Preseason predictions:
vcu was picked to finish 1st by one point over St. Louis in A10 Preseason Polls.
Preseason All Conference 2nd Team - Barry Evans, Adrian Tracey, Tyrell Ward
Preseason All Conference 3rd Team - Ahmed Nowell
Preseason All-Defensive Team - Brandon Jennings
The game is on ESPN U. Live in the DMV? Go to the game.
KenPom: Gives us a 46% chance of winning.
GMU - 86
vcu - 44
NET:
GMU - 78
vcu - 51
History:
We are 22-49 against vcu all-time.
Tony Skinn is 0-3 against them.
vcu is currently 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in A10 play. They are 8-2 at home, 0-1 on the road, and 2-2 at neutral sites.
They are 0-4 against Quad 1 teams, 2-1 against Quad 2, 1-0 against Quad 3, and 7-0 against Quad 4 squads.
Schedule: https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbball/schedule
Wins: Wagner (103-74), Saint Peter’s (78-61), Coppin St. (101-58), USF (78-66), Va Tech (88-68), Samford (83-57), Niagara (84-58), American (105-83), Rider (100-79),St. Bonaventure (89-82), Duquesne (93-80)
Losses: Utah St. (80-77), #25 NC State (85-79), #24 Vanderbilt (89-74), New Mexico (81-78), St. Louis (71-62)
Probable Starters:
6’11” Lazar Djokovic - 13.3 ppg & 5.2 reb - Junior
6’6” Jadrian Tracey - 10.5 ppg & 3.6 reb - Senior
6’1” Nyk Lewis - 10.2 ppg - Freshman
6’8” Barry Evans - 8.9 ppg & 5.2 reb - Senior
6’4” Brandon Jennings - 8.5 ppg - Sophomore
Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’3” Terrence Hill Jr. - 14.0 ppg - Sophomore
6’8” Michael Belle - 6.1 ppg - Junior
6’6” Tyrell Ward - 4.0 ppg - Junior
6’0” Ahmad Nowell - 6.3 ppg - Sophomore
6’11” Keyshawn Mitchell - 4.5 ppg - Junior
Roster: https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster
Team Stats: vcu had just finished their game against St. Louis at the time of this post, so stats will be updated Thursday.
vcu averages 87.2 points per game (3rd in the A10) while giving up 73.4 (12th in the A10).
The rams shoot 47.8% from the floor (5th in the A10) and 37.5% from 3 (3rd in the A10).
Opponents are shooting 42.9% from the field and 35.4% from 3.
The rams shoot 74.2% from the free throw line (5th in the A10).
They have out rebounded opponents by 3.3 boards per game and average 11.7 turnovers per contest.
Stats: https://vcuathletics.com/documents/2026/1/3/vcu-teamcume.pdf
Thoughts: Here are some unpleasant facts about this match-up. We’re 22-49 (.310) against them all-time. Since the 2004-05 season we are an even more dismal 10 - 28 (.263). Our 10 wins are equally split between home and on the road. We haven’t beaten them at home since 2016 and have lost 7 straight in Fairfax.
Tony is 0-3 against them as head coach. It’s time to deliver a win. Win and we should be considered contenders. Lose again and we’ll likely remain not ready for prime time.
I hope our fans show up for this one and get loud! Their fans travel, and our attendance is a well documented source of frustration. If this one looks and sounds like a home game for vcu the advantage shifts to them.
vcu has scored over 100 points 4 times this season. They have scored 82 or more 6 more times. Captain Obvious reports our defensive effort and execution will need to be at its best or we’ll likely lose this one.
It’s time to put up or shut up. Win this and maybe the tide will begin to turn. Go Mason!
Discuss.
vcu was picked to finish 1st by one point over St. Louis in A10 Preseason Polls.
Preseason All Conference 2nd Team - Barry Evans, Adrian Tracey, Tyrell Ward
Preseason All Conference 3rd Team - Ahmed Nowell
Preseason All-Defensive Team - Brandon Jennings
The game is on ESPN U. Live in the DMV? Go to the game.
KenPom: Gives us a 46% chance of winning.
GMU - 86
vcu - 44
NET:
GMU - 78
vcu - 51
History:
We are 22-49 against vcu all-time.
Tony Skinn is 0-3 against them.
vcu is currently 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in A10 play. They are 8-2 at home, 0-1 on the road, and 2-2 at neutral sites.
They are 0-4 against Quad 1 teams, 2-1 against Quad 2, 1-0 against Quad 3, and 7-0 against Quad 4 squads.
Schedule: https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbball/schedule
Wins: Wagner (103-74), Saint Peter’s (78-61), Coppin St. (101-58), USF (78-66), Va Tech (88-68), Samford (83-57), Niagara (84-58), American (105-83), Rider (100-79),St. Bonaventure (89-82), Duquesne (93-80)
Losses: Utah St. (80-77), #25 NC State (85-79), #24 Vanderbilt (89-74), New Mexico (81-78), St. Louis (71-62)
Probable Starters:
6’11” Lazar Djokovic - 13.3 ppg & 5.2 reb - Junior
6’6” Jadrian Tracey - 10.5 ppg & 3.6 reb - Senior
6’1” Nyk Lewis - 10.2 ppg - Freshman
6’8” Barry Evans - 8.9 ppg & 5.2 reb - Senior
6’4” Brandon Jennings - 8.5 ppg - Sophomore
Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’3” Terrence Hill Jr. - 14.0 ppg - Sophomore
6’8” Michael Belle - 6.1 ppg - Junior
6’6” Tyrell Ward - 4.0 ppg - Junior
6’0” Ahmad Nowell - 6.3 ppg - Sophomore
6’11” Keyshawn Mitchell - 4.5 ppg - Junior
Roster: https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster
Team Stats: vcu had just finished their game against St. Louis at the time of this post, so stats will be updated Thursday.
vcu averages 87.2 points per game (3rd in the A10) while giving up 73.4 (12th in the A10).
The rams shoot 47.8% from the floor (5th in the A10) and 37.5% from 3 (3rd in the A10).
Opponents are shooting 42.9% from the field and 35.4% from 3.
The rams shoot 74.2% from the free throw line (5th in the A10).
They have out rebounded opponents by 3.3 boards per game and average 11.7 turnovers per contest.
Stats: https://vcuathletics.com/documents/2026/1/3/vcu-teamcume.pdf
Thoughts: Here are some unpleasant facts about this match-up. We’re 22-49 (.310) against them all-time. Since the 2004-05 season we are an even more dismal 10 - 28 (.263). Our 10 wins are equally split between home and on the road. We haven’t beaten them at home since 2016 and have lost 7 straight in Fairfax.
Tony is 0-3 against them as head coach. It’s time to deliver a win. Win and we should be considered contenders. Lose again and we’ll likely remain not ready for prime time.
I hope our fans show up for this one and get loud! Their fans travel, and our attendance is a well documented source of frustration. If this one looks and sounds like a home game for vcu the advantage shifts to them.
vcu has scored over 100 points 4 times this season. They have scored 82 or more 6 more times. Captain Obvious reports our defensive effort and execution will need to be at its best or we’ll likely lose this one.
It’s time to put up or shut up. Win this and maybe the tide will begin to turn. Go Mason!
Discuss.
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