CBB Rank 2021 moves along with VCU basketball next on the list, ranking at number 82.
After a season where VCU impressed the college basketball world and was robbed of its chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, VCU basketball is looking for revenge. They will have to do so without superstar Bones Hyland, but bring back the rest of their starters and have added key pieces.
You can check out teams 83-100 in our rankings right here.
📸 Bracket busters 😤
— VCU Basketball (@VCU_Hoops) March 17, 2021
⚫️🔶🐏💪#ThisIsRamNation #LetsGoVCU pic.twitter.com/LRfzfHAjAn
Projected Rotation
PG: Adrian Baldwin Jr. (6-1, 190, So.)
2021 stats: 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals
Projected stats: 10.3 points, 3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals
SG: Marcus Tshonis (6-3, 190, Jr.)
2021 stats: 10.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.3 steals
Projected stats: 11.1 points, 2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals
SF: Vince Williams Jr. (6-6, 220, Sr.)
2021 stats: 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1 steal
Projected stats: 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
PF: Levi Stockard III (6-8, 245, Gr.-Sr.)
2021 stats: 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals (Kansas State)
Projected stats: 6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.6 steals
C: Hason Ward (6-9, 210, Jr.)
2021 stats: 6.4 points, 5.1 rebounds 1 assist, 2.3 blocks
Projected stats: 7.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.5 blocks
6: Jamir Watkins (6-7, 205, So.)
2021 stats: 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.9 steals
Projected stats: 10.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals
7: Jimmy Nichols Jr. (6-8, 220, Jr.)
2021 stats: 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds
Projected stats: 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds
8: Josh Banks (6’5, 185, Soph.)
2021 stats: 3.1 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists
Projected stats: 7.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists
9: Keshawn Curry (6-4, 175, Sr.)
2021 stats: 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.7 steals
Projected stats: 6.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals
10. Mikeal Brown-Jones (6-8, 220, So.)
2021 stats: 2.3 points, 2.1 rebounds
Projected stats: 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds
Team MVP: Vince Williams Jr.
Williams took a huge jump last year, going from 4 points per game scorer to double digits and second on the team. He improved greatly with a better role on the team, and now as the top guy, we should see this again. With another year of development, Williams could be a contender for A-10 player of the year and serves as a great piece for this Mike Rhodes-led team.
Make-or-Break Player: Jamir Watkins
Despite being 6th in minutes, Watkins finished 3rd on the team in points as a freshman. This year, he can improve even more on that and even become their top scoring option. If he continues to develop at this expected rate, the sky’s the limit for this guy. Without Bones Hyland, VCU needs a guy who can fill that role of being able to get a bucket when needed, and Watkins can be that guy and keep them at the same level that saw them make the NCAA Tournament last season.
Bench Rating: 8/10
Whether Coach Rhodes decides to have Watkins or Tshonis as the first man off the bench, each of them could be a top 6th man in the country. They’ve got another talented guy in Josh Banks right under them, who had a decent freshman year and take a leap. Curry or any of their recruits can fill that last role, making this VCU basketball team a deep team that shouldn’t be impacted too much by any missed time by a top player. Nichols is also a great get from Providence and could contend with Stockard for the starting power forward role.
Team Outlook
👀 this one. Ace Baldwin's 4.4 assists per game this season were a program record for a freshman.
— VCU Basketball (@VCU_Hoops) May 5, 2021
⚫🔶🐏💪#ThisIsRamNation #LetsGoVCU pic.twitter.com/uJA93G3R8f
With four of five starters returning and a talented transfer who took a big jump in Marcus Tshonis, the Rams are looking good this year. They will need a guy to fill in the role that Hyland had, but with a good combination of experience and raw talent, this team can surprise many.
The A-10 is looking challenging this season, with St. Bonaventure being a potential Top-25 team and Dayton (#91 on CBB Rank), UMass, and St Louis all potentially being tournament teams. If they can finish second in the conference like last season, VCU basketball should be a tournament lock, but they have an uphill battle to get there.