Early road wins allow VCU to push pace in A-10 race [INSIDER]

[caption id="attachment_16040" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="https://www.vcuramnation.com/2016/01/early-road-wins-allow-vcu-to-push-pace-in-a-10-race-insider/24055032549_5f4cae8616_b/" rel="attachment wp-att-16040"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16040" src="https://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/24055032549_5f4cae8616_b-200x300.jpg" alt="Point guard JeQuan Lewis averaged 24 points and four assists in VCU's top A-10 top-100 road wins this season." width="200" height="300" /></a> Point guard JeQuan Lewis averaged 24 points and four assists in VCU's top A-10 top-100 road wins this season.[/caption]

The Rams picked up their third road win of Atlantic 10 play this weekend, besting a tough Richmond Spiders squad for VCU's second Robins Center victory of the past three seasons.

It was VCU's second top-100 conference road win this season and a huge step toward competing for a regular season championship en route to what Will Wade will hope will be his first NCAA tournament appearance as a head coach.

Yes, it's extremely early in conference play, but to demonstrate just how big wins like the ones at Saint Joseph's and Richmond were, take a quick peek at the last decade of A-10 regular season champs as compared to VCU's early A-10 start.

2016: VCU (5-0)
3-0 away
2-0 away v A-10 top-100s
(two A-10 road games remain against current top-100s)

2015: Davidson (14-4)
6-3 away
2-2 away v A-10 top-100s

2014: Saint Louis (13-3)
7-1 away
3-1 away v A-10 top-100s

2013: Saint Louis (13-3)
6-2 away
2-2 away v A-10 top-100s

*2012: Temple (13-3)
6-2 away
3-1 away v A-10 top-100s

*2011: Xavier (15-1)
7-1 away
2-0 away v A-10 top-100s

*2010: Temple (14-2)
6-2 away
2-2 away v A-10 top-100s

*2009: Xavier (12-4)
4-4 away
1-2 away v A-10 top-100s

*2008: Xavier (14-2)
6-2 away
4-2 away v A-10 top-100s

*2007: Xavier (13-3)
5-3 away
1-0 away v A-10 top-100s

*2006: George Washington (16-0)
8-0 away
4-0 away v A-10 top-100s

*BEFORE VCU ENTERED THE ATLANTIC 10

VCU has just two road games left against current top-100s (George Washington and Dayton) but also a tricky contest in Charlotte against current No.107 Davidson, last season's regular season champs and a team still adjusting to injuries and the loss of last season's A-10 Player of the Year, Tyler Kalinoski.

The Rams will also welcome four top-100s to the Siegel Center, hoping to do a better job of protecting the home court this season than last when they lost three conference home games, their worst Siegel Center performance since 2011 when they dropped three consecutive home games (before going on a Final 4 run...go figure).

Again, it's early, but in stealing two hard-fought games at Saint Joseph's and Richmond, VCU has given themselves a key advantage and can be the team pushing the pace all season long in the A-10.

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Natty
Licensed Virginia Realtor and part-time basketball writer. Co-founder of VCURamNation.com and A10Talk.com.
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Mat Shelton-Eide
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