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SEASON 7

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This Time of Year

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Grizzlies Overwhelmed by Orangemen

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Challenge 11: Final Four Memories

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Donning the Black and Gold

Challenge 10: Tourney Memories

The Madness of the Horizon League

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Anything Can Happen in the MAAC

Challenge 9: Shock The Neighborhood

A Youthful Surprise

From Worst to First

Peers and Seers

Game 7-093: NCAA First Four, Game 4
March 17, 2011 10:13 am ET by Kyle Whelliston

[11] Virginia Commonwealth Rams vs. [11] Southern California Trojans

March 16, 2011 9:00 pm
Dayton, OH
BBState Stats/Recap

All in for VCU. It's the NCAA Tournament, and it's the return of eight versus five. As for 11 and 12 seeds playing in to the Big Bracket, we now have two games' worth of visual evidence, and it takes a lot of BLAPP to get through these games. Also: Google searches for "orange basketball doll" skyrocket, Bally whispers advice to Len Elmore ("boing"), why VCU's cheerleaders are hotter than the Song Girls, and the "C! A! A!" chant returns to the Big Dance. All of us, each of us, three of them still left.

@midmajority Game Tweets

21:11 In the tunnel. #VCU http://plixi.com/p/84536698
21:20 Back in the UD Arena tunnel, everyone was making moony eyes at the Song Girls. Yawn. Are they Title R compliant? No. ADVANTAGE: VCU.
21:33 Game No. 7-093: [11] VCU vs. [11] USC. NCAA First Four, game 4. Get buckets, Rams. http://plixi.com/p/84541050
21:33 All of us, each of us. All in. Let's do this. RT @solidblue94: @midmajority Tonight Hoops Nation, we are all CAA members
21:34 VCU. 23-11 (12-6 CAA). 5-5 in last 10. Lost 5 of last 8. 7-6 on the road. Average RPI win: 165. Average RPI loss: 81. They are here.
21:35 Tip. http://plixi.com/p/84541472
21:37 USC misses first two shots. So do the Rams. As always, key for VCU is forcing turnovers and scoring off them. Won't win a chess match.
21:39 Shaka Smart, as usual, in a squared-up position on the sidelines as VCU plays D in the first half. He wants to get in there and make a stop.
21:40 6-9 Ram sr. Jamie Skeen with the first #BUCKET for VCU. Plus one. CAA third men in up 3-2 after three and a half minutes.
21:41 I want my ringtone to be Gus Johnson saying "DAY-ton!"
21:42 Crowd is hard to gauge numbers-wise, but decibel level indicates a 4:1 VCU advantage. Ram band ripping it up right now.
21:45 90% of comment about the NCAAT seems to be talk about how this event "should be." Fact: it is how it is. We try not to add to the noise.
21:47 A logical approach to it: wait til the bracket comes out, have heart broken half the time, be happy the other half. But you know, whatever.
21:48 VCU faces the same situation as UAB. If they lay an egg, the Rams will be a national punchline. Someone else will have deserved the spot.
21:50 The CAA and C-USA had similar patterns: teams with good RPIs that boosted each other by splitting series. Lack of dominance: shared success.
21:52 Still 3-2 here. The CAA was 82-60 in noncon (57%), but just 6-16 against the Big 6 conferences. 2-6 vs. the Big East, 0-3 vs Big 12, etc.
21:53 Rozzell 3, 6-5 VCU. The CAA got its strength in the war room by holding its own against equal competition. 9-7 vs. the A-14, for example.
21:57 USC 9-6, 12:17 1H. VCU shooting 17% (2/12). I like the idea of shared/split success> CW "dominance." CAA 06, Valley 06, etc. Same pattern.
22:00 VCU does have to watch out here. Down 11-6, fouls piling up, zero offensive rhythm. Skeen is 1-for-6, including that brick three just now.
22:02 Turnovers. Turnovers! Brandenberg layup off a steal. Rams operate best when beating the other team down the floor. They can do that.
22:05 Burgess a reverse off an o-board, Skeen a #superhoop, Burgess steal off inbound, and the Rams are ON! 15-13, 7:29 1H.
22:07 VCU band singing "Hey Baby" to the Song Girls during the MTO.
22:10 They aren't very imaginative. RT @chanford24: @midmajority Lot of standing around in VCU's halfcourt sets, but defense looks good so far.
22:12 Don't! She'll leave you for Bally. RT @CooterTV @midmajority GF picked a F4 of Ohio St/Buck/Richmnd/ODU. I should introduce her to your site
22:15 USC 18 VCU 17 at 3:40 1H. Even though they've conceded the cheer battle, VCU band is kicking USC's bland combo's ass tonight.
22:16 For the record, we think VCU's cheerleaders are prettier. #realamerica
22:20 I think this qualifies as a slog. 19-17 USC at 2:36 1H. VCU shooting 25%, USC eight turns. Gus Johnson not so animated.
22:20 Gary Parrish is not my girlfriend. RT @Ais4Action: Is your GF sitting next to you?
22:21 Effing bad. Tempo-free HT sponsored by BLAPP coming up. RT @RoryVidal3 @midmajority vcu can't buy a bucket. What is their off eff right now?
22:24 Brandenberg a #superhoop, which came off a block of one of the worst shooting decisions this year. 22-22 tie.
22:25 Gus comes ALIVE! Was that a miscalled BUCKET? Two seconds left in the half.
22:26 Halftime.
22:26 RT @jtanHC: @midmajority The design of the halfcourt sets run so far in this game: sponsored and apparently influenced by BLAPP and BLAPP consumption.
22:30 Tempo-free HT, proudly sponsored by BLAPP. USC 22 points on 29 possessions (.75). VCU 22 points in 29 trips. It's... a tie! Chug twice.
22:34 Your school has ugly cheerleaders, huh? Try putting on BLAPP goggles. Lager, fruit juice and grain alcohol turns any girl into Karen Gillan.
22:35 Surgeon General's warning: BLAPP is an industrial-grade contraceptive.
22:36 RT @polarscribe: I want a @midmajority team in the National Championship Game again, just so we can have more #BLAPP Tempo-free Halftime advertisements.
22:39 Or, plastic Barbie dolls. RT @tousledpigtails: @midmajority USC doesn't have cheerleaders, they have SONG GIRLS.
