The Virginia Commonwealth Rams were a surprise addition to the 2011 NCAA Tournament field, and now we know when they will play their opening-round game. The NCAA Tournament schedule is now out, and VCU will play USC in a play-in game on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. on TruTV. The winner will face No. 6 seed Georgetown on Friday at 9:50 p.m. on TNT. Gus Johnson and Len Elmore will be the announcers on Wednesday.
The Rams made the NCAA field after reaching the finals of the CAA Tournament title game, losing to Old Dominion. Many felt they did not deserve to make the field, but the Rams are a tough out. Their opponent, USC, is also a somewhat surprising at-large choice. The Trojans finished fourth in a mediocre Pac-10 and had their coach suspended in the Pac-10 Tournament.
Nevertheless, the two teams are in, and they will do battle in the final of four play-in games.