Busting Brackets
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Atlantic 10 Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Tristan Freeman

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Virginia Commonwealth Rams fans cheer against the Rhode Island Rams during the first half in the Quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 9, 2018 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 09: Virginia Commonwealth Rams fans cheer against the Rhode Island Rams during the first half in the Quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 9, 2018 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

10. VCU Rams

2017-18 season record: 18-15 (9-9)

VCU has been one of the most impressive mid-major programs in the past decades. Even after moving to a tougher conference, the Rams still was able to consistently make the NCAA Tournament. Even after losing the man who started it all Shaka Smart, they still were very good. But the attrition is starting to kick in with VCU, causing them to take a tumble.

Despite having All-Conference performer Justin Tillman on the team, they finished in the middle of the A-10 rather than at the top. He’s gone now, along with leading passer Jonathan Williams and Khris Lane.

De’Rante Jenkins (12.9 ppg) is the only double-digit scorer returning with players such as Issac Vann, Mike’l Simms and Malik Crowfield having the opportunities for bigger roles in 2018-19. Rising sophomores Sean Mobley and Marcus Santos-Silva will need to break out as frontcourt players to provide needed balance.

The key to VCU’s season lies in the health of Rice transfer Marcus Evans. He averaged over 20 ppg in his first two years with the Owls but suffered an Achilles injury during his redshirt season last year. After suffering another one this spring, his status to start the 2018-19 is in question.

Even if he can play, multiple Achilles injuries will have an effect on a player’s ability to perform. If the plan was Evans needing to be the top offensive option for VCU, they might be in serious trouble. The more pressing issue is how bad the Rams defense was compared to seasons’ past. If that can’t be fixed then the bottom half likely will be where they finish.

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