VCU Keeps on Going

Virginia Commonwealth University shouldn’t have made the NCAA tournament. An ugly 23-11 record, along with a 49 RPI rank and 85th ranked strength of schedule isn’t impressive enough to warrant an at-large bid to the biggest tournament in college basketball. Hell it hardly warrants a one seed in the NIT. But it didn’t matter, everybody knew the Rams would lose to USC in the First Four and it would be over.

But they didn’t.

But then everybody knew they’d lose to Georgetown and it would be over.

But they didn’t.

And then everybody and their grandmas knew they’d lose to Purdue.

But they didn’t.

Certainly they’ll lose to Florida State.

And they didn’t.

But then it really didn’t matter because EVERYBODY knew they’d lose to Kansas. They’d finish their magical run in the Elite 8 and live as a wonderful story in the history of college basketball. The Morris twins were simply too big for the Rams who had to be too physically, mentally and emotionally spent to win another game.

Instead? The Rams cut down the nets in San Antonio and start booking their flights to Houston after a 71-61 victory of the Jayhawks.

Yes, you read that right. The Virginia Commonwealth Rams will be in the Final 4.


In what has to be the most Cinderella of all runs to the Final 4 (narrowly beating George Mason in 2006 and Butler last year), the Rams have shocked powerhouse after powerhouse to clinch an opportunity to play for a National Championship.

The Rams were given the best possible bulletin board material every game. NOBODY thought they could win. Analysts continued to pick them to lose, thinking the slipper had to fall off sooner or later. But the slipper is the difference between the analysts and the Rams. To the Rams, there is no Cinderella story or glass slipper. They believe they should be winning these games. It doesn’t matter that they’re considered a mid-major. It doesn’t matter that they have made only one Sweet 16 appearance or gotten respect nationally.

It doesn’t matter because the Rams know they can play.

A team that lives and dies with the three-point shot, VCU is able to shoot from all five positions and spread the floor every possession. If the Rams lived by the shot, the Jayhawks certainly died by it. Shooting only 2-21 from behind the arc, the Jayhawks simply didn’t make the shots to win an exhibition game, let alone an Elite 8 game.

The Rams have won each of their games by an average of 12 points. 12! That’s incredible! It would be amazing for the Rams to have a lead of 12 at any time, let alone winning by that much. But led by 33-year-old Shaka Smart, who certainly will be leaving for a much bigger paycheck after the tournament, the Rams have instilled a belief in their locker room that they can beat anybody, any day.

On Selection Sunday, between the countless “experts” telling the Rams how much they didn’t deserve to be in the tournament, senior guard Joey Rodriguez tweeted “Ready to shock the world”. And right now, that’s exactly what the Rams are doing, shocking the world.