2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University in the Colonial Athletic Association conference during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Rams, led by second year head coach Shaka Smart , played their home games at the Stuart C. Siegel Center . They finished the season 28–12, 12–6 in CAA play and lost in the championship game of the 2011 CAA men's basketball tournament to Old Dominion . They received an at-large bid in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament where they played in the new First Four round, defeating USC. They defeated Georgetown and Purdue in the second and third rounds, respectively, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen . They defeated Florida State to advance to the Elite Eight where they defeated Kansas . They advanced to the school's first ever Final Four , being just the third 11 seed in Tournament history to advance to the Final Four , where they were defeated by Butler . The VCU Rams finished 6th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll at the end of the season.[ 1] This was the highest ranking in VCU's history and the highest ranking of any team from the CAA .[ 2] The 2011 NCAA tournament run by VCU is regarded by some as one of the best Cinderella runs of all time.[ 3] They are the first men's Division I basketball team that played in the First Four to make it to the Final Four; UCLA made a similar run ten years later. They also join the 2020–21 Bruins as the only teams in the tournament to win five games and not qualify for the national championship game.
Roster
Number
Name
Position
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
5
Juvonte Reddic
Forward
6–9
225
Freshman
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
10
Darius Theus
Guard
6–3
190
Sophomore
Portsmouth, Virginia
12
Joey Rodriguez
Guard
5–10
175
Senior
Merritt Island, Florida
20
Bradford Burgess
Guard
6–6
225
Junior
Midlothian, Virginia
21
Jamie Skeen
Forward
6–9
240
Senior
Charlotte, North Carolina
23
Rob Brandenberg
Guard
6–2
170
Freshman
Gahanna, Ohio
24
Heath Houston
Forward
6–8
240
Freshman
Powder Springs, Georgia (Hillgrove High School )
25
Reco McCarter
Guard
6–7
180
Freshman
Goldsboro, North Carolina
30
Troy Daniels
Guard
6–4
195
Sophomore
Roanoke, Virginia
31
Toby Veal
Forward
6–8
235
Junior
Savannah, Georgia
32
Brandon Rozzell
Guard
6–2
185
Senior
Richmond, Virginia
33
D. J. Haley
Center
7–0
250
Freshman
Palmdale, California
34
David Hinton
Forward
6–9
235
Sophomore
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
50
Ed Nixon
Guard
6–4
210
Senior
St. Petersburg, Florida
Signees
2010–11 team recruits
College recruiting information
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Juvonte Reddic C
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Quality Education Academy
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Mar 22, 2010
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: 90
Rob Brandenberg SG
Gahanna, Ohio
Lincoln High School
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Aug 30, 2009
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: 86
D. J. Haley C
Palmdale, California
Palmdale High School
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (100 kg)
May 4, 2010
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: 78
Reco McCarter SF
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Wayne Country Day School
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Sep 29, 2009
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: 91
Heath Houston PF
Powder Springs, Georgia
Hillgrove High School
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jun 28, 2010
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: 83
Toby Veal SF
Savannah, Georgia
Northwest Florida State College
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jan 17, 2010
Star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN grade: JC
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
Season
Preseason
VCU was predicted to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason polls, which was released October 19, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia .[ 4] Senior guard Joey Rodriguez was selected to the preseason Atlantic 10 Conference first team.
