2016–17 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 2016–17 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by second-year head coach Will Wade, played their home games at Stuart C. Siegel Center as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 26–9, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in second place. In the A-10 Tournament, they beat George Mason and Richmond before losing to Rhode Island in the championship game. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West region where they lost in the First round to Saint Mary's.

2016–17 VCU Rams men's basketball
NCAA Tournament, First Round
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
2016–17 record26–9 (14–4 A10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Rasheen Davis
  • Wes Long
  • Casey Long
Home arenaStuart C. Siegel Center
2016–17 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Dayton153 .833  248  .750
VCU144 .778  269  .743
Rhode Island135 .722  2510  .714
Richmond135 .722  2213  .629
Saint Bonaventure117 .611  2012  .625
George Washington108 .556  2015  .571
George Mason99 .500  2014  .588
La Salle99 .500  1515  .500
Davidson810 .444  1715  .531
Fordham711 .389  1319  .406
Saint Louis612 .333  1221  .364
UMass414 .222  1518  .455
Saint Joseph's414 .222  1120  .355
Duquesne315 .167  1022  .313
2017 A10 Tournament winner

Following the season, head coach Will Wade left VCU to take the head coaching position at LSU following the firing of Johnny Jones.[1] Wade had served has the head coach for the last two seasons making him VCU's shortest tenured head coach since Benny Dees.[2] On March 21, 2017 the school hired Rice head coach Mike Rhoades, who had served as associate head coach under Shaka Smart from 2009–2014.[3]

Previous season

The Rams finished the 2015–16 season with a record of 25–11, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for a first-place. In the A-10 Tournament, the Rams lost to Saint Joseph's in the championship game. The Rams received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they beat Oregon State in the First Round before losing to Oklahoma in the Second Round.

Preseason

The Rams were picked to finish third in the A-10 preseason poll.[4] Mo Allie-Cox was selected to the All-A-10 second team while JeQuan Lewis was selected to the third team.[4] Cox and Lewis were also selected to the All-Defensive team.[4]

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Jordan Riullano3G5'9"185FreshmanBronx, NYWalk-on; transferred to SUNY Sullivan
Michael Gilmore11F6'10"215SophomoreTallahassee, FLTransferred to Miami (FL)
Gerron Scissum22F6'7"210FreshmanHuntsville, ALTransferred to James Madison
Korey Billbury24G6'4"210SeniorTulsa, OKGraduated
Melvin Johnson32G6'4"193SeniorBronx, NYGraduated
Johnathan Nwankwo33F6'9"245FreshmanBronx, NYTransferred to College of Southern Idaho

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Issac Vann11F6'6"190SophomoreBridgeport, CTTransferred from Maine. Under NCAA transfer rules, Vann will have to sit out in the 2016–17 season. Will have three years of eligibility left.

2016 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
De'Riante Jenkins
SF
Eutawville, SC Hargrave Military Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 19, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 83
Malik Crowfield
SG
Laplace, LA Riverside Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jan 21, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 76
Marquell Fraser
SG
Hamilton, CAN The Hill Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 191 lb (87 kg) Mar 7, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "VCU 2016 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.

    2017 recruiting class

    US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
    Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
    Marcus Santos-Silva
    PF
    Taunton, MA Vermont Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Sep 21, 2016 
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 73
    Sean Mobley
    PF
    Melbourne, FL Montverde Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sep 25, 2016 
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 80
    Mayan Kiir
    PF
    Bradenton, FL Victory Rock Prep 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Nov 14, 2016 
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN grade: 82
    Overall recruiting rankings:
    • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
    • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

    Sources:

      Roster

      2016–17 VCU Rams men's basketball team
      PlayersCoaches
      Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
      G 0 De'Riante Jenkins 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrHargrave Military Academy Eutawville, South Carolina
      G 1 JeQuan Lewis 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg) SrDickson County High School Dickson, Tennessee
      G 2 Samir Doughty  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) RS FrMathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
      F 4 Justin Tillman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrPershing High School Detroit, Michigan
      G 5 Doug Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrLake Wales High School Lake Wales, Florida
      G 10 Jonathan Williams 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) JrSt. Bendict's Prep Richmond, Virginia
      F 11 Issac Vann (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoMaine Bridgeport, Connecticut
      F 12 Mo Alie-Cox  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS SrMiddleburg Academy Alexandria, Virginia
      G 13 Malik Crowfield 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrRiverside Academy LaPlace, Louisiana
      G 14 Torey Burston  5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SrTrinity Episcopal School Richmond, Virginia
      G 15 Marquell Fraser 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrThe Hill Academy Hamilton, Ontario
      G/F 20 Jordan Burgess  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SrBenedictine College Preparatory Midlothian, Virginia
      F 23 Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrLee College Alexandria, Egypt
      Head coach
      Assistant coach(es)

