The party's over
Monday, March 10 at 10:25 p.m.
In the words of William & Mary's David Schneider, this weekend "has been a unique ride."
Tonight, though they put up a valiant effort, William & Mary just couldn't pull off the upset of a lifetime against George Mason. We were pulling for them though.
But George Mason is on the way to the Big Dance later this month and we are headed home for some much needed rest and meals that contain vegetables. I know it sounds wimpy, but it is amazing how sore your butt can get after four days sitting on press row. It's also amazing what four days of the Coliseum's meatloaf can do to your intestinal track, but you really don't want to hear about that.
Unfortunately, it looks like our official RBlog coverage of the CAA this year will end with this post. Earlier today, ESPN made the call that VCU will most likely not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Though we had a blast going up to Buffalo, N.Y., last year to cover VCU's first round win over Duke ... and seeing Niagara Falls ... and losing all of our money at the Canadian casinos. .. and being stranded after our truck broke down -- we are sort of relieved that we can stay home this year and watch it all on TV (maybe).
So, thanks for following our CAA coverage this year. It's been real, it's been fun, but after VCU lost it wasn't really fun. Until next year ...
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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Apologies and promises
Monday, March 10 at 6:35 p.m.
A few days ago I know I promised you an exclusive interview with VCU's infamous Banana Man and Chicken Suit Guy, but thanks to William & Mary's third consecutive heartbreaker last night that just ain't going to happen.
I hear they have gone into Jack Daniels-sponsored reclusion in a filthy alley somewhere behind the Siegel Center.
Hopefully, they will survive to see next season. Good luck boys.
On another note, I also promised you a collection of some of the best and worst taunts and comments from the CAA Fan Nation. That promise I can keep.
And the awards for the best worst comments of the tournament go to...
"Any body got any sunglasses? Turn out the lights! I'm snow blind!"
-- In reference to the poor William & Mary cheerleader that has apparently never seen daylight or melatonin.
"Do those cheerleaders scare you, too?"
-- Random observance, possibly founded in truth
"Go home Yankees! Go home Yankees!"
-- A little JMU Southern hospitality chanted toward the Boston-based Northeastern team.
"What is the only similarity between National Geographic and Playboy? In both you are looking at places you will never visit."
-- Sportscasters taunting each other about getting older.
"[Satellite.]" "[School.]"
-- Two posters held up by Delaware's band members during the UNC Wilmington game.
"That's what happens when you live in a real size state!"
-- Apt response from a Seahawks fan
"You can't spell MiniMUM waGe without GMU."
-- From a William & Mary student's sign
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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That's why the call it March Madness
Sunday, March 9 at 7:45 p.m.
No matter what happens Monday night in the CAA Championship game, the story of the tournament is William & Mary's victory over No. 1 seed Virginia Commonwealth University. (Another thing worth noting is some of the awful shooting by many of the teams, but that's another story for another day.) If the Tribe can pull off a win over George Mason in front of a national TV audience, then I say who they meet in the NCAA tournament better watch out.
What William & Mary has done really isn't all that surprising – it is March, you know. Anything can happen. But it's the way they've done it that's created all the shock.
You've heard this already I'm sure: The Tribe came into the tournament losing six of seven games. Any team not on a roll entering the postseason is expected to just fall out and be forgotten about. Day one wasn't necessarily a shocker. They were supposed to beat Georgia State. Then day two came along and it was déjà vu. Not that they were supposed to lose to Old Dominion, but nobody really expected it.
Nobody but the Tribe thought a third day of heroics would occur against VCU. As I was sitting here watching the game going through the story in my head, I said, "Here we go again," when there were about two minutes left in the game. Something told me it would just happen. Some things were just meant to be, especially in March.
As for now, it's time for us to say farewell for the night to the Richmond Coliseum and get some much needed rest.
-- David Hylton, editor
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GMU holds on to early lead over UNC-W
Sunday, March 9 at 6:35 p.m.
No. 3 George Mason amassed an early lead against No. 2 UNC Wilmington to hold off the Seahawks 31-25 at the half.
