The 2013 NCAA Tournament, more affectionately known as March Madness is an event that VCU fans now live for because their team is no stranger to these proceedings. The VCU Rams are seeded 5th in the South Region and just ran through, around, and over Akron University in the opening round Thursday night in Auburn Hills, Michigan. This one was never in doubt as VCU hung a 50-spot on the scoreboard enroute to a 50 – 25 halftime score, and the Rams never looked back in the 88 – 42 blowout. Rams head coach Shaka Smart was a former assistant at Akron before arriving at VCU. Both teams had won won 26 games this season, so no one expected this kind of game. Next up for VCU, the hometown favorites, the Michigan Wolverines will be next to test the Rams’ “Havoc” style of defense. A VCU victory would surprise no one in the 804, but a tall order beating Michigan in Detroit.
The opening round has not been kind to the higher-seeded teams as Georgetown, Kansas State, Wisconsin, and UCLA all bit the dust on Day One. No loss was more shocking than that of Georgetown, which lost to Florida Gulf Coast, which has been in existence for all of two years. An incredible accomplishment for an upstart program and until Friday, 99% of America had never heard of the school. The list of Virginia representatives has now shrunk to 2 after James Madison went down to top seed Indiana 83 – 62, the Dukes finish at 21 – 15 and go home with the Colonial Championship.
UVA is playing in the NIT and took care of business in their opening round game in Charlottesville against MEAC regular-season Champion Norfolk State University at JPJ Arena. Virginia, a top seed in the NIT field, defeated the Spartans 67 – 56 to advance to the 2nd round, where the Cavaliers will host St. John’s on Sunday afternoon on ESPN. The Spiders of UR enjoying their extended play in the CBI (College Basketball Invitational) Tournament, after Richmond defeated Bryant University Wednesday night in Rhode Island. UR now has a second round match-up against Wright State coming up on Monday night in Dayton, Ohio.
In the Women’s NCAA Tournament, the Lady Pirates of Hampton University won the MEAC Championship again, their fourth consecutive title, and will represent the state as they take on 2nd-seeded Duke University on Sunday afternoon..
