In an attempt to foster more in-state games between mid-major Virginia schools and others, eight such schools will participate in a state-wide event at the Richmond Coliseum in 2012 and 2013, according to Dave Teel of the Daily Press. The eight schools will be Virginia Tech, Virginia, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion, Richmond, Hampton and James Madison. An announcement by governor Bob McDonnell will be made Wednesday.
Teel reports that the event will be a doubleheader, with four schools playing each year. The 2012 doubleheader will have Richmond facing George Mason and Virgina squaring off against Old Dominion. The 2013 games will feature James Madison vs. Hampton and Virginia Tech vs. VCU.
Several notable Virginia schools have been left out, including William & Mary, Radford, Norfolk State, VMI and Liberty. It remains unclear if they will be included in future editions or if it will just be the eight previous schools listed.