As soon as I walked into the Dedmon Center today, I could feel the difference. There’s just a buzz to this place today. I haven’t covered a tournament title game since the 2004 Big Sky championship game between Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona in Cheney, Wash. Yeah, as writers, we get up for these games too. Should be a lot of fun today. Tournament championship games in one-bid leagues are amazing to watch.

I didn’t get to see either game between Radford and VMI (one because we don’t get MASN in Lynchburg, and two, I was driving back from Norfolk the second times the teams met). The second meeting was one of the strangest statistical games I’ve ever peeked at. Some nuggets:

Radford won, 97-90, at Cameron Hall in Lexington, and RU led pretty much the entire way. Radford turned it over 29 times, leading to 26 points off turnovers for VMI. But RU coach Brad Greenberg did a fine job of making an adjustment to get 6-11 center Artsiom Parakhouski into the game. He only scored two points in the meeting in Radford, an 87-72 VMI victory. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the second meeting. Everyone rebounded for Radford that day. I mean, everyone. Amir Johnson, a 5-11 guard, had 14 boards for the Highs, who outrebounded VMI by a whopping 65-26 margin.

Radford countered its turnovers by making its shots count. The Highlanders hit 38 of 62 field goals (61.3 percent) and hit 4 of 5 from 3-point range. VMI shot 35.3 percent (30 of 85). Getting up 85 shots in 40 minutes is impressive by any stretch.

Three things to watch today:

1. Duggar Baucom’s adjustments. The VMI coach has shown a knack in his time at the Institute for finding ways to adjust to opponents. Whether it was slowing down and playing a 2-3 zone against Liberty two years ago, or switching back into a full-speed 94-foot defensive style in the second half Tuesday, he has an answer for pretty much everything opponents throw at him.

2. The atmosphere. It’s off the charts in here. Probably about 60-40 in favor of RU fans. Impressed with the “Parakhouski = Belarus Beast” one fan is holding up. It appears to have a completely accurate description of the flag of Belarus on it.

3. Size vs. speed. What will win out? VMI won’t win unless it hits shots. To me, Radford’s Kenny Thomas is the x-factor in this game. He’s a guy no one ever talks about because of Radford’s big frontcourt, but Thomas can flat ball. He scored 35 points against UNCA Thursday and had 28 in the game RU-VMI game at VMI.

Prediction time: VMI 104, Radford 97.

There’s just something in the eyes of the Holmes twins that tell me VMI isn’t going to lose this game. A sort of steely determination.

UPDATE—First media timeout: VMI 13, Radford 5.

* The Keydets roll out on one of their patented “flurries,“ rolling up 13 points in exactly two minutes. Radford is clearly rattled by the Keydets’ full-court press. Five turnovers already. Radford’s Amir Johnson and Kenny Thomas look tentative. VMI has forced Art Parakhouski out of the block and into taking 13-foot jumpers. Art can hit those, but it’s not his strong suit. Radford, it should be noted, raced to a 13-0 lead in the first meeting here between the teams and lost by 15. We’ll see if VMI fares any better after going up 13-0 to start this one.

UPDATE—Second media timeout: VMI 20, Radford 17.

* Radford doing a much better job against the press. Kenny Thomas with two fouls, both charges. That could play a role here. I like Radford’s ploy of either shooting threes or looking for open shots in the middle of the lane, which are soft spots in VMI’s zone. The Keydets aren’t blocking out Joey Lynch-Flohr at all. That needs to change. Chavis Holmes drained a 3 right in Lynch-Flohr’s face. Onions.

UPDATE—Third media timeout: VMI 33, Radford 29.

* Phillip Martin has no business on the floor in this game for Radford. He can’t do anything in this sort of high-paced game. He doesn’t dribble well. He doesn’t pass well. His strength is in being a half-court defender. No need for that here. VMI has already attempted 17 3s, making eight. We’re on press row wondering why Radford just doesn’t dump the ball to Parakahouski on every trip down the floor. He’s unguardable. Radford led 27-22 with 9:14 left. That lead disappeared in 32 seconds when Travis Holmes and Austin Kenon hit back-to-back 3s.

UPDATE—Final media timeout, first half: Radford 43, VMI 37.

* Radford’s Amir Johnson just picked up his third foul on a charge, which could be quite troublesome for the Highlanders. They have no depth at the point. Looks like Kenny Thomas will take over those duties for now. Chavis Holmes has two fouls for VMI. Smart defending here on Radford’s part. They’re clamping down on the Holmes twins and Austin Kenon and forcing ball rotations that lead to wide-open shots for Ron Burks, who hasn’t hit one yet. VMI’s trying to drive a little bit more now to force Radford to make some defensive changes.

UPDATE—Radford 50, VMI 46, Halftime

* Radford has 16 turnovers and is shooting 58 percent and has the halftime lead. Sounds a lot like the second meeting in Lexington. VMI is 9 for 22 from 3-point range and Austin Kenon is lighting it up. He has 24 first-half points. Quite the show. Parakhouski has 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Radford.

VMI needs more from Travis Holmes in the second half—four points on 1 of 5 shooting. Radford is outrebounding VMI 24-10. Radford desperately needs Amir Johnson in the second half. He has three fouls, and a fourth would be disastrous for the Highs. Eric Hall came on and gave Radford eight great minutes (eight points, two rebounds). Kenny Thomas with just one point at the break on 0 of 2 shooting.

UPDATE—Radford 78, VMI 70, 7:41 left.

* Huge play that could have big implications on the rest of the game. Chris McEachin takes it down the middle and scores on a 50-50 play. Could have been a charge. Could have been a block. Ruled a block. And-one. McEachin has four fouls and has been a defensive menace for the Highlanders. Chavis Holmes and Amir Johnson with four fouls each.