2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball team

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. This was the highest ranking in VCU's history and the highest ranking of any team from the CAA. The 2011 NCAA tournament run by VCU is regarded by some as one of the best Cinderella runs of all time. 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.

2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Final Four
Conference	Colonial Athletic Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
Record	28–12 (12–6 CAA)
Head coach	Shaka Smart (2nd year)
Assistant coaches	Mike Jones Mike Rhoades Will Wade
Home arena	Stuart C. Siegel Center

2010–11 CAA men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
George Mason	16	–	2		.889			27	–	7		.794
Old Dominion †	14	–	4		.778			27	–	7		.794
Hofstra	14	–	4		.778			21	–	12		.636
VCU	12	–	6		.667			28	–	12		.700
Drexel	11	–	7		.611			21	–	10		.677
James Madison	10	–	8		.556			21	–	12		.636
Delaware	8	–	10		.444			14	–	17		.452
UNCW	7	–	11		.389			13	–	18		.419
Georgia State	6	–	12		.333			12	–	19		.387
Northeastern	6	–	12		.333			11	–	20		.355
William & Mary	4	–	14		.222			10	–	22		.313
Towson	0	–	18		.000			4	–	26		.133
† 2011 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

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

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: "VCU 2012 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011. "2012 VCU Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 14, 2011.

Season

Preseason

VCU was predicted to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason polls, which was released October 19, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. 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.