VCU Basketball: Rams may be nation’s best mid-major team in 2019-20
By Brian Rauf
Standing vs. other top mid-majors
There are many high-quality mid-major programs going into the 2019-20 season and we could see a much-larger-than-normal-number of them ranked in the preseason poll. However, all of them have at least one flaw that VCU is stronger in.
Gonzaga, perennially the best mid-major in the country, is dealing with injury problems to Killian Tillie, arguably their best player, and have major questions about their backcourt. Meanwhile, the backcourt is VCU’s strength.
Utah State returns a pair of stars in reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Sam Merrill and potential first-round NBA Draft pick Neemias Queta, but the Aggies lack depth around them. Depth is another one of VCU’s strengths.
Saint Mary’s also returns almost everyone from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, yet they face questions about their defense, athleticism, and how they’ll replace Jordan Hunter in their frontcourt. The Rams don’t have to worry about replacing a starter and, again, defense and athleticism are VCU’s calling cards.
We could keep going but anyways, you get the point. And that’s not to say VCU doesn’t have flaws, because they do. They need to improve drastically from behind the arc and take better care of the ball offensively, but they’ve worked on their shooting and turnovers should naturally improve due to the progression that comes with experience.
Most importantly, they have an identity. VCU knows who they are and they know how to do it well. And, unlike most teams in college basketball that deal with annual roster turnover, the Rams know who they are doing it with.
dark. Next. In-depth look at VCU senior guard Marcus Evans
Rhoades told reporters earlier this week that his team knows they can accomplish big things and have been working to turn those goals into reality.
"“Guys have been getting after it. I’m just really excited about how excited the guys are. These guys want to win a championship and that’s very hard. You’ve got to put the work in every day. It’s a long journey.”"
VCU has a rare combination of talent, experience, and elite dominance on one end of the court that makes them perhaps the best and most dangerous mid-major team in the country. 2019-20 looks like it could be a really special one for the Rams.