Slant's VCU Basketball Citations

With the regular season and the Atlantic 10 tournament in the rear view mirror, it's about time for VCU fans to count some blessings. After all, the Rams just won that A-10 basketball tournament, a noteworthy feat that punched their ticket to the NCAA's national championship springtime ritual -- the Big Dance. 

That also means it's time to announce Slant's 2026 edition of its VCU men's basketball citations. However, let's pause here momentarily to congratulate VCU's first-year head coach, Phil Martelli, Jr., for his team's glittering success. At this writing, record-wise, it stands at 27-7 and counting,.

Moreover, as the season progressed, it was delightful watching Martelli's players improving as individuals and gaining confidence as a team. And that confidence sparkled brightest during the pressure packed last few minutes of close games over the last eight weeks. 

Next stop for the 11-seeded Rams is the South Regional in Greenville, South Carolina, to face the 6-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels. Tipoff is set for 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. TNT Network will televise the game. 

By the way, over the years the Heels have appeared in 21 Final Fours and have won the NCAA's national championship tournament six times. The betting line currently lists VCU as a 2.5-point underdog. Still, VCU has become a popular upset pick for sports pundits.  

Now for those citations:

Mister Clutch: Terrence Hill, Jr. sophomore, 6-3, combo guard. When the game is on the line, with five seconds on the clock, this is who you most want to have possession of the ball. He leads the team in both points-scored (14.4 points per game) and in assists (2.8 per game). His shooting from long range can be mindboggling.    

Fast Eddie: Michael Belle junior, 6-8, small forward. No one on this Rams team out-hustles Belle. "Fast Eddie" Felson (played by Paul Newman) was the hustling pool shark in the great film, "The Hustler" (1961).  

Windex: Lazar Djokovic, junior, 6-11, power forward. As he leads the team in rebounds (5.4 per game), it can be said that he cleans the glass. He is also the team's second leading scorer (13.5 points per game). . 

 

Swiss Army Knife: Brandon Jennings, sophomore, 6-4 shooting guard. If you need a steal, a blocked shot, an offensive rebound, a basket with the shot clock winding down, this your man for the job. He does it all, frequently when it's most needed.  

The Future: Nyk Lewis, freshman, 6-1, point guard. His improvement during the season was quite noteworthy. His athleticism, strength and toughness are valuable assets. His upside potential is nearly unlimited. 

The Tar Heels coaches will likely have a big job on their hands trying to convince their players that they should not take the Rams lightly. If VCU can begin the game with their defensive intensity at full throttle and hot shooting hands, a big upset might be brewing.  . 

If all five of the VCU players cited above return for next season, and Martelli has any sort of success with recruiting a shot-blocking/rebounding phenom power forward, the Rams are looking at a season in which they will frequently be ranked in the top 25 polls. 

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 -- Photo and words by F.T. Rea

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Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals: VCU tops Duquesne

Final Score: (No 2) VCU 71,(No 7) Duquesne 66.
Location: Pittsburgh (PPG Paints Arena)
Updated Records: VCU 25-7, Duquesne 18-15. 

In a nutshell: First team A-10 All Star Terrence Hill scored a game-high 20 points. Michael Belle chipped in 14 points. Both Hill and Belle came off the bench, as VCU held off Duquesne. Hill also dished out a game-high six assists. Meanwhile, Belle grabbed seven rebounds and made two steals. 

VCU's other first team conference All Star, Lazar Djokovic, scored 13 points. And, VCU's Swiss Army Knife, Brandon Jennings, scored seven points, got five rebounds, made four steals and blocked three shots.

Duquesne was tough. The Rams survive and advance. 

NOTES  (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)

·      VCU trailed 26-23 with 4:36 left in the first half, but ratcheted up its defense to spark a 16-3 blitz, punctuated by a long Hill 3-pointer with three seconds remaining, to take a 39-29 lead into halftime.

·      The Rams never trailed again, but the Dukes did manage to keep things interesting down the stretch. Duquesne pulled within 55-53 on a Jimmie Williams 3-pointer with 6:52 left. But Hill promptly responded with a triple from the right wing. Later, the Dukes trimmed VCU’s advantage to 66-64 on a Jimmie Williams layup with 37 seconds left. But Hill drew a foul and hit a free throw, and Belle grabbed a steal on Duquesne’s ensuing possession. Freshman guard Nyk Lewis knocked down a pair of free throws to help seal the win.