      Legend
      • (C) Team captain
      • (S) Suspended
      • (I) Ineligible
      • (W) Walk-on

      Roster

      Schedule and results

      Date
      time, TV
      Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
      city, state
      Exhibition
      Nov 4, 2016
      7:00 pm
      Queens (NC) L 73–75 
       24  Lewis  9  Tied  3  Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Non-conference regular season
      Nov 11, 2016*
      7:00 pm, WTVR 6.3
      UNC Asheville W 80–65  1–0
       15  Alie-Cox  6  Tied (3)  4  Brooks  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Nov 15, 2016*
      8:00 pm
      at Liberty W 64–59  2–0
       13  Lewis  8  Alie-Cox  3  Williams  Vines Center (3,289)
      Lynchburg, VA
      Nov 18, 2016*
      7:00 pm, WTVR 6.3
      Binghamton
      Battle 4 Atlantis Opening Round
      W 81–42  3–0
       14  Jenkins  10  Jenkins  5  Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Nov 23, 2016*
      2:00 pm, ESPN2
      vs. No. 20 Baylor
      Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals
      L 63–71  3–1
       21  Lewis  7  Doughty  5  Lewis  Imperial Arena (1,215)
      Nassau, BAH
      Nov 24, 2016*
      7:00 pm, AXS TV
      vs. St. John's
      Battle 4 Atlantis 2nd round consolation
      W 75–69  4–1
       22  Williams  13  Tillman  6  Williams  Imperial Arena (1,597)
      Nassau, BAH
      Nov 25, 2016*
      7:00 pm, AXS TV
      vs. LSU
      Battle 4 Atlantis 5th place game
      W 85–74  5–1
       19  Lewis  8  Tillman  9  Lewis  Imperial Arena (1,201)
      Nassau, BAH
      Nov 29, 2016*
      7:00 pm, MASN
      Princeton W 81–70  6–1
       23  Lewis  7  Burgess  12  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Dec 3, 2016*
      3:00 pm, CBSSN
      vs. Illinois
      Hoophall Miami Invitational
      L 46–64  6–2
       10  Alie-Cox  7  Burgess  3  Williams  American Airlines Arena 
      Miami, FL
      Dec 7, 2016*
      7:00 pm, ESPNU
      Georgia Tech L 73–76 OT 6–3
       26  Tillman  9  Tillman  7  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Dec 10, 2016*
      8:00 pm, ASN
      at Old Dominion
      Rivalry
      W 67–64  7–3
       20  Lewis  8  Alie-Cox  4  Brooks  Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,472)
      Norfolk, VA
      Dec 17, 2016*
      7:00 pm, ASN
      Middle Tennessee W 80–77  8–3
       20  Lewis  11  Burgess  4  Doughty  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Dec 22, 2016*
      7:00 pm, WTVR-TV
      Louisiana–Monroe W 78–65  9–3
       16  Alie-Cox  8  Doughty  6  Brooks  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Dec 27, 2016*
      7:00 pm, MASN
      Howard W 85–51  10–3
       17  Lewis  9  Tillman  6  Williams  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Atlantic 10 regular season
      Dec 30, 2016
      8:00 pm, CBSSN
      at George Mason
      Rivalry
      W 73–64  11–3
      (1–0)
       26  Lewis  11  Tillman  5  Williams  EagleBank Arena (7,780)
      Fairfax, VA
      Jan 4, 2017
      7:00 pm, ASN
      at Duquesne W 94–87  12–3
      (2–0)
       23  Doughty  7  Doughty  9  Doughty  Palumbo Center (1,038)
      Pittsburgh, PA
      Jan 7, 2017
      1:00 pm, NBCSN
      Massachusetts W 81–64  13–3
      (3–0)
       17  Lewis  10  Tillman  6  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Jan 11, 2017
      6:30 pm, ESPN2
      George Washington W 85–55  14–3
      (4–0)
       20  Tillman  13  Tillman  7  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Jan 14, 2016
      2:00 pm, CBSSN
      at Davidson L 63–69  14–4
      (4–1)
       17  Lewis  10  Hamdy-Mohamed  4  Lewis  John M. Belk Arena (4,636)
      Davidson, NC
      Jan 18, 2017
      7:00 pm, MASN
      at Fordham L 67–69 OT 14–5
