2016–17 VCU Rams men's basketball team
American college basketball season
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 .
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 to 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]
Offseason
Departures
Incoming transfers
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Previous School
Issac Vann
11
F
6'6"
190
Sophomore
Bridgeport, CT
Transferred 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
College recruiting information
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
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
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
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:
2017 Recruiting class
College recruiting information (2017)
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
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
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
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
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
De'Riante Jenkins
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Fr
Hargrave Military Academy
Eutawville, South Carolina
G
1
JeQuan Lewis
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Sr
Dickson County High School
Dickson, Tennessee
G
2
Samir Doughty
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
RS Fr
Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
F
4
Justin Tillman
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jr
Pershing High School
Detroit, Michigan
G
5
Doug Brooks
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Sr
Lake Wales High School
Lake Wales, Florida
G
10
Jonathan Williams
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Jr
St. Benedict's Prep
Richmond, Virginia
F
11
Issac Vann (I)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
So
Maine
Bridgeport, Connecticut
F
12
Mo Alie-Cox
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
RS Sr
Middleburg Academy
Alexandria, Virginia
G
13
Malik Crowfield
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Riverside Academy
LaPlace, Louisiana
G
14
Torey Burston
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
RS Sr
Trinity Episcopal School
Richmond, Virginia
G
15
Marquell Fraser
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Fr
The Hill Academy
Hamilton, Ontario
G/F
20
Jordan Burgess
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
RS Sr
Benedictine College Preparatory
Midlothian, Virginia
F
23
Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
Sr
Lee 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
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
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA Final Four appearances in italics