NCAA Bracket 2011: Richmond, VCU Will Do Better Than the Big East in Sweet 16

So much for the juggernaut that was Big East basketball.

With a record 11 teams making the 2011 NCAA tournament field, only two teams from the Big East (Connecticut and Marquette) are in the Sweet 16.

That is the same amount that the city of Richmond has in field of 16. With the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University still dancing, Richmond is not only the capital of Virginia, but it’s also the capital of the basketball world for the time being.

These two teams have turned the Southwest region of the tournament on its head.  They have also proven that perception is not reality.

VCU barely made the tournament as one of the first four at-large teams and was widely considered a terrible choice by everyone not on the tournament selection committee. After destroying three different opponents in five days, including Big East titan Georgetown, the Rams of VCU are primed to touch down in Houston for a Final Four appearance.

Richmond has made it to the second weekend in a familiar role. As a No. 12 seed, the Spiders beat No. 5 Vanderbilt before dispatching of upstart Morehead State in the third round. Famously known as being the first No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 seed in Syracuse, the Spiders are the original “giant killers,” and the 2011 squad has done nothing to dispel this notion.

In contrast, the mighty teams from the Big East have come up so flat that even House M.D. would struggle to find a pulse. Every year, the so-called experts praise the conference for having the best teams scholarships can buy and every year these same teams fall short of expectations.

Neither Georgetown nor Louisville has survived the first round in the last two years. Syracuse has not made it past the Sweet 16 since Carmelo Anthony and Pittsburgh has only one Elite Eight appearance in the Jamie Dixon era.

The last national champion from the Big East was Connecticut in 2004. As a conference, the ACC has more than double the amount of championships than the Big East in the last 10 seasons. With that being said, here are reasons why the two teams from Richmond will fare better than the two teams from the Big East.

First, VCU is playing as well as anyone in the tournament at this point. The Rams have defeated their three tournament opponents by an average of 16.3 points a game. That includes an 18-point victory over Georgetown; nevermind Chris Wright being injured, Georgetown would not have won this game if Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning were in uniform.

The Rams dropped 94 points on Purdue in the following round while shooting 56.9 percent and having six players in double figures. They face an exceptional defensive team in Florida State next, but the Seminoles have been spotty at best on the offensive side of the floor all season and can easily go cold and shoot 30 percent for the game.

Richmond, on the other hand, faces No. 1 seed Kansas, which on paper seems like a monumental task. Kansas has two studs in the Morris twins, but outside of that, there’s no one capable of taking over the game. The Jayhawks have also had a recent history of playing down to the level of the opponents. (Northern Iowa, anyone?)

The Jayhawks seem to succumb to the pressure of being the favorite at times, and if one of the twins or both get in foul trouble, it could spell doom for Bill Self and company.

Little-known Kevin Anderson is a great talent for Richmond and is capable of getting his own shot anywhere on the court. He will be playing in the NBA very soon. He and teammate Justin Harper will give Kansas fits all night.

On the other the hand, the two remaining Big East representatives might be in for long nights once they lace em up this coming week. Marquette is a scrappy team with a big heart, but the problem is, they’re not big enough in stature to play with the Tar Heels of North Carolina.

The North Carolina frontcourt of Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson has combined for 129 points in two tournament games so far. This trend should continue against the diminutive Golden Eagles.

Connecticut should play a much closer game against the San Diego State Aztecs in Anaheim. Kemba Walker, a Naismith Player of the Year candidate, is capable of going off, but he and Huskies are playing a virtual road game with Anaheim being only two hours away from San Diego.

The Aztecs also have experience in beating a prolific scorer in Jimmer Fredette, and let us not forgot that Kawhi Leonard is legitimate star in his own right and should have a monster performance for San Diego State.

With the recent history of Big East teams in the tournament and the matchups this weekend, don't be shocked if the big teams in Richmond perform better than teams from the Big East.