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2023–24 VCU Rams men's basketball team

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2023–24 VCU Rams men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record24–14 (11–7 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaStuart C. Siegel Center
Seasons
2023–24 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Richmond 15 3   .833 23 10   .697
Loyola Chicago 15 3   .833 23 10   .697
No. 24 Dayton 14 4   .778 25 8   .758
UMass 11 7   .611 20 11   .645
VCU 11 7   .611 24 14   .632
Duquesne 10 8   .556 25 12   .676
St. Bonaventure 9 9   .500 20 13   .606
George Mason 9 9   .500 20 12   .625
Saint Joseph's 9 9   .500 21 14   .600
La Salle 6 12   .333 16 17   .485
Rhode Island 6 12   .333 12 20   .375
Fordham 6 12   .333 13 20   .394
Davidson 5 13   .278 15 17   .469
Saint Louis 5 13   .278 13 20   .394
George Washington 4 14   .222 15 17   .469
2024 A-10 tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by first-year head coach Ryan Odom, played their home games at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Previous season

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The Rams finished the 2022–23 season 27–8, 15–3 in A-10 play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Davidson, Saint Louis, and Dayton to win the A-10 tournament championship, their first since 2015.[1] As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 12 seed in the West region. There they lost to Saint Mary's in the first round. VCU guard, Ace Baldwin Jr., was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[2]

On March 29, 2023, head coach Mike Rhoades left the school to take the head coaching position at Penn State. That same day, the school named Utah State head coach Ryan Odom the team's new coach.[3] On April 8, Odom announced former VCU player, Darius Theus as an assistant coach to his staff.[4]

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Jamir Watkins 0 F 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 RS Sophomore Trenton, New Jersey Transferred to Florida State
Ace Baldwin Jr. 1 G 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 Junior Baltimore, Maryland Transferred to Penn State
Jalen DeLoach 4 F 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 Junior Savannah, Georgia Transferred to Georgia
Arnold Henderson VI 15 G 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 Senior Mechanicsville, Virginia Graduated
Jarren McAllister 21 G 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 RS Junior Wake Forest, North Carolina Transferred to TBD
Jayden Nunn 23 F 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 Junior Flint, Michigan Transferred to Baylor
Nick Kern Jr. 24 F 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 Junior St. Louis, Missouri Transferred to Penn State
Brandon Johns Jr. 30 F 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 Graduate Lansing, Michigan Graduated
Josh Banks 33 G 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 Junior Charlotte, North Carolina Transferred to UNC Asheville
David Shriver 35 F 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 RS Senior Philippi, West Virginia Graduated

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Sean Bairstow 7 G 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 Graduate Brisbane, Australia Transferred from Utah State
Joe Bamisile 22 G 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 Senior Richmond, Virginia Transferred from Oklahoma
Jason Nelson 1 G 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 RS Sophomore Richmond, Virginia Transferred from Richmond
Max Shulga 11 G 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 197 Senior Kyiv, Ukraine Transferred from Utah State
Roosevelt Wheeler 4 F/C 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 Junior Richmond, Virginia Transferred from Louisville

2023 recruits

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No players have officially committed to VCU.[5]

Roster

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As of April 23, 2023
2023–24 VCU Rams men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Jason Nelson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) RS So Richmond Richmond, VA
G 2 Zeb Jackson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Michigan Toledo, OH
F/C 4 Roosevelt Wheeler 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Jr Louisville Richmond, VA
G/F 5 Alphonzo Billups III 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Varina Richmond, VA
G 7 Sean Bairstow 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) GS Utah State Brisbane, QLD
G 8 Michael Belle 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Strasbourg London, ENG
F 10 Tobi Lawal 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Lee Academy London, ENG
G 11 Max Shulga 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Sr Utah State Kyiv, UKR
F 13 Kuany Kuany 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS California Melbourne, VIC
G 14 Connor Odom 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Sr Utah State Annapolis, MD
F 21 Christian Fermin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Pocono Mountain West Tobyhanna, PA
G 22 Joe Bamisile 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Oklahoma Richmond, VA
F 34 Obinnaya Okafor (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 216 lb (98 kg) So Bethel Hampton, VA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

