2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball team

2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball
A-10 regular-season & tournament champions
NCAA tournament, First Round
Conference	Atlantic 10 Conference
Record	28–7 (15–3 A-10)
Head coach	Ryan Odom (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Darius Theus Bryce Crawford Matt Henry
Home arena	Stuart C. Siegel Center

2024–25 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
VCU †	15	–	3		.833			28	–	7		.800
George Mason	15	–	3		.833			27	–	9		.750
Dayton	12	–	6		.667			23	–	11		.676
Loyola Chicago	12	–	6		.667			25	–	12		.676
Saint Louis	11	–	7		.611			19	–	15		.559
Saint Joseph's	11	–	7		.611			22	–	13		.629
George Washington	9	–	9		.500			21	–	13		.618
St. Bonaventure	9	–	9		.500			22	–	12		.647
Duquesne	8	–	10		.444			13	–	19		.406
Rhode Island	7	–	11		.389			18	–	13		.581
UMass	7	–	11		.389			12	–	20		.375
Davidson	6	–	12		.333			17	–	16		.515
Richmond	5	–	13		.278			10	–	22		.313
La Salle	5	–	13		.278			14	–	19		.424
Fordham	3	–	15		.167			12	–	21		.364
† 2025 A-10 tournament winner

The 2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rams, led by second-year head coach Ryan Odom, played their home games at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia, as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 28–7, 15–3 in A-10 play to win the regular season championship. They defeated St. Bonaventure, Loyola Chicago, and George Mason to win the A-10 tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 11 seed in the East region. They lost to BYU in the first round.

On March 22, 2025, head coach Ryan Odom left the team to take the head coaching position at Virginia. On March 25, the school named Bryant head coach Phil Martelli Jr. the team's new head coach.

Previous season

Main article: 2023–24 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 2023–24 team was the first year with Ryan Odom coaching the squad. During the season, VCU finished the season with a 24–14 record including an 11–7 record in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams lost in the Atlantic 10 championship game to Duquesne, and earned an at-large berth into the 2024 National Invitation Tournament. In the NIT, the Rams had their best performance in the tournament since 1988, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Utah.

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Reason for departure
Jason Nelson	1	G	5'10"	175	Sophomore	Richmond, VA	Transferred to Youngstown State
Roosevelt Wheeler	4	F/C	6'11"	240	Junior	Richmond, VA	Transferred to East Tennessee State
Sean Bairstow	7	G	6'8"	205	GS Senior	Brisbane, Australia	Graduated
Tobi Lawal	10	F	6'8"	200	Sophomore	London, England	Transferred to Virginia Tech
Kuany Kuany	13	F	6'9"	200	GS Senior	Melbourne, Australia	Graduated
Connor Odom	14	G	5'11"	165	Senior	Annapolis, MD	Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous school
Phillip Russell	1	G	5'10"	165	Senior	St. Louis, MO	UT Arlington
Jack Clark	4	F	6'10"	207	GS Senior	Cheltenham, PA	Clemson

2024 recruits

The following players have committed to playing for VCU.

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Luke Bamgboye #33 C	Scottsdale, AZ	AZ Compass Prep	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Jun 9, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (80)
Terrence Hill Jr. #45 PG	Portland, OR	Roosevelt High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Jul 11, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
Brandon Jennings PG	Richmond, VA	St. Christopher's School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Nov 8, 2023
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Martin Carrère SF	Pontonx-sur-l'Adour, France	Limoges Cercle Saint-Pierre	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	N/A	Jul 21, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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: "VCU 2024 Player Commits". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2024. "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved September 26, 2024.

2025 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2025)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Silas Barksdale #33 C	Hampton, VA	Woodside High School	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Sep 5, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (81)
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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: "VCU 2025 Player Commits". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2024. "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved September 26, 2024.

