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We continue our season preview coverage with VCU SR SF Issac Vann. The Rams finished last season as 1 of the hottest teams in the country: after losing at Rhode Island in late-January they reeled off 12 straight wins to earn a regular season title before a 5-PT loss to the other Rams in the A-10 tourney and then a loss to UCF in the NCAA tourney. Almost every single player on last year’s roster is back as they try to extend the school’s winning streak to 21 seasons in a row (dating back to 2000). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Issac about making the NCAA tourney and celebrating his birthday.
You began your college career at Maine, where you averaged a team-high 16.4 PPG and were named to the America East All-Rookie team in 2016: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? They basically gave me the green light and I had the confidence of the coach. I put in the work and the result showed even though we did not have the kind of season that we wanted.
Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose VCU? I just wanted to play at a higher level. Coach Rasheen Davis was at VCU and had recruited me back when I was in high school so the connection was already there.
You play for Coach Mike Rhoades: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is very family-oriented and brings a lot of energy every day. I learned that you have to go out there every day and go to work no matter how your body feels.
Last November you had 30 PTS/11 REB/5 AST in a 1-PT loss to St. John’s: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? I would say top-3.
You finished the season with the 3rd-most PTS and 2nd-most STL on the team: how do you balance your offense with your defense? I just try to be a 2-way player. I am up to the challenge of guarding the best player on the opposing team and can also score.
In the 2019 NCAA tourney you scored 9 PTS in a loss to UCF: what did you learn from that game that will help you this year? You have to lock in on the small details. It is hard to prepare for a team that you have not faced before so I will focus on the little things in the scouting report this year.
Your non-conference schedule includes games against LSU/Purdue and 1 of Florida State/Tennessee: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? If I had to pick 1 I would probably say Purdue. They lost a lot of talent but have a great coaching staff so I do not think there will not be much of a drop-off.
You are 1 of 5 seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success? Very crucial. We have been through pretty much everything and are probably 1 of the oldest teams in the country. You see a lot of 1-and-done players on some teams but our experience will be pretty good.
You turned 24 last month: what did you do for the big day? Not much: we had practice.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We would like to win an A-10 championship and make it back to the NCAA tourney. I want to be named conference POY and do whatever I can to help my team win.