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2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball team

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2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record18–15 (9–9 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaStuart C. Siegel Center
Seasons
2017–18 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Rhode Island 15 – 3   .833 26 – 8   .765
St. Bonaventure 14 – 4   .778 26 – 8   .765
Davidson † 13 – 5   .722 21 – 12   .636
Saint Joseph's 10 – 8   .556 16 – 16   .500
VCU 9 – 9   .500 18 – 15   .545
Saint Louis 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
George Mason 9 – 9   .500 16 – 17   .485
Richmond 9 – 9   .500 12 – 20   .375
Dayton 8 – 10   .444 14 – 17   .452
Duquesne 7 – 11   .389 16 – 16   .500
George Washington 7 – 11   .389 15 – 18   .455
La Salle 7 – 11   .389 13 – 19   .406
Massachusetts 5 – 13   .278 13 – 20   .394
Fordham 4 – 14   .222 9 – 22   .290
† 2018 A10 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams were led by Mike Rhoades in his first season as head coach at VCU. The Rams played their home games at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

A chain of lost recruiting classes, coaching personnel changes, losses against low RPI teams, no wins against Top 50 RPI teams, and a graduating core of players resulted in a downturn in the team's fortunes. The team finished the season 18–15, 9–9 record in A-10 play to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. The season was the 18th consecutive season the program finished with a winning record. As the No. 8 seed in the A-10 tournament, the Rams defeated Dayton in the second round[1] before losing to Rhode Island in the quarterfinals.[2]

The Rams failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010, and failed to achieve a 20-win season for the first time since 2006. On March 11, 2018, Ed McLaughlin, the Athletics Director announced that VCU had declined an invitation to play in the College Basketball Invitational tournament.[3] This marked the first season since 2006 the Rams did not play in a postseason tournament.[4]

Previous season

[edit]

The Rams finished the 2016–17 season 26–9, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in second place. VCU defeated George Mason and Richmond in the A-10 tournament to advance to the championship game, where they lost to Rhode Island. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West Region. There they lost to No. 7 Saint Mary's in the first round.

Head coach Will Wade resigned on March 20 to take the head coaching position at LSU following the firing of Johnny Jones.[5] Wade was the head coach for the two seasons, making him VCU's shortest tenured head coach since Benny Dees.[6][7] On March 21, the school hired Rice head coach Mike Rhoades, who had been the associate head coach under Shaka Smart from 2009 to 2014.[8]

Offseason

[edit]

Departures

[edit]
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
JeQuan Lewis 1 G 6'1" 180 Senior Dickson, Tennessee Graduated
Samir Doughty 2 G 6'4" 185 Freshman (redshirt) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Transferred to Auburn[9]
Doug Brooks 5 G 6'4" 200 Senior Lake Wales, Florida Graduated
Mo Alie-Cox 12 F 6'7" 250 Senior (redshirt) Alexandria, Virginia Graduated
Torey Burston 14 G 5'8" 180 Senior (redshirt) Richmond, Virginia Graduated
Marquell Fraser 15 G 6'5" 205 Freshman Hamilton, Ontario Transferred to Midland College[10]
Jordan Burgess 20 G/F 6'5" 225 Senior (redshirt) Midlothian, Virginia Graduated
Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed 23 F 6'9" 240 Senior Alexandria, Egypt Transferred to TCU[11]

Transfers

[edit]
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Marcus Evans 2 G 6'2" 195 Sophomore Chesapeake, Virginia Transferred from Rice. Will be eligible to play in 2018–19.[12]
Khris Lane 4 F 6'6" 225 RS-Senior Richmond, Virginia Transferred from Longwood.[13]
Mike'l Simms 13 G 6'5 220 Freshman Highland Springs, Virginia Transferred from Cowley Community College.[14]
Xavier Jackson 14 G 6'3 Sophomore Hinesville, Georgia Transferred from Sheridan College.[15]
Corey Douglas F 6'8" Sophomore Louisville, Kentucky Will attend Tallahassee Community College for the 2017–18 season and will then transfer to VCU. Spent the 2016–17 season at Rice.[16]

2017 recruiting class

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College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Marcus Santos-Silva
PF 		Taunton, MA Vermont Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Sep 21, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 73
Sean Mobley
PF 		Melbourne, FL Montverde Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sep 25, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 80
Lewis Djonkam
PF 		Springfield, VA Hargrave Military Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Apr 26, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: N/A
Tyler Maye
PG 		Farmville, NC Farmville Central High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) May 11, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "VCU 2017 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

2018 Recruiting class

[edit]
College recruiting information (2018)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
P. J. Byrd
PG 		Houston, TX George Bush High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 169 lb (77 kg) Sep 6, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
KeShawn Curry
SG 		Jacksonville, FL Fork Union Military Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oct 2, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: NR
Vince Williams Jr.
SF 		Toledo, OH St. John's Jesuit 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 204 lb (93 kg) Oct 4, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

