ESPN Men's Basketball

While Hofstra and Drexel have been the two teams that have been eyeballed the most coming out of the gate, and rightfully so, the team that sits atop the Colonial standings is Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams are under the direction of first year coach Anthony Grant, who left Billy Donovan's staff at Florida to take over at VCU when Jeff Capel took the Oklahoma job. Grant took over a veteran team that understood how to win, and expected to win, yet VCU was rated no higher than sixth headed into the season. It has been 15 years since a team started 9-0 in Colonial Athletic Association play, and that is exactly where Grant's team is now.

VCU leads the league in scoring, and is third in rebounding and second in field goal percentage, but more importantly, the Rams understand how to play and to play together. The Rams have some capable frontline players, but are led by their guards, specifically a couple of seniors in B.A. Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa, both of whom are four-year starters. Walker can score and is a 3-point threat who can really stretch the defense, while Pellot-Rosa has hit double-figures in 17 of his last 19 games. Pellot-Rosa fouled out of the George Mason game after a technical foul, and spent the rest of the game as the Rams' best cheerleader, an indication of leadership and a tight group. At the end of last year, Capel told me that he thought his best player might be Eric Maynor, now a sophomore point guard. Capel was right, and Grant had nothing but praise for his point guard and Maynor's "do everything" game. Maynor controls the ball and the offense, and he can make tough shots. Grant has done an exceptional job taking over a program where his predecessor was so close with the players. Grant has built trust and has given his new team the confidence to rely upon its abilities and still maintain a daily focus and belief in him. VCU now plays a different style than these players were used to, but they have been receptive to Grant and his coaching. VCU is a solid team, and with quality guards, the Rams can beat people. The only thing that might beat VCU might be imposing frontcourt play from the opposition.

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