# 2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball team represents Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by second-year head coach Ryan Odom, play their home games at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia, as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

## Previous season

The 2023–24 team was the first year with Ryan Odom coaching the squad. During the season, VCU finished the season with a 24–14 record including an 11–7 record in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams lost in the Atlantic 10 championship game to Duquesne, and earned an at-large berth into the 2024 National Invitation Tournament. In the NIT, the Rams had their best performance in the tournament since 1988, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Utah.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Jason Nelson | 1 | G | 5'10" | 175 | Sophomore | Richmond, VA | Transferred to Youngstown State |
| Roosevelt Wheeler | 4 | F/C | 6'11" | 240 | Junior | Richmond, VA | Transferred to East Tennessee State |
| Sean Bairstow | 7 | G | 6'8" | 205 | GS Senior | Brisbane, Australia | Graduated |
| Tobi Lawal | 10 | F | 6'8" | 200 | Sophomore | London, England | Transferred to Virginia Tech |
| Kuany Kuany | 13 | F | 6'9" | 200 | GS Senior | Melbourne, Australia | Graduated |
| Connor Odom | 14 | G | 5'11" | 165 | Senior | Annapolis, MD | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| Phillip Russell | 1 | G | 5'10" | 165 | Senior | St. Louis, MO | UT Arlington |
| Jack Clark | 4 | F | 6'10" | 207 | GS Senior | Cheltenham, PA | Clemson |

### 2024 recruits

The following players have committed to playing for VCU.
College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Luke Bamgboye #33 C | Scottsdale, AZ | AZ Compass Prep | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jun 9, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Terrence Hill Jr. #45 PG | Portland, OR | Roosevelt High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jul 11, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Brandon Jennings PG | Richmond, VA | St. Christopher's School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Nov 8, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR ||||||
| Martin Carrère SF | Pontonx-sur-l'Adour, France | Limoges Cercle Saint-Pierre | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | N/A | Jul 21, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A ESPN grade: NR ||||||
| 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 2024 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024. "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024. ||||||