[edit]
2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 De'Riante Jenkins 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Hargrave Military Academy Eutawville, South Carolina
G 1 Mike'l Simms 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS So Cowley Community College Richmond, Virginia
G 2 Marcus Evans (I) Current redshirt 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Rice Chesapeake, Virginia
F 4 Justin Tillman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Pershing High School Detroit, Michigan
F 5 Sean Mobley 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Montverde Academy Melbourne, Florida
G 10 Jonathan Williams 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr St. Benedict's Prep Richmond, Virginia
F 11 Issac Vann 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So Maine Bridgeport, Connecticut
G 12 Dylan Sheehy-Guiseppi 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr St. Francis Prep (Michigan) Lake Havasu City, Arizona
G 13 Malik Crowfield 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Riverside Academy LaPlace, Louisiana
F 14 Marcus Santos-Silva 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Fr Vermont Academy Taunton, Massachusetts
G 15 Xavier Jackson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Sheridan College Hinesville, Georgia
F 21 Khris Lane 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr Longwood Richmond, Virginia
F 22 Lewis Djonkam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Fr Hargrave Military Academy Springfield, Virginia
G 25 Tyler Maye 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Farmville Central High School Farmville, North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Preseason

[edit]

In a poll of the league's head coaches and select media members at the conference's media day, the Rams were picked to finish in fourth place in the A-10.[17] Justin Tillman was named to the conference's preseason first team.[17] Tillman and Jonathan Williams were named to the preseason All-Defensive team.[17]

