Today's Nonconference Opponents "Games of Note"

[shockerfan]

Oh and Dickie V mentions us too lol. Gotta love it

[GoShockers89]

Duke-VCU tips off tomorrow at 7 EST on the same channel.

[bunck]

VCU-Duke tomorrow is gonna be a dang good game.

Way to go Rams, keep it up.

No matter what, just playing Duke will be an RPI boost for VCU and us but just think of what a win for VCU would do ...

[Aargh]

No matter what, just playing Duke will be an RPI boost for VCU and us but just think of what a win for VCU would do ...

That has occurred to me. If VCU takes down Duke on a neutral court and WSU is VCU's only loss and it was in their barn, the Shox will get a lot of love.

VCU beating #19 Memphis will get the Shox some votes in the polls.

[WuDrWu]

No matter what, just playing Duke will be an RPI boost for VCU and us but just think of what a win for VCU would do ...

As mentioned before, still way too early to put much stock into the RPI, nevertheless we're 15+% through the season (hard to believe huh?) after 6 games. WSU is around #37 and VCU is #2 with the #1 SOS. You can start to see some trends (VCU has a great schedule that's going to keep them high all season) while still seeing other things that are bound to change (SIU at #30).

[Kung Wu]

As mentioned before, still way too early to put much stock into the RPI, nevertheless we're 15+% through the season (hard to believe huh?) after 6 games. WSU is around #37 and VCU is #2 with the #1 SOS. You can start to see some trends (VCU has a great schedule that's going to keep them high all season) while still seeing other things that are bound to change (SIU at #30).

Man. If WSU draws VCU in the first round of the tournament again ....

Wait. Nevermind. We'll both be seeded too high for that to happen again.

[1979Shocker]

RealTimeRPI currently has us projected to finish at 28-2 (17-1) with our only losses being at Tennessee and at Creighton.

We're #33 in the current Jeff Sagarin computer ratings.

[MadaboutWu]

In terms of publicity and recognition for our program, VCU-Duke is the most important non-WSU game in a long time. Our win is fresh enough and the season is young enough that should VCU beat Duke we will get a lot of credit for our road win from many commentators. If VCU wins on Monday, we will almost certainly be ranked; if they lose we likely will be in the 26-28 range.

I just wanted to comment on this as it is a peculiar moment in which an outside game might be as significant for our perception as our own body of work. The extra hype it brings will have some pitfalls but it will be fun to watch the accolades roll in. I would root for any non-BCS team in the country over Duke (and all but a select few of the BCS), but a VCU victory today would put a cherry on WSU's great week. Go Rams!

[pie n eye]

I will never talk smack on Rick Pitino again. During an interview after a tight finish against UNI he said the Valley is the most underrated conference in the country and specifically mentioned how good he thinks Wichita State, CU, and Il St are. Pretty cool.

I've always been a big fan of the MVC despite what a lot of people say. The league has been consistently underrated by "experts" who should know better. Not only that but in an era where GREED (and football) are making college athletics unrecognizable and nearly unwatchable the Valley offers a breath of fresh air as a stable 10 team conference that is all about basketball.

[SubGod22]

The Valley still sucks. Just because we have a couple of teams at the top that can run with the big boys doesn't change that. We still have more schools that can't or refuse to invest in their programs to make them better and will continue to be a drag on this conference.

[moshock]

I will never talk smack on Rick Pitino again. During an interview after a tight finish against UNI he said the Valley is the most underrated conference in the country and specifically mentioned how good he thinks Wichita State, CU, and Il St are. Pretty cool.

I've always been a big fan of the MVC despite what a lot of people say. The league has been consistently underrated by "experts" who should know better. Not only that but in an era where GREED (and football) are making college athletics unrecognizable and nearly unwatchable the Valley offers a breath of fresh air as a stable 10 team conference that is all about basketball.

I saw that and frankly was shocked. IMO, Louisville must want to come back to the Valley so Pitino was sucking up a little.

[another shocker]

The Valley still sucks. Just because we have a couple of teams at the top that can run with the big boys doesn't change that. We still have more schools that can't or refuse to invest in their programs to make them better and will continue to be a drag on this conference.

The only time the Valley really and truly sucked was in the 90's.

[RoyalShock]

I have a feeling that VCU's win over Memphis may not look that good in a month or two. I know it's still very early in the season but Memphis' wins so far are quite unimpressive. They beat North Florida by 15 and Samford by 11. Those two are a combined 0-9, with losses to the likes of Savannah State and Alcorn State. We'll have to see how the Tigers deal with UNI today.

[RoyalShock]

Nevermind on the UNI vs. Memphis today. WarrenNolan.com shows UNI playing both Memphis and Stanford today. Oops.

[shoxlax]

I think VCU matches up well with Duke. Let me rephrase, I don't think Duke matches up all that whippy with the Rams.

If Havoc creates some easy baskets so VCU doesn't have to rely on their half court offense, look out.