Indeed, VCU answered the world last night with a resounding thumping of Hofstra. A rested Larry Sanders poured in a career high 31 points and actually hung around the basket for long stretches of the game.

Three important items that are not trivial:

1. VCU played with an edge we haven’t seen this year. I’m not talking about confidence. I mean edge–a full out Josey Wales “plum mad dog mean.” The result was several stretches where they looked unstoppable.
2. It is not a coincidence that VCUs new-found grit and Kirill Pishchalnikov playing 18 minutes has spawned in the past two games. Last night was an 8/5 from KP, but what he does makes them better. (Box out, tag guys cutting through the lane, etc.)
3. Hofstra is suddenly roster-challenged in the backcourt. Chaz Williams has a bum ankle, leaving Yves St. Jules as the only guard sub for Pecora. And I’m being told the whole Brad Kelleher debacle is coming to an end by week’s end.

***

Here’s where you can find tonight’s slate of five. All are 7pm tips.

Old Dominion at UNCW: Mull has the preview. All you need to know about this game is Mull’s stat near the bottom: ODU is one of the best in the country at forcing turnovers and UNCW is one of the worst teams in the country at protecting the basketball. Quick, somebody tally the over/under on Seahawks turnovers that determine a win or loss?

ODU 64, UNCW 55.

Georgia State and George Mason: Kish has links for you. “Men,” roars Jim Larranaga in the locker room just prior to tipoff, “this is our home court and we need to protect our 14-game home winning streak like animals! I am the walrus, koo-koo-ka-choo.”

As a team manager rises and hits play on the DVD player to cue Stallone in a bad sequined jacket, Cam Long slowly stands, and at a near whisper responds: “rising up, straight to the top…”

Mason 58, State 51.

Delaware at Nor’easter: Here’s Darren Costa, who needs to work on that facial hair or get rid of it, previewing this one. To me, this is one of those games in which NU is supposed to blow out YouDee, and probably will blow out YouDee, so they won’t do it.

The scary part, if I’m Bill Coen: Delaware has not shot the ball well in a very long time. The Hens are due, and I’m not joking. Somebody is going to take a whipping when Fonzie and Jawan Carter start ripping nets. In the end, Matthews is not where you find your shooting stroke.

The Law Firm of Allen, Janning, and Adako 72, Fightin’ Montays 60.

Drexel at Towson: Mat Schleissel with the words. (And a hope that commenter Metsox fires us one of those designer stats that we–in all seriousness–want to consume)

(Metsox wrote me to say my score is low. He says:

The Dragons usually play at whatever pace their opponent dictates and are similarly effective from an overall standpoint playing at either one.  I was worried about playing at the pace of teams like URI and VCU, but in the end Drexel was just as effective vs those teams.  They can play at either pace and play relatively well.

Nobody ever brings Robert Nwankwo into the conversation of best big men in the conference. Walk On Bob is averaging 12/10 and carries one of the better efficiency stats (17.3) in the conference. Get to know him. Isaiah Philmore, too.

Poor shooting teams (Drexel) need bad defense (Towson) to make a few shots. That’s tonight’s story. Dragons 62, Tigers 57. Thanks to Metsox’s email, I’ve edited the final score to Dragons 64, Tigers 59.