VCU Basketball: Rams may be nation's best mid-major team in 2019-20

VCU Basketball: Rams may be nation’s best mid-major team in 2019-20

By Brian Rauf | Oct 10, 2019

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Fans in the Virginia Commonwealth Rams student section cheer before the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship against the Butler Bulldogs at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

1 of 4

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Rhoades of the VCU Rams reacts to a play in the second half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on December 9, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

After winning 25 games and claiming the A-10 regular-season title last year, VCU basketball has their sights set even higher in 2019-20.

VCU basketball was one of the country’s biggest surprises a year ago, posting a 25-8 overall record and winning the Atlantic 10 in head coach Mike Rhoades‘ second season in charge after being picked to finish seventh in the conference in the preseason.

This year, however, the Rams will not be sneaking up on anyone.

They return their top six scorers and almost everyone from their rotation, making them one of the country’s most experienced teams. That experience, coupled with last season’s success, has increased expectations around the program.

When the preseason AP poll comes out later this month, VCU is expected to be ranked relatively high. The Rams are already ranked No. 18 in the country in CBS Sports’ preseason rankings. NBC Sports has them at No. 24. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has them earning a No. 6 seed in his most recent bracketology update.

While the players are trying their best to ignore them, those expectations are indicative of a team capable of making a run in the NCAA Tournament – which is perhaps the only thing VCU was not able to accomplish last season. UCF bounced the Rams from the dance in the opening round, and that loss has stuck with the Rams all offseason.

Senior forward Issac Vann told me that loss has and continues to serve as a major motivating factor for this group.

"“The ending of last year left a bitter taste in our mouth. We want to improve on what we did last year and finish on a high note. We have five seniors this year and we want to send ourselves out on a high note.”"

Improving on what they did last year not only means repeating as A-10 regular-season champs, Vann said, but also winning the conference tournament and making a run in the NCAA Tournament.

They appear to have the ability to do just that, and may very well end up as the best mid-major team in the country by the end of the season. Here’s why: