VCU: If The Shoe Fits Wear It
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 9:55AM Joe Simmons 
Every year there is a Cinderella who gets invited to the dance and is expected to get sent home right away feeling pretty good about being invited to the big party! This year, Cinderella came to the party with a couple of overnight bags and intentions of sticking around for a little while. This year four double digit seeds have made it to the round of sixteen. Although most don’t realize it, every Cinderella story isn’t the same. See usually Cinderella hangs around, but barely getting by. Cinderella usually finds a way to win a game or two by miraculous fashion or even with some timely luck. Never has Cinderella dominated the way that Virginia Commonwealth has dominated in this years NCAA tournament.
VCU was a fourth place team in the CAA conference and they were a surprise pick by the selection committee. On selection Sunday, the ESPN juggernauts all pegged the selection committee for giving VCU the seed that everyone expected Virginia Tech to get. It appears the selection committee knew more than the crew that ESPN had put together to critique them. VCU’s was forced to earn its way by playing in one of the First Four play in games. What resulted was a swift and brutal beating of USC. The Georgetown Hoyas followed on Friday and the Rams pummeled the Big East outfit. Then Purdue, a #3 seed, and one with an impressive defensive resume, looked like a safe bet to end VCU’s season. Instead the Rams made it three dominant performances out of three with a 94-76 win.
The other double digit seeds to make it through the weekend were the Richmond Spiders who laid the smack down on the Morehead State team that had just shocked the world a few days earlier defeating Louisville. Then we have the Florida State Seminoles who were seeded #10 and has done nothing but look great in this tournament. Marquette brings the total to four double digit seeds in the sweet 16. While I think it’s great there are some who are disappointed.
VCU and Florida State play each other and will assure that Cinderella will make it to the elite 8. However the story will not be as big if Florida State finds a way to advance. Either way it’s great that VCU was invited to the dance and decided to stay. Keep them shoes moving Cinderella, because if you can repeat what you did this past weekend then your prince may be closer than you think!
Stay Breezy ~ I’m Out!
Reader Comments (2)
I think that everybody have really underestimated VCU for the past decade. First Jeff Capel, Then Anthony Grant, and now Shaka Smart. VCU should be feared more than anything.
What VCU is doing is nothing short of spectacular. Maybe one day one Cinderella will finally get to wear the slipper.