The press release from VCU Athletics announcing the 2025-2026 nonconference schedule for VCU Basketball tells us the Rams could face as many as six NCAA Tournament teams from last season.
The six: Colorado State, New Mexico, St. Mary’s, Vanderbilt, Utah State, American.
Their final 2024-2025 NET rankings: St.Mary’s was 23, New Mexico 41, Colorado State 42, Utah State 43, Vandy 47.
American, the outlier, as an AQ from the Patriot League, was 238.
OK, I’ll give first-year VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr. his props.
That’s a good nonconference schedule, obviously.
The season tips off on Nov. 3 with Wagner coming to the Siegel Center.
VCU will then face Utah State on Nov. 7 in a neutral-site game in Fort Worth.
On Nov. 17, the Rams travel to Raleigh to begin a home-and-home series with NC State, which is led by former VCU coach Will Wade.
VCU returns to the Battle 4 Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Nov. 26-28, where the Rams will play three games against a field of NCAA Tournament hopefuls.
VCU opens on Nov. 26 against former Sun Belt rival South Florida in a contest that will air on ESPN2. The Rams and Bulls last met in the semifinals of the 2024 NIT.
A matchup with either Vanderbilt or Western Kentucky awaits on Nov. 27.
Potential opponents on Nov. 28 include St. Mary’s, Colorado State, Virginia Tech and Wichita State.
The Dec. 10 match-up against New Mexico is the return engagement for a home-and-home series that began last season in Albuquerque.
The Lobos edged the Black & Gold 78-71 in a highly competitive contest.
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Chris Graham
