Jim Swing
Assistant Sports Editor
Seniors Joey Rodriguez and Jamie Skeen buried their heads in their jerseys and walked off the floor.
Redshirt sophomore David Hinton and freshman Rob Brandenberg entered the game with just over 20 seconds remaining as the seconds ticked away the careers of the two established seniors.
The clock had finally struck midnight for a Cinderella team that made one of – if not – the most improbable runs in NCAA tournament history.
Every ounce of heart and soul was exuded from the VCU men’s basketball night after night but its magic expired Saturday night against a surging Butler team in the NCAA tournament’s Final Four.
Head coach Shaka Smart greeted his players as they left the court and whispered a sentimental thought in their ears, “I love you, man.”
“Our guys fought and battled and I am so proud of our guys,” head coach Shaka Smart said. “It was a phenomenal run, a really historic run in NCAA tournament history and something that these guys will definitely not forget.”
As the buzzer sounded, senior Brandon Rozzell, along with many in VCU’s massive student section located behind the basket, held back tears as a run that had united so many came to a close.
After analysts and commentators had doubted the Rams just moments after their inclusion into the field of 68 on Selection Sunday, the team pulled off the unimaginable.
VCU plowed through teams in five of the six power conferences such as Southern California, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas, winning by a margin of 12 points.
“We’re just a big family,” Skeen said. “This whole season was great and it was a great run and we made history and we kept making history. We did what everybody said that we couldn’t do and I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates.”
Not only did the Rams make history within their own program – winning more than one game in the NCAA tournament – the team breached college basketball history by becoming the first team to win four games in the NCAA tournament by double digits.
“These guys have played against all the good players and teams in all the major conferences,” Smart said. “We outplayed five BCS teams in the NCAA tournament. It just shows we have a good program and a senior-laden team and we have a chance to win.”
Over the past couple of weeks, the magical run had brought together the city of Richmond in a way like never before.
Signs hung from buildings, windows and street lamps as the city united for one common cause: to support the VCU Rams.
VCU’s run not only inspired its program and the city of Richmond, Butler head coach Brad Stevens said it had an impact on his team as well.
“VCU’s run was inspiring to a lot of people, including us,” Stevens said.
Saturday night’s game may have closed the book on VCU’s season, but it did not put an end to the story.
When Smart was asked in the post-game press conference whether he thought a run like this could ever happen again or if it was simply a once in a lifetime opportunity, he replied: “You must not know me very well. We have guys out there that it is certainly possible. When you have a clear head for winning, you have a great opportunity to win.”