Getting to know the 2011 Final Four teams: Virginia Commonwealth

This week, The Dagger takes a deeper look at each of the four universities participating in the 2011 Final Four. First up, VCU.

Location: Richmond, Va.

Enrollment: 21,835 (56.4 percent female)

Team Mascot: Rams

How they got to Houston: d. USC (59-46), d. Georgetown (74-56), d. Purdue (94-76), d. Florida State (72-71), d. Kansas (71-61)

Greatest basketball moment: This. While making the Final Four is the unquestionable highlight of VCU's history, the school isn't without its NCAA tournament memories. In 1985, the first year of the 64-team field, the Rams entered March as a No. 2 seed. They didn't make it out of the first weekend, though, thanks to an upset loss at the hands of Alabama. The first-round win would be VCU's last until Eric Maynor hit a 15-footer to upset Duke in 2007.

Reason to root for them: This sign was hung during a rally sending the team off to San Antonio for the Southwest Regional. It refers to Dick Vitale's badmouthing of VCU's at-large bid.

Reason to root against them: Do we really want a national champion that has losses to Northeastern, Drexel, James Madison, Georgia State, South Florida and, ugh, Tennessee on its r�sum�?�

How the school dealt with Final Four appearance on its main website page: Top-billing, which is much more than the other three schools.

Most interesting sounding class on the school's 2010-2011 course register: Backpacking 201. "Emphasis will be given to the skills and knowledge necessary for safe, low-impact, short-to-moderate-duration travel through back country areas." With the offers sure to roll in after next week, Shaka Smart may be packing from VCU very soon.

Famous alumni: Hunter "Patch" Adams (famous clown-nose wearing doctor), Debbie Matenopoulos (former co-host of "The View"), Gwar (band)

Smart quote to make others think you've been following VCU all along: "If you want to get down to it, VCU's run to the Final Four really began at [the school's Nike-sponsored coaching conference] Villa 7 when [VCU athletic director] Norwood Teague first met Shaka Smart."

What not to say at your Final Four party: "VCU? Isn't that the Law & Order with Ice-T?"

What Clark Kellogg will probably say about VCU: "The team's escapability and effort will help in executing."

Chances of winning it all: Better than you think. The Rams won five games to get to Houston, including a convincing victory over tournament favorite Kansas. Are you going to doubt them?

Jim Nantz's most likely scripted line if they do: "They Shaka'd the world!"

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Jeff Tedford takes Cal’s offense – and his Cal future -�back in his own hands

Odds are you didn't hear much from Cal's offense in 2010, and odds are Jeff Tedford's just fine with that. The Bears set new Tedford-era lows for yards and points per game, finished and failed to top 14 points or 300 total yards in any of their six conference losses. Senior quarterback Kevin Riley was sketchy, and junior backup Brock Mansion was much worse when Riley went out with a season-ending knee injury at Halloween; combined, they came in next-to-last in the Pac-10 in passing yards and efficiency. Even the league's No. 1 total defense couldn't stave off Tedford's first losing season: Three losses came against opponents showing less than 17 points on the board.

So 2011 marks a milestone for Tedford's tenure in more ways than one: Through 10 years on the job, Tedford is three wins from becoming the winningest coach in school history, and is the architect of Cal's most successful decade since the Great Depression. At the same time, he also finds himself searching against for some hint of the old spark that rekindled a gasping program back in 2002, the first of five straight seasons among the top 25 scoring offenses in the country. A new quarterback will help after four stagnant years at the mercy of the inconsistent Riley. But after watching the most recent waltz of woe, he's also to take matters back in to his own hands, by reassuming the role of head play-caller:

When Cal takes the field for its games this season, there will be a new man calling plays for the Bears. In this case, however, it's like the old Who song: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Jeff Tedford hopes that's a good thing, because he's the boss and he'll be calling the majority of plays in an effort to make his first losing season as Cal's head coach his only losing season.

"I did it the first three or four years here, then went back and forth," Tedford said. "You've got to be all in or out, one of the two. There's got to be a role you play. You get to set things up, have a good feel for things."

Tedford originally gave up gameday play-calling in 2008, off what was then his worst season in 2007 (The Bears rose to No. 2 that October, before going up in flames in six of their next seven), to become become "more efficient" as a CEO-type. Most fans welcomed the transition. A year later, he handed the entire offense over to NFL refugee Andy Ludwig, his fifth new offensive coordinator in five years, with no strings attached. The results: Two mediocre seasons on par with Tedford's worst, followed by last year's implosion. Followed by Ludwig's exit to San Diego State.

