VCU Rams men's basketball, 1968–1980

The VCU Rams men's basketball teams represented Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, United States. The program was established in 1967, and began play in the 1968–69 season as an NCAA Independent.

Contents: 1968–69 - 1969–70 - 1970–71 - 1971–72 - 1972–73 - 1973–74 - 1974–75 - 1975–76 - 1976–77 - 1977–78 - 1979–80 - Decade totals - NBA Draft selections - Notes

1968–69

The 1968–69 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented the newly-created Virginia Commonwealth University during the 1968–69 NCAA men's basketball season. Led by Benny Dees, the Rams played their inaugural season as an independent team, playing a mix of Division I, II and III schools across the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio River Valley and Southeast regions. After an 0–4 start, the Rams finished the season with a winning record of 12–11.[1] During the season, they played in two winter tournaments; the Fort Eustis and Quantico tournaments held at Virginia military bases, Joint Base Langley–Eustis and Marine Corps Base Quantico, respectively. The team did not earn a berth into either the NCAA or NIT tournaments.[1]

Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Record Notes
November 27 Augusta Augusta, GA L 71–89 0–1
November 30 Georgia Southern Statesboro, GA L 88–105 0–2
December 6 Washington and Lee Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA L 70–83 0–3
December 7 Hampden–Sydney Farmville, VA L 79–83 0–4
December 9 N. News Apprentice Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA W 78–69 1–4
December 13 Southeastern Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA W 120–77 2–4
December 14 Pembroke State Pembroke, NC W 86–77 3–4
December 18 Bridgewater Quantico, VA W 101–84 4–4 Quantico Tournament
December 19 NYIT Quantico, VA L 81–103 4–5 Quantico Tournament
December 20 West Liberty State Quantico, VA W 106–100 (ot) 5–5 Quantico Tournament
December 21 Maryland State Quantico, VA L 69–71 5–6 Quantico Tournament
December 27 Roanoke Newport News, VA L 59–84 5–7 Fort Eustis Tournament
December 28 West Virginia State Newport News, VA W 79–73 6–7 Fort Eustis Tournament
December 29 Denison Newport News, VA W 76–69 7–7 Fort Eustis Tournament
January 7 Washington and Lee Lexington, VA L 75–80 7–8
January 9 Virginia Union Richmond, VA W 96–74 8–8
January 11 Pembroke State Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA W 72–57 9–8
January 15 High Point High Point, NC L 77–109 9–9
February 5 Old Dominion Norfolk, VA L 69–101 9–10
February 8 Southeastern Lakeland, FL W 89–60 10–10
February 12 Virginia Union Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA L 82–89 10–11
February 18 Bridgewater Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA W 95–86 11–11
February 20 Hampden–Sydney Franklin Street Gym • Richmond, VA W 101–84 12–11

Source: Men's Basketball 1968–69 Results, VCU Athetlics

1969–70

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Nov. 28
College of Charleston
Franklin Street Gym
W, 142-83
Dec. 2  Long Island Long Island, N.Y.  L, 67-72 
Dec. 4  Western Kentucky  Bowling Green, Ky.  L, 73-115 
Dec. 6  Tennesse Tech  Cookeville, Tenn.  L, 81-88 
Dec. 8  Providence  Providence, R.I.   L, 71-103
Dec. 10  Old Dominion  Franklin Street Gym  L, 82-93 
Dec. 16  Hampden-Sydney  Franklin Street Gym  W, 85-59 
Dec. 19  Atlantic Christian  Franklin Street Gym  W, 123-99 
Dec. 22  Akron  Akron, Ohio  W, 87-85 
Jan. 5   Washington & Lee  Franklin Street Gym  W, 90-83 
Jan. 10   Southeastern  Franklin Street Gym   W, 110-78 
Jan. 21  Old Dominion  Norfolk, Va.   L, 90-94 
Jan. 24   Loyola 

New Orleans, La. 

