Second-half Questions

The VCU men’s basketball team is now 10-0 in the conference after Saturday’s road victory against Drexel. Now that the second half of the conference season has started, these are the big questions for the rest of the season and beyond.

Can the Rams finish the season undefeated?

I’ve been asked this question more times than I care to remember, and it is a topic of conversation among pretty much anyone who keeps up with the basketball team. My answer, however, is no. If there is one thing that I have learned, it’s that no matter how good a team is; they must eventually lose. The last team to entertain an undefeated record was Illinois during the 2004-2005 season. The Illini breezed through their schedule before losing to Ohio State, a team that was on probation and without star power. VCU already losing three non-conference games lowers the pressure, but it’s still a tough situation. The biggest threat for a loss is Wednesday night when the Rams travel to New York to face Hofstra. However, as Ohio State proved, all giants can fall.

What happens if VCU DOES finish the conference season undefeated?

Because of the undefeated conference record and the nine-game winning streak, VCU has started to garner a lot of national respect. If the Rams were to finish with a conference record of 18-0, they would easily wrap up an NCAA Tournament berth. Even if the Rams were to drop a game in the CAA tournament, it would be VERY hard for the selection committee to overlook an 18-0 conference record. The CAA hasn’t been as strong as many predicted this year, but Hofstra, Old Dominion, Drexel and George Mason (especially after their Final Four run) all draw respect from around the nation. VCU has gotten a lot of attention from the national polls as well, which assures the Rams that they will receive a decent seed in the tournament.

How long will Anthony Grant be at VCU?

He’s been here for less than a year, but you already can see a difference in the program. The team has reached a plateau that it had not reached under former coach Jeff Capel. One could argue that the Rams haven’t accomplished anything yet because the season has yet to end. But let’s be honest: When’s the last time VCU was considered for the Top 25? Keep in mind that VCU was picked sixth in the CAA in pre-season polls. Major schools that are looking for a spark will be willing to offer coach Grant more than VCU can offer. More than likely, this isn’t Grant’s last stop. It’s just a matter of when, rather than if.