Interesting Facts: VCU & the NCAA Tournament

DCRAM

DCRAM

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- We have 9 total NCAA appearances
- We are tied with ODU as having the most appearances out of any current CAA team in the Big Dance
-Our first ever appearance was in 1980. We lost to Iowa in the first round by 14.
- We have the most wins in the NCAA tournament over anyone else in our conference. Currently at 5.
- W&M is the only team in our conference with no NCAA appearances. Heck even GSU and Towson have two a piece
- We have lost 3 games in the tournament by 1 point. A 4th game if you count 2 points.
- We have played more SEC teams in the tournament then any other conference. Currently 4, all losses. Miss State, Alabama, Georgia, & Tenn.
- Out of the BCS leagues, we have yet to play anyone from the Big 12 in the tournament
- Our largest lost came from Syracuse by 15 points in the second round
- Our largest won came from Long Island by 16 points in the first round

Enjoy!
 
VCU has the edge on ODU in that the Rams are 5-9 in the NCAA's, while the Monarchs are 2-9.

However, to ODU's credit, the Monarchs twice made the NCAA Division 2 Final Two - losing to host Evansville in the finals in 1971, and winning it all in 1975 with a title-game decision over New Orleans (also in Evansville).

Consider, the NCAA D-1 field (called "University Division") was just 24 teams until 1975, before expanding to 32.

The upper tier of D-2 (then called "College Division") until the 1980s was easily the equivalent of what Division I "mid major" is today.

The ODU "College Division" teams of the late '60's and early '70's were just as good as the Division I teams of more recent vintage. That is not meant as a dig toward the current program but rather a tribute to a list of old-timers including Wilson Washington, Dave Twardzik, Harry Lozon, Oliver Purnell, Joel Copeland, Buttons Speakes and Dick St. Clair, all coached by Sonny Allen.

During the Paul Webb coaching era, ODU joined Division I about five years after VCU made the move during the Chuck Noe coaching regime. I believe VCU's first season as a full-fledged D-1 member was 73-74. Prior to that, the Rams were a nondescript NAIA independent.

To my knowledge, VCU/RPI was never eligible for the NCAA D-2 tournament.
 
Hey, great history lessons on VCU basketball. And accurate, too! Thanks.
 
DCRAM said:
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- Out of the BCS leagues, we have yet to play anyone from the Big 12 in the tournament

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

God, I would love to play Texas in the tournament. Only team other than VCU that I root for, and have since age ten or so. It would be a dream come true! I'd have to make a hybrid shirt tho, or maybe just wear a UT shirt and a gold mop-top 'fro :lol: Maybe I just love teams with horned mascots?

P.S. by the way, what's up with the HUMONGOUS ram horns outside the student commons now?
 
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