So, what a topsy-turvy Atlantic 10 tournament we have.
For the first time since 2006, all four of the teams that earned a double-bye were eliminated in the A-10 quarterfinals, leaving four single-bye teams left to claim the conference’s automatic bid in next week’s NCAA tournament.
The fun begins again on Saturday, when No. 5 VCU takes on No. 9 Saint Joseph’s from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game is at 1 p.m. and will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Here’s what VCU fans need to know, by the numbers:
5
As the No. 5 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament, VCU is now the best remaining seed in the tournament. As such, many bracketologists are projecting VCU as claiming the A-10’s automatic bid, which would give the conference two bids in the NCAA tournament.
Dayton, by virtue of its metrics and stellar non-conference record, is seen as a virtual lock for an at-large bid in the tournament despite losing to Duquesne in the A-10 quarterfinals.
2
Two is the number of A-10 All Conference First Team selections remaining in the tournament once the dust cleared following Thursday’s chaos.
Both are appearing in the day’s first game.
VCU guard Max Shulga continued a streak of four consecutive years that VCU has claimed a first team selection. The senior guard led the team in many stat categories, including points and rebounds per game at 15 and 4.6 respectively. The Ukrainian shot 44.3% from the floor in the regular season.
Shulga also ranks third in the A-10 in free throw percentage and sixth in 3-point percentage.
Joining Shulga on the all-conference first team is St. Joe’s guard Erik Reynolds II, who also ranks top five in the conference in free throw percentage. The junior guard has been lighting it up, to the tune of a 30-point offensive explosion in upsetting top-seeded Richmond in the A-10 quarterfinals.
The Maryland native is averaging 17 points per game on 41.3% shooting from the floor and 38.4% shooting from deep. He is also shooting an impressive 87% from the free throw line – roughly on par with Shulga’s output from the charity stripe.
Both guards have also battled injuries in this tournament. Reynolds suffered a hard fall in St. Joe’s opening A-10 tournament game against George Mason and was late to pregame warmups in the quarterfinals, while Shulga appears to still have lingering back issues after missing the regular season home finale against Duquesne with back spasms.
Regardless, both guards are appointment television, and this will be the matchup to watch Saturday afternoon.
7
In 10 prior contested A-10 tournaments, VCU has made it to the A-10 semifinals.
The Rams are 7-0 in such contests.
VCU has always made it to the A-10 quarterfinals, now boasting an 11-year streak including this year. Three times, VCU has been eliminated in the quarterfinals, including twice as a double-bye team.
But if the Rams advance, they always make it to Sunday.
The streak will be on the line Saturday afternoon, as VCU will be looking for its eighth appearance in the A-10 title game since joining the conference in 2012-13.
13.5
So far in the A-10 tournament, VCU senior guard Zeb Jackson has averaged 13.5 points per game, courtesy of first-half scoring blitzes by the Michigan transfer.
The captain of the team and the longest tenured Ram, Jackson had an impressive game from the free throw line on Thursday, going 10-of-11 while scoring 17 points en route to a VCU win that at times seemed to never be in doubt.
Jackson also has shown his prowess on the defensive end that generated all-defensive team buzz earlier this season. In two games, Jackson is averaging 4.5 steals per game in the tournament, picking UMass’s pocket five times in Thursday’s quarterfinal victory.
The offense runs through the steady hand of Jackson, who will be key to matching up against the talented St. Joe’s backcourt of Reynolds and Lynn Greer III.
40.7
40.7% is the season-long 3-point percentage of senior guard Joe Bamisile, who has shown the ability to pop off the bench and light up opposing teams.
Bamisile had one of his hot games on Thursday, connecting four times from deep and leading VCU in scoring with 18 while powering VCU to advance.
Throughout the season, Bamisile has often had hot and cold games, often back-to-back. The A-10 tournament has proven to be that way for the senior, who scored eight points in the second-round win against Fordham while struggling at the free throw line.
VCU’s hopes of advancing to a second consecutive title game may lie in Bamisile lighting up the second unit from the bench.
Bamisile confirmed late in the regular season that he will be using his fifth year of eligibility and will return to VCU in 2024-25.
67.1
Sophomore forward Tobi Lawal is the Atlantic 10 leader in field goal percentage, making 61.7% of his attempts.
The Londoner has proven to be one of VCU’s main draws, with a bouncy athleticism and 49.5-inch vertical that leads to dazzling above-the-rim play.
Already in the conference tournament, Lawal has had a series of highlight-reel dunks that would likely make an all-conference “One Shining Moment” compilation video.
Lawal has been coming off the bench for much of the season, and looks to continue to do so as he spells fellow sophomore Christian Fermin. In the last game, Lawal recorded seven points and six rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
19
In each of VCU’s tournament games, the Rams have recorded 19 team fouls.
While both games have been with tight whistles on both sides, the ensuing foul trouble has created potential lineup issues for the Rams.
Notably, all three of VCU’s primary big men faced foul trouble in the quarterfinals against UMass. Roosevelt Wheeler picked up four fouls in five minutes of first half action while spelling Fermin and Lawal.
Fermin ended the game with four fouls, while Lawal tacked on three of his own.
Beyond that trio, VCU does not have many reliable threats in the paint, so keeping them clean on the personal foul ledger is paramount for head coach Ryan Odom.
The task for the trio on Saturday? Sophomore forward Rasheer Fleming. The 6-9 sophomore is averaging 11 points per game for the Hawks, and ended the regular season with a 23-point game against Davidson.
In the quarterfinals against Richmond, Fleming notched 12 rebounds to up his season average to 7.3 boards per game.
73-69
The Rams and the Hawks have faced once this year, in a 73-69 win at the Siegel Center on Feb. 25.
VCU trailed by six at halftime, but powered past the Hawks on the strength of a 52-point second half, the highest scoring half VCU has had this season.
Lawal and Bamisile led the charge with 16 points each, while Bamisile connected on four 3-pointers. Shulga recorded a “triple-nickel,” with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win. Lawal recorded 12 rebounds in a double-double effort.
Two Hawks scored 21 points in the loss. Reynolds had a slow first half, but traded buckets with Bamisile late and connected on six 3-pointers.
Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Xzayvier Brown recorded 21 points and knocked home six 3-pointers of his own, continuing a remarkable freshman campaign. The Philadelphia native averages 13 points per game on 46.6% shooting and 41.9% from deep.
71
As of March 16, VCU’s NET ranking is 71st, good for second in the A-10 and one spot behind VCU’s season-high NET ranking, set in mid-February.
While trending upward, the metrics are not one of a team worthy of an at-large bid. The lowest ranked NET team to make the NCAA tournament was Rutgers in 2022, which was ranked 77th.
Rutgers’s inclusion itself was controversial, and frankly no team outside of the Power 5 conferences with a sub-70 NET ranking has even a puncher’s chance at an at-large bid.
What does that mean for VCU? They have to win two games this weekend to lock up a second-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and A-10 title.
1
The most important part of tournament season? Taking it one game at a time.
With none of the four remaining teams holding a resume capable of an at-large bid, the NCAA tournament essentially begins now for the A-10’s remaining teams.
Survive and advance, and NCAA tournament glory awaits.
The Hawks and the Rams will continue their March journey at 1 p.m. today.
Featured image: Hunter Hensel/A10Talk