2021–22 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 2021–22 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They are led by fifth-year head coach is Mike Rhoades and played their home games at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 22–10, 14–4 in A-10 play to finish in a tie for second place. As the No. 3 seed in the A-10 tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals to Richmond. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Princeton in the first round before losing to Wake Forest.

2021–22 VCU Rams men's basketball
NIT, Second Round
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record22–10 (14–4 A-10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaStuart C. Siegel Center
Seasons
2021–22 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Davidson 15 3   .833 27 7   .794
Dayton 14 4   .778 24 11   .686
VCU 14 4   .778 22 10   .688
St. Bonaventure 12 5   .706 23 10   .697
Saint Louis 12 6   .667 23 12   .657
Richmond 10 8   .556 24 13   .649
George Washington 8 9   .471 12 18   .400
Fordham 8 10   .444 16 16   .500
George Mason 7 9   .438 14 16   .467
UMass 7 11   .389 15 17   .469
Rhode Island 5 12   .294 15 16   .484
La Salle 5 13   .278 11 19   .367
Saint Joseph's 5 13   .278 11 19   .367
Duquesne 1 16   .059 6 24   .200
2022 A-10 tournament winner

Previous season

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In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Rams finished the 2020–21 season 19–7, 10–4 in A-10 play to finish in second place. In the A-10 tournament, they defeated Dayton[1] and Davidson[2] to advance to the championship game where they lost to St. Bonaventure.[3] VCU received an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West region.[4] Due to several positive COVID-19 tests in the VCU program prior to their First Round game against Oregon, the game was declared a no-contest and Oregon advanced to the second round,[5] making VCU the first team ever to forfeit a game in the NCAA tournament.[6]

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Bones Hyland 5 G 6'3" 173 Sophomore Wilmington, Delaware Declared for NBA draft; selected 26th overall by the Denver Nuggets[7]
Corey Douglas Jr. 13 F 6'8" 210 RS Senior Louisville, Kentucky Graduated
Brendan Medley-Bacon 34 C 7'1" 240 Junior Baltimore, Maryland Transferred to McNeese State

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Marcus Tsohonis 5 G 6'3" 190 Junior Portland, Oregon Transferred from Washington
Jimmy Nichols Jr. 55 F 6'8" 225 RS Junior Conway, South Carolina Transferred from Providence

2021 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jalen DeLoach
PF
Savannah, GA The Skill Factory 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN grade: 77
Nick Kern Jr.
SF
St. Louis, MO Vashon High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN grade: 86
Jayden Nunn
PG
Flint, MI Dream City Christian 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Apr 18, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports: 
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 2021 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

Preseason

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A-10 media poll

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The Atlantic 10 men's basketball media poll will be released in October or November 2021.