Overall, George Mason is shooting 53.8 percent with sophomore Louis Birdsong and junior guard Dre Smith pulling down eight points each. Smith is currently shooting 1.000 making all of his three shots, including two three-pointers, but briefly left the game at the two minute mark citing complaints with his left knee.
UNC-W's T.J. Carter currently leads the team's offense with nine points with Vladimir Kuljanin and Daniel Fountain scoring six each. Overall, the team is scooting 36 percent.
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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William & Mary upsets No. 1 VCU 56-54
Sunday, March 9 at 5:25 p.m.
Tony Shaver just proved why he is this year's CAA Coach of the Year.
With a two-pointer at the three-second mark, William & Mary clenched their third consecutive last-second win in this tournament and secured their place in school history.
This is the farthest the Tribe was ever advanced in the CAA tournament.
On the other hand, VCU has the longest trip ever taken across town ahead of them.
Stay tuned for David's post game coverage.
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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Baby, it's cold outside
Sunday, March 9 at 1:55 p.m.
For the past two days, rumor has it there's been some bad weather. On Friday it was heavy rain. On Saturday it was high winds. How would we know? We've been stuck inside this refrigerator at the Richmond Coliseum.
Not that I'm complaining – most of these games have been great. If you were sitting at home watching your street flood or branches fall from the trees, that's your fault. You could've been here watching all the action.
Today the sun might be shining, but baby, it's cold outside. In the Coliseum, however, it's nice. And with thousands expected for today's games, it'll probably stay that way. We're hoping the action on the court stays hot as well.
Nobody would've predicted that VCU would be taking on William & Mary. Can the Tribe pull another rabbit out of their three-point hat? We'll find out at 3 p.m.
In the late game, UNC Wilmington will take on George Mason. The buzz this afternoon is that this will definitely be a good game.
So if you're sitting at home thinking there is nothing to do, then head downtown and sit back and enjoy the CAA action.
-- David Hylton, editor
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And then there were four...
Saturday, March 8 at 11:05 p.m.
Three games went as expected tonight, but the William & Mary upset over ODU proved to be another SportsCenter worthy performance. Let's see if they can produce the same game-breaker spirit tomorrow against No. 1 Virginia Commonwealth at 3 p.m.
With three Virginia teams in the running as well as UNC Wilmington, whose fan base usually travels quite well during the tournament, tomorrow and Monday's games have the makings to create some record-breaking crowds. That's great for the CAA, but I am not sure how much more pep band induced hearing damage we can take.
Does workers comp cover temporary deafness?
Nonetheless, we've had our fill of basketball here tonight. We're headed home to rest up for the fireworks tomorrow.
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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George Mason holds 13-point lead at the half
Saturday, March 8 at 9:35 p.m.
George Mason used a 14-2 run mid-way through the first half to pull away from Northeastern.
The Patriots are up 33-20 at halftime.
George Mason's Will Thomas scored the game's first five points before the Huskies battled their way back to take a one-point lead. Then the streaking Patriots took over from there.
The Patriots are shooting 51.9 percent from the field; the Huskies are shooting just 36.8 percent, including going one for five from the three-point line. George Mason also holds an 18-10 rebound advantage.
Thomas is leading all scorers with 9 points.
-- David Hylton, editor
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History of the Blue Hen
Saturday, March 8 at 7:50 p.m.
Sitting 10 feet away from Delaware's mascot, a Blue Hen, I wondered what exactly a blue hen is. It's something that history books never taught me, and no other mascot in the CAA has intrigued me quite so much.
To my surprise, there's some interesting history behind the blue hen. The blue hen chicken became Delaware's state bird in 1939. Many years before that, though, the blue hen became popular during the Revolutionary War. Soldiers often staged cock fights with a breed that was known as the Kent County Blue Hen. The birds developed a reputation for their ferocity and their success in fights.
