[caption id="attachment_9514" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Shaka.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-9514" alt="...this guy" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Shaka-300x170.jpg" width="300" height="170" /></a> Coach Smart has VCU ranked in a preseason poll for the first time in VCU history.[/caption]
VCU has experienced a lot of firsts under head coach Shaka Smart, and today they added one more by entering the season ranked for the first time in the history of the program. The Rams check in at No.15 in today's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the first of poll the season.
VCU returns the majority of it's production from a team that finished 27-9 last season, including their top two leading scorers/rebounders in junior Treveon Graham (15.1 ppg) and senior Juvonte Reddic (14.6 ppg). The Rams add a number of new faces that should strengthen the program, including highly anticipated redshirt freshman, Jordan Burgess, younger brother of VCU legend Brad Burgess and an ESPN top-100 recruit. VCU also strengthened it's frontcourt in the offseason, adding 5th year FSU transfer Terrance Shannon.
The Rams ended last season ranked 23rd in the country and were ranked as high as No.19 in last season's Coaches Poll. VCU has been a nationally ranked team since February 18th, originally entering the poll at No.24.
Full Rankings (first place votes):
1. Kentucky (16)
2. Michigan State (3)
3. Louisville (10)
4. Duke (3)
5. Arizona
6. Kansas
7. Syracuse
8. Florida
9. Michigan
10. Ohio State
11. North Carolina
12. Oklahoma St
13. Memphis
14. Gonzaga
15. VCU
16. Wichita State
17. Marquette
18. Oregon
19. UConn
20. New Mexico
21. Wisconsin
22. Notre Dame
23. UCLA
24. Indiana
25. Virginia
VCU has experienced a lot of firsts under head coach Shaka Smart, and today they added one more by entering the season ranked for the first time in the history of the program. The Rams check in at No.15 in today's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, the first of poll the season.
VCU returns the majority of it's production from a team that finished 27-9 last season, including their top two leading scorers/rebounders in junior Treveon Graham (15.1 ppg) and senior Juvonte Reddic (14.6 ppg). The Rams add a number of new faces that should strengthen the program, including highly anticipated redshirt freshman, Jordan Burgess, younger brother of VCU legend Brad Burgess and an ESPN top-100 recruit. VCU also strengthened it's frontcourt in the offseason, adding 5th year FSU transfer Terrance Shannon.
The Rams ended last season ranked 23rd in the country and were ranked as high as No.19 in last season's Coaches Poll. VCU has been a nationally ranked team since February 18th, originally entering the poll at No.24.
Full Rankings (first place votes):
1. Kentucky (16)
2. Michigan State (3)
3. Louisville (10)
4. Duke (3)
5. Arizona
6. Kansas
7. Syracuse
8. Florida
9. Michigan
10. Ohio State
11. North Carolina
12. Oklahoma St
13. Memphis
14. Gonzaga
15. VCU
16. Wichita State
17. Marquette
18. Oregon
19. UConn
20. New Mexico
21. Wisconsin
22. Notre Dame
23. UCLA
24. Indiana
25. Virginia
