# 2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 2017–18 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams were led by Mike Rhoades in his first season as head coach at VCU. The Rams played their home games at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
A chain of lost recruiting classes, coaching personnel changes, losses against low RPI teams, no wins against Top 50 RPI teams, and a graduating core of players resulted in a downturn in the team's fortunes. The team finished the season 18–15, 9–9 record in A-10 play to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. The season was the 18th consecutive season the program finished with a winning record. As the No. 8 seed in the A-10 tournament, the Rams defeated Dayton in the second round before losing to Rhode Island in the quarterfinals.
The Rams failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010, and failed to achieve a 20-win season for the first time since 2006. On March 11, 2018, Ed McLaughlin, the Athletics Director announced that VCU had declined an invitation to play in the College Basketball Invitational tournament. This marked the first season since 2006 the Rams did not play in a postseason tournament.

## Previous season

The Rams finished the 2016–17 season 26–9, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in second place. VCU defeated George Mason and Richmond in the A-10 tournament to advance to the championship game, where they lost to Rhode Island. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West Region. There they lost to No. 7 Saint Mary's in the first round.
Head coach Will Wade resigned on March 20 to take the head coaching position at LSU following the firing of Johnny Jones. Wade was the head coach for the two seasons, making him VCU's shortest tenured head coach since Benny Dees. On March 21, the school hired Rice head coach Mike Rhoades, who had been the associate head coach under Shaka Smart from 2009 to 2014.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| JeQuan Lewis | 1 | G | 6'1" | 180 | Senior | Dickson, Tennessee | Graduated |
| Samir Doughty | 2 | G | 6'4" | 185 | Freshman (redshirt) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Transferred to Auburn |
| Doug Brooks | 5 | G | 6'4" | 200 | Senior | Lake Wales, Florida | Graduated |
| Mo Alie-Cox | 12 | F | 6'7" | 250 | Senior (redshirt) | Alexandria, Virginia | Graduated |
| Torey Burston | 14 | G | 5'8" | 180 | Senior (redshirt) | Richmond, Virginia | Graduated |
| Marquell Fraser | 15 | G | 6'5" | 205 | Freshman | Hamilton, Ontario | Transferred to Midland College |
| Jordan Burgess | 20 | G/F | 6'5" | 225 | Senior (redshirt) | Midlothian, Virginia | Graduated |
| Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed | 23 | F | 6'9" | 240 | Senior | Alexandria, Egypt | Transferred to TCU |

### Transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Marcus Evans | 2 | G | 6'2" | 195 | Sophomore | Chesapeake, Virginia | Transferred from Rice. Will be eligible to play in 2018–19. |
| Khris Lane | 4 | F | 6'6" | 225 | RS-Senior | Richmond, Virginia | Transferred from Longwood. |
| Mike'l Simms | 13 | G | 6'5 | 220 | Freshman | Highland Springs, Virginia | Transferred from Cowley Community College. |
| Xavier Jackson | 14 | G | 6'3 | | Sophomore | Hinesville, Georgia | Transferred from Sheridan College. |
| Corey Douglas | | F | 6'8" | | Sophomore | Louisville, Kentucky | Will attend Tallahassee Community College for the 2017–18 season and will then transfer to VCU. Spent the 2016–17 season at Rice. |

### 2017 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 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 ||||||
| Lewis Djonkam PF | Springfield, VA | Hargrave Military Academy | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Apr 26, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: N/A ||||||
| Tyler Maye PG | Farmville, NC | Farmville Central High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | May 11, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 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 2017 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015. "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015. ||||||

### 2018 Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| P. J. Byrd PG | Houston, TX | George Bush High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 169 lb (77 kg) | Sep 6, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| KeShawn Curry SG | Jacksonville, FL | Fork Union Military Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Oct 2, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Vince Williams Jr. SF | Toledo, OH | St. John's Jesuit | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | Oct 4, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| 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 2018 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 13, 2018. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 13, 2018. |||||||