A huge, entirely appropriate share of the blame has fallen on the quarterbacks, ironic considering Tedford was once akin to the King Midas of quarterbacks: Going back to his days at offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Oregon, he had a hand in molding six first-round draft picks (Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington, Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers) from 1994-2004, and two others (A.J. Feeley and Billy Volek) who have lasted in the league for a solid decade. It hardly seems like a coincidence that his first bust at the position, Riley, coincided with Tedford intentionally taking a more hands-off approach.

Or so he hopes. In reality, the Bears were devoid of anyone who remotely resembled Jahvid Best or DeSean Jackson as a serious big-play threat, and lost the luxury of workhorse tailback Shane Vereen, who thought he'd get what he could in the draft before being asked to assume another 250-carry workload while the new QB's breaking in. There's some experience up front, but the general vibe is one of a fresh start ?�the kind of reboot that may only come once a decade or so. If Tedford makes it to 2012, he'll be the longest-tenured coach in Cal history. But his future ?�and maybe whether or not he even has one at Cal beyond 2012 ? hinges on restoring some signs of life in year ten.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Daily WOD

21, 15, 9 reps of:

Deadlifts - 70% of 5 RM
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Sixty-eight things we’ve loved about the NCAA tournament

From crazy upsets, to buzzer beaters to nail-biting finishes you'd have to see to believe, the 2011 NCAA tournament has been one of the better ones in recent memory. Now that the madness is winding down, The Dagger thought we'd celebrate by picking 68 things we've loved about the 2011 NCAA tournament.

1. The sign in Richmond hung by VCU fans telling Dick Vitale to "Eat Crow, Baby!" (Jeff Eisenberg)

2. The split screen with President Obama and the Oakland-Texas game. The president is addressing the situation in Libya, Oakland is trying to upset Texas. You decide which is more important. (Graham Watson)

3. John Calipari's kiss planted on the sweaty forehead of DeAndre Liggins. (Ryan Greene)

4. Ohio State and Kansas playing flawlessly one night, establishing themselves as the tournament's prohibitive favorite and then laying an egg the next time they stepped out on the court. The beauty of one and done. (Chris Chase)

5. Shaka Smart ticking down the major conferences VCU has toppled on its way to the Final Four. Awesome. (JE)

6. Matt Howard's socks are gross and don't have any elastic left in them, but they've helped Howard score two game-winning buckets to get his team into the Final Four. (GW)

7. Head coaches who look like graduate assistants (Josh Pastner, Shaka Smart, Brad Stevens). (RG)

8. Jim Larranaga's pregame speech before George Mason got blitzed by Ohio State. So often you get a glimpse inside the locker room and are disappointed that the coach's words are nothing like you'd see in the movies. Larranaga's sounded like they were written by Aaron Sorkin. No wonder the Patriots came out of the gate and took an 11-2 lead before reality set in. (CC)

9. Whatever is the complete opposite of Craig Sager's jackets. (RG)

10. Nasir Robinson after his foul on Shelvin Mack: "I take the blame. I take the blame for the loss. [...] It was a stupid play. It wasn't the ref's fault. It was my fault." You don't have to come out on top in order to be a winner. (CC)

11. Butler's Ronald Nored promising fans, "We're going to get the real call from President Obama and not the runner-up call." (JE)

12. Having sports to watch during the day on Thursday and Friday (GW)

13. During the UConn-San Diego State game, Kemba Walker was so good he kept making me say "so good" out loud. I was watching the game alone. (CC)

14. The continued absence of a BCS-like system. (RG)

15. Mike Bruesewitz's perm. Does this need explanation? His mom perms his hair. Reggie Miller just put him on blast. (GW)

16. That Kentucky students stormed the library after the Wildcats made the Final Four for the first time since '98 (JE)

17. The popular backlash to the NCAA trying to call the first weekend of games the "second" and "third" rounds. Years ago the NCAA tried to name regions by the regional host city and that failed too. (CC)

18. Brandon Knight keeping the art of collar-popping alive after his game-winner against Ohio State. It'll never die. (RG)

19. Hearing Marv Albert's distinctive gravely voice on an NCAA tournament broadcast. (JE)

20. Tennessee's epic meltdown. It's been a long time since a major conference team just gave up during the tournament and that's what the Vols did under their lame-duck coach. (GW)

