VCU loses to Saint Mary’s 63-51 in NCAA West opener

Ace Baldwin’s injury makes losing more painful

VCU’s exceptional basketball season ended with a resounding, “What if?”

What if point guard sensation Ace Baldwin hadn’t suffered a leg injury that contributed to a 63-51 loss to St. Mary’s, Calif., in the opening game of the NCAA West Region in Albany, N.Y.?

The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year went down with 14:16 to go and St. Mary’s up 38-34. At that point the Gaels went on a 12-5 run.

Baldwin, who had a team-high 13 points, returned briefly in the late going, even hitting a 3-pointer, but it was too little too late.

“That’s why it hurt so bad … I wanted to get out there and help my brothers … but I couldn’t run or plant,” he told the news media.

So the Rams finished 27-8 with A-10 regular season and tournament titles. VCU had won nine straight prior to the NCAAs and 18 out of 20. The Rams have enjoyed 23 straight winning seasons under six different coaches.

Much to his credit, Rams Coach Mike Rhoades didn’t blame the latest setback on Baldwin’s misfortune.

“The best team won,” Coach Rhoades said. “St. Mary’s played better longer.”

But here’s another “What if?”

As powerful as the Rams’ latest edition was, it might have been even stronger. Missing were Bones Hyland (now with the NBA Clippers) and Vince Williams (splitting time with NBA Grizzlies and G-League).

Both would have been eligible to return this season had they not decided to go pro.

Baldwin could be the Rams’ next NBA player, but not before what figures to be fantastic finish as a senior in 2023-24.

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Moving on: Departing Rams will be graduate students Brandon Johns, who made third team All-A10, and David Shriver, team leader with 60 3-pointers.

Also exiting will be four-year walk-on Arnold Henderson VI out of St. Christopher’s.

Then there is always the chance of players transferring out, in some cases for more lucrative NIL deals. There is temptation at every juncture.

Big name schedule: The 2023-24 nonconference schedule is expected to include home games with Temple and Memphis and a trip to Orlando, Fla., for the ESPN Invitational.

Possible opponents in Florida would be Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Penn State, Butler, Boise State and Iowa State.

Fresh arrivals: Tarique Foster, a 6-foot-8 forward out of The Bronx, N.Y., is the only announced incoming freshman. Foster played this season at Putnam Academy in Connecticut.

It is likely at least one other player will come to Richmond through the NCAA portal. VCU had three portal additions this season, Johns and Zeb Jackson from Michigan and Shriver from Hartford.

JM Justices shoot for national title

John Marshall High has a state basketball title. Now it’s aiming for a national crown.

Coach Ty Whites’ Justices will play the McDonough, Ga., Golden Eagles Wednesday, March 29, in the first round of The Throne Nationals at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Tipoff is 1:30 p.m.

“I’m excited for our kids; they deserve this,” said Coach White, whose squad is seeded No. 1.

“We’ve got a chance,” Coach White added.

The four-day, 16-team event will conclude April 2. Games will be televised on the NBA and Fox networks.

JM, 28-0 and state Class 2 champ, will go under the name of Richmond Justices. McDonough, 26-5, will play under Golden Eagles.

Teams must keep their same high school rosters. No pickups are permitted. Coach White says all his players are healthy and ready to take their achievements to the next level.

JM has won 37 straight games over the past two seasons.

Other squads are traveling to Atlanta from Texas, New Jersey, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, California and Illinois.

McDonough lost in its State semifinals to Westover of Albany, Ga. McDonough had been ranked No. 1 in Georgia prior to the loss.

Golden Level Sports Entertainment and the NBA Players Association are sponsoring and funding the inaugural event for public schools.

Versatility defines Princeton’s Tosan Evbuomwan

NCAA March Madness is known for its heartwarming, underdog Cinderella stories.

This year’s “Cinderella” wears pink shoelaces, speaks with an English accent, and has a name many mispronounce.

Tosan Evbuomwan is a bouncy 6-foot-8 reason why 15th-seeded long shot Princeton University, N.J., is preparing for the Sweet 16.

The senior from Newcastle, England, and a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year paces the Tigers in scoring and assists, and is second in rebounding. His position is listed as “point forward” due to his playmaking skills.

Evbuomwan stands out for his versatility and perhaps because he is Princeton’s lone Black starter.

The Englishman wears pink shoelaces and sometimes pink shoes in honor of his mother, Michelle, a former pilot, who died of breast cancer March 20, 2012.

The tallest Tiger wears jersey No. 20 as a reminder of the date his mother died. His father, Isaac, is a medical doctor who came to England from Nigeria. This isn’t the first time Princeton has made noise during March Madness.

The Rhoades Runners: Few schools nationally played better away from home than VCU. Under Coach Rhoades, the Rams were 8-3 in true road games and 4-2 at neutral sites.

Since becoming VCU head coach prior to 2017-18, Coach Rhoades’ Rams are 129-61 overall and 72-32 in the A-10. With success sometimes comes worries. Will other higher profile schools with deeper pockets

Oh, how sweet it is! (NCAA Sweet 16 matchups)

Thursday West (Las Vegas) Connecticut vs. Arkansas, 4:15 p.m., CBS UCLA vs. Gonzaga, 6:45 p.m., CBS South (Louisville) Kansas State vs. Michigan State, 3:30 p.m., TBS Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., TBS attempt to lure Coach Rhoades away?

VCU has a history of losing coaches. Dana Kirk (left for Memphis), J.D. Barnett (Tulsa), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Anthony Grant (Alabama), Shaka Smart (Texas) and Will Wade (LSU) are examples. Coach Rhoades’ son, Logan, will be playing football this coming season for Colgate University, N.Y., after a stellar career as Mills Godwin High School’s quarterback.