·      VCU shot 47 percent (23-of-49) from the field in the game, including 44 percent (7-of-16) from beyond the arc.

·      VCU received 34 points from its bench.

·      Hill has reached 20-plus points six times this season.

·      VCU improved to 11-4 all-time against Duquesne, including 2-0 this season.

BOXSCORE

  

NEXT UP: VCU will face Saint Joseph’s in Saturday’s semifinals. Tipoff  at 3:30 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network.

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Rams defeat Flyers to finish regular season

Final Score: VCU 68, Dayton 62.
Location: UD Arena in Dayton.
Updated Records: VCU 24-7, 15-3 in A-10. Dayton 21-10, 12-6 in A-10.

In a nutshell: In his first year as head coach Phil Martelli guided the VCU Rams men's basketball team to an impressive 24-7 record. At this point VCU is being seen as somewhat likely to receive an at-large invitation to the Big Dance, should the Rams not win the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament. Yes, somewhat. 

That's life "on the bubble." To get in this position VCU needed to beat the always tough Dayton Flyers twice. Which it did.

Some noteworthy Rams stats: Lazar Djokovic scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Coming off the bench Terrence Hill scored 13 points and dished for three assists. Barry Evans chipped in 11 points and six boards. Brandon Jennings scored eight points, got seven rebounds, handed out four assists and made three steals. 

In winning 13 of its last 14 games the surging Rams consistently exhibited a knack for playing well during last minute pressure. That's a trait that should serve them well in postseason play. 

NOTES  (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.)

·      VCU shot 49 percent (25-of-51) from the floor on the night, including 52 percent (11-of-21) in the second half alone. The Rams held the Flyers to 34 percent (11-of-32) shooting in the second half. Dayton shot just 4-of-22 from 3-point range in the game.

·      Timely shot making down the stretch helped carry the Rams across the finish line. Back-to-back buckets by Bennett and De’Shayne Montgomery pulled Dayton within 62-60 with 3:57 remaining. But on the ensuing possession, Djokovic buried a turnaround hook shot in the lane to give VCU breathing room. The Flyers’ Amael L’Etang answered with a putback a short time later to make it 64-62 with 1:47 left. On VCU’s next trip down the floor, Hill knocked down a fadeaway jumper in the late to keep Dayton at bay. The Flyers missed their final three shots of the game as VCU held on for the win.

·      Javon Bennett led all players in scoring with 17 points for the Flyers.

·      The game featured seven ties and 12 lead changes. The largest lead by either team Friday was six points.

·      The Rams finished 15-3 in A-10 play for the second straight year. VCU has secured the No. 2 seed in next week’s conference tournament.

 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, VCU will take on a team yet to be determined in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. Tipoff at 5 p.m.  

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More improved lies

It appears to me that Trump is falling apart, physically. The stress of the chaos that swirls  around him must be adding up. Moreover, he seems pretty much caught up in a death spiral, writing the last couple of chapters of his wicked history. And, in the doing, he's acting sort of like a coke fiend who always wants more. 

Only instead of a drug, Trump's craving is for the thrill he feels from wielding power. He gets off on bending people to his will. Oh yes, and he especially loves to dish out humiliation. When he cheats at golf rather than moving his ball, to improve his lie -- when nobody is looking -- he does it exactly when his opponent can plainly see him doing it. 

More than just cheating to win, Trump wants to humiliate the witness to his shameless rule-breaking episode. Trump's craving that must be satisfied is to bully a poor soul on the golf course into being too afraid to call him on his crime against fair play. 

Now no longer satisfied with merely intimidating golfers, sycophants and senators, spiraling Trump must humiliate whole nations. Venezuela, Canada, Greenland, Iran, Cuba, etc. Always more. 

More... 

  

Rams defeat Patriots, 70-to-65

Final Score: VCU 70, George Mason 65. 
Location: Siegel Center
Updated Records: VCU 23-7, 14-3 in A-10, George Mason 22-8, 10-7 in A-10.

In a nutshell: VCU trailed in the Senior Night game's opening minutes, then took their first lead about 12 minutes into the game. From then on the Rams led most of the time, but not by all that much. However, in the game's deciding seconds, clutch shots by Lazar Djokovic and Terrence Hill clinched the victory for the Rams. 

