A colorful breakdown of the 2014 NCAA Tournament
By Ryan Darcy
Black/Brown/Gold/Silver (8 teams, 1-8 record, .111 winning percentage, 0 Sweet Sixteen teams)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
This color group had high expectations coming into the tournament as they were the third most represented group but the octet did not live up to the billing. They did, however, have an undefeated 1-seed in the Wichita State Shockers, who eventually were shocked to be sent home so early following a 78-76 loss to Kentucky in the third round. The Shockers, who list black ahead of “sunflower yellow” as their official colors, were the only team to win a game for these colors.
Another team who expected to advance beyond the first weekend was the VCU Rams, who represent two of the four colors of the group (black and gold). Unfortunately, the Rams were ousted by the Lumberjacks and didn’t win a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. To throw salt in their proverbial wound, according to multiple sources, it’s rumored that head coach Shaka Smart, is drawing interest from both Wake Forest (black and old gold) and Marquette (blue and gold) to fill their head coaching vacancies.
The Western Michigan Broncos were the only team to list brown as their primary color.
This group had the fewest wins in the 2014 tournament despite consisting of four different colors.
Blacks/Browns/Golds/Silvers No Longer Dancing:
- VCU Rams
- Colorado Buffaloes
- Tulsa Golden Hurricane
- Western Michigan Broncos
- Wofford Terriers
- Providence Friars
- Milwaukee Panthers
- Wichita State Shockers