22:41 RT @chrispalm: @midmajority I have a feeling by the end of March Madness, I'm going to have replaced my Four Loko addiction with a BLAPP one.
22:45 Programming note: we are ticketed through to the Fri/Sun Cleveland pod, where we'll be starting tomorrow -- watching the games with you.
22:47 We're also seated for one of the regionals, but don't want to jinx our hunch by mentioning it. OK, here we go again. Tie straightened.
22:47 RT @cedarpoint13: Bally hovering over Elmore's shoulder! @ballybasketball @midmajority
22:48 Thanks! RT @wrightstudent: @midmajority Nice tie
22:49 He was! He said, "boing" RT @gmoore21566: @midmajority It looked like @ballybasketball was whispering in Len Elmore's ear.
22:49 RT @bubbaprog: Google searches for "orange basketball doll" skyrocket every time @midmajority appears onscreen.
22:50 OK, stop it stop it stop it. We're back for a second half. Skeen with a #superhoop, VCU takes the advantage.
22:50 RT @PTNetherton: I can't believe the bowtie on @midmajority is actually sexier than the one yesterday! #getbettereveryday
22:54 Probably not understating the importance of this game enough. Bids are great, but what really matters are wins. Real CAA pride starts now.
22:54 RT @solidblue94: @midmajority The white bow-tie on white shirt says "I'm classy, but you can't tell from that distance."
22:55 Joey Rodriguez, 0-5 in the first half, nails a bomb, and the VCU folks are UP! Rams lead by four, 15:26 2H.
22:59 Rodriguez showing signs of an imminent #superhoop takeover. Answers a USC three with another. Rozzell with a bomb too! Seven point lead!
23:02 Kevin O'Neill is a Basketball Genius. Don't ask questions. RT @Hirsch_in_Media: @midmajority odd TO. In backcourt when vcu wants to press?
23:05 Finally, VCU is rising to the level of energy that Gus Johnson is showing on the sidelines. Dude can''t stay still.
23:06 They give us TVs and folding chairs and NCAA Nutt Mixx. It's great. RT @paulsalz: @midmajority where you going to be watching the games at?
23:08 VCU maintaining by 8. 12:13 2H. Shorts-grabbing and hands on hips on the USC side. One more run might rip out what's left of their hearts.
23:08 RT @laplanck: Downside to bar trivia: only closed captions, no Gus Johnson. But hopefully a shot of @midmajority and @ballybasketball soon!
23:11 VCU by four now. 11:37. Gus Johnson miming layups, shouting, totally into this. Poor Len. His left arm is taking a pounding again.
23:14 Not the first one of those tonight. Hold tight, Ram nation. RT @SportsPenguin: @midmajority horrible foul call! Burgess set for like 3 secs!
23:15 If Brandenberg is open, he is going to hit that hit that hit that. VCU back up by 8. Fourth quarter. Time to climb aboard the Big Bracket.
23:18 Both teams in the single bonus, USC one foul away from giving VCU the dubl. File this number: Trojans 65.3% from the line (285th in D1).
23:20 VCU hits 71.9 percent of FT's (91st in the country). With 8:40 to go and the refs calling it tight, prepare for a lot of charity.
23:21 Trojans cut the lead to three. On the other end, the 10th USC foul at 8:27. Juvonte Reddic miss, make. 44-40 Rams.
23:24 An intentional foul on VCU that could have gone either way. But this is the refs' game now.
23:26 We haven't used this for a while, but longtimers will recognize it: #8vs5 That is where we are.
23:28 Skeen with four. They'll need him. Reddic with four. Both 6-9ers in trouble. USC has size to spare. Now, Haley with 4. Rams by one.
23:29 RT @kevinheaslip: @midmajority No calls for the little guy #8vs5... Stay strong VCU!
23:29 RT @chanford24: @midmajority #8vs5 I'm seeing that.
23:30 The way out of a #8vs5: make shots. Ed Nixon does. VCU up by four at 6:23 2H. Rams shooting 32% for the night.
23:32 USC has three with four as well. Fontan the most important one. VCU has FOUR with four fouls: Haley, Nixon, Reddic, Skeen.
23:34 Make shots, make shots. Rodriguez gets a putback by Isaac Newton and VCU is up by 8. But Haley, the Rams' froshhh 7-footer, gets his fifth.
23:35 Once again, USC is a truly horrendous foul shooting team. 65%. They will get their chances from here on out.
23:37 Reddic and one! Misses the extra. Rams by nine. And goodbye, Fontan. Player control foul, and the only USC player shooting a lick is gone.
23:38 Foul shots: USC 25 VCU 11. That answer your question? RT @PsyMar: @midmajority Two USC foul-outs -- maybe not #8vs5?
23:40 His balls are visible from outer space right now. RT @heathhhunt75: @midmajority jrod is #ramtough
23:42 Skeen, playing with four, gets a roller. Team-high 16 for him. The "V!C!U!" chants begin in earnest. Fans can smell it.
23:43 The food is great. RT @JohnGasaway: Glad I'm not in Dayton.
23:46 Well, the two at-large PIGs have been ugly ugly games, and should be put on a Clockwork Orange loop for anyone who mentions expansion again.
23:47 But VCU is going to win this one, and advance. No fight left in the Trojans. Final minute. Rams dribbling out, up by nine.
23:48 #peopleareleaving, but not the VCU fans. This is an NCAA Tournament win. And a $1.2m win share, to be distributed across the league. #AOUEOU
23:48 I know what that really means. RT @rushthecourt: @midmajority You don't want to go to war. With the RED line.
23:49 The end. Rams win! Robot?
23:50 [RLU ALERT] Virginia Commonwealth 59, Southern California 46 | http://tmm7.me/fw9 @RedLineUpsets
23:50 RT @Giantandre: Least inspiring performance ive seen from USC in last 5 years @midmajority called it at the practice session
23:50 We have power, but it's in our hearts. And pants. RT @four4byu: @midmajority chalk one up for the "non-power" conference teams
23:53 Tom Yeager shaking everyone's hands, smiling. A "C! A! A!" chant from the Ram faithful. Just like 2006. Chills.
23:54 RT @sportspenguin: @midmajority #BLAPP for the celebration!!!!!!!
23:56 Yes. It's an NCAAT game. RT @LouisianaNormal: @midmajority wait, winning team brings home $1.2 mil from the PIGs for their confs? Really?
23:57 RT @allanjlewis: @midmajority A round of blap all around for the Rams!

