[caption id="attachment_13042" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bri.png"><img class="wp-image-13042 size-medium" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Bri-300x286.png" alt="VCU will return to Norfolk to face ODU this season as the two rivals continue a home-and-home series since heading for separate conferences." width="300" height="286" /></a> VCU will return to Norfolk to face ODU this season as the two rivals continue a home-and-home series since heading for separate conferences.[/caption]
VCU unveiled their men's basketball non-conference schedule this past week, one chock-full of big names and even bigger RPI-boosting opportunities. Here's a quick Twitter-style breakdown of each game, in 140 characters or less.
Nov. 7 - Cal U (PA) (Exhibition) - <span style="color: #292f33;">Your first look at the 2014-15 Rams and all the upgrades to the Siegel Center. Last year's exhibition was a 50-point win, so expect fun.</span>
Nov. 14 - Tennessee (Annapolis, MD) - <span style="color: #292f33;">Neutral court battle against a 2014 Sweet 16 team at the US Naval Academy. Vols lost a ton of production and their coach in offseason.</span>
Nov. 18 - Toledo - <span style="font-weight: normal; color: #292f33;">A TOUGH regular season home-opener against a VERY good Rockets team. Toledo returns a ton of production from a 27-win 2013-14 team. </span>
Nov.20 - Maryland-Eastern Shore - <span style="color: #292f33;">The Hawks won 6 games last season and their defense ranked 349th in defensive efficiency (3rd from last). Should be fun if you like scoring.</span>
Nov.24 - Villanova - <span style="color: #292f33;">Nova returns a ton of production from a team that lost just 2 games all of last season. One of their losses was to national champ, UConn.</span>
Nov.25 - Michigan/Oregon - <span style="color: #292f33;">Will either be championship or third-place game of Legends Classic in Brooklyn after Nova game. Rams have struggled in pre-season tourneys.</span>
Nov.29 - @ Old Dominion - Next...
Dec.2 - @ Illinois State - <span style="color: #292f33;">Return game from 38-point blowout last season. Rams can't afford a road loss here. Redbirds 12-3 at home last season.</span>
Dec.6 - UVA - <span style="color: #292f33;">Will be the hottest ticket in Siegel Center history and potentially between two ranked teams. This will be a battle once again. A must see.</span>
Dec.13 - Northern Iowa - <span style="color: #292f33;">VCU will look for revenge after falling at UNI last season and if there's one thing the Rams do well it's show up for revenge games.</span>
Dec.16 - Belmont - <span style="color: #292f33;">Bruins will be without JJ Mann (18.3 ppg) but return Craig Bradshaw (15.7) from a team that ranked 2nd nationally in effective FG%.</span>
Dec.20 - @ Cincinnati - <span style="color: #292f33;">Bearcats lose top 3 scorers from last year's NCAA tournament team. VCU should have the better team but it'll be a tough road environment.</span>
Dec.22 - ETSU - You'll remember ETSU as the team Troy Daniels hit 11 3-pointers on. Melvin Johnson, think you can hit 12?
Dec.29 - Cleveland State - <span style="color: #292f33;">The Vikings return majority of their production from a 21-win team. One of the deadliest long-range shooting groups in America. Watch out.</span>
VCU unveiled their men's basketball non-conference schedule this past week, one chock-full of big names and even bigger RPI-boosting opportunities. Here's a quick Twitter-style breakdown of each game, in 140 characters or less.
Nov. 7 - Cal U (PA) (Exhibition) - <span style="color: #292f33;">Your first look at the 2014-15 Rams and all the upgrades to the Siegel Center. Last year's exhibition was a 50-point win, so expect fun.</span>
Nov. 14 - Tennessee (Annapolis, MD) - <span style="color: #292f33;">Neutral court battle against a 2014 Sweet 16 team at the US Naval Academy. Vols lost a ton of production and their coach in offseason.</span>
Nov. 18 - Toledo - <span style="font-weight: normal; color: #292f33;">A TOUGH regular season home-opener against a VERY good Rockets team. Toledo returns a ton of production from a 27-win 2013-14 team. </span>
Nov.20 - Maryland-Eastern Shore - <span style="color: #292f33;">The Hawks won 6 games last season and their defense ranked 349th in defensive efficiency (3rd from last). Should be fun if you like scoring.</span>
Nov.24 - Villanova - <span style="color: #292f33;">Nova returns a ton of production from a team that lost just 2 games all of last season. One of their losses was to national champ, UConn.</span>
Nov.25 - Michigan/Oregon - <span style="color: #292f33;">Will either be championship or third-place game of Legends Classic in Brooklyn after Nova game. Rams have struggled in pre-season tourneys.</span>
Nov.29 - @ Old Dominion - Next...
Dec.2 - @ Illinois State - <span style="color: #292f33;">Return game from 38-point blowout last season. Rams can't afford a road loss here. Redbirds 12-3 at home last season.</span>
Dec.6 - UVA - <span style="color: #292f33;">Will be the hottest ticket in Siegel Center history and potentially between two ranked teams. This will be a battle once again. A must see.</span>
Dec.13 - Northern Iowa - <span style="color: #292f33;">VCU will look for revenge after falling at UNI last season and if there's one thing the Rams do well it's show up for revenge games.</span>
Dec.16 - Belmont - <span style="color: #292f33;">Bruins will be without JJ Mann (18.3 ppg) but return Craig Bradshaw (15.7) from a team that ranked 2nd nationally in effective FG%.</span>
Dec.20 - @ Cincinnati - <span style="color: #292f33;">Bearcats lose top 3 scorers from last year's NCAA tournament team. VCU should have the better team but it'll be a tough road environment.</span>
Dec.22 - ETSU - You'll remember ETSU as the team Troy Daniels hit 11 3-pointers on. Melvin Johnson, think you can hit 12?
Dec.29 - Cleveland State - <span style="color: #292f33;">The Vikings return majority of their production from a 21-win team. One of the deadliest long-range shooting groups in America. Watch out.</span>