#### 2025 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2025) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Silas Barksdale #33 C | Hampton, VA | Woodside High School | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Sep 5, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 |||||||
| 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 2025 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024. "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024. |||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| October 28, 2024* 7:00 p.m. | | St. Mary's (MD) | W 102–44 | | 26 – Bamisile | 8 – Shulga | 3 – Tied | Siegel Center (4,614) Richmond, VA |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 4, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Bellarmine | W 84–65 | 1–0 | 19 – Shulga | 10 – Belle | 5 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| November 8, 2024* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | vs. Boston College Veterans Classic | W 80–55 | 2–0 | 20 – Russell | 10 – Shulga | 4 – Shulga | Alumni Hall Annapolis, MD |
| November 13, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Merrimack | W 63–42 | 3–0 | 20 – Bamisile | 9 – Jennings | 4 – Tied | Siegel Center (7,183) Richmond, VA |
| November 16, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Loyola (MD) | W 83–57 | 4–0 | 25 – Clark | 10 – Shulga | 7 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| November 21, 2024* 5:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | vs. Seton Hall Charleston Classic quarterfinals | L 66–69 $^{OT}$ | 4–1 | 20 – Shulga | 5 – Tied | 3 – Tied | TD Arena Charleston, SC |
| November 22, 2024* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | | vs. Nevada Charleston Classic consolation | L 61–64 | 4–2 | 18 – Jackson | 7 – Tied | 4 – Tied | TD Arena (2,823) Charleston, SC |
| November 24, 2024* 12:30 p.m., ESPN+ | | vs. Miami (FL) Charleston Classic 7th place game | W 77–70 | 5–2 | 22 – Bamisile | 8 – Shulga | 9 – Shulga | TD Arena Charleston, SC |
| November 29, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Elizabeth City State | W 103–58 | 6–2 | 18 – Russell | 9 – Ferman | 3 – Jackson | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| December 4, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Georgia Southern | W 89–54 | 7–2 | 29 – Shulga | 6 – Tied | 3 – Tied | Siegel Center (6,624) Richmond, VA |
| December 9, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Penn | W 66–47 | 8–2 | 23 – Bamisile | 11 – Bamisile | 7 – Russell | Siegel Center (7,016) Richmond, VA |
| December 14, 2024* 7:30 p.m., Baller TV | | vs. Colorado State Jack Jones Classic | W 76–68 | 9–2 | 25 – Bamisile | 10 – Shulga | 4 – Shulga | Lee's Family Forum Henderson, NV |
| December 18, 2024* 9:00 p.m., MW Network | | at New Mexico | L 71–78 | 9–3 | 20 – Shulga | 5 – Belle | 2 – Tied | The Pit (11,483) Albuquerque, NM |
| December 22, 2024* 2:00 p.m., MASN | | William & Mary | W 90–70 | 10–3 | 20 – Bamisile | 10 – Clark | 6 – Tied | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Atlantic 10 regular season |||||||||
| December 31, 2025 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | at St. Bonaventure | L 75–77 | 10–4 (0–1) | 26 – Russell | 8 – Bamisile | 4 – Shulga | Reilly Center (4,190) St. Bonaventure, NY |
| January 4, 2025 2:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Loyola Chicago | W 84–65 | 11–4 (1–1) | 25 – Russell | 11 – Clark | 5 – Shulga | Joseph J. Gentile Arena (4,129) Chicago, IL |
| January 8, 2025 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Fordham | W 73–61 | 12–4 (2–1) | 18 – Bamisile | 11 – Clark | 5 – Russell | Siegel Center (0) Richmond, VA |
| January 14, 2025 7:00 p.m., MASN | | Saint Louis | W 78–62 | 13–4 (3–1) | 23 – Bamisile | 6 – Jennings | 9 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| January 17, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPNU | | at Saint Joseph's | W 78–69 | 14–4 (4–1) | 18 – Clark | 9 – Shulga | 3 – Shulga | Hagan Arena (3,069) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 21, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Rhode Island | W 81–57 | 15–4 (5–1) | 24 – Bamisile | 9 – Bamgboye | 3 – Shulga | Ryan Center (4,517) Kingston, RI |
| January 24, 2025 9:00 p.m., ESPNU | | St. Bonaventure | W 75–61 | 16–4 (6–1) | 18 – Bamisile | 9 – Jackson | 6 – Bamisile | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| January 28, 2025 8:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Saint Louis | L 69–78 | 16–5 (6–2) | 15 – Tied | 9 – Clark | 3 – Clark | Chaifetz Arena (6,763) St. Louis, MO |
| February 1, 2025 4:00 p.m., CBSSN | | Richmond Capital City Classic | W 90–49 | 17–5 (7–2) | 20 – Shulga | 6 – Shulga | 5 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| February 4, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | La Salle | W 96–66 | 18–5 (8–2) | 17 – Bamisile | 8 – Fermin | 5 – Clark | Siegel Center (7,132) Richmond, VA |
| February 7, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at Dayton | W 73–68 | 19–5 (9–2) | 17 – Jackson | 8 – Shulga | 3 – Shulga | UD Arena (13,407) Dayton, OH |
| February 12, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock | | at George Washington | W 80–72 | 20–5 (10–2) | 18 – Clark | 9 – Clark | 4 – Tied | Charles E. Smith Center (2,078) Washington, D.C. |
| February 19, 2025 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | UMass | W 80–51 | 21–5 (11–2) | 19 – Tied | 6 – Bamisile | 7 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| February 22, 2025 4:00 p.m., CBSSN | | George Mason Rivalry | W 70–54 | 22–5 (12–2) | 22 – Shulga | 9 – Clark | 6 – Jackson | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| February 25, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Richmond Capital City Classic | W 78–60 | 23–5 (13–2) | 16 – Shulga | 8 – Bamisile | 4 – Shulga | Robins Center (6,420) Richmond, VA |
| February 28, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Davidson | W 80–56 | 24–5 (14–2) | 18 – Clark | 11 – Shulga | 4 – Russell | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| March 4, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | | at Duquesne | W 71–62 | 25–5 (15–2) | 22 – Shulga | 14 – Clark | 3 – Clark | UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse (2,574) Pittsburgh, PA |
| March 7, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Dayton | L 76–79 | 25–6 (15–3) | 18 – Bamisile | 9 – Shulga | 3 – Shulga | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Atlantic 10 tournament |||||||||
| March 14, 2025 11:30 a.m., USA | (1) | vs. (8) St. Bonaventure Quarterfinals | W 76–59 | 26–6 | 17 – Clark | 10 – Belle | 11 – Shulga | Capital One Arena (8,153) Washington, D.C. |
| March 15, 2025 1:00 p.m., CBSSN | (1) | vs. (4) Loyola Chicago Semifinals | W 62–55 | 27–6 | 14 – Shulga | 10 – Shulga | 4 – Shulga | Capital One Arena (9,355) Washington, D.C. |
| March 16, 2025 1:00 p.m., CBS | (1) | vs. (2) George Mason Championship/Rivalry | W 68–63 | 28–6 | 18 – Shulga | 8 – Bamgboye | 3 – Tied | Capital One Arena (12,516) Washington, D.C. |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 20, 2025 4:05 p.m., TNT | (11 E) | vs. (6 E) No. 17 BYU First round | | | | | | Ball Arena Denver, CO |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| Coaches | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 25 | RV | RV | |