Boxscore

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH 59, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 46
03/16/2011

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH 24-11 (12-6) -- B. Burgess 3-13 3-4 9; J. Rodriguez 3-11 0-0 8; J. Skeen 6-12 2-3 16; E. Nixon 1-7 4-4 7; R. Brandenberg 3-7 0-0 8; B. Rozzell 2-4 0-0 6; J. Reddic 2-3 1-4 5; D. Haley 0-0 0-0 0; D. Theus 0-2 0-0 0; T. Veal 0-0 0-0 0; D. Hinton 0-0 0-0 0; T. Daniels 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 10-15 59.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 19-15 (10-8) -- N. Vucevic 3-5 5-6 11; N. Vucevic 3-5 5-6 11; A. Stepheson 1-5 2-6 4; J. Fontan 6-12 2-3 14; A. Stepheson 1-5 2-6 4; M. Jones 2-5 4-6 9; D. Smith 0-6 1-2 1; D. Smith 0-6 1-2 1; M. Simmons 3-5 1-2 7; M. Simmons 3-5 1-2 7; G. Jackson 0-0 0-0 0; J. Dunleavy 0-0 0-0 0; J. Dunleavy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-59 24-41 69.

Three-point goals: VCU 9-24 (J. Skeen 2-4; E. Nixon 1-3; J. Rodriguez 2-5; B. Rozzell 2-3; B. Burgess 0-4; D. Theus 0-1; R. Brandenberg 2-4), USC 1-16 (J. Fontan 0-1; D. Smith 0-6; N. Vucevic 0-1; M. Jones 1-1); Rebounds: VCU 35 (B. Burgess 10), USC 55 (N. Vucevic 14); Assists: VCU 11 (J. Rodriguez 5), USC 6 (D. Smith 2); Total Fouls -- VCU 24, USC 35; Fouled Out: VCU-D. Haley; USC-N. Vucevic.