Overtime loss a sour start to key weekend for VCU hoops

Jack Clark, seen here in the series opener, made one of his seven 3-point attempts on Thursday night. (Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

College basketball fame is earned during March Madness.

But getting invited to that tournament is best done in late November.

Thursday night in Charleston, VCU lost 69-66 in overtime to Seton Hall to fall into the loser's bracket at the Charleston Classic. The causes for the loss don't require a Ph.D. in basketball: The Rams got sped up and missed all five of their 3-point shots in overtime after going ice-cold in the final 4 minutes of regulation.

VCU was an undefeated 4-0 entering the game, so no one loss is fatal, but this one will have some tough implications down the road.

One of the main factors in getting an NCAA tournament bid is a team's NET rating, which heavily weights quality of competition faced.

It's tough for teams like VCU to schedule quality opponents, who have no interest in visiting the Siegel Center. One of the few reliable paths is through MTEs, or multi-team events, like the Charleston Classic, where top teams all congregate at one neutral site.

The good news is that the Rams still have two more opportunities to right the ship, starting Friday night against Nevada. (Miami also fell to the loser's bracket, which would be a quality third game if things broke right on Friday.)

Wins in the final two games would likely put VCU back on a tournament trajectory, but the safety net is gone.

Last season, the Rams went to a similar event in Orlando and lost their first two games before winning the third. Combined with some bad non-conference losses, it was a hole they couldn't climb out of once Atlantic 10 play began.

This year's team has a high ceiling, but is aiming to avoid a similar fate.

Getting steadier production out of emotionally charged guard Phillip Russell and Joe Bamisile will be the top priority. Russell fouled out having scored just three points, while Bamisile missed his first seven 3-point attempts.

Jack Clark (1-for-7) and Max Shulga (0-for-5) also struggled behind the arc for a team that will build its identity around 3-point shooting.

One bright spot for the Rams was the return of Zeb Jackson far ahead of schedule after breaking a bone in his hand. Coach Ryan Odom noted that other VCU players have returned quickly from similar injuries, calling VCU Health Dr. Ilvy Cotterell "one of the best hand doctors in America."

Jackson provided poise against a tough Seton Hall defense, and will be leaned on again Friday if VCU is going to get back on a winning track in Charleston.