Schedule
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
Nov. 4, 2010 *7:30 pm
Virginia Union
W 71–56
—
10 – Tied
8 – Skeen
5 – Theus
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,645)Richmond, Virginia
Regular season
Nov. 12, 2010 *7:30 pm
UNC Greensboro
W 101–86
1–0
23 – Rozzell
7 – Skeen
17 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,094)Richmond, VA
Nov. 15, 2010 *9:30 pm
vs. Winthrop NIT Season Tip-Off first round
W 67–54
2–0
15 – Rodriguez
8 – Skeen
8 – Rodriguez
LJVM Coliseum (1,276)Winston-Salem, NC
Nov. 16, 2010 *7:00 pm
at Wake Forest NIT Season Tip-Off Quarterfinals
W 90–69
3–0
25 – Burgess
8 – Burgess
6 – Rodriguez
LJVM Coliseum (8,119)Winston-Salem, NC
Nov. 24, 2010 *7:00 pm, ESPN2
vs. No. 24 Tennessee NIT Season Tip-Off Semifinals
L 72–77
3–1
23 – Rozzell
14 – Skeen
4 – Rozzell
Madison Square Garden (10,912)New York, NY
Nov. 26, 2010 *7:00 pm, ESPN2
vs. UCLA NIT Season Tip-Off 3rd place game
W 89–85
4–1
23 – Skeen
9 – Skeen
5 – Rodriguez
Madison Square Garden (10,292)New York, NY
Dec. 1, 2010 *7:00 pm
at South Florida
L 59–60 OT
4–2
16 – Skeen
13 – Burgess
3 – Rozzell
USF Sun Dome (2,921)Tampa, FL
Dec. 4, 2010 12:00 pm
William & Mary
W 59–55
5–2 (1–0)
13 – Rodriguez
7 – Skeen
3 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,482)Richmond, VA
Dec. 8, 2010 *7:30 pm
VMI
W 86–80
6–2
19 – Skeen
10 – Veal
6 – Theus
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,023)Richmond, VA
Dec. 11, 2010 *7:00 pm
at Richmond Capital City Classic
L 60–72
6–3
14 – Skeen
10 – Skeen
3 – Rodriguez
Robins Center (8,906)Richmond, VA
Dec. 18, 2010 *2:00 pm
Tulane
W 70–67
7–3
15 – Skeen
6 – Skeen
5 – Theus
Stuart C. Siegel Center (5,734)Richmond, VA
Dec. 21, 2010 *8:00 pm
at UAB
L 65–68
7–4
26 – Burgess
10 – Skeen
4 – Theus
Bartow Arena (4,344)Birmingham, AL
Dec. 29, 2010 *7:00 pm
Wofford Holidays on the Hardwood Classic
W 75–66
8–4
18 – Rozzell
8 – Skeen
4 – Theus
Stuart C. Siegel Center (5,799)Richmond, VA
Dec. 30, 2010 *7:30 pm
New Hampshire Holidays on the Hardwood Classic
W 78–65
9–4
24 – Burgess
8 – Burgess
8 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (5,590)Richmond, VA
Jan. 3, 2011 7:00 pm
at Georgia State
L 66–76
9–5 (1–1)
16 – Skeen
4 – Skeen
3 – Theus
GSU Sports Arena (852)Atlanta, GA
Jan. 5, 2011 7:00 pm
Drexel
W 52–48
10–5 (2–1)
11 – Burgess
8 – Burgess
5 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,313)Richmond, VA
Jan. 8, 2011 7:00 pm
at UNC Wilmington
W 82–64
11–5 (3–1)
22 – Rozzell
8 – Burgess
6 – Rodriguez
Trask Coliseum (5,126)Wilmington, NC
Jan. 12, 2011 7:00 pm
at William & Mary
W 70–52
12–5 (4–1)
22 – Brandenberg
12 – Skeen
6 – Theus
Kaplan Arena (2,245)Williamsburg, VA
Jan. 15, 2011 12:00 pm
Northeastern
W 73–64
13–5 (5–1)
26 – Burgess
9 – Burgess
7 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,042)Richmond, VA
Jan. 19, 2011 7:30 pm
Georgia State
W 71–54
14–5 (6–1)
23 – Brandenberg
7 – Skeen
6 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (6,531)Richmond, VA
Jan. 22, 2011 4:00 pm
at Old Dominion ODU rivalry
W 59–50
15–5 (7–1)
15 – Burgess
10 – Skeen
5 – Skeen
Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,457)Norfolk, VA
Jan. 24, 2011 7:00 pm
at Towson
W 80–76
16–5 (8–1)
28 – Rodriguez
5 – Burgess
5 – Nixon
Towson Center (1,365)Towson, MD
Jan. 27, 2011 7:00 pm
Hofstra
W 82–67
17–5 (9–1)
18 – Skeen
14 – Burgess
6 – Nixon
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,208)Richmond, VA
