A Virginia Commonwealth University basketball season featuring many highlights ended with a hurtful thud.

Finishing 22-10, the Rams were eliminated from the National Invitational Tournament last Saturday with an 80-74 loss in the tournament’s second round to Wake Forest University. VCU defeated visiting Princeton University 90-79 in the first round.

Following an eight-game winning streak, VCU Coach Mike Rhoades’ squad lost three of its last four games—at St. Louis University in the regular season finale; against the University of Richmond in the quarterfinals of Atlantic 10 Tournament; and against Wake Forest, with the Princeton win wedged in.

So what does the future hold for the VCU black and gold?

Seniors? There is a reason for the question mark.

Seniors Vince Williams (27 points against Wake Forest) and DeShawn Curry would be eligible to return next year if they so decided. The NCAA awarded all athletes an extra season of eligibility because of the COVID-shortened 2019- 20 season. Departing will be sometimes starter and graduate student Levi Stockard.

Who’s coming? Ram Nation is excited about incoming freshmen Alphonzo Billups and Christian Fermin.

The 6-foot-7 Billups led Varina High School to the State Class 4 title. Fermin, 6-foot-10, hails from Pocono Summit, Penn.

Expected to rejoin the team next season are 6-foot-8 Jamir Watkins and 6-foot-4 Jarren McAllister, who sat out this year with injuries.

A class with class: This eason’s freshman class dazzled at times with Jayden Nunn (18 points against Wake Forest) and Jalen DeLoach (seven points and eight rebounds against Wake Forest).

Surprises: The player-friendly Transfer Portal leads to a revolving door of comings and goings. Players no longer have to sit out a season after transferring for the first time. You just never know these days. Already, 6-foot-9 sophomore Mikeal Brown-Jones has announced he is entering the portal. The Philadelphian averaged four points and 2.6 rebounds for the Rams, while logging 10.8 minutes per contest.

New York, N.Y.: The Rams will play Nov. 16 and 17 in the Legends Classic at BarclaysArena in Brooklyn, N.Y. Other teams playing in the Classic are University of Michigan, Arizona State University and the University of Pittsburgh, coached by former Rams Coach Jeff Capel III.

Coaching report card: The Rams are now 101-53 in five seasons overall under Coach Rhoades, including 57-28 in the A-10. VCU has been 41-17 the past two years, but fell short in the postseason.

Notable victories were at Vanderbilt University and on a neutral floor against Syracuse University. Another early season triumph came over NCAA Cinderella darling St. Peter’s University of New Jersey. Plus, VCU twice defeated A-10 Tournament champ the University of Richmond. VCU’s last NCAA Tournament victory was in 2016 over Oregon State University.