The Hunt for the Most Interesting Team in the World is the Dagger's 2009-10 countdown preview series. Check out the overriding principles here.

Last year's record: 24-10, 14-4 CAA

2009-10's toughest games: at Oklahoma, Nevada, at George Mason

Primary attraction: Eric Maynor is in the NBA. Anthony Grant is at Alabama. Can the Rams still "wreak havoc"? New head coach Shaka Smart seems to think so.

Three items of undeniable interest:

1. Oh, havoc will be wrought. (Wreaked?) On April 2, new VCU Rams head coach Shaka Smart held his introductory press conference. This was -- duh -- a big moment for Smart. After a stint as an assistant coach under Billy Donovan, Smart was getting his shot at his first head coaching gig. And he had some big, similarly-soled shoes to fill: Smart's predecessor was fellow coaching wunderkind Anthony Grant, who at 42, coached VCU to a 76-25 record in his three years at the helm, including two NCAAA tournament berths (and one very memorable upset over Duke, but let's get to that in a second). Grant bolted VCU for a chance to rebuild Alabama's program; no doubt following in Donovan's career path, he got his own SEC-flavored basketball school to loom over.

So it was left to Smart, just 32 himself, to ensure VCU fans that the program was in good hands. Not just good hands: aggressive ones. This is what he had to say:

Shaka Smart says he will build on the success already in place at Virginia Commonwealth and plans to "take this program to even greater heights." [...] Smart said his Rams will play "the most exciting style of basketball in the CAA. We are going to wreak havoc on our opponents' psyche and their plan of attack."

Yes! That is aggressive, and VCU fans -- and anyone with an interest in uptempo basketball period -- should love it. (And if you're one of Smart's players, doesn't that make you want to hit the practice court immediately? I'm pumped, and the only time I've left the couch in the last four days is to take my dog outside and smoke a cigarette. Let's do this!)

2. He's not just saying that, either. Speaking of those players, the Rams should have the horses (confusing animal metaphor!) to wreak that promised havoc. Though they lost a bonafide star in Eric Maynor, they return almost everyone else, including 6-foot-11 forward Larry Sanders, whose 18 points and 20 rebounds in last year's CAA conference tournament final marked his official breakout. Forward Jamie Skeen transferred from Wake Forest at the end of 2006-07, where he started 24 games. Point guard Darius Theus is earning early raves, and Joey Rodriguez, Maynor's right-hand man in 2008-09, returns as well. This is a team with serious talent, even after losing an NBA draft pick. Not too shabby.

3. Fitter. Happier. More efficient. There's an argument to be made that while Eric Maynor was a star, he wasn't the most efficient of players; his effective field goal percentage ranked him a mere No. 430 in the country, much lower than his go-to status would infer. And Maynor was a go-to player: He was No. 13 in the nation in percentage of possessions used, and No. 40 in percentage of shots taken. Maynor's loss will hurt, but perhaps a more balanced Rams attack means a slightly more efficient one. Or maybe not. Either way, worth watching.

Obligatory Eric Maynor heroics clip:

I've posted this bad boy before, but here it is again. Revel in it. Efficient or not, Maynor was absolutely amazing to watch. Oh, and sorry, Duke fans. (FYI, the first part of this video is cool, but the last minute or so is where the real action is.)

Related: The Hunt