Jan. 29, 2011 7:30 pm
UNC Wilmington
W 79–70
18–5 (10–1)
25 – Rodriguez
8 – Burgess
7 – Theus
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,552)Richmond, VA
Feb. 2, 2011 7:00 pm
at Northeastern
L 80–91
18–6 (10–2)
18 – Rodriguez
9 – Skeen
5 – Nixon
Matthews Arena (1,095)Boston, MA
Feb. 5, 2011 2:00 pm
at James Madison
W 70–66
19–6 (11–2)
22 – Burgess
7 – Nixon
5 – Rodriguez
JMU Convocation Center (4,989)Harrisonburg, VA
Feb. 9, 2011 7:00 pm
at Delaware
W 84–74 2OT
20–6 (12–2)
32 – Skeen
11 – Skeen
3 – Nixon
Bob Carpenter Center (2,471)Newark, DE
Feb. 12, 2011 7:00 pm
Old Dominion ODU rivalry
L 59–70
20–7 (12–3)
15 – Rozzell
7 – Skeen
4 – Rozzell
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,552)Richmond, VA
Feb. 15, 2011 7:00 pm, ESPNU
George Mason George Mason rivalry
L 51–71
20–8 (12–4)
12 – Brandenberg
8 – Rodriguez
3 – Skeen
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,552)Richmond, VA
Feb. 18, 2011 *7:00 pm, ESPN2
at Wichita State ESPN BracketBusters
W 68–67
21–8
17 – Burgess
12 – Skeen
11 – Rodriguez
Charles Koch Arena (10,506)Wichita, KS
Feb. 23, 2011 7:00 pm
at Drexel
L 60–64
21–9 (12–5)
17 – Skeen
7 – Burgess
3 – Burgess
Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,073)Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 26, 2011 12:00 pm
James Madison
L 69–72
21–10 (12–6)
20 – Skeen
8 – Nixon
10 – Rodriguez
Stuart C. Siegel Center (7,552)Richmond, VA
CAA Tournament
Mar. 5, 2011 2:30 pm, CSN
(4)
vs. (5) Drexel CAA Quarterfinals
W 62–60
22–10
24 – Skeen
8 – Skeen
5 – Rodriguez
Richmond Coliseum (7,814)Richmond, VA
Mar. 6, 2011 12:00 pm, CSN
(4)
vs. (1) No. 25 George Mason CAA Semifinals
W 79–63
23–10
21 – Skeen
13 – Burgess
5 – Nixon
Richmond Coliseum (8,962)Richmond, VA
Mar. 7, 2011 7:00 pm, ESPN
(4)
vs. (2) Old Dominion CAA Championship Game
L 65–70
23–11
19 – Burgess
8 – Burgess
7 – Rodriguez
Richmond Coliseum (11,200)Richmond, VA
NCAA tournament
Mar. 16, 2011 *9:00 pm, truTV
(11 SW)
vs. (11 SW) USC NCAA First Four
W 59–46
24–11
16 – Skeen
10 – Burgess
5 – Rodriguez
University of Dayton Arena (10,192)Dayton, OH
Mar. 18, 2011 *9:50 pm, TNT
(11 SW)
vs. (6 SW) Georgetown NCAA Second Round
W 74–56
25–11
26 – Rozzell
8 – Burgess
7 – Rodriguez
United Center (17,369)Chicago, IL
Mar. 20, 2011 *7:10 pm, TBS
(11 SW)
vs. (3 SW) No. 13 Purdue NCAA Third Round
W 94–76
26–11
23 – Burgess
8 – Burgess
11 – Rodriguez
United Center (18,146)Chicago, IL
Mar. 25, 2011 *9:57 pm, TBS
(11 SW)
vs. (10 SW) Florida State NCAA Sweet Sixteen
W 72–71 OT
27–11
26 – Burgess
8 – D
10 – Rodriguez
Alamodome (14,566)San Antonio, TX
Mar. 27, 2011 *2:20 pm, CBS
(11 SW)
vs. (1 SW) No. 2 Kansas NCAA Elite Eight
W 71–61
28–11
26 – Skeen
10 – Skeen
5 – Rodriguez
Alamodome (14,738)San Antonio, TX
Apr. 2, 2011 *6:09 pm, CBS
(11 SW)
vs. (8 SE) Butler NCAA Final Four
L 62–70
28–12
27 – Skeen
9 – Burgess
8 – Rodriguez
Reliant Stadium (75,421)Houston, TX
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
SE=NCAA Southeast Regional. SW=NCAA Southwest Regional.
All times are in
Eastern Time .
Honors
Senior forward Jamie Skeen was named the Southwest Regional Most Outstanding Player. Skeen was also named to 2nd team All- Colonial Athletic Association . Senior guard Joey Rodriguez was named to 3rd team All- Colonial Athletic Association .[ 5]
References
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA Final Four appearances in italics