SB Nation DC - VCU Shocks Kansas, Advances To 2011 Final Fourhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-03-29T11:45:05-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18357442011-03-29T11:45:05-04:002011-03-29T11:45:05-04:00VCU's Final Four Run Leads To Selling Of 'There Goes My Bracket' T-Shirts
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<p>As you'd probably guess,<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/sbnation/status/52148018962632705"> very few people predicted</a> that VCU would make it to the 2011 Final Four. Yet VCU did it anyway, completing a stunning run through the Southwest region of the NCAA bracket. Therefore, it only makes sense for the school to capitalize on the team's success.</p>
<p>The athletic department has chosen to capitalize by<a href="http://shop.vcuathletics.com/COLLEGE_VCU_Rams/VCU_Rams_There_Goes_My_Bracket_T-shirt_-_Black"> selling this T-shirt</a>. It reads "There Goes My Bracket," and there's an image of a crumpled piece of paper that is supposed to signify a printable bracket gone wrong. Here's how the website describes the shirt:<br></p>
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<p>Brag about the Rams' serious bracket-busting skills when you celebrate their unpredicted appearance among the unstoppable Final Four teams of the 2011 Men's Basketball Tournament with this clever There Goes My Bracket tee. It features a crumpled ball of paper graphic over stylized "There Goes My Bracket!" lettering and the school's logo. This tee makes sure that everyone knows you're more than proud to see such an upset!</p>
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<p>This collector's item can be all yours for $19.95, plus shipping and handling. But can you really put a price on a Cinderella?</p>
<p>(via <a href="http://sportsnetny.tumblr.com/post/4175386094/i-love-this-vcu-there-goes-my-bracket-final">SportsNetNY</a>)</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/29/2078665/vcus-final-four-2011-ncaa-bracketMike Prada2011-03-27T19:25:00-04:002011-03-27T19:25:00-04:00NCAA Final Four: Quotes From VCU Coach Shaka Smart, Joey Rodriguez
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<p>Shaka Smart has now become the hottest coach in the small world of NCAA basketball, but he was all business in the <a href="http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=70253">post-game press conference</a> following the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/va-commonwealth-rams">Va. Commonwealth Rams</a>' victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a> Sunday afternoon.</p>
<blockquote>Once again we felt like nobody really thought we could win going into the game. But these guys believed we could win. They knew we could win ... Today they did their job to the tune of a 10-point victory over, I think, the team that was on paper, the best team left in the NCAA tournament. And I thought we were dominant in the first half.</blockquote>
<p>Kansas didn't shoot very well in this game, but it wasn't just that the Jayhawks were off or that they chose their shots poorly, according to VCU point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26995/joey-rodriguez">Joey Rodriguez</a>.</p>
<blockquote>I take all the credit for that, to tell you the truth. I think we wore them out. We came right at them in offensive end. If you go back and watch the game I think every time they shot the ball mostly somebody had a hand in their face. Our wings did a great job of contesting shots and running their shooters off of things.</blockquote>
<p>Smart also emphasized this point.</p>
<blockquote>That's why we play the way we play. That's part of our havoc style is getting people winded, getting people fatigued. And because of that they missed some shots. But I think it's also because we did a terrific job dedicating ourselves on the defensive end on getting a hand up, contesting outside shots.</blockquote>
<p>But can that style work for another two games? Can VCU go all the way? Smart seems to think so.</p>
<blockquote>We made history here, winning five games, going to the Final Four, and as I said out there on the floor, we're not done yet.</blockquote>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075619/ncaa-final-four-2011-vcu-coach-shaka-smartMartin Shatzer2011-03-27T17:04:56-04:002011-03-27T17:04:56-04:00NCAA Tournament: Jamie Skeen Wins Region's Most Outstanding Player Award
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<p>Fresh off of their stunning 71-61 victory over Kansas, the VCU Rams got another treat, with Rams forward Jamie Skeen wins the regionals most outstanding player award. </p>
<p>In today's game, Skeen came up huge for the Rams, as he posted up 26 points against the Jayhawks to go along with 9 rebounds. So far during this tournament run, Skeen has finished each game with double digit point totals, as he has averaged 15 points per game during that stretch.</p>
<p>Today's game was such a back and forth affair between these two teams (especially in the second half) that an effort such as Skeen's was needed. Every time it looked like the Jayhawks were going to come back and tie the game, Skeen was usually the player who came up big with either a clutch basket, a big rebound, or drawing a huge foul call.</p>
<p>Skeen went to Wake Forest early in his college career, but things didn't work out there and he transferred to VCU. Looks like that was a good decision.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075477/final-four-2011-vcu-kansas-jamie-skeen-elite-eightDaniel Shiferaw2011-03-27T16:42:34-04:002011-03-27T16:42:34-04:00Final Four 2011: VCU Shocks Kansas,71-61, In Elite 8, Continues Magical Run
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<p>Cinderella lives. VCU has shocked the college basketball world by defeating Kansas 71-61 to move on to the programs first ever Final Four appearance.</p>
<p>But it wasn't without difficulty. When Shaka Smart went into halftime, he told the CBS sideline reporter that he knew Kansas was going to make a run in the second half.</p>
<p>He was absolutely right. Kansas had a 12-0 run int he second half to get right back into the game. That run included coach Shaka Smart committing a technical foul after one of his players committed an offensive foul. It looked like it all was gong to unravel for the Rams, as they seemed to have no answer for a Jayhawk comeback.</p>
