Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Record: 24-10 (14-4 Atlantic 10)
Head Coach: Will Wade (1st season)
Season Recap: The departure of former head coach Shaka Smart to Texas has had little effect on Virginia Commonwealth. Although the Rams lost five of their first 10 games, they demonstrated their potential in nonconference play, pushing Duke to the wire in a 79-71 loss at Madison Square Garden and narrowly falling to Wisconsin 74-73. After the slow start, Virginia Commonwealth, led by senior guard Melvin Johnson, won 12 straight games and split the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship with Dayton and St. Bonaventure.
The Rams enter the tournament following an 87-74 loss to Saint Joseph’s in the finals of the Atlantic 10 tournament. Head coach Will Wade relies on small lineups to create mismatches and generate offense along the perimeter. Although Johnson—who averages 17.4 points per game and shoots 39 percent from beyond the arc—is the Rams’ main offensive playmaker, guards Korey Billbury and JeQuan Lewis and forward Mo Alie-Cox also score in double figures and help give the team options around Johnson.
How they make a run: Johnson has a strong end to his college career and the Rams knock down their shots from the perimeter to upset seventh-seeded Oregon State.
How they falter: Johnson receives little help from his supporting cast and Virginia Commonwealth—which ranks 100th in the country in rebounding—struggles on the boards in a loss to the Beavers.
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