VCU wary of new-look Boston College entering Veterans Classic

Boston College has wasted little time embracing its new look.

Four transfers and three freshmen joined the program this season, and those newcomers will attempt to keep building chemistry when the Eagles face VCU on Friday night as part of the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md.

"It was really free agency," Eagles coach Earl Grant said. "Players moving and players leaving your program and entering your program without a lot of restriction, without a lot of penalty."

Despite having a revamped roster, Boston College (1-0) leaned on returning guard Donald Hand Jr. in its season opener, a 69-60 win over The Citadel on Monday. Hand finished with team highs in points (22) and rebounds (10), but St. Bonaventure transfer Chad Venning also stepped up for the Eagles.

Venning supplied 15 points, five boards and a pair of steals, and he already feels like Boston College is clicking.

"Definitely felt great," Venning said. "We go neck-and-neck in practice. We really go after each other, so that chemistry is definitely there."

Rams coach Ryan Odom realizes that keeping Hand and Venning in check won't be easy.

"Donald Hand's a great player. He played kind of off the bench last year for the guys that played some meaningful minutes, but now he's stepping into a more primary role for them. ... He's capable of doing that," Odom said. "Venning, certainly inside, is a dynamite player as we know."

VCU (1-0) pummeled Bellarmine 84-65 on Monday behind a balanced attack, with Max Shulga (19 points), Joe Bamisile (18), Phillip Russell (16) and Jack Clark (11) all scoring in double figures. Shulga and Russell combined to knock down nine of the Rams' 15 3-pointers.

Friday marks the second all-time meeting between Boston College and VCU. The Rams beat the Eagles 69-50 back on Dec. 28, 2013, in New York.

After Boston College and VCU collide, Navy and Harvard will square off to cap the Veterans Classic.

--Field Level Media