A Smart New Era: Tonight's game is the first regular-season game for new head coach Shaka Smart. Smart is the 10th head coach in the history of the program. The Madison, Wisc., native comes to the Black & Gold after time at Florida, Clemson, Akron,  Dayton and California University (Pa.). He takes over for Anthony Grant, who departed to take the head coaching gig at the University of Alabama.

Friday the 13th:  Tonight's contest is only the third time in school history that the Black & Gold have played on the "dreaded" Friday the 13th. The first came in the first year as VCU in 1968-69 when the Rams pounded Southeastern, 120-77, on Friday, December 13th, 1968. 24 years later, VCU took on Louisville in the first round of the Metro Conference Tournament on Friday, March 13th, 1992. The Rams won that game as well, 74-65.

Rams Minus Maynor:  For three years now, the Rams have followed the lead of star point guard Eric Maynor. Friday night will be the first game in the "post-Maynor" era. The Raeford, N.C., native finished his VCU career with a school record 1,953 points and 674 assists. He became the first-ever Black & Gold player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft when the Utah Jazz selected him with the 20th overall pick.

Home Openers: VCU has had plenty of success in home openers, winning six straight entering the 2009-10 campaign. The last time the Rams lost a home opener was in 2002-03 when Wagner topped the Black & Gold, 80-72. Tonight's game will be the second time in three seasons that VCU has hosted a MEAC school in their home opener. The other came in 2007-08 when the Seahawks of UM-Eastern Shore visited Richmond and VCU came away a 78-51 victory.

Future Rams:  Wednesday, the 11th, was National Signing Day and Smart and his staff landed two outstanding recruits with the signings of forward Reco McCarter (Goldsboro, N.C./Wayne Country Day) and guard Rob Brandenburg (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln).

Ain't Kids No More: With Maynor gone, the junior class wants to show Rams fans they are willing to step up and shoulder some of the load and they used the exhibition contest against Virginia Union to display that. Larry Sanders, Brandon Rozzell and Joey Rodriguez combined for 47 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and six blocks in the 85-55 victory.