Busting Brackets
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VCU Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Rams

By Richard Gnann

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: The Virginia Commonwealth Rams mascot performs the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: The Virginia Commonwealth Rams mascot performs the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 19: Jonathan Williams /

Roster Losses

Lost from the 2017 squad are six of the top eight players in minutes played, including leading scorer JeQuan Lewis (15 points, 4.5 assists) and Mo Alie-Cox (9.5 points). Lewis was named to the Atlantic 10 all-conference first team last year. Alie-Cox made the all-defensive team.

Rhoades responded by adding two junior college transfers, a graduate transfer, and five lightly recruited freshman. The transfers will make significant contributions, but it will be returning players Justin Tillman and Jonathan Williams that set the tone for the season.

Returning players

In 2017, returning forward Justin Tillman earned a Third Team All-Atlantic 10 spot. In 18 conference games, he averaged 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds a game and shot 60 percent from the floor. Tillman put up 12 points, 3 rebounds and a block in an exhibition against Liberty, and it is crucial to VCU’s season that Tillman has similar success throughout the season.

Returning guard Jonathan Williams averaged 8 points as a junior last season. The Richmond native may be VCU’s most improved player. He scored in double figures in a career-best five straight games, shot 45 percent from the field and turned the ball over only 49 times in 2017.

Guard De’Riante Jenkins was sidelined for nearly two months with a foot injury sustained in January. The sophomore averaged 4.5 points-per-game last season in 20 games, shooting 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc. Jenkins will play a major role for the Rams in 2017-18.

Sophomore Malik Crowfield also returns at the guard. Crowfield started four games and averaged 2 points while shooting 35 percent on 3-point attempts. He was the first true freshman to start a season opener for VCU since Bradford Burgess in 2008.