Utah State Men’s Basketball Improves Schedule Strength With VCU Rams
Aug 8, 2025, 7:36 PM
Utah State will face the VCU Rams in an early November non-conference matchup. (USU Athletics, Keffrey Stellway)
(USU Athletics, Keffrey Stellway)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball head coach Jerrod Calhoun has not been shy in his pursuit of a more challenging non-conference schedule for the Aggies if they intend to be a legitimate threat come March.
Calhoun and the Aggies took another step toward that goal on Thursday, August 8, when the G-League’s Texas Legends announced they will host a matchup between Utah State and the VCU Rams.
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We're heading to the Lone Star State this November! 🤠
𝐔𝐭𝐚𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐔 – 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕 – 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨, 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/z8wc3t93zr
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) August 7, 2025
The game will be played at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, on November 7, 2025. Tip-off has not been announced.
This will be the second-ever matchup between the two programs. VCU handed the Aggies an 85-69 loss in 2020. Neemias Queta led Utah State with 17 points, ten rebounds, and a block. Justin Bean added 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the loss.
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About the VCU Rams
The Rams program may seem a little extra familiar for many USU fans after two former Aggies spent the past two seasons in Richmond, Virginia.
Former Aggie Max Shulga started 72 games with VCU after beginning his career at Utah State. Shulga exploded for 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and four assists as a junior with the Aggies in 2022-23 before joining former USU head coach Ryan Odom at VCU.
Odom was named the next head coach at the University of Virginia following the 2024-25 season. He was 52-21 overall and 26-10 in conference across two seasons with the school.
Phil Martelli Jr., the son of longtime Saint Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli, was hired to replace Odom.
Put on a show for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲!
🎟️➡️ https://t.co/Yz2Q5X1sPx pic.twitter.com/TUJbWMdxyM
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) July 30, 2025
VCU moved from the Colonial Athletic Conference to the Atlantic 10 Conference before the 2012-13 season. The program has four conference regular-season titles in that time, including two of the past three. The Rams won the A-10 tournament championship in 2023 and 2025.
VCU returns two players, sophomore guard Brandon Jennings and redshirt junior forward Obinnaya Okafor, from a team that went 28-7 last season.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
