The Official Beat the Saint Mary's Gaels in Albany in the NCAA Tournament Thread

[Ramdog]

Was not a fan of Albany.
Watching VCU in the Big Dance is always a fun experience.
When Ace went out you know we were going to be in trouble…such a dynamic player that opens up the floor for everything we do.

 

[Yosi Ram]

Just got back from Albany and catching up on the threads.
A few observations:
1) I heard many fans from different schools question why we are having an NCAA regional game at MVP in Albany. I agree. Outdated arena. Not to offend anyone from Albany, but checked that place off my list of places I never planned to visit.
2) There should have been more VCU fans at the game. 7 1/2 hour drive? St Marys fans seemed to outnumber us. They took up the whole area behind the St Marys bench. If you didn't like the crowd support and you didn't come, come next time. If you didn't like the crowd support, and you came, bring more friends next time.
3) The St Mary's players looked like physical specimens. They were jacked. Most weren't taller, but looked liked they owned the weight room. Playing the pack line, it made a difference.
4) We need to remember we have a young team. Other than Johns, our bigs are Fr, Fr, So. We have great potential but bigs take time to develop. Maybe another transfer portal find will help...Hey you guys...may need to throw money at some NIL cash...
5) We need to learn to rebound better and shoot better from the free throw line.
6) When Ace went down...it noticeably sucked the life out of us. I caught myself looking at the sidelines for Ace instead of watching the game. I can't imagine it didn't affect the team. How much does he mean to the team? Look at the start of our season.
7) As I was driving back home and reflecting...I thought...do I really want to do this again??? The time, the expense, the trouble...Heck yeah I do!!! I went, they lost, I went home... But I would not want to miss the opportunity to be there when they win....
8) What a great year. Can the ending be better? Yes. But what a great story. What a fun team to watch. Can't wait for next year!!!

Agree on almost everything. We were surprisingly outnumbered.

Also--i like they visit some midsized cities like Albany etc. instead of having it in NYC/DC/PHL every year. It's also been in Hartford, Providence that have similar quality arenas. It's a college basketball game--prefer a cozy intimate experience to a place with suites galore.

 

[longlivekingshaka]

It's definitely notable and concerning, but is it any wonder that we were out numbered in Albany New York when videos from the "team send-off" in Richmond appeared to show about 30-50 people tops coming out to send the team off? At a school that, just in students alone, has 30,000 plus people. That was a little disappointing as well and set a less than stellar tone.

 

[BGDragoon80]

It's definitely notable and concerning, but is it any wonder that we were out numbered in Albany New York when videos from the "team send-off" in Richmond appeared to show about 30-50 people tops coming out to send the team off? At a school that, just in students alone, has 30,000 plus people. That was a little disappointing as well and set a less than stellar tone.

Students were on spring break??

 

[RowdyPkunk]

It's definitely notable and concerning, but is it any wonder that we were out numbered in Albany New York when videos from the "team send-off" in Richmond appeared to show about 30-50 people tops coming out to send the team off? At a school that, just in students alone, has 30,000 plus people. That was a little disappointing as well and set a less than stellar tone.

Now I can't speak for the Students.... and why they didn't show.... but as far as a lot of ticket holders & fans.... Most of us were at work. Myself included.

Now, normally I woulda been there, as my job is fairly lenient & if I "need to" go somewhere I can... but that day we were short staffed at work & I was the only one in the office for most of the day.

And I'm sure others were in the same boat as me and not able to go out there at 12 pm in the middle of the week for a send off.

 

[HBK]

Does anyone know if the A10 still splits NCAA money 75-25, with the larger portion going to the school who earns it? (It may have been 2/3-1/3, I can’t recall.)

 

[ssvcu90]

Does anyone know if the A10 still splits NCAA money 75-25, with the larger portion going to the school who earns it? (It may have been 2/3-1/3, I can’t recall.)

Good question. I do not know how that works.

 

[Mistachill]

Does anyone know if the A10 still splits NCAA money 75-25, with the larger portion going to the school who earns it? (It may have been 2/3-1/3, I can’t recall.)

Financial impact of NCAA tournament coveted by VCU, A-10

From NCAA units to enrollment boosts, season ticket sales and corporate sponsorship, the monetary of impact of VCU qualifying for and winning games at the NCAA tournament is tough to understate.

richmond.com

Hopefully you can access it. The Times Dispatch still believes their content is worth paying for. Not sure it directly answers your question.

 

[SteveMM]

Students were on spring break??

They were not. Spring break was the previous week.

 

[HBK]

Financial impact of NCAA tournament coveted by VCU, A-10

From NCAA units to enrollment boosts, season ticket sales and corporate sponsorship, the monetary of impact of VCU qualifying for and winning games at the NCAA tournament is tough to understate.

richmond.com

Hopefully you can access it. The Times Dispatch still believes their content is worth paying for. Not sure it directly answers your question.

I actually did read this article when it came out earlier in the week. It did not address my question. It only talked about the A10 getting a unit for each game played, which is about $300,000 per year for six years.

I'll reach out to Ed this week and ask him. If it is 75-25, then that is a cool $225,000 (approximately) for VCU every year for the next six years.

 

[VCU Finance 2008]

Does anyone know if the A10 still splits NCAA money 75-25, with the larger portion going to the school who earns it? (It may have been 2/3-1/3, I can’t recall.)

As far as I know yes. The A10 does keep a portion of that for operating expenses I believe. Maybe 10%?

 

[rams3fan]

This is a fair take overall and so not to pick on you but if it's "a clash of styles," but the deciding outcome was talent, then was it really a clash of styles? Or did we just get beat in basketball, by a team that's better at basketball?

My point is, sometimes we focus too much on "styles" and "matchups" and not enough on, who is better at putting a ball in a cup more times than not over 40 minutes? Is VCU better at basketball than the other team at doing that?

This wasn't a style failure. This was a talent failure.

I get what you're saying, but sometimes the ball just doesn't go in. Did you rush your shot a little bit?? who knows?
I'd take J Nunn over their superstar freshman (0 pts, 4 fouls) and Ace over Logan (most of his 12 points came after Ace left the game) any day of the week/year etc. Couple of their wings just got "lucky"? hot. We could survive their big having 17 pts.

 

[Ramdog]

I get what you're saying, but sometimes the ball just doesn't go in. Did you rush your shot a little bit?? who knows?
I'd take J Nunn over their superstar freshman (0 pts, 4 fouls) and Ace over Logan (most of his 12 points came after Ace left the game) any day of the week/year etc. Couple of their wings just got "lucky"? hot. We could survive their big having 17 pts.

Rebounding was the difference

 

[share the ball]

Does anyone know if the A10 still splits NCAA money 75-25, with the larger portion going to the school who earns it? (It may have been 2/3-1/3, I can’t recall.)

I wrote Bernadette our commissioner a year ago and asked her how the revenues were split and she never responded (not a surprise - they seem to want to keep things secretive)

 

[VCU85]

Rebounding was the difference

Fouls were the difference in my opinion, they always are for VCU as the depth at the big man spot is just never there. I'd also say VCU missed a boat load of inside shots they were hitting just a week ago. Just make those, and it's a different game.