The Bills will face a major challenge from the Rams of Virgina Commonwealth in the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational. VCU will host the first game of the best of three series on Monday night in Richmond, Va. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (St. Louis time). The action returns to St. Louis for Game 2 next Wednesday at 7 p.m. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be at the Chaifetz Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m.

A member of the Colonial Athletic Association, the Rams have averaged 25 victories in the past four seasons and have advanced to postseason all four years. They were in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2009 and the National Invitational Tournament in 2008. The Rams are currently 25-9 entering Sunday night’s first game.

  The star of those two NCAA Tournament teams was former VCU standout point guard Eric Maynor, who is now a valuable reserve guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was a first-round draft pick.

  One similarity between the two teams is the presence of an athletic big man and a dymamic point guard leading the way. The Bills have Kwamain Mitchell outside and Willie Reed inside. VCU is paced by 6’11” junior center Larry Sanders and 5’10” junior guard Joey Rodriguez.

  Sanders is one of the top shot blockers in the country. He is averaging 14.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game. Rodriquez is a competitive little point guard who averages 12.7 points and 5.9 assists per game.

  Sanders is helped up front by 6’9” 245-pound senior Jamie Skeen, who averages 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. The third-leading scorer is 6’5” sophomore Bradford Burgess, who averages 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. Guard Brandon Rozzell averages 8.4 points while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range. Adding more depth on the perimeter is 6’4” junior Ed Nixon (8.4 points, 42 percent 3-point shooter), 6’4” senior T.J. Quinn and 6’3” freshman Darius Theus.

  The Rams play up-temp and they can score points. They are averaging 76 points a game during the season. In their three victories in the CBI, they are averaging 86 points a game. They scored 93 points against College of Charleston in the quarterfinals and 88 in the semifinals against Boston University.

  On any given night, any of the five starters can put up big numbers. In the victory over Boston U., Sanders had 18 points, eight rebounds, Rodriguez scored 19 points and Burgess had a game-high 20 points. Against College of Charleston, Rozzell had 20 points while Skeen added 18 points.

  The Rams are big and athletic, much like many of the teams that we’ve seen in the Atlantic 10 this season. Obviously, our success begins on the defensive end. We must somehow keep these games from getting into the high 70s and 80s. We have to control the tempo, take good shots and take care of the basketball. Limiting transition baskets and second-chance hoops off of the offensive glass will be a big key.

  In any event, it is nice to see a Billikens’ team play basketball so deep into the month of March. While hanging out at the Midwest Regional at the Dome this weekend, many people took the time to offer congratulations and give me the glad hand about the Billikens. People are talking about the Billikens around town and that’s good to hear.

  I’m off to Richmond on Sunday.

  Go Bills!