 L, 99-121 
 Feb. 4  Virginia State Franklin Street Gym  W(ot), 96-92 
Feb. 6 York Franklin Street Gym W, 96-77
Feb. 7 Virginia Union Franklin Street Gym W, 103-93
Feb. 9 Atlantic Christian Wilson, N.C. W, 111-87
Feb. 10 Pikeville Franklin Street Gym W, 106-80
Feb. 16 High Point Franklin Street Gym W, 105-77
Feb. 19 Hampden-Sydney Farmville, Va W, 87-81
Feb. 21 Ohio Franklin Street Gym L, 75-95
Feb. 23 Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. L, 78-84
Feb. 24 Washington & Lee Farmville, Va. L, 71-87

1970–71

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Dec. 1
Bradley
Peoria, Il.
L, 70-102
Dec. 2 
Butler		 Indianapolis, Ind.   L, 97-99
 Dec. 3 DePaul  Chicago, Il.  L, 77-100 
 Dec. 5  Bluefield State Franklin Street Gym  W, 105-86 
Dec. 7  Campbell  Franklin Street Gym  W, 79-78 
 Dec. 10 Western Kentucky  Bowling Green, KY  L, 71-96 
 Dec. 12 Eastern Kentucky  Richmond, KY   L, 80-107
 Dec. 19 Akron  Franklin Street Gym  W, 74-70 
 Dec. 28 Minnesota  Franklin Street Gym  W, 63-56 
 Jan. 6 Mount St. Mary's  Franklin Street Gym  W, 97-78 
 Jan. 9 UNC Wilmington  Franklin Street Gym  W, 114-66 
 Jan. 18 Haverford  Franklin Street Gym  W, 93-49 
 Jan. 22 Virginia Union  Richmond, Va.  W, 90-76 
 Jan. 25 Virginia State  Petersburg, Va.  W, 107-68 
Jan. 28 Arkansas State Jonesboro, Ark. L, 86-94
Jan. 30 LSU-New Orleans New Orleans, La. L, 96-99
Feb. 5 Southeastern Franklin Street Gym W, 116-56
Feb. 10 Old Dominion Franklin Street Gym W, 79-71
Feb. 13 York York, Pa. W, 117-89
Feb. 14 St. Francis Loretto, Pa. L, 74-80
Feb. 18 Virginia State Franklin Street Gym W, 112-74
Feb. 20 UNC Wilmington Wilmington, N.C. W, 104-75
Feb. 22 Virginia Union Franklin Street Gym W, 81-76
Feb. 27 Old Dominion Norfolk, Va. L, 85-98

1971–72

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Dec. 4
James Madison
Franklin Street Gym
W, 93-68
 Dec. 6
Wilmington		 Franklin Street Gym  W, 102-70 
 Dec. 9 Missouri  Columbia, Miss.  L, 66-73 
Dec. 11  Western Kentucky  Bowling Green, KY   L, 76-85
 Dec. 16 Baltimore  Franklin Street Gym  W, 86-76 
 Dec. 18 Glassboro State  Franklin Street Gym   W, 86-72
 Dec. 20 East Tennessee State  Richmond Coliseum  W, 84-71 
 Jan. 3 St. Francis  Richmond Coliseum  W, 109-94 
 Jan. 10 Norfolk State  Richmond Coliseum   L, 97-109
 Jan. 21 Southeastern  Franklin Street Gym  W, 103-48 
 Jan. 29 Valparaiso  Franklin Street Gym  W, 86-76 
 Jan. 31 Virginia Union  Franklin Street Gym  W, 90-85 
 Feb. 2 Mount St. Mary's  Emmitsburg, Md.   W, 96-65
 Feb. 8 Southeastern  Franklin Street Gym  W, 122-73 
Feb. 14 Virginia Union Richmond, Va. W, 109-94
Feb. 18 Fairleigh Dickinson Madison, N.J. L, 86-89 (ot)
Feb. 21 Loyola Richmond Coliseum W, 112-99
Mar. 1 Wilmington Wilmington, N.C. W, 103-80
Mar. 6 Iona Richmond Coliseum W, 93-74

