VCU basketball returns Monday with an almost entirely new cast. Here’s what you need to know.

Fans at the Siegel Center on Monday night might be wise to grab a program on their way in.

Of the five players who started in VCU’s last men’s basketball game, during March’s NCAA tournament, none remain on the team.

The Rams also have a new coach, who will bring a new identity, but understands that expectations won’t change — VCU was predicted to finish first place in the Atlantic 10 conference this year.

“You don't come to VCU, you don't have the support from the fans, you don't have the resources and the support from the administration to say, like, ‘All right, we'll try our best and, you know, hopefully we finish eighth,’” new coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “That’s not what this is built on.”

Martelli arrives after a successful stint at Bryant University, and is the son of legendary NCAA coach Phil Martelli Sr., who will take an untitled but supporting role with this year’s team.

Here’s what to watch for as another season begins on Broad Street:

New roster features top talent

New rules allow colleges to share their athletic revenues with the players directly, and VCU committed $4-5 million to this year’s team. Colleges aren’t required to share player payment information, but that number likely puts VCU just below the top power conference schools.

One of this year’s stars could be Jadrian Tracy, who transferred from Oregon. While Tracy’s earnings are guaranteed, his opportunity to play is not — Martelli told players they would have to earn their spot on the roster, no matter how talented they have been in the past.

“I’d much rather earn it, rather than have anything be promised to me,” he said. “I just prayed about it, and I thought this would be the best decision for me.”

Figuring out the starting five could be a tough task for Martelli. College basketball teams traditionally use eight or nine players over the course of a game. Martelli has 13 on his team, and there are probably 11 who joined the roster expecting to win some of those minutes.

“There's a lot of guys that can play,” the coach said. “To be honest with you, is it's hard to play 13 guys. We have 13 guys that can play. There are going to be guys that don't play, and that doesn't mean they can't play.”

He described it as a problem, but a good one to have.

Martelli also said that while VCU’s resources allowed it to be competitive for top talent, that didn’t necessarily mean taking the best players available.

“We passed on guys this this spring that were super talented and if we got him, people would've been saying like, ‘Man, I can't believe you got that guy,’” the coach said. “But when we dug in and did the homework it’s like, ‘He's just about him.’ Like, he's not about winning. 

“And at the end of the day winning is what matters, right? We need to go win.”

Eyes on A-10 this season

Last season VCU was the only team in its conference to make the NCAA tournament, a disappointing showing for the conference at large.

This year multiple teams enter with legitimate tourney aspirations, including Saint Louis, Dayton and George Washington. Their success will be crucial to allowing VCU to weather potential speed bumps along the way.

Shooting sluggish in preseason

It’s hard to read too much into college basketball’s preseason, but the shooting numbers weren’t where the Rams would have preferred them in the team’s two exhibition games, as well as the intra-squad Black and Gold Game.

Getting off to a quick start will be important with tough games on tap, including a matchup against N.C. State and coach Will Wade, who was previously at VCU.

“I'm grateful for Will,” Martelli said. “He didn't have to do that. As a new coach in the ACC, he did not have to say yes to playing us. He did.”

A mystery opponent

Monday night’s game will be against Wagner College, which has experienced a turbulent offseason.

Head coach Donald Copeland was reportedly suspended pending an investigation into allegations that he mistreated players.

The school put out a statement indicating that assistant coach Dwan McMillan will lead the team on Monday, and will have the title of Interim Head Coach, but Copeland remains the Head Coach, at least in title.

The school has not officially confirmed Copeland’s suspension, which has been widely reported by other outlets, including the Staten Island Advance and New York Post.

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org. VCU is a sponsor of The Richmonder, but did not influence or review this story.