen

Shaka Smart has earned himself quite a bit of money in this NCAA Tournament. Tonight's 72-71 overtime win over Florida State only solidified that fact.

VCU and Florida State are two teams with very differing and fairly unique styles of play.

VCU is loaded with talented perimeter players, and they take advantage of it by spreading the floor, attacking gaps, and trying to create open looks from three. Florida State, on the other hand, has a ton of size up front, relies on their ability to defend, and goes after the offensive glass.

And, frankly, both teams were able to play their style.


VCU made half of their field goals from beyond the arc, going 12-26 from deep, while dishing out 18 assists. Their streaky shooting from beyond the arc allowed them to consistently put pressure on the Seminoles, threatening to pull away a number of times. But Florida State's size advantage inside and dominance on the glass kept VCU from extending that lead. FSU finished the game with 18 more field goal attempts than the Rams. They grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, notching a 45.7% OR and allowing VCU just a 21.2% OR, and finished with 20 second chance points.

It was a battle of wills and a battle of styles, and in the end, it was a draw?

Essentially.

Not only did the game go to overtime, but in the overtime the game was decided by two possessions with just 7.9 seconds left on the clock. It was decided by late-game execution and coaching.

And Derwin Kitchen.

At the end of regulation, after Chris Singleton drilled a long three to tie the game, Shaka Smart drew up a terrific out of bounds play that got Brad Burgess the ball at the top of the key. He beat Singleton off the dribble, but was met by Bernard James at the rim. James blocked the shot, and Kitchen brought the ball up. Leonard Hamilton didn't call a timeout -- it hindsight, that decision looks very costly -- and Kitchen dribbled out the final 15 seconds, not getting a shot off.

Overtime.

In the extra frame, after Joey Rodriguez missed two free throws with the score 70-69 VCU, Chris Singleton made a fantastic move along the baseline to put FSU ahead. After Joey Rodriguez had his shot get blocked out of bounds with 7.9 seconds left, it set up this finish:



Not only did Kitchen once again dribble out too much clock and waste a chance to win the game at the buzzer, he blew the defensive assignment that allowed Burgess to get the game-winning layup.

Tough way for the senior point guard to end his career.

But it was a great for Shaka Flocka Flame Smart. Thanks to his team's execution late in the game, he may have just added another year or two to the contract he's going to get.