Virginia Commonwealth University didn’t have Bones Hyland this season, but the Rams have Vince Williams & Co., and that was plenty.

A 6-foot-6 senior from Toledo, Ohio, Williams has been the backbone of a “Bones-less” Rams outfit that will play this weekend in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

While Hyland was an electrifying performer, the team’s win-loss record hasn’t suffered in his absence.

The Rams, 21-8 overall and 14-4 in the A-10, will be the second seed when the team opens the tournament with a quarterfinal matchup at 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 11, likely against the University of Richmond. The Spiders faced a play-in game on Wednesday.

The Rams defeated UR twice during the regular season.

The A-10 semifinals are Saturday, March 12, and the championship game Sunday, March 13, with the winner advancing automatically to the NCAA Big Dance. A second or third place A-10 club also could go to the NCAA as an at-large entry.

Some background: The Rams were 19-7 overall and 10-4 in the A-10 a year ago, with Hyland earning Player of the Year honors and going to the NBA as the Denver Nuggets’ first round draft pick. Hyland left VCU with three seasons of eligibility remaining.

The Rams lost the 2021 regular season title and tournament crowns to St. Bonaventure University. VCU was selected to the NCAA field but was unable to play due to a positive COVID-19 test.

This season, Davidson College is the regular season champ and top seed. The Rams split with the Wildcats this season. The only other losses were at St. Bonaventure, at home against the University of Dayton and at St. Louis University in the finale.

Williams, despite some nagging injuries, has been the catalyst for Coach Mike Rhoades’ squad. Flexing his muscles all over the floor, Williams averages 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds.

The left-hander is hitting 38 percent from behind the arc and 80 percent at the foul line, while also contributing 83 assists, 43 steals and 30 blocked shots.

He belongs in the conversation for A-10 Player of the Year and will surely play professionally in the future.

After missing the first seven games with an injury, VCU point guard Ace Baldwin has been a spark plug. The sophomore from Baltimore averages 11.1 points while leading the team in assists with 116 and in steals with 60.

Jayden Nunn, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Flint, Mich., averages 8.3 points and is a candidate for the All-Rookie Team.

Defensively, VCU has been stingy, holding opponents to 60.8 points per game, 39 percent shooting overall and 27 percent from 3-point range.

Despite a season-ending loss at St. Louis University and snapping an eight-game winning streak, the Rams have shined away from home. VCU is 9-2 in true road games and also defeated Syracuse University on a neutral floor.

That bodes well for this weekend. VCU has easily the best traveling fan base in the A-10. Washington, D.C., is practically a home game for a “Rowdy Rams” cheering section willing to go anywhere.

The VCU Rams might be dubbed USA Rams. The roster includes players from New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri and South Carolina.

The lone Virginian on the team is walk-on guard Arnold Henderson VI from Richmond’s St. Christopher’s School.