Richmond is center of NCAA hoops

Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va.

Rally over here, rally over there, rallies planned all around Richmond as the city embraces having two teams advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.

Take a bow Richmond and VCU.

The Spiders and Rams have made Richmond the first city since Los Angeles in 2007 to send two teams to the round of 16 in the same year. And Richmond also boosts the same number of teams left in the tournament as the Big East.

Both teams departed today to San Antonio and Richmond’s own canal walk was the site of a community pep rally. The celebration was highlighted by the unfurling of a huge banner showing television commentator Dick Vitale preparing to eat crow.

Vitale and other basketball experts lambasted the NCAA selection committee for including VCU in the field ahead of other teams they deemed more worthy.

In response, the Rams have gone on an impressive NCAA tournament run, beating three schools from power conferences by an average of better than 16 points. VCU plays Florida State on Friday night, after Richmond takes on Kansas.

The atmosphere at VCU is much different than it was a few weeks ago, after the Rams lost five of eight games in February, seemingly dashing their NCAA tournament hopes. When they failed to win the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, fans wished them luck in the NIT.

“It’s been crazy, everybody beeping their horns and people congratulating you and stuff,” point guard Joey Rodriguez said after he returned to campus from the Rams’ stunningly dominant victories in Chicago.

In the annual meeting of the teams, the Spiders rolled on their home court, 72-60. They led by as many as 30 and ended a 6-year losing streak to the Rams. But that was on Dec. 11.

If they meet again this weekend, the winner would advance to the Final Four.

“It’s really interesting to be a city that has two schools not only in the Sweet 16 of the same tournament, but in the same region,” Richmond forward and city native Justin Harper said. “We could potentially end up playing each other down the road if we both continue to take care of business. I think it’s pretty cool.”