Roster

2024–25 VCU Rams men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Brandon Jennings 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr St. Christopher School Richmond, VA G 1 Phillip Russell 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr UT Arlington St. Louis, MO G 2 Zeb Jackson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) GS Michigan Toledo, OH F 4 Jack Clark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) GS Clemson Cheltenham, PA G/F 5 Alphonzo Billups III 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS So Varina Richmond, VA G 6 Terrence Hill Jr. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Roosevelt Portland, OR F 7 Obinnaya Okafor (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So Bethel Hampton, VA G/F 8 Michael Belle 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Strasbourg London, England F 9 Luke Bamgboye 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr AZ Compass Prep London, England G 11 Max Shulga 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 197 lb (89 kg) GS Utah State Kyiv, Ukraine G/F 17 Martin Carrère 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Limoges Pontonx-sur-l'Adour, France F 21 Christian Fermin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Pocono Mountain West Tobyhanna, PA G 22 Joe Bamisile 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS Oklahoma Richmond, VA	Head coach Ryan Odom (Hampden–Sydney) Assistant coach(es) Bryce Crawford (Ohio State) Matt Henry (Trinity (TX)) Darius Theus (VCU) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 28, 2024* 7:00 p.m.		St. Mary's (MD)	W 102–44		26 – Bamisile	8 – Shulga	3 – Tied	Siegel Center (4,614) Richmond, VA
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Bellarmine	W 84–65	1–0	19 – Shulga	10 – Belle	5 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
November 8, 2024* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN		vs. Boston College Veterans Classic	W 80–55	2–0	20 – Russell	10 – Shulga	4 – Shulga	Alumni Hall  Annapolis, MD
November 13, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Merrimack	W 63–42	3–0	20 – Bamisile	9 – Jennings	4 – Tied	Siegel Center (7,183) Richmond, VA
November 16, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Loyola (MD)	W 83–57	4–0	25 – Clark	10 – Shulga	7 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
November 21, 2024* 5:00 p.m., ESPN2		vs. Seton Hall Charleston Classic quarterfinals	L 66–69 OT	4–1	20 – Shulga	5 – Tied	3 – Tied	TD Arena  Charleston, SC
November 22, 2024* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Nevada Charleston Classic consolation	L 61–64	4–2	18 – Jackson	7 – Tied	4 – Tied	TD Arena (2,823) Charleston, SC
November 24, 2024* 12:30 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Miami (FL) Charleston Classic 7th place game	W 77–70	5–2	22 – Bamisile	8 – Shulga	9 – Shulga	TD Arena  Charleston, SC
November 29, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Elizabeth City State	W 103–58	6–2	18 – Russell	9 – Ferman	3 – Jackson	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
December 4, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Georgia Southern	W 89–54	7–2	29 – Shulga	6 – Tied	3 – Tied	Siegel Center (6,624) Richmond, VA
December 9, 2024* 7:00 p.m., MASN		Penn	W 66–47	8–2	23 – Bamisile	11 – Bamisile	7 – Russell	Siegel Center (7,016) Richmond, VA
December 14, 2024* 7:30 p.m., Baller TV		vs. Colorado State Jack Jones Classic	W 76–68	9–2	25 – Bamisile	10 – Shulga	4 – Shulga	Lee's Family Forum  Henderson, NV
December 18, 2024* 9:00 p.m., MW Network		at New Mexico	L 71–78	9–3	20 – Shulga	5 – Belle	2 – Tied	The Pit (11,483) Albuquerque, NM
December 22, 2024* 2:00 p.m., MASN		William & Mary	W 90–70	10–3	20 – Bamisile	10 – Clark	6 – Tied	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
Atlantic 10 regular season
