NCAA Basketball: 10 most memorable NCAA Tournament runs of last decade

3. 2011 VCU (Colonial, 28-12, 11 Seed)   Final Four

Of all of the teams to ever advance to the Final Four, VCU had to play in the most NCAA Tournament game to make that possible. For everyone else, it takes four games to reach the Final Four; for VCU however, it took five due to the fact that VCU was picked as one of the last four teams in the field, and had to play in the First Four. So, from First Four to Final Four, they will be remembered just for that.

The 2010-11 season in the Colonial Athletic Association was one in which the conference was becoming really competitive. VCU had a great season, upsetting UCLA and Wake Forest, while falling just short of #24 Tennessee. In the Colonial, they continued to impress, but were beat by Old Dominion in the Conference Title game.

It was up in the air as to whether or not the Rams would get in, but the selection committee showed mercy to Shaka Smart’s club, giving them an 11 seed and a First Four game against Southern Cal. The Rams proved they belonged in the field, cruising to 59-46 win behind Senior Forward Jamie Skeen’s 13 points.

In the first and second rounds, VCU erased every implication that they were a mid-major by thrashing #6 seed Georgetown 74-56 and then #3 seed Purdue 94-76 en route to the Sweet 16. Against Georgetown, Guard Brandon Rozzell led the way with 26 points and Bradford Burgess led the way with 23 points against Purdue.

In the Sweet 16, VCU and #10 seed Florida State went to overtime in a game that was one of the most exciting NCAA Tournament games of the decade. In the final minute of OT, Florida State took a 71-70 lead. One would think that the Rams from the Colonial would be phased, but that was not the case. With 7 seconds left and an inbound pass behind the baseline, VCU acted with poise. Guard Joey Rodriguez sent a risky bounce pass into the middle of the floor to Burgess who laid it off of the glass to steal VCU the win.

In the Elite 8, the Rams continued their incredible run, upsetting #1 seed Kansas behind Skeen’s 26 points. That sealed it. The Rams had just gone from First Four to Final Four.

In the Final Four, the Rams played their heart out, but ultimately fell 70-62 to a Butler team that was returning to the National Championship game for the second consecutive year.

To almost be left out of the NCAA Tournament, and to get in and advance all the way to the Final Four is truly amazing. What the Rams did was unprecedented and will always be remembered.