2013 NCAA Tournament Profile: VCU Rams

Record: 26-8

RPI: 23

BPI: 19

Conference: Atlantic 10 Conference

How They Qualified: At-Large Berth

 

The VCU Rams have been challenged all season long, playing Memphis, Duke, Missouri, Wichita State and Alabama in their non-conference schedule. In addition to that, just being in the Atlantic 10 Conference alone has its tests.

However, in that tough out-of-conference schedule, VCU only beat Memphis and Alabama. It is the experience of playing those tough teams though that will benefit the Rams. They will not be thrown off guard in the dance and will be prepared for every single game, whether if they are playing a shooting team or a team that relies on post play.

Although Shaka Smart has done wonders in the Big Dance, this could very well be his best team entering the tournament.

 

What You Need to Know:

Leading Scorer: Treveon Graham (15.7 ppg)

Leading Rebounder: Juvonte Reddic (8.2 rpg)

Leading Passer: Darius Theus (4.9 apg)

Bad Losses: None  

Good Wins: Memphis, Butler 

 

Here is something else you need to know about VCU: don’t leave Troy Daniels open. He will sink the shot every time. Daniels has made 117 threes this year, which is one of the highest in that category in the country. However, this team does have four players averaging ten or more points per game, so you have to be on your toes across the board.

It doesn’t seem like the Rams have a lot of good wins on the season, but they have also beaten Lehigh, Saint Joseph’s, Massachusetts, Xavier, Charlotte, Belmont and Richmond. Those aren’t easy teams to beat by any means.

Anyways, the Rams will not enter the dance as an underdog. This team is for real this season, so a deep run out of them would certainly not come as a surprise.