December 31, 2025 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at St. Bonaventure	L 75–77	10–4 (0–1)	26 – Russell	8 – Bamisile	4 – Shulga	Reilly Center (4,190) St. Bonaventure, NY
January 4, 2025 2:00 p.m., CBSSN		at Loyola Chicago	W 84–65	11–4 (1–1)	25 – Russell	11 – Clark	5 – Shulga	Joseph J. Gentile Arena (4,129) Chicago, IL
January 8, 2025 7:00 p.m., MASN		Fordham	W 73–61	12–4 (2–1)	18 – Bamisile	11 – Clark	5 – Russell	Siegel Center (0) Richmond, VA
January 14, 2025 7:00 p.m., MASN		Saint Louis	W 78–62	13–4 (3–1)	23 – Bamisile	6 – Jennings	9 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
January 17, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPNU		at Saint Joseph's	W 78–69	14–4 (4–1)	18 – Clark	9 – Shulga	3 – Shulga	Hagan Arena (3,069) Philadelphia, PA
January 21, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN		at Rhode Island	W 81–57	15–4 (5–1)	24 – Bamisile	9 – Bamgboye	3 – Shulga	Ryan Center (4,517) Kingston, RI
January 24, 2025 9:00 p.m., ESPNU		St. Bonaventure	W 75–61	16–4 (6–1)	18 – Bamisile	9 – Jackson	6 – Bamisile	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
January 28, 2025 8:00 p.m., CBSSN		at Saint Louis	L 69–78	16–5 (6–2)	15 – Tied	9 – Clark	3 – Clark	Chaifetz Arena (6,763) St. Louis, MO
February 1, 2025 4:00 p.m., CBSSN		Richmond Capital City Classic	W 90–49	17–5 (7–2)	20 – Shulga	6 – Shulga	5 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
February 4, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN		La Salle	W 96–66	18–5 (8–2)	17 – Bamisile	8 – Fermin	5 – Clark	Siegel Center (7,132) Richmond, VA
February 7, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2		at Dayton	W 73–68	19–5 (9–2)	17 – Jackson	8 – Shulga	3 – Shulga	UD Arena (13,407) Dayton, OH
February 12, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock		at George Washington	W 80–72	20–5 (10–2)	18 – Clark	9 – Clark	4 – Tied	Charles E. Smith Center (2,078) Washington, D.C.
February 19, 2025 6:00 p.m., CBSSN		UMass	W 80–51	21–5 (11–2)	19 – Tied	6 – Bamisile	7 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
February 22, 2025 4:00 p.m., CBSSN		George Mason Rivalry	W 70–54	22–5 (12–2)	22 – Shulga	9 – Clark	6 – Jackson	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
February 25, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN		at Richmond Capital City Classic	W 78–60	23–5 (13–2)	16 – Shulga	8 – Bamisile	4 – Shulga	Robins Center (6,420) Richmond, VA
February 28, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2		Davidson	W 80–56	24–5 (14–2)	18 – Clark	11 – Shulga	4 – Russell	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
March 4, 2025 7:00 p.m., CBSSN		at Duquesne	W 71–62	25–5 (15–2)	22 – Shulga	14 – Clark	3 – Clark	UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse (2,574) Pittsburgh, PA
March 7, 2025 7:00 p.m., ESPN2		Dayton	L 76–79	25–6 (15–3)	18 – Bamisile	9 – Shulga	3 – Shulga	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, VA
Atlantic 10 tournament
March 14, 2025 11:30 a.m., USA	(1)	vs. (8) St. Bonaventure Quarterfinals	W 76–59	26–6	17 – Clark	10 – Belle	11 – Shulga	Capital One Arena (8,153) Washington, D.C.
March 15, 2025 1:00 p.m., CBSSN	(1)	vs. (4) Loyola Chicago Semifinals	W 62–55	27–6	14 – Shulga	10 – Shulga	4 – Shulga	Capital One Arena (9,355) Washington, D.C.
March 16, 2025 1:00 p.m., CBS	(1)	vs. (2) George Mason Championship/Rivalry	W 68–63	28–6	18 – Shulga	8 – Bamgboye	3 – Tied	Capital One Arena (12,516) Washington, D.C.
NCAA tournament
March 20, 2025 4:05 p.m., TNT	(11 E)	vs. (6 E) No. 17 BYU First round	L 71–80	28–7	23 – Jackson	10 – Clark	5 – Clark	Ball Arena (19,291) Denver, CO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East. All times are in Eastern Time.

Source:

Rankings

See also: 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Final
AP	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	—
Coaches	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	RV	—

External links

• VCU Basketball