## Preseason

In a poll of the league's head coaches and select media members at the conference's media day, the Rams were picked to finish in fourth place in the A-10. Justin Tillman was named to the conference's preseason first team. Tillman and Jonathan Williams were named to the preseason All-Defensive team.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| Oct 26, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Liberty Hurricane Relief Exhibition | L 69–85 | N/A | 14 – Crowfield | 6 – Vann | 5 – Williams | Siegel Center (3,497) Richmond, VA |
| Nov 3, 2017* 7:00 pm | | Virginia Union | W 98–74 | N/A | 21 – Lane | 8 – Lane | 6 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| Nov 10, 2017* 7:00 pm, MASN | | Grambling State | W 94–65 | 1–0 | 14 – 3 Tied | 10 – Tillman | 5 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Nov 13, 2017* 7:00 pm, MASN | | North Florida Maui Invitational Mainland game | W 95–85 | 2–0 | 27 – Tillman | 8 – Tied | 8 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Nov 17, 2017* 4:00 pm, CBSSN | | Virginia | L 67–76 | 2–1 | 19 – Vann | 8 – Tillman | 8 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Nov 20, 2017* 2:30 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. Marquette Maui Invitational Tournament quarterfinals | L 83–94 | 2–2 | 17 – Crowfield | 7 – Tillman | 6 – Williams | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Lahaina, HI |
| Nov 21, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. California Maui Invitational Tournament consolation 2nd round | W 83–69 | 3–2 | 27 – Jenkins | 11 – Jenkins | 8 – Williams | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Lahaina, HI |
| Nov 22, 2017* 5:00 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. Michigan Maui Invitational Tournament 5th place game | L 60–68 | 3–3 | 13 – Lane | 8 – Lane | 2 – Tied | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Lahaina, HI |
| Nov 28, 2017* 7:00 pm, MASN | | Appalachian State | W 85–72 | 4–3 | 21 – Tillman | 6 – Tied | 7 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Dec 2, 2017* 7:00 pm, MASN | | Old Dominion Rivalry | W 82–75 | 5–3 | 28 – Tillman | 9 – Santos-Silva | 9 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Dec 5, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | Texas | L 67–71 | 5–4 | 22 – Tillman | 10 – Tillman | 7 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Dec 9, 2017* 3:00 pm, FOX | | at No. 19 Seton Hall Never Forget Tribute Classic | L 67–90 | 5–5 | 20 – Tillman | 8 – Tillman | 6 – Williams | Prudential Center (9,112) Newark, NJ |
| Dec 16, 2017* 6:00 pm, WTVR | | Bucknell | W 85–79 | 6–5 | 26 – Tillman | 7 – Tillman | 6 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Dec 19, 2017* 7:00 pm, MASN | | Winthrop | W 68–53 | 7–5 | 22 – Tillman | 11 – Tillman | 6 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Dec 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, WTVR | | VMI | W 75–65 | 8–5 | 19 – Tillman | 13 – Tillman | 9 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Atlantic 10 regular season |||||||||
| Dec 30, 2017 12:30 pm, NBCSN | | Fordham | W 76–63 | 9–5 (1–0) | 23 – Tillman | 14 – Tillman | 5 – Vann | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Jan 3, 2018 7:00 pm | | at Saint Joseph's | L 81–87 $^{OT}$ | 9–6 (1–1) | 22 – Tillman | 12 – Tillman | 5 – Jenkins | Hagan Arena (3,518) Philadelphia, PA |
| Jan 6, 2018 2:00 pm, NBCSN | | at La Salle | W 80–74 | 10–6 (2–1) | 20 – Jenkins | 10 – Tillman | 5 – Williams | Tom Gola Arena (2,312) Philadelphia, PA |
| Jan 9, 2018 8:00 pm, Stadium | | Duquesne | W 78–67 | 11–6 (3–1) | 21 – Williams | 17 – Tillman | 4 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Jan 12, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at Dayton | L 79–106 | 11–7 (3–2) | 26 – Tillman | 12 – Tillman | 6 – Jenkins | UD Arena (12,507) Dayton, OH |
| Jan 17, 2018 7:00 pm | | Richmond Capital City Classic | L 52–67 | 11–8 (3–3) | 12 – Tillman | 9 – Tillman | 2 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Jan 20, 2018 12:30 pm, NBCSN | | George Washington | W 87–63 | 12–8 (4–3) | 18 – Jenkins | 8 – Tillman | 4 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Jan 23, 2018 9:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Saint Louis | W 75–74 $^{OT}$ | 13–8 (5–3) | 25 – Tillman | 12 – Tillman | 5 – Williams | Chaifetz Arena (5,649) St. Louis, MO |
| Jan 27, 2018 2:00 pm, CBSSN | | at George Mason Rivalry | W 84–76 | 14–8 (6–3) | 25 – Lane | 12 – Lane | 6 – Williams | EagleBank Arena (7,028) Fairfax, VA |
| Feb 2, 2018 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | | No. 22 Rhode Island | L 68–81 | 14–9 (6–4) | 22 – Tillman | 6 – Tillman | 4 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 7, 2018 9:00 pm, CBSSN | | at Richmond Capital City Classic | L 76–77 | 14–10 (6–5) | 21 – Tillman | 4 – Lane | 4 – Jenkins | Robins Center (7,201) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 10, 2018 6:00 pm, CBSSN | | Dayton | W 88–84 $^{OT}$ | 15–10 (7–5) | 37 – Tillman | 8 – Tillman | 5 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 14, 2018 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | Davidson | L 63–74 | 15–11 (7–6) | 22 – Tillman | 8 – Tillman | 7 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 17, 2018 4:00 pm, Stadium | | at George Washington | L 56–80 | 15–12 (7–7) | 11 – Tillman | 13 – Tillman | 4 – Williams | Charles E. Smith Center (3,979) Washington, D.C. |
| Feb 21, 2018 7:00 pm, MASN | | at Massachusetts | W 82–78 | 16–12 (8–7) | 26 – Tillman | 13 – Tillman | 7 – Mobley | Mullins Center (3,322) Amherst, MA |
| Feb 24, 2018 8:00 pm, CBSSN | | St. Bonaventure | L 63–68 | 16–13 (8–8) | 20 – Tillman | 10 – Tillman | 7 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Feb 28, 2018 7:00 pm, MASN | | George Mason Rivalry | L 80–81 | 16–14 (8–9) | 20 – Simms | 11 – Tillman | 6 – Williams | Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA |
| Mar 3, 2018 2:00 pm, WTVR | | at Fordham | W 83–58 | 17–14 (9–9) | 18 – Tillman | 13 – Tillman | 4 – Crowfield | Rose Hill Gymnasium (2,325) Bronx, NY |
| Atlantic 10 tournament |||||||||
| Mar 8, 2018 12:00 pm, NBCSN | (8) | vs. (9) Dayton Second Round | W 77–72 | 18–14 | 15 – Tillman | 10 – Tillman | 5 – Tied | Capital One Arena (6,483) Washington, D.C. |
| Mar 9, 2018 12:00 pm, NBCSN | (8) | vs. (1) No. 25 Rhode Island Quarterfinals | L 67–76 | 18–15 | 23 – Tillman | 15 – Tillman | 7 – Williams | Capital One Arena (7,321) Washington, D.C. |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||