2017 Atlantic 10 Tournament: Rhode Island vs. VCU preview, prediction, TV schedule

The 2017 Atlantic 10 Tournament final will be a battle of the Rams: Rhode Island versus VCU.

TV Schedule: Sunday, Mar. 12, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Arena: Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

Prediction: Rhode Island 82, VCU 77

Desperation is a funny thing and Rhode Island will be playing with a lot of it on Sunday afternoon in the Atlantic 10 final.

Related Story: Dayton rallies late to get road win @ Rhode Island

The Rams haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999 and will have to sweat out Selection Sunday if they don’t knock off the VCU Rams in Pittsburgh. With E.C. Matthews regaining his explosiveness from two years ago, Hassan Martin bullying opponents in the paint and Kuran Iverson and Jared Terrell making up a solid supporting cast, URI is playing their best basketball of the season. Ever since scoring 43 points in an ugly loss to Fordham, the Rams have won seven straight games, including a home win over this very VCU team.

While Dan Hurley’s unit will play with the fire and intensity with an NCAA Tournament bid potentially on the line, VCU is going to do anything but back down.

VCU has won three straight themselves and is looking to avenge their earlier loss to Rhode Island. Will Wade’s squad has the power and strength to keep up with Martin and Iverson on the interior and has the guard play, JeQuan Lewis, Samir Doughty, and Jonathan Williams, to match Jarvis Garrett and Matthews.

The Rams also have a stout defense and an offense that loves to use their toughness to their advantage.

Next: Five takeaways from Duke versus UNC

But in the end, desperation is going to be the difference. The Rhode Island Rams will make history on Sunday as they will return to their first NCAA Tournament since the late 90s. The exception: it will come via an auto bid.