<p>But they responded with a run to extend their lead back to nine points. After a back and forth middle of the half, it was clear that this game was going to go down to the final minutes. It was a very defensive last ten minutes of the game, as each team had the ball, the opposing defense kept cranking up the pressure. </p>
<p>Then it got ridiculous. Joey Rodriguez made two ridiculous plays that led to scores to put VCU up by two possessions with less than two minutes to go. </p>
<p>From there, VCU was able to shut Kansas down defensively, and then it became a free throw shooting contest to cap it. </p>
<p>Back in 2006, George Mason made a remarkable run to the Final Four when they defeated UConn in overtime. However, this may be a bigger upset than that was, making this one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. </p>
<p>No matter what happens from now on, Shaka Smart and company will now be remembered for a run perhaps even more remarkable than George Mason's. </p>
<p>The VCU Rams will now take on the Butler Bulldogs in the Final Four in a match up no one thought could ever happen.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075416/final-four-2011-vcu-kansas-score-elite-eightDaniel Shiferaw2011-03-27T16:27:19-04:002011-03-27T16:27:19-04:00VCU Vs. Kansas Score: Upstart VCU Leads Kansas 63-54 With Four Minutes To Play
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<p>After letting the Jayhawks cut a 14 point halftime lead to two early in the scond half, the VCU Rams have righted the ship and lead by nine points with 3:39 left to play in the second half.</p>
<p>Once again, VCU has been fueled by Joey Rodriguez and excellent three point shooting. The Rams are 12 of 23 from downtown, with Brandon Rozzell, G and Jamie Skeen leading the way (four triples a piece).</p>
<p>Marcus Morris has 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead Kansas, who for much of the second half looked like an entirely different team than their first half imposters. Tyshawn Taylor has helped Marcus in the second half, but ultimately, the inablity to hit open shots and finsh looks might bite Bill Self's squad.</p>
<p>VCU might be gassed, but they will have to withstand at least one more Kansas run to make it to the Final Four.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075411/vcu-vs-kansas-score-march-madness-elite-eightT.J. Doyle2011-03-27T16:11:18-04:002011-03-27T16:11:18-04:00VCU vs. Kansas, 55-46: Kansas Rallies From Historic Halftime Deficit, But Still Trails VCU By Nine
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<p>The Kansas Jayhawks, after facing their largest halftime deficit ever in a NCAA tournament game (h/t Marv Albert), have whittled the lead to nine points 55-46, though the Jayhawks have been as close as two in this hotly contested second half.</p>
<p>Bill Self's team has played a much more energetic game in the second half, pounding the ball inside, hitting key jumpers when available and generating turnovers off of a much better defensive effort than was exhibited prior to halftime.</p>
<p>Kansas exploded with a 12-0 run early in the half, culminated by Shaka Smart's first technical foul of the season at the 15:43 mark as Kansas cut the lead to four. His Rams looked discombobulated on the floor, but, as they have done all season, the Rams have shaken off the rattled and ragged play to extend the lead to nine points again with tenacious defense and long range marksmanship.</p>
<p>A Kansas run was inevitable. Now let's see if VCU withstood the body blow and can become just the third double digit seed to make the Final Four (2006 George Mason and 19986 LSU).</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075313/kansas-vs-vcu-score-elite-eight-march-madnessT.J. Doyle2011-03-27T15:22:43-04:002011-03-27T15:22:43-04:00NCAA Tournament: VCU Takes 41-27 Lead Over Kansas Into Halftime
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<p>We may have just witnessed one of the most stunning first halfs of this year's tournament. VCU has taken a 41-27 halftime lead in this elite eight matchup.</p>
<p>Looking over at VCU's offensive numbers is nothing short of stunning as well. The Rams are 9-17 from three point land in the first half, with Brandon Rozzell having four and Jamie Skeen having three. The leading scorer at the half is Skeen, who has 15 points, with Rozzel right behind him with 12.</p>
<p>After Kansas took an early 6-0 lead, the Rams simply played their game and Kansas was looking shell shocked for most of the first half. However, in the waning moments of the half, it looks like Kansas has settled in and looks poised to make a run in the second half.</p>
<p>Shaka Smart has to know that the second half will likely see Kansas making a run to get back into this game. VCU has shown a great deal of toughness throughout this tournament run, but they will need as much as they ever needed in this coming half. They will need to respond to a Kansas run that is likely to happen. If they can do that, then perhaps VCU's run to a potential Final Four will be considered even better than George Mason's run back in 2006.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075311/2011-ncaa-tournament-vcu-kansas-41-27-halftimeDaniel Shiferaw2011-03-27T15:08:08-04:002011-03-27T15:08:08-04:00VCU Vs. Kansas Score: VCU Stretches Lead To 39-21 With 3:25 Remaining In First Half
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<p>The VCU Rams have taken absoute control of this game, and as a result lead Kanas 39-21 with less than four minutes to play before the half. VCU has shot an absurd nine of 15 from downtown, outscoring Kansas by 24 points from behind the arc.</p>
<p>For Kansas, if your last name is not Morris (or Selby), you have not scored this afternoon. This is not what Bill Self drew up on the old whiteboard before the game, I assure you. To make matters worse, Markieff Morris has six turnovers to negate his nine points. Borther Marcus has 10 points and eight rebounds, but the contribution has gone virtually unnoticed.</p>
<p>Kansas appears to have no answer for the VCU pressure, and in fact appears shellshocked. Coach Bill Self needs to find a way to calm down both his players and the pace of this game, or Kansas is in real fear of being run out of the gym by the Colonial Athletic Association's fourth place team.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/3/27/2075287/kanas-vs-vcu-score-ncaa-tournament-elite-eightT.J. Doyle