1972–73

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Nov. 27
Wilmington
Franklin Street Gym
W, 94-75
Dec. 4 
East Tennessee State		 Johnson City, TN  W, 79-69 
 Dec. 5 Morehead State  Morehead, KY   L, 90-103
Dec. 9  Eastern Kentucky  Richmond, KY  L, 86-96 
 Dec. 12 Fair. Dickinson  Richmond Coliseum  W, 63-47 
 Dec. 21 E. Kentucky  Richmond Coliseum  W, 69-63 
Jan. 10  West Chester  Richmond Coliseum  W, 87-65 
Jan. 13  Wilmington  Wilmington, N.C.   W, 83-75
 Jan. 15 Norfolk State   Norfolk, Va. W, 92-91 
 Jan. 17 Canisius  Richmond Coliseum  W, 80-66 
 Jan. 20 Centenary  Shreveport, La.  L, 74-102 
 Jan. 27 N. Carolina A&T  Richmond Coliseum   W, 79-78
Jan. 30  Northern Illinois  DeKalb, Il.  L, 81-91 
Feb. 2  Virginia Union  Franklin Street Gym  L, 75-77 
Feb. 7 East Tennessee State Richmond Coliseum W, 61-50
Feb. 10 Baltimore Baltimore, Md. W, 67-61
Feb. 15 Virginia Union Richmond, Va. W, 79-76
Feb. 20 Iona New Rochelle, N.Y. W, 81-74
Feb. 24 Brooklyn Franklin Street Gym W, 115-70
Feb. 27 Southeastern Franklin Street Gym W, 121-70

1973–74

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Dec. 1
East Tennessee State
Richmond Coliseum
W, 96-55
 Dec. 4
Morehead State		 Richmond Coliseum   W, 116-85
 Dec. 8 Northern Illinois  Richmond Coliseum  W, 87-71 
Dec. 11  Middle Tennessee  Murfreesboro, TN  L, 80-102 
 Dec. 15 Canisius  Buffalo, N.Y.  L, 96-103 
 Dec. 19 Texas A&M  Richmond Coliseum  W, 72-71 
 Dec. 21 Austin Peay  Richmond Coliseum  L, 101-102 (ot) 
Dec. 26  Pacific  Stockton, Calif.  L, 75-80 
 Dec. 28 Boise State  Boise, ID  W, 87-85 
 Jan. 4 Mercer  Macon, Ga.  L, 89-90 
 Jan. 7 Austin Peay  Clarksville, TN  L, 65-81 
 Jan. 12 Cincinnati  Cincinnati, OH  L, 51-57 
 Jan. 15 Cornell  Richmond Coliseum  W, 107-64 
 Jan. 18 St. Mary's  Franklin Street Gym  W, 117-91 
Jan. 21 Centenary Richmond Coliseum W, 82-79
Jan. 27 Detroit Detroit, MI W, 77-70
Jan. 29 Buffalo State Franklin Street Gym W, 119-69
Feb. 4 UNC Asheville Franklin Street Gym W, 111-70
Feb. 8 NE Illinois Franklin Street Gym W, 98-76
Feb. 11 West Florida Franklin Street Gym W, 102-64
Feb. 16 Iona Richmond Coliseum W, 94-73
Feb. 18 Wilmington Franklin Street Gym W, 108-71
Feb. 22 Southeastern Franklin Street Gym W, 125-74
Feb. 25 Mercer Richmond Coliseum W, 110-92

