NCAA Bracket 2011: Hokies Angry as Usual, Cavaliers Forgotten

In recent years, some things have become commonplace as Virginia’s basketball fans begin the task of filling out their NCAA brackets.

The Virginia Cavaliers don’t even think about showing up, while the Virginia Tech Hokies believe their invitation was lost in the mail.

While Tech has good reason to feel shunned again, the worst part is who might be the culprit. VCU, one of five Virginia teams invited to this year’s college basketball extravaganza, are said by many to have snookered the berth that should have been saved for the Hokies.

CAA earns three bids

Old Dominion (CAA), Richmond (Atlantic-10) and Hampton (MEAC) earned bids to the tournament by winning their respective conference championships, while George Mason and VCU were part of 37 at large entries. The NCAA increased this year’s field to 68, by adding three additional play-in games.

VCU's invitation gives the Colonial Athletic Association an unprecedented three teams in the tournament. The Atlantic Coast Conference, known for years as the nation’s best basketball league, received only four bids.

Sure, the ACC may be slightly down this year, but the Hokies knocked off No. 1 Duke, Penn State, and Florida State twice.

VCU, on the other hand, beat UCLA, lost to No. 24 Tennessee, and dropped three of their five games to rivals Old Dominion (1-2) and George Mason (1-1).

Even as late as Sunday afternoon, “bracketologists” had the Hokies in and the Rams out.

Hokie coach upset

No one was more disappointed than Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg. After all, Tech felt they belonged in both the 2007-08 and 2009-10 tournaments.

“You almost wonder if someone in that room has their own agenda, and that agenda doesn’t include Virginia Tech,” Greenberg said, as he met with reporters in Blacksburg. “I totally wonder if someone in that room has an agenda.”

“There’s no way they should be denied a berth,” added Dick Vitale, the former coach and current ESPN basketball guru.

The tournament selection committee, which is made up of conference commissioners and school athletic directors, must answer to four or five teams that aren’t exactly cordial.

VCU deserved invitation

Gene Smith, athletic director at Ohio State and chairman of the committee, defended their decision to include VCU

"Virginia Commonwealth is a tough team," Smith said during an NCAA television interview. "They play solid. They’re a great ballclub. If you watch them play, they are one of those teams that a lot of people don't want to play."

While attitudes may be slightly short in Blacksburg, there is no shortage of excitement on VCU’s campus. “I jumped up and started hugging everybody,” Rams’ coach Shaka Smart told the Times Dispatch. “Richmond right now has two very good basketball teams,” he added.

Smart, of course, is referring to the Spiders, who earned their place in the NCAA tourney by winning the Atlantic 10 championship Sunday in Atlantic City.  Kevin Anderson scored 23 points and Justin Harper added 18 to lead the Richmond over Dayton 67-54.

Spiders impressive

Even more impressive was Richmond’s semi-final win over always-tough Temple. Anderson (22) and Harper (18) were also the scoring leaders in the 58-54 victory.

This will be Richmond’s second straight trip to the NCAA tournament.  The Spiders dropped an 80-71 decision to St. Mary’s in the first round last year.

The Hokies probably won’t be miffed very long, since they host Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night at 8 pm in the first round of the NIT.

First Round:

11 VCU (CAA) vs. 11 USC (Pac-10), Wed. (3-16)

Second Round:

8 George Mason (CAA) vs. 9 Villanova (Big East), Fri.  (3-18)

9 ODU (CAA) vs. 8 Butler (Horizon), Thurs. (3-17)

12 Richmond (A-10) vs. 5 Vanderbilt (SEC), Thurs. (3-17)

16 Hampton (MEAC) vs. 1 Duke (ACC), Fri. (3-18)