Welcome to the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Tipoff for the 2020-21 Season. This morning, we feature the VCU Rams. To revisit all of the season previews throughout the week, click here.
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Beth O'Boyle can't help but smile when she hears the three letters that just about every Atlantic 10 coach repeats when asked about the team to beat in the conference.
V-C-U.
The Rams reached the championship game the last two years and fell 52-48 at top-seeded Dayton last March. The plan is to be there again and "there's one more win we'd like to get. We'd like this group to go to the NCAA Tournament," O'Boyle said.
Leading rebounder Danielle Hammond and assist leader Nyra Williams have departed, but a veteran core makes VCU one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Four seniors and one redshirt junior laid the foundation for the resurgence of the Rams, seeking to go to the national tournament for the first time as members of the A-10.
Leading scorer Tera Reed returns with an improved pull-up jumper and 3-pointer. "It's been awesome to watch her confidence grow," O'Boyle said. "It's been exciting to see her come out of her shell and become a leader for us."
O'Boyle touts Sydnei Archie for bringing a championship mentality to every practice. "She's one of the most competitive players I've ever coached, and she's done a really good job with our young players this year," O'Boyle said. "She's our energy."
All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team selection Taya Robinson is a beast in the weight room and equally strong in the classroom. "She's like coaching a pro. There is such an intensity to how she practices," O'Boyle said. "She is our vocal leader. Everything goes through her voice on the court."
Credit redshirt junior Madison Hattix-Covington, the reigning Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year, for an exemplary summer work ethic. "She did a phenomenal job and adds that culture piece you want to have," O'Boyle said.
While the Rams were 26th nationally in scoring defense, this group will be looking to have more of an offensive punch in 2020-21.
Newcomers should help with that, including redshirt junior Janika Griffith-Wallace, who scored in double figures 17 times her sophomore season at Murray State. Redshirt junior Sam Robinson, a transfer from Central Michigan, and Chloe Bloom, a 6-3 forward from Oklahoma, also bring a post presence that should free up the shooters on the perimeter. O'Boyle would love to see Taya Robinson unleash more; the senior shot 42.6 percent from downtown last season.
While freshmen while be challenged to impact such a veteran team, 6-4 Texan Camilia Contreras and 6-2 Lithuanian Elze Motekaityte could also add offensive punch.
O'Boyle anticipates a faster tempo and a creative use of ball screens, a combination that should help unlock the Rams offense.
A look at the Rams:
Coach: Beth O'Boyle, 199-166 in 12 seasons overall, 106-83 in six seasons at VCU
Last year: 20-12, 13-3 Atlantic 10, (lost at top-seeded Dayton 52-48 in the Atlantic 10 Championship). VCU was on track to receive an automatic bid to the WNIT (awarded to the top finisher in the league that doesn't receive an NCAA bid) but COVID-19 cut the season short.
They'll miss: Danielle Hammond (11.3 ppg, team high 6.1 rpg, league-high 2.72 blocks per game (16th nationally); Nyra Williams (team-high 3.4 apg)
Impact returners: Tera Reed, 6-0 senior G (team- and career-high 15-2 ppg, two-time first team All-Atlantic 10); Taya Robinson, 5-10 senior G (11.5 ppg, 42.6 3FG percentage (2nd in A-10), third team All-Atlantic 10 for the second straight year and A-10 All-Defensive); Madison Hattix-Covington, 5-10 redshirt junior G (7.8 ppg, Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year); Sydnei Archie, 5-10 senior F (6.2 ppg, started all 30 games that she played).
Newbies of note: Oklahoma transfer Chloe Bloom, a 6-3 sophomore center; Murray State transfer Janika Griffith-Wallace, a 5-9 redshirt senior G; Central Michigan transfer Sam Robinson, a 6-1 redshirt sophomore F. VCU also signed five freshmen: 5-6 G Rain Green, 5-5 G Sarah Te-Biasu, 6-4 C Camilia Contreras, a 6-4 center; 6-2 F Elze Motekaityte; 5-11 G Dasia Townes
Reason for optimism: Having a lot of been-there, done-that veterans, always beneficial, is especially valuable given this most challenging offseason.
Bottom line: Added athleticism in the post and a seasoned group of upperclassmen poise the Rams for another run at a conference title and the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2009.
Vicki Friedman is a freelance writer who has covered women's basketball for major newspapers for over two decades, and she has written for Atlantic10.com since 2012. Her blog, LadySwish, can be found at ladyswishwbb.com and on Twitter.