21. Derrick Williams helping teammate Jamelle Horne up and comforting him after his missed 3-pointer at the buzzer against UConn. Even in defeat, Williams is all class. (JE)

22. Knowing that in five years I'll look back on the bracket and be surprised to be reminded that San Diego State was a No. 2 seed. (CC)

23. Jay Bilas and Steve Kerr … Did you ever think those two would belong in the same sentence in March? (RG)

24. The critics having to backpedal on VCU. If the selection committee is supposed to find the best remaining 37 teams, I'd say they succeeded. (CC)

25. The critics not having to backpedal on UAB. If the selection committee is supposed to find the best remaining 37 teams, I'd say they failed miserably. (CC)

26. That Josh Harrellson has gone from cult hero to bonafide star. Great story, great kid. (JE)

27. Jamie Skeen saying that he thought Kansas' Morris twins were "buttholes" before he actually met them (GW)

28. The tearful Duke locker room. Not because the Blue Devils lost but because it showed how much they cared. (JE)

29. Brandon Knight hits a layup with two seconds left. Demonte Harper drained a three with four seconds left. If neither of those things happen, maybe Rick Pitino is in the Final Four right now and John Calipari is yukking it up with Charles Barkley on the CBS set. (CC)

30. "You don't want to want to go to war, with the Rams... Don't start no stuff, won't be no stuff!" -- VCU's war cry (GW)

31. Michael Jordan making everyone bust out the NCAA rulebook by promising UNC players "anything you want" if they made the Final Four. (RG)

32. Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery are 50 years older than some of the players on the court, but their passion and energy for the games is just as great. (CC)

33. Jared Sullinger bucking conventional wisdom and announcing he'll be back at Ohio State next season. In an era when so many kids are in a rush to get to the NBA, it's nice to see a prospect who's patient. (JE)

34. The weird squiggly line design that guys are now putting in their hair. What is up with that hair design? Have we really flashed back to the '90s? (GW)

35. Only in America can a guy go from being banished to the bathroom stalls by one coach to NCAA tournament beast three years later under the tutelage of another. JORTS!!! (RG)

36. When Greg Gumbel says "up next, except on the West Coast, your late local news" on that first Thursday, knowing the next batch of games are less than 12 hours away. (CC)

37. Chris Mooney signing a 10-year contract at Richmond instead of parlaying his Sweet 16 appearance into a bad job in a major conference. (I'm looking at you Dan Monson and Todd Lickliter) (JE)

38. Kenneth Faried showing everyone that he is indeed the best rebounder in the country (GW)

39. Gus Johnson calling Jimmer's final collegiate performance, even though it was a complete trainwreck. Still, fitting pairing. (RG)

40. The NCAA tournament being resilient enough to withstand foolishness like the First Four almost makes me think expansion to 96 wouldn't be as cataclysmic as I feared. Almost. (I'm pretty sure this was the point all along.) (CC)

41. Reeves Nelson's refusal to wear highlighters on his feet. (RG)

42. The enthusiasm of the raucous pro-San Diego State crowd in Anaheim. The Aztecs may not have beaten UConn, but their fans reveled in the chance to see their team in its first-ever Sweet 16 game. (JE)

43. That Jimmer bomb that tied the game at 63. (CC)

44. Richmond, a city with no NBA teams and limited college basketball pedigree, earning the right to refer to itself for a week as "Hoopstown, USA." (JE)

45. The fact that Morehead State's Kenneth Faried got to be a part of a huge NCAA tournament upset. If there's a kid who deserved it, it was him. (RG)

46. Brad Stevens' good luck glasses (GW)

47. I love Pomeroy ratings and efficiency stats and log5. I love that the tournament showed none of it matters once the ball is tipped even more. (CC)

48. VCU's "kiss it" to the national college basketball pundits. With each passing round, coach Shaka Smart does not forget to mention how the national basketball media didn't think VCU deserved to get in. And let's be honest, it didn't. The Rams have just had a very good run. (GW)

49. This Morehead State T-shirt poking fun at Louisville. (JE)

50. The 12 over 5 upset strikes again (GW)

51. Every game in the first and second round televised in its entirety. Pure bliss for four days. (JE)

52. Four of the first five games of the tournament were decided by two points or less. (CC)

53. All the Jimmer signs in Denver, especially "Jimmerica: Land of the three, Home of the shaved." (JE)

54. Richmond proving it deