We may have just 8 days until the 2010-2011 VCU Rams take the court in exhibition action against Virginia Union, but VCU fans can get an early hoops fix TONIGHT as Eric Maynor and his Thunder take on the Chicago Bulls, while Larry Sanders makes his NBA debut for the Bucks against the New Orleans Hornets.
Both games tip-off at 8PM, with Maynor’s Thunder broadcast live nationally on ESPN.
Maynor became the highest ever draft pick out of VCU when the Utah Jazz selected him with the 20th pick in 2009. Â Larry Sanders stole that honor from his ex-point guard the following year, after being drafted a spot out of the NBA lottery as the 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks. Â The back-to-back selections are the only time a Virginia school has had two players drafted in the 1st round in consecutive years.
Both teams are coming off playoff seasons and are expected to do big things with promising young talent.
Maynor backs up an emerging star in Russell Westbrook, who comes into this season as a world champion point guard from team USA.
VCU’s all-time leading scorer and assist man averaged 4.7 points and 3.3 assists in just over 15 minutes as an NBA rookie this past season.
After a hot summer league start, Sanders cooled down in preseason action, averaging 5.1 points, 4.8 boards, and 1.25 blocks in 19 minutes a night. Â He finished strong however with 10 points and 8 boards in his final warm up of the preseason.
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