Its connection to the University of Delaware goes beyond being the school's mascot. The College of Agriculture & Natural Resources keeps a breeding group of the blue hen chicken on the campus farm. Don't believe me? Look it up. Although wikipedia has been known to be wrong before.
And on that note, this is the most press coverage you'll probably see about Delaware during this tournament beyond yesterday's win. Stayed tuned for details from Kent.
-- David Hylton, editor
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UNC Wilmington leads Hens
Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m.
In what started off as a closely contested game, No. 2 UNC Wilmington has pulled away to lead the No. 7 University of Delaware Blue Hens 42-30 at the half.
Though Delaware forward Herb Courtney has already pulled down 16 points so far, Wilmington is shooting 66.7 percent in both field goals and three-pointers as well as dominating in defensive rebounds.
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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William and who?
Saturday, March 8 at 4:50 p.m.
I did NOT see that coming.
Just before William & Mary went on their massive first half scoring run over Old Dominion, a friend of mine sent me an e-mail that I thought would sum up the entire game.
"Worst game ever?"
Not in the slightest.
Once again, just like their game yesterday over Georgia State, William & Mary proved that they are the team to beat when the pressure is on. Yesterday it was sophomore guard David Schneider who hit the last second trey. Today it was Nathan Mann.
Either way, it was amazing.
You know it's a great shot when press row, which is supposed to be the most the most unbiased section in the stadium, utters a collective "HOLY S%&#!!!" after it falls in.
William & Mary also beat a school record today. This is the first time the Tribe has won two games at the CAA tournament.
Two.
OK, that's not the best record to brag about but for a school that pops open the champagne when it gets a .500 season, it's a pretty good reason to celebrate.
As for me, I don't think I'll need anymore crack for the rest of the day after that one.
Did I just say that? Just kidding Human Relations department.
-- Kent Jennings Brockwell, associate editor
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William & Mary up 24-23 at the half
Saturday, March 8 at 3:40 p.m.
In the second game of the day, there's a whole lot of streaking going on. Fortunately none of it is from the fans.
Old Dominion jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before William & Mary notched two free throws. The Tribe didn't score a field goal until about nine minutes into the game. When that streak ended, William & Mary quickly hit two three-pointers.
With the Monarchs up 13-8 with about 8:30 remaining, William & Mary went on a 14-0 streak.
When that streak ended with 2:30 to go in the half, ODU scored 10 unanswered points.
Both teams are struggling from the field – William & Mary shot 29.2 percent while ODU was slightly better at 34.8 percent.
At the half, William & Mary is up by one point, 24-23.
The Tribe is seeking to put an end an unlucky streak. They have never beaten the Monarchs in five meetings in the CAA tournament.
-- David Hylton, editor
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The action heats up on day two
Saturday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m.
While the weather outside is nasty, things are much better inside today. With all the VCU fans in here, this is how I remember basketball games. And I don't have to sit through any commercials. Take this as a hint – buy some tickets and catch some of the action later today, tomorrow and Monday night. It's well worth it.
In addition to the action on the hardwood, you may get a chance to see VCU's band director displaying his talents. It's something you don't want to miss if you're not offended by people taking their clothes off.
You also need to adjust yourself to get used to hearing the phrase, "You suck." Apparently every player on the opposing team, the refs and the other school's band suck.
-- David Hylton, editor
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Getting Rowdy this morning
Saturday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m.
The coffee is on, some of the teams are having a morning shoot around and we're back on press row at the Richmond Coliseum.
We are about a half hour away from what should prove to be the most popular game of the day as No. 1 VCU faces off against No. 9 Towson University.
At 10 a.m., there were already more than 500 Ram Rowdies gathered outside the Coliseum's ticket windows. The natives are indeed restless but it's looking good for their team.
Towson has never advanced past the quarterfinals in CAA tournament play and have lost to VCU 13 of the 14 times they played each other in past years.
Though the Tiger's C.C. Williams put up a great defensive effort yesterday against Hofstra (he was sixth in voting for the CAA All-Defensive team), how will Towson fair against CAA Player of the Year Eric Maynor and the rest of VCU's explosive offense?