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NCAA Basketball: Updated way-too-early 2019-20 top-25

By Lukas Harkins

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 29: A general view during the South Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils at NRG Stadium on March 29, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 29: A general view during the South Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Duke Blue Devils at NRG Stadium on March 29, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: The Rams mascot performs. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: The Rams mascot performs. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

20. VCU Rams

VCU absolutely dominated in the second half of last season. Behind absolutely stellar defense play, the Rams finished the year 25-8 (16-2 A10). While they lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, it was an impressive campaign that has set expectations high for 2018-19. VCU is returning 82.7% of their total minutes from this past season and that will make them extremely experienced and talented. They were already an elite defensive team a season ago and that should not change as the rotation does not shift all that much.

Their offense, though, should improve with a healthy Marcus Evans and continued improvement from the entire roster. The team will be quite senior-laden and they will be poised to make it through the tough times of the year. De’Riante Jenkins is one of the likely candidates to lead the team in scoring as a senior and he will be a major impact player. The Rams are widely projected to be the favorite in the Atlantic 10 and a preseason top-25 ranking might not even be a major surprise.

VCU was clearly one of the top (and most overlooked) teams in the nation last season and they will be hungry for more in 2019-20. They will be experienced, defensively stout, and prepared for any challenge that comes their way. Head coach Mike Rhoades has this team in a great position to succeed.

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