      (4–2)
       20  Tillman  5  Tillman  10  Lewis  Rose Hill Gymnasium (2,186)
      Bronx, NY
      Jan 22, 2017
      2:00 pm, NBCSN
      La Salle W 90–52  15–5
      (5–2)
       16  Tillman  11  Hamdy-Mohamed  5  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Jan 27, 2017
      9:00 pm, ESPN2
      Dayton W 73–68  16–5
      (6–2)
       18  Tillman  9  Tillman  5  Doughty  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 1, 2017
      7:00 pm, CBSSN
      Richmond
      Capital City Classic
      W 81–74  17–5
      (7–2)
       18  Tillman  9  Tillman  6  Doughty  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 4, 2017
      4:00 pm, CBSSN
      at St. Bonaventure W 83–77 OT  18–5
      (8–2)
       20  Alie-Cox  12  Tillman  7  Lewis  Reilly Center (5,480)
      Olean, NY
      Feb 8, 2017
      9:00 pm, CBSSN
      at George Washington W 54–53  19–5
      (9–2)
       11  Tillman  11  Tillman  2  Tied  Charles E. Smith Center (4,012)
      Washington, D.C.
      Feb 11, 2017
      8:00 pm, CBSSN
      Davidson W 74–60  20–5
      (10–2)
       27  Lewis  16  Tillman  3  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 14, 2017
      6:00 pm, CBSSN
      Saint Joseph's W 91–81  21–5
      (11–2)
       34  Lewis  13  Tillman  10  Doughty  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 17, 2017
      9:00 pm, ESPN2
      at Richmond
      Capital City Classic
      W 84–73  22–5
      (12–2)
       16  Lewis  7  Lewis  5  Lewis  Robins Center (7,201)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 22, 2017
      7:00 pm, ASN
      Saint Louis W 64–50  23–5
      (13–2)
       17  Williams  10  Tillman  4  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Feb 25, 2017
      1:00 pm, ESPN2
      at Rhode Island L 59–69  23–6
      (13–3)
       14  Williams  7  Brooks  2  Brooks  Ryan Center (6,845)
      Kingston, RI
      Mar 1, 2017
      8:00 pm, CBSSN
      at Dayton L 72–79  23–7
      (13–4)
       23  Allie-Cox  10  Tillman  5  Tied  UD Arena (13,455)
      Dayton, OH
      Mar 4, 2017
      2:00 pm, MASN
      George Mason
      Rivalry
      W 72–60  24–7
      (14–4)
       24  Tillman  11  Tillman  9  Lewis  Siegel Center (7,637)
      Richmond, VA
      Atlantic 10 Tournament
      Mar 10, 2017
      6:00 pm, NBCSN
      (2) vs. (7) George Mason
      Quarterfinals
      W 71–60  25–7
       15  Jenkins  7  Burgess  6  Lewis  PPG Paints Arena (6,647)
      Pittsburgh, PA
      Mar 11, 2017
      6:00 pm, CBSSN
      (2) vs. (3) Richmond
      Semifinals
      W 87–77 OT 26–7
       18  Lewis  14  Tillman  7  Williams  PPG Paints Arena (6,886)
      Pittsburgh, PA
      Mar 12, 2017
      12:30 pm, CBS
      (2) vs. (4) Rhode Island
      Championship game
      L 63–70  26–8
       15  Lewis  17  Tillman  3  Lewis  PPG Paints Arena (7,025)
      Pittsburgh, PA
      NCAA Tournament
      March 16, 2017*
      7:20 pm, TBS
      (10 W) vs. (7 W) No. 22 Saint Mary's
      First round
      L 77–85  26–9
       30  Lewis  7  Tillman  2  Tied  Vivint Smart Home Arena (16,341)
      Salt Lake City, UT
      *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West Region.
      All times are in Eastern Time.

      References

      1. "VCU's Will Wade hired as next coach at LSU". ESPN. espn.com. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
      2. "Benny Dees Coaching Record". Sports Reference. sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
      3. "VCU moves quickly to hire Mike Rhoades from Rice to fill coaching vacancy". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
      4. "Flyers Picked to Win 2016-17; Men's Basketball". Atlantic10.com. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
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