1974–75

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Nov. 30
Iowa
Iowa City, IA
L, 80-95
 Dec. 2
Wilmington		 Franklin Street Gym   W, 104-96
 Dec. 5 Hardin-Simmons  Richmond Coliseum  W, 112-74 
 Dec. 7 Baylor  Waco, TX  L, 81-83 
Dec. 9   Hardin-Simmons Abilene, TX  W, 84-71 
Dec. 10  Texas A&M   College Station, TX L, 84-98 
 Dec. 17 Centenary  Richmond Coliseum  W, 76-75 
 Dec. 19 NE Louisiana  Franklin Street Gym  W, 83-75 
 Dec. 21 Buffalo  Richmond Coliseum   W, 105-73
 Dec. 28 St. Peter's - Lions-VCU Holiday Tournament  Richmond Coliseum  W, 86-68 
Dec. 29  Texas A&M - Lions-VCU Holiday Tournament  Richmond Coliseum  L, 80-84 
 Jan. 8 Baptist (S.C.)  Franklin Street Gym  W, 116-79 
 Jan. 11 Maine   Orono, ME  L, 90-91
Jan. 15  MD-Eastern Shore  Richmond Coliseum  W, 89-57 
Jan. 21 St. Mary's Franklin Street Gym W, 120-60
Jan. 25 Western Illinois Franklin Street Gym W, 99-83
Jan. 27 Centenary Shreveport, La. L, 66-73
Feb. 8 Mercer Richmond Coliseum W, 95-75
Feb. 11 Delaware State Franklin Street Gym W, 91-60
Feb. 15 Elmira Franklin Street Gym W, 113-75
Feb. 17 Md.- Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Md. W, 85-75
Feb. 22 Mercer Macon, Ga. W, 68-63
Feb. 24 Canisius Richmond Coliseum W, 86-61
Feb. 28 Detroit Richmond Coliseum L, 58-67
Mar. 3 Auburn Auburn, Ala. L, 72-117

1975–76

<tbody> </tbody>

Date
Opponent
 Location
Result
Nov. 29
Baltimore
Franklin Street Gym
W, 84-78
 Dec. 1
Wilmington		 Franklin Street Gym  W, 99-75 
 Dec. 9 Southern Illinois  Carbondale, Il.  L, 69-79 
 Dec. 13 Baylor  Richmond Coliseum   W, 68-64
 Dec. 16 Centenary  Shreveport, La.  L, 69-94 
Dec. 18  Georgia State  Atlanta, Ga.  L, 56-57 
 Dec. 20 Northeastern  Richmond Coliseum  W, 102-81 
 Dec. 29 CCNY - VCU-Holiday Tournament  Richmond Coliseum  W, 115-70 
 Dec. 30 Michigan State - VCU-Holiday Tournament  Richmond Coliseum  W, 80-75 
 Jan. 3 Memphis State  Memphis, TN  L, 72-92 
 Jan. 13 Western Illinois   Macomb, Il. W, 83-81 
 Jan. 16 MD-Eastern Shore  Richmond Coliseum  W, 92-68 
 Jan. 19 Brockport State  Franklin Street Gym  W, 102-71 
Jan. 24  North Texas State   Denton, TX L, 72-89 
Jan. 26 Oral Roberts Tulsa, OK L, 68-84
Jan. 29 Richmond Richmond, Va. L, 65-71
Jan. 31 Oklahoma City Richmond Coliseum W, 67-66
Feb. 3 Charles. Baptist Franklin Street Gym W, 120-61
Feb. 6 Maine Franklin Street Gym W, 92-82
Feb. 10 Richmond Richmond Coliseum L, 66-68
Feb. 17 Brockport State Brockport, N.Y. W, 104-99 (ot)
Feb. 18 Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. W, 97-78
Feb. 21 Delaware State Franklin Street Gym W, 105-75
Mar. 1 Centenary Richmond Coliseum L, 94-98
Mar. 4 Bentley Franklin Street Gym W, 96-56

1976–77

1977–78

1979–80

Decade totals

NBA Draft selections

3 NBA Draft Selections 
# Year Round Pick Overall Name Team Position
1 1974 2 14 32 Jesse Dark New York Knickerbockers Point guard
2 1974 4 9 63 Bernie Harris Buffalo Braves Small forward
3 1979 3 20 64 Gerald Henderson San Antonio Spurs Point guard

Notes

  1. ^ a b "1968–69 Results". Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics. VCUAthletics.com. http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/archives/196869_schedule. Retrieved December 24, 2011.