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
October 28, 2023*
7:00 p.m.
Mars Hill W 110–50 
 21  Nelson   8  Belle   10  Jackson  Siegel Center (5,017)
Richmond, VA
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
McNeese L 65–76  0–1
 22  Shulga   7  Jackson   8  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
November 10, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Samford W 75–65  1–1
 17  Shulga   10  Fermin   7  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,114)
Richmond, VA
November 15, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Radford W 73–50  2–1
 19  Nelson   10  Lawal   5  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,045)
Richmond, VA
November 18, 2023*
2:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Seattle W 60–56  3–1
 20  Jackson   9  Fermin   7  Shulga  Siegel Center (6,421)
Richmond, VA
November 23, 2023*
5:30 p.m., ESPN2
vs. Iowa State
ESPN Events Invitational quarterfinals
L 64–68  3–2
 17  Shulga   5  Jackson   8  Shulga  State Farm Field House 
Bay Lake, FL
November 24, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU
vs. Boise State
ESPN Events Invitational consolation 2nd round
L 61–65  3–3
 24  Shulga   9  Lawal   3  Tied  State Farm Field House (2,579)
Bay Lake, FL
November 26, 2023*
10:30 a.m., ESPNU
vs. Penn State
ESPN Events Invitational 7th place game
W 86–74  4–3
 22  Jackson   9  Belle   6  Jackson  State Farm Field House 
Bay Lake, FL
December 1, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Norfolk State L 60–63  4–4
 15  Jackson   11  Belle   3  Tied  Siegel Center 
Richmond, VA
December 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU
Memphis L 80–85 OT 4–5
 14  Shulga   8  Tied   5  Shulga  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
December 10, 2023*
2:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Alcorn State W 86–58  5–5
 18  Jackson   10  Lawal   7  Jackson  Siegel Center (6,389)
Richmond, VA
December 16, 2023*
2:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Temple W 87–78  6–5
 19  Jackson   7  Lawal   7  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,189)
Richmond, VA
December 22, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Maryland Eastern Shore W 75–51  7–5
 14  Shulga   7  Lawal   7  Nelson  Siegel Center (7,098)
Richmond, VA
December 30, 2023*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Gardner–Webb W 87–73  8–5
 22  Bairstow   10  Lawal   5  Tied  Siegel Center (7,188)
Richmond, VA
Atlantic 10 regular season
January 3, 2024
9:00 p.m., CBSSN
St. Bonaventure L 78–89  8–6
(0–1)
 15  Fermin   9  Fermin   6  Bairstow  Siegel Center (6,348)
Richmond, VA
January 6, 2024
4:00 p.m., USA
George Washington L 82–84  8–7
(0–2)
 20  Shulga   14  Fermin   4  Shulga  Siegel Center (7,207)
Richmond, VA
January 9, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at George Mason
Rivalry
W 54–50  9–7
(1–2)
 13  Shulga   8  Bairstow   3  Shulga  EagleBank Arena (4,000)
Fairfax, VA
January 13, 2024
12:30 p.m., USA
at La Salle W 71–65  10–7
(2–2)
 14  Bairstow   10  Lawal   12  Bairstow  Tom Gola Arena (1,647)
Philadelphia, PA
January 19, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Saint Louis W 85–61  11–7
(3–2)
 29  Bamisile   5  Tied   6  Bairstow  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
January 23, 2024
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Loyola Chicago W 74–67  12–7
(4–2)
 25  Bamisile   9  Fermin   6  Bairstow  Siegel Center (7,204)
Richmond, VA
January 27, 2024
8:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Davidson W 63–58  13–7
(5–2)
 18  Shulga   6  Lawal   4  Bairstow  John M. Belk Arena (3,861)
Davidson, NC
January 30, 2024
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
at St. Bonaventure L 62–67  13–8
(5–3)
 25  Shulga   6  Jackson   3  Tied  Reilly Center (3,901)
Olean, NY
February 3, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPNU
Richmond
Capital City Classic
W 63–52  14–8
(6–3)
 15  Tied   8  Lawal   6  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
February 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Fordham W 75–60  15–8
(7–3)
 13  Shulga   10  Shulga   7  Shulga  Rose Hill Gymnasium (1,627)
Bronx, NY
February 9, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 18 Dayton W 49–47  16–8
(8–3)
 11  Nelson   8  Bairstow   5  Shulga  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
February 16, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Saint Louis W 95–85  17–8
(9–3)
 27  Bamisile   10  Lawal   5  Bairstow  Chaifetz Arena (5,382)
St. Louis, MO
February 20, 2024
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
at UMass L 52–74  17–9
(9–4)
 13  Bamisile   8  Bairstow   6  Bairstow  Mullins Center (4,313)
Amherst, MA
February 25, 2024
4:00 p.m., CBSSN
Saint Joseph's W 73–69  18–9
(10–4)
 16  Tied   10  Lawal   6  Bairstow  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
February 28, 2024
6:30 p.m., CBSSN
Rhode Island W 88–67  19–9
(11–4)
 24  Bamisile   8  Lawal   5  Jackson  Siegel Center (7,107)
Richmond, VA
March 2, 2024
6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Richmond
Capital City Classic
L 76–79  19–10
(11–5)
 19  Shulga   6  Jackson   5  Bairstow  Robins Center (7,201)
Richmond, VA
March 5, 2024
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Duquesne L 59–69  19–11
(11–6)
 18  Bamisile   5  Tied   5  Nelson  Siegel Center (7,044)
Richmond, VA
March 8, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN2
at No. 25 Dayton L 86–91 OT 19–12
(11–7)
 26  Jackson   6  Shulga   5  Shulga  UD Arena (13,407)
Dayton, OH
A-10 tournament
March 13, 2024
2:00 p.m., USA
(5) vs. (12) Fordham
Second Round
W 69–62  20–12
 14  Shulga   7  Shulga   4  Shulga  Barclays Center (7,725)
Brooklyn, NY
March 14, 2024
2:00 p.m., USA
(5) vs. (4) UMass
Quarterfinals
W 73–59  21–12
 18  Bamisile   6  Tied   7  Shulga  Barclays Center (6,817)
Brooklyn, NY
March 16, 2024
1:00 p.m., CBSSN
(5) vs. (9) Saint Joseph's
Semifinals
W 66–60  22–12
 25  Shulga   8  Jackson   3  Shulga  Barclays Center 
Brooklyn, NY
March 17, 2024
1:00 p.m., CBS
(5) vs. (6) Duquesne
Championship
L 51–57  22–13
 20  Bamisile   9  Lawal   2  Tied  Barclays Center 
Brooklyn, NY
NIT
March 20, 2024*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
at (1) Villanova
First Round - Villanova Bracket
W 70–61  23–13
 17  Bamisile   10  Lawal   6  Shulga  Finneran Pavilion (1,763)
Villanova, PA
March 24, 2024*
7:30 p.m., ESPNU
at South Florida
Second Round - Villanova Bracket
W 70–65  24–13
 14  Jackson   6  Bairstow   4  Bairstow  Yuengling Center (6,398)
Tampa, FL
March 27, 2024*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2
at (2) Utah
Quarterfinals - Villanova Bracket
L 54–74  24–14
 13  Bairstow   9  Fermin   2  Bamisile  Jon M. Huntsman Center (6,008)
Salt Lake City, UT
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Source:[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Russo, Ralph J. (March 7, 2023). "VCU beats Dayton 68-56 to win A-10 championship, NCAA bid". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Baldwin Doubles Down on A-10 Men's Basketball Honors; Fordham's Urgo Claims Coach of the Year". Atlantic 10 Conference. March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "PSU hires Rhoades as coach; VCU lands Odom". ESPN.com. March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. ^ @Coachryanodom (April 8, 2023). "Here's to another Key Moment for @CoachDTheus_10! Excited to welcome him and his family back home as part of our @VCU_Hoops staff!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "VCU 2023 Basketball Commits (0)". 247sports.com.
  6. ^ "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". VCU Rams Athletics.
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