VCU Basketball: Rams clinch share of Atlantic 10 title

Despite suffering a series of major setbacks during the offseason, VCU basketball clinched at least a share of it’s first Atlantic 10 title.

No Shaka? No Problem.

The VCU Rams are Atlantic 10 regular season champions just months after unexpectedly losing the coach that almost every team wished it had, all three members of a highly-touted recruiting class and talented rising sophomore Terry Larrier.

The Rams claimed at least a share of the title with a 70-60 Senior Night win over Davidson and a 98-90 St. Bonaventure win over former conference co-leader St. Joseph’s. It’s the school’s first Atlantic 10 regular season title since joining the conference in 2012.

By bringing the program it’s first Atlantic 10 title, first-year head coach Will Wade accomplished something that his predecessor Shaka Smart never did. Not only did Wade lead VCU to its first regular season title, but he led the team to its first conference title altogether since 2009. That season, head coach Anthony Grant and future-NBA point guard Eric Maynor brought the Rams to a CAA regular season title, a conference tournament trophy and an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament, where the team lost to UCLA 65-64.

In addition to this remarkable accomplishment, Wade more than likely locked up the conference’s Coach of the Year award.

The significant losses that the team suffered during the offseason severely lowered expectations. League coaches and media members tabbed VCU to finish fifth in the A-10 preseason poll. Wade claimed a piece of first place in a conference that will send multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Despite its status as Atlantic 10 regular season champion, VCU still isn’t in the clear for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Rams failed to pick up high-profile non-conference wins against Duke, Wisconsin, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Cincinnati. As a result, the team needed to be a top team in A-10 play just to get into the NCAA Tournament conversation.

More from Mid Major Conferences

Heading into the final day of the regular season, the team is very likely to secure the 1-seed in the upcoming conference tournament. With a one game lead and a 2-0 combined record over the other three conference contenders, VCU doesn’t even need to win its season finale against Dayton to get the top seed.

If St. Bonaventure and St. Joe’s both win their final games, the outcome of the VCU versus Dayton game will be irrelevant. Given that both the Bonnies and the Hawks will be playing opponents that are currently 5-12 in Atlantic 10 play, this is most likely how the conference season will play out.

If St. Bonaventure or St. Joe’s fails to win its final game, there are still situations that will result in VCU losing the top overall seed with a loss to Dayton. In the extremely unlikely event that both teams lose, VCU will need to win to get the 1-seed.

A St. Bonaventure win and a St. Joe’s loss would also force the Rams to win. A 3-way tie between VCU, Dayton and St. Bonaventure would result in a VCU 2-seed. The Rams would drop below Dayton, as the Flyers would have a 2-1 record against the others involved in the tie and the Rams would be 1-1.

More busting brackets: Missouri Valley Conference Tournament preview

Going into the regular season finale, VCU is positioned very well to earn a 1-seed in the upcoming Atlantic 10 Tournament. An easier road to a deep run in the conference tournament isn’t necessarily the best thing for a team that needs to avoid bad losses and pick up quality wins for its NCAA Tournament resume. Still, the 1-seed would give VCU a better chance to continue to collect wins after other bubble teams’ resumes were set in stone and to earn bragging rights that could be helpful in future recruiting.

Home/Mid Major Conferences