NCAA Bracket 2017: VCU earns at-large bid, gets No. 10 seed in West region

It’s a new year, but it’s the same story.

The VCU Rams (27-9, 14-4) are off to the NCAA Tournament for seventh consecutive season as they continue to stake their claim as one of the best mid-major programs in the country. As a No. 10 seed, they’ll take on No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s in the West region on Thursday, March 16.

VCU’s resume is a slightly peculiar one. The Rams logged three RPI top-50 wins (Dayton, Middle Tennessee, and Princeton), but suffered a massive loss against Fordham, and have a loss to Georgia Tech, who fall outside the top-100 in RPI, despite having a handful of impressive wins. True road wins against St. Bonaventure and Richmond helped the Rams cause as well.

The Rams are led by a pair of seniors in All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection JeQuan Lewis and All-Defensive Team pick Mo-Alie Cox. VCU will bring a ton of postseason experience and a ferocious defense. The Rams have not made the Sweet 16 since their magical Final Four run in 2011.