The Virginia Commonwealth Rams are no stranger to the NCAA Tournament and have made their share of deep runs in the past under former head coach Shaka Smart.  This past off season, Smart departed for the same position at the University of Texas.  VCU proved that the program isn’t on the decline and that the future’s still bright by punching their fifth bid to the tournament in the last six seasons.    Oregon State’s best player has a little history in his name.  Gary Payton II, the son of  Seattle SuperSonic great and former Beaver, is a do-it-all senior point guard for the Beavers.  Payton II averages 16 points, nearly 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. The senior had a great game, notching 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists but couldn’t seem to get much help from his teammates as VCU proved to be too much to handle.  The Rams were led in scoring by their two stud juniors Mo Alie-Cox and JeQuan Lewis.  Alie-Cox, the 6’7’’, 250-pound big man poured 20 points and 8 rebounds, and the point guard Lewis added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.   

The win for VCU matches them up with Oklahoma in the round of 32.  This means the Rams must do what seemingly nobody has been able to do all year–stop Buddy Hield.