"It's one of those things where you know that you have three great scorers so you try to work through them and create opportunities for yourself," Skuchas said when asked to define his role on a team that's built its success around deadly long-range shooting and sturdy defense. The No. 6 seed, underdog Vanderbilt (22-11) hopes to continue its unlikely run tonight against No. 2 seed Georgetown (28-6) in an East Regional semifinal.
"I know I can box out and rebound and play defense," Skuchas continued. "I know I'm not the first, second, third or probably even fourth [scoring] option, but I know that when I get the opportunity to score I'll try to make a move."
Skuchas also knows he's pretty well prepared for the real world if his hope to catch on with a pro team either here or in Europe doesn't pan out. The fifth-year senior has a degree in computer engineering and is working toward a master's in economics.
Skuchas' academic prowess may not mean much to Georgetown's Roy Hibbert, the 7-2, 278-pound center who scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in an 86-70 win that ruined Vandy's season opener. But it's a reason Skuchas kindly declined the interest Villanova's Jay Wright and St. Joseph's Phil Martelli showed in him when he was being recruited out of GA and chose a university frequently referred to as "The Harvard of the South." Indeed, he really is a student-athlete.
Skuchas said he grew up watching the Big Five and roots for the Philly teams, and he called Wright and Martelli "great guys."
"But I knew I had to kind of branch out and find a place that really fit me, and I think I found that in Vanderbilt," he said. "I'm happy with my decision, but I'm always rooting for those schools."
