Plenty of eyes in the sporting world will be on Richmond this weekend as the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship once again returns to the Richmond Coliseum.
Though the CAA is still considered a mid-major collegiate athletic conference, it has produced some noteworthy NCAA championship contenders in recent years. Last year, Virginia Commonwealth University won the CAA championship and went on to pull off an upset victory against Duke in the first round of the NCAA tourney in Buffalo, N.Y.
Most notably however was George Mason's unbelievable post season journey all the way to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2006.
This year, many are predicting more national attention and similar success for the CAA.
Hometown favorite and top seeded VCU has had a spectacular season within and outside of the conference. Within the conference, they are an offensively dominant team, but defensively they are a national powerhouse. They are currently ranked eighth in the nation in scoring defense and fourth in field goal percentage defense. Forward Larry Sanders ranks 10th in the nation for blocked shots per game.
But it is really anyone's tournament as all of the teams have kept many of the games on their schedules quite competitive this year. Other high-seeded teams like George Mason, Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington should prove to be formidable contenders during the tournament, but all of the teams could potentially go very deep in the bracket.
For the first round of games on Friday, March 7, No. 8 Hofstra University plays No. 9 Towson University at noon. At 2:30 p.m., No. 5 William & Mary takes on No. 12 Georgia State University. During the Friday evening session of games, No. 7 Delaware University plays No. 10 Drexel University at 6 p.m and No. 6 Northeastern University takes on No. 11 James Madison University at 8:30 p.m.
For the quarterfinal action on Saturday, March 8, No. 1 VCU plays the winner of the Hofstra/Towson game at noon. No. 4 Old Dominion University takes on the William & Mary/Georgia State winner at 2:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., No. 2 UNC Wilmington takes on the winner of the Delaware/Drexel match and No. 3 George Mason University plays the Northeastern/James Madison winner at 8:30 p.m.
The semifinals happen on Sunday, March 9 with games at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The championship match is Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for all games are available through each CAA school or at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the Richmond Coliseum at 804-262-8100. A book of tickets containing tickets for all 11 games is $60 per book. Tickets for individual sessions are $16. Tickets ordered through Ticketmaster will include additional service fees.
Students from CAA schools can purchase session tickets for $5.50 with a valid CAA school ID.
Richmond.com will be at the Coliseum all tournament long to bring you the most complete and up-to-date news from courtside.
As we have done in past years, Richmond.com will once again provide you with post-game stories immediately after every game as well as halftime reports and consistently updated photos of all the on-court action. We are also launching our more colorful (and typically irreverent) RBlog coverage of the entire tournament, which will include an inside view of all the other aspects of the tournament.
We'll see you at the game!
2008 CAA Tournament Reading Room:
Feb. 26 - A look at Delaware and Drexel
Feb. 27 - A look at George Mason and Georgia State
Feb. 28 - A look at Hofstra and James Madison
Feb. 29 - A look at UNC Wilmington and Northeastern
March 3 - A look at Old Dominion, Towson and William & Mary
March 4 - A look at Virginia Commonwealth University