Roster

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2021–22 VCU Rams men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Jamir Watkins     6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Trenton Catholic Trenton, New Jersey
G 1 Ace Baldwin Jr. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So St. Frances Academy Baltimore, Maryland
F 2 Mikeal Brown-Jones 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So IMG Academy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
F 4 Jalen DeLoach 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr The Skill Factory Savannah, Georgia
G 5 Marcus Tsohonis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Washington Portland, Oregon
F 10 Vince Williams Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr St. John's Jesuit Toledo, Ohio
G 11 KeShawn Curry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Fork Union Military Academy Jacksonville, Florida
G 15 Arnold Henderson VI 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr St. Christopher's School Mechanicsville, Virginia
F 20 Hason Ward 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Springfield Central HS Saint Thomas, Barbados
G 21 Jarren McAllister   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS So Massanutten Military Academy Wake Forest, North Carolina
G 23 Jayden Nunn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Dream City Christian Flint, Michigan
F 24 Nick Kern Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Vashon HS St. Louis, Missouri
G 33 Josh Banks 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Olympic Charlotte, North Carolina
F 34 Levi Stockard III 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) GS Kansas State St. Louis, Missouri
F 55 Jimmy Nichols Jr. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Jr Providence Conway, South Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2021*
7:00 p.m.
Virginia State
Exhibition
W 74–55 
 14  Tied   9  Stockard III   6  Tsohonis  Siegel Center (5,573)
Richmond, VA
Non-conference regular season
November 9, 2021*
6:00 p.m., MASN2/ESPN+
Saint Peter's W 57–54  1–0
 12  Tied   8  Ward   4  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (7,017)
Richmond, VA
November 13, 2021*
7:00 p.m., MASN2/ESPN+
Wagner L 44–58  1–1
 12  Curry   6  Ward   5  Tsohonis  Siegel Center (7,412)
Richmond, VA
November 17, 2021*
8:00 p.m., SECN+
at Vanderbilt W 48–37  2–1
 14  Williams Jr.   8  Ward   3  Tsohonis  Memorial Gymnasium (5,768)
Nashville, TN
November 20, 2021*
4:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Chattanooga L 54–56  2–2
 21  Williams Jr.   6  Williams Jr.   2  Nunn  Siegel Center (7,202)
Richmond, VA
November 24, 2021*
5:00 p.m., ESPN2
vs. Syracuse
Battle 4 Atlantis Quarterfinals
W 67–55  3–2
 15  Stockard III   5  Tied   4  Tied  Imperial Arena (1,281)
Paradise Island, BS
November 25, 2021*
5:00 p.m., ESPN
vs. No. 6 Baylor
Battle 4 Atlantis Semifinals
L 61–69  3–3
 17  Williams Jr.   6  Tied   5  Williams Jr.  Imperial Arena (929)
Paradise Island, BS
November 26, 2021*
1:30 p.m., ESPN2
vs. No. 22 UConn
Battle 4 Atlantis 3rd Place Game
L 63–70 OT 3–4
 21  Nunn   8  Nunn   2  Tied  Imperial Arena (673)
Paradise Island, BS
December 4, 2021*
4:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Campbell W 65–61  4–4
 14  Williams Jr.   8  Williams Jr.   5  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (7,321)
Richmond, VA
December 8, 2021*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Jacksonville State W 66–52  5–4
 20  Nunn   8  Stockard III   3  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (6,621)
Richmond, VA
December 11, 2021*
8:00 p.m., Stadium
at Old Dominion
ServPro Interstate Rivalry
W 75–66  6–4
 16  Tied   9  Williams Jr.   5  Baldwin Jr.  Chartway Arena (7,919)
Norfolk, VA
December 15, 2021*
7:00 p.m., MASN/ESPN+
Florida Atlantic W 66–46  7–4
 13  Curry   8  Williams Jr.   9  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (6,907)
Richmond, VA
December 18, 2021*
3:30 p.m., NBCSN
Penn State Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Siegel Center 
Richmond, VA
December 22, 2021*
7:00 p.m., MASN2/ESPN+
New Hampshire Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Siegel Center 
Richmond, VA
Atlantic 10 regular season
January 5, 2022
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Dayton W 53–52  8–4
(1–0)
 13  Williams Jr.   11  Williams Jr.   7  Baldwin Jr.  UD Arena (13,407)
Dayton, OH
January 8, 2022
2:00 p.m., USA
at La Salle W 85–66  9–4
(2–0)
 17  Tsohonis   7  DeLoach   6  Baldwin Jr.  Tom Gola Arena (1,721)
Philadelphia, PA
January 11, 2022
7:00 p.m., MASN2/ESPN+
George Washington W 84–57  10–4
(3–0)
 16  Baldwin Jr.   10  Lindo Jr.   3  Freeman  Siegel Center (6,327)
Richmond, VA
January 14, 2022
7:30 p.m., ESPN2
at St. Bonaventure L 53–73  10–5
(3–1)
 14  Tsohonis   4  Williams Jr.   5  Baldwin Jr.  Reilly Center (3,512)
Olean, NY
January 18, 2022
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Davidson
Rescheduled from January 2
L 61–63  10–6
(3–2)
 16  Williams Jr.   7  Williams Jr.   7  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (7,091)
Richmond, VA
January 22, 2022
2:30 p.m., USA
Saint Joseph's W 70–54  11–6
(4–2)
 21  Williams Jr.   7  Williams Jr.   6  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (7,391)
Richmond, VA
January 26, 2022
8:30 p.m., CBSSN
at No. 25 Davidson W 70–68  12–6
(5–2)
 16  Williams Jr.   6  Williams Jr.   3  Nunn  John M. Belk Arena (3,575)
Davidson, NC
January 29, 2022
4:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Richmond
Capital City Classic
W 64–62  13–6
(6–2)
 22  Williams Jr.   10  Ward   8  Williams Jr.  Robins Center (7,201)
Richmond, VA
February 2, 2022
9:00 p.m., CBSSN
Dayton L 52–82  13–7
(6–3)
 12  Baldwin Jr.   8  Ward   4  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (6,724)
Richmond, VA
February 5, 2022
4:00 p.m., MASN2/ESPN+
Duquesne W 71–62  14–7
(7–3)
 13  Ward   10  Ward   7  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (7,293)
Richmond, VA
February 8, 2022
7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Rhode Island W 73–64  15–7
(8–3)
 28  Curry   10  Ward   7  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (6,624)
Richmond, VA
February 12, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN+
at George Mason
Rivalry
W 85–70  16–7
(9–3)
 18  Baldwin Jr.   6  Nunn   10  Baldwin Jr.  EagleBank Arena (6,333)
Fairfax, VA
February 15, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Fordham W 66–61  17–7
(10–3)
 21  Curry   7  Williams Jr.   7  Baldwin Jr.  Rose Hill Gymnasium (876)
Bronx, NY
February 18, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN2
Richmond
Capital City Classic
W 77–57  18–7
(11–3)
 15  Williams Jr.   7  Brown-Jones   5  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
February 23, 2022
7:00 pm, MASN/CBS6/ESPN+
George Mason
Rivalry/Rescheduled from December 30
W 72–66  19–7
(12–3)
 18  Baldwin Jr.   7  Baldwin Jr.   4  Baldwin Jr.  Siegel Center (7,411)
Richmond, VA
February 26, 2022
4:30 p.m., USA
at UMass W 77–62  20–7
(13–3)
 18  Curry   6  Ward   9  Baldwin Jr.  Mullins Center (2,758)
Amherst, MA
March 1, 2022
8:30 p.m., CBSSN
St. Bonaventure W 74–51  21–7
(14–3)
 14  Curry   7  Williams Jr.   6  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (7,509)
Richmond, VA
March 5, 2022
4:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Saint Louis L 65–69  21–8
(14–4)
 26  Williams Jr.   6  Baldwin Jr.   6  Baldwin Jr.  Chaifetz Arena (9,125)
St. Louis, MO
Atlantic 10 tournament
March 11, 2022
8:30 pm, USA
(3) vs. (6) Richmond
Quarterfinals/Capital City Classic
L 64–75  21–9
 18  Williams   9  Williams   7  Baldwin Jr.  Capital One Arena (7,420)
Washington, D.C.
NIT
March 15, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPNU
(3) (6) Princeton
First Round – Texas A&M Bracket
W 90–79  22–9
 23  Curry   11  Williams Jr.   6  Williams Jr.  Siegel Center (2,743)
Richmond, VA
March 19, 2022
4:00 pm, ESPN+
(3) at (2) Wake Forest
Second Round – Texas A&M Bracket
L 74–80  22–10
 27  Williams Jr.   8  2 tied   4  Baldwin Jr.  LJVM Coliseum (4,341)
Winston-Salem, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

References

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