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 26, 2017*
7:00 pm 		Liberty
Hurricane Relief Exhibition 		L 69–85  N/A
  14 – Crowfield   6 – Vann   5 – Williams  Siegel Center (3,497)
Richmond, VA
Nov 3, 2017*
7:00 pm 		Virginia Union W 98–74  N/A
  21 – Lane   8 – Lane   6 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, MASN 		Grambling State W 94–65  1–0
  14 – 3 Tied   10 – Tillman   5 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Nov 13, 2017*
7:00 pm, MASN 		North Florida
Maui Invitational Mainland game 		W 95–85  2–0
  27 – Tillman   8 – Tied   8 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Nov 17, 2017*
4:00 pm, CBSSN 		Virginia L 67–76  2–1
  19 – Vann   8 – Tillman   8 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Nov 20, 2017*
2:30 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Marquette
Maui Invitational Tournament quarterfinals 		L 83–94  2–2
  17 – Crowfield   7 – Tillman   6 – Williams  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Lahaina, HI
Nov 21, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. California
Maui Invitational Tournament consolation 2nd round 		W 83–69  3–2
  27 – Jenkins   11 – Jenkins   8 – Williams  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Lahaina, HI
Nov 22, 2017*
5:00 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Michigan
Maui Invitational Tournament 5th place game 		L 60–68  3–3
  13 – Lane   8 – Lane   2 – Tied  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Lahaina, HI
Nov 28, 2017*
7:00 pm, MASN 		Appalachian State W 85–72  4–3
  21 – Tillman   6 – Tied   7 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Dec 2, 2017*
7:00 pm, MASN 		Old Dominion
Rivalry 		W 82–75  5–3
  28 – Tillman   9 – Santos-Silva   9 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Dec 5, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		Texas L 67–71  5–4
  22 – Tillman   10 – Tillman   7 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Dec 9, 2017*
3:00 pm, FOX 		at No. 19 Seton Hall
Never Forget Tribute Classic 		L 67–90  5–5
  20 – Tillman   8 – Tillman   6 – Williams  Prudential Center (9,112)
Newark, NJ
Dec 16, 2017*
6:00 pm, WTVR 		Bucknell W 85–79  6–5
  26 – Tillman   7 – Tillman   6 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Dec 19, 2017*
7:00 pm, MASN 		Winthrop W 68–53  7–5
  22 – Tillman   11 – Tillman   6 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Dec 22, 2017*
7:00 pm, WTVR 		VMI W 75–65  8–5
  19 – Tillman   13 – Tillman   9 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Atlantic 10 regular season
Dec 30, 2017
12:30 pm, NBCSN 		Fordham W 76–63  9–5
(1–0) 		 23 – Tillman   14 – Tillman   5 – Vann  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Jan 3, 2018
7:00 pm 		at Saint Joseph's L 81–87 OT 9–6
(1–1) 		 22 – Tillman   12 – Tillman   5 – Jenkins  Hagan Arena (3,518)
Philadelphia, PA
Jan 6, 2018
2:00 pm, NBCSN 		at La Salle W 80–74  10–6
(2–1) 		 20 – Jenkins   10 – Tillman   5 – Williams  Tom Gola Arena (2,312)
Philadelphia, PA
Jan 9, 2018
8:00 pm, Stadium 		Duquesne W 78–67  11–6
(3–1) 		 21 – Williams   17 – Tillman   4 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Jan 12, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		at Dayton L 79–106  11–7
(3–2) 		 26 – Tillman   12 – Tillman   6 – Jenkins  UD Arena (12,507)
Dayton, OH
Jan 17, 2018
7:00 pm 		Richmond
Capital City Classic 		L 52–67  11–8
(3–3) 		 12 – Tillman   9 – Tillman   2 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Jan 20, 2018
12:30 pm, NBCSN 		George Washington W 87–63  12–8
(4–3) 		 18 – Jenkins   8 – Tillman   4 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Jan 23, 2018
9:00 pm, CBSSN 		at Saint Louis W 75–74 OT 13–8
(5–3) 		 25 – Tillman   12 – Tillman   5 – Williams  Chaifetz Arena (5,649)
St. Louis, MO
Jan 27, 2018
2:00 pm, CBSSN 		at George Mason
Rivalry 		W 84–76  14–8
(6–3) 		 25 – Lane   12 – Lane   6 – Williams  EagleBank Arena (7,028)
Fairfax, VA
Feb 2, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 22 Rhode Island L 68–81  14–9
(6–4) 		 22 – Tillman   6 – Tillman   4 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Feb 7, 2018
9:00 pm, CBSSN 		at Richmond
Capital City Classic 		L 76–77  14–10
(6–5) 		 21 – Tillman   4 – Lane   4 – Jenkins  Robins Center (7,201)
Richmond, VA
Feb 10, 2018
6:00 pm, CBSSN 		Dayton W 88–84 OT 15–10
(7–5) 		 37 – Tillman   8 – Tillman   5 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Feb 14, 2018
7:00 pm, CBSSN 		Davidson L 63–74  15–11
(7–6) 		 22 – Tillman   8 – Tillman   7 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Feb 17, 2018
4:00 pm, Stadium 		at George Washington L 56–80  15–12
(7–7) 		 11 – Tillman   13 – Tillman   4 – Williams  Charles E. Smith Center (3,979)
Washington, D.C.
Feb 21, 2018
7:00 pm, MASN 		at Massachusetts W 82–78  16–12
(8–7) 		 26 – Tillman   13 – Tillman   7 – Mobley  Mullins Center (3,322)
Amherst, MA
Feb 24, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN 		St. Bonaventure L 63–68  16–13
(8–8) 		 20 – Tillman   10 – Tillman   7 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Feb 28, 2018
7:00 pm, MASN 		George Mason
Rivalry 		L 80–81  16–14
(8–9) 		 20 – Simms   11 – Tillman   6 – Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
Mar 3, 2018
2:00 pm, WTVR 		at Fordham W 83–58  17–14
(9–9) 		 18 – Tillman   13 – Tillman   4 – Crowfield  Rose Hill Gymnasium (2,325)
Bronx, NY
Atlantic 10 tournament
Mar 8, 2018
12:00 pm, NBCSN 		(8) vs. (9) Dayton
Second Round 		W 77–72  18–14
  15 – Tillman   10 – Tillman   5 – Tied  Capital One Arena (6,483)
Washington, D.C.
Mar 9, 2018
12:00 pm, NBCSN 		(8) vs. (1) No. 25 Rhode Island
Quarterfinals 		L 67–76  18–15
  23 – Tillman   15 – Tillman   7 – Williams  Capital One Arena (7,321)
Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dayton vs. VCU - Game Recap - March 8, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "VCU vs. Rhode Island - Game Recap - March 9, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ^ "Health top factor in VCU's decision to pass on postseason". Richmond Times-Dispatch. richmond.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  4. ^ Epps, Jr., Wayne (March 11, 2018). "For the first time in 11 years, VCU won't play postseason basketball". Richmond Times-Dispatch. richmond.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "VCU's Will Wade hired as next coach at LSU". ESPN. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  6. ^ "Benny Dees Coaching Record". Sports Reference. sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  7. ^ Parrish, Gary. "LSU hires VCU's Will Wade as coach". CBS Sports. CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  8. ^ "VCU moves quickly to hire Mike Rhoades from Rice to fill coaching vacancy". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "VCU transfer Samir Doughty officially signs with Auburn". AL.com. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  10. ^ Young, Tai (June 30, 2017). "Former VCU F Marquell Fraser is transferring to Midland". @TaiYoungVC. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  11. ^ "Ahmed Hamdy signs with TCU hoops as grad transfer from VCU". Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  12. ^ Times-Dispatch, TIM PEARRELL Richmond. "High-scoring guard Marcus Evans follows Mike Rhoades to VCU". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  13. ^ Times-Dispatch, Tim Pearrell Richmond. "Longwood basketball graduate Khris Lane transferring to VCU". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  14. ^ Morton, Matt (June 2, 2017). "JUCO transfer Mike'l Simms commits to VCU – VCU Ram Nation". VCU Ram Nation. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Shelton-Eide, Mat (July 7, 2017). "VCU gets commitment from JUCO guard Xavier Jackson – VCU Ram Nation". VCU Ram Nation. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  16. ^ Shelton-Eide, Mat (June 18, 2017). "Corey Douglas commits to VCU – VCU Ram Nation". VCU Ram Nation. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  17. ^ a b c "Rhode Island Picked to Win A-10 Men's Basketball". Atlantic 10 Conference. Atlantic10.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
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