VCU fans got quite a scare in the first half when Djokovic stepped on an opponent's foot, rolled his ankle and had to be helped off the floor. It looked bad. Nonetheless, in the second half he shook off the scary injury and returned to action with a slight limp.

Terrence Hill led VCU's scoring with 16 points. He also dished for two assists and made one steal. Jadrian Tracey scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and made one assist. Djokovic finished with 12 points and got five boards.

Before the game started, seniors Jadrian Tracey and Barry Evans were cited in the customary ceremony for their contributions to the program. 

  

NOTES (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.).

●      The Patriots had a strong start to the contest as they jumped to a 15-7 lead thanks to a Kory Mincy jumper with 15:23 remaining in the first half. Mincy led the Patriots with 18 points and shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. 

●      The Rams took their first lead with 8:08 remaining in the first half as a Tyrell Ward 3-pointer gave them a 21-20 advantage.

●      Mason pulled to within 57-54 with seven minutes remaining, but a layup by Belle and a 3-pointer from the right wing by Djokovic supplied the Black and Gold with an eight-point cushion at 62-54 with 5:11 left. The Patriots briefly cut the lead back to five, only to watch Hill bury a 3-pointer with 3:58 remaining. George Mason made one final push, and used a three-point play by Jahari Long to draw to within 68-65 with 58 seconds on the clock. But a short time later, Hill maneuvered into the lane and finished a layup with just nine seconds left.

●      Neither team led by more than eight points as there were three ties and seven lead changes in the matchup.

●      VCU clinches a 15-2 home record for the 2025-26 season, marking their second consecutive season with 15 home wins.

●      The Rams improved to 22-2 when leading at halftime this season and 13-0 in games where they allow fewer than 70 points.

●      VCU is 50-23 all-time against George Mason.

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: On Friday, March 6, VCU's last game of the regular season will be played in Dayton against the Flyers. Tipoff at 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2. 

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VCU defeats Fordham, 82-to-63

Final Score: VCU 82, Fordham 63
Location: Siegel Center
Updated Records: VCU 22-7, 13-3 in A-10. Fordham 16-13, 7-9 in A-10.

In a nutshell: Following its rather disappointing loss on the road at Saint Louis, VCU returned to West Broad Street for Homecoming. The team played well on defense in the first half and then well enough on offense in the second half. Jadrian Tracey and three of his teammates all scored in double figures. 

Tracey scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. Barry Evans scored 13 points, got six rebounds made three assists. Lazar Djokovic and Nyk Lewis both scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds. Brandon Jennings scored eight points, got seven boards, dished out three assists and made three steals. All nine of VCU's players who got in the game scored points.

VCU's restored confidence should have the Rams ready for their two remaining regular season games (George Mason at home and at Dayton).  

NOTES: (Information provided by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.).

·      VCU built a 37-22 halftime lead with a stout defensive effort. The Black and Gold held. Fordham to 20 percent (6-of-30) shooting in the first half, including 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.

·      Fordham used a 13-0 burst early in the second period, capped by a 3-pointer by Akira. Jacobs, to cut VCU’s lead to just 43-41 at the 15:28 mark. But VCU steadied itself. Evans. responded with a traditional three-point play on the ensuing possession to kick off a 16-5 VCU run over the next four minutes.

·      VCU’s lead would balloon to as many as 23 points, at 80-57, on a Tracey corner 3-pointer with 3:14 remaining.

·      The Black and Gold shot 48 percent (28-of-58) from the field in the contest, including 38 percent (11-of-29) from 3-point range. Fordham shot just 33 percent (20-of-61) in the game.

·      DeJour Reeves, the Atlantic 10 Conference’s leading scorer, led all players with 22 points and eight assists Saturday.

·      VCU owned a 43-36 rebounding advantage and outscored Fordham 32-20 in the paint.

·      VCU’s win cliched one of the top four seeds, and a double bye, at the upcoming Atlantic 10 Conference Championship.

·      VCU has won 11 straight games over Fordham and is 17-1 all-time in the series.

·      Eight VCU players scored at least seven points Saturday.

 

BOXSCORE

NEXT UP: VCU will host George Mason on Tuesday, March 3. Following the Senior Day ceremony tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. 

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