I just wanted to pass off some perspective numbers for you on this snowy Saturday since we should all be watching VCU v St. Bonaventure but are stuck home until hopefully tomorrow when we’re packing the Stu and helping VCU attempt to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
Below is basically a very broad comparison of this year’s Rams and last year’s Rams.
Heading into this season VCU had a new coach, had just lost their second most prolific scorer in the history of the program (Treveon Graham) as well as one of the best defenders in college hoops history (Briante Weber), not-to-mention their highest rated recruit since 1990 with the transfer of freshman Terry Larrier (ESPN top-50 out of high school) as well as Shaka Smart’s entire 2015 recruiting class that included two more top-100 players.
All VCU has done since is the following:
Adjusted offensive efficiency
VCU 2015-16: 109.3
VCU 2014-15: 108
Advantage: 2015-16
Adjusted defensive efficiency
VCU 2015-16: 93.5
VCU 2014-15: 94.3
Advantage: 2015-16
Points scored per game
VCU 2015-16: 77.7
VCU 2014-15: 72.5
Advantage: 2015-16
Points allowed per game
VCU 2015-16: 66.3
VCU 2014-15: 65.7
Advantage: 2014-15
Average scoring margin
VCU 2015-16: +11.4
VCU 2014-15: +6.8
Advantage: 2015-16
The Rams were picked fifth in this year’s preseason poll but is off to a 6-0 start for sole possession of first place in Atlantic 10 play.
VCU head coach Will Wade has insisted the Rams’ margin for error is next to non-existent, especially with the injury to starting defense standout Jordan Burgess, yet all the black and gold have done is improve.
Often times our focus as fans is the final outcome, what VCU does in March, but if you’ll all slow down for a second and look at what new head coach Will Wade has done a little more than halfway through his first year, comparing it to what Smart did with last year’s A-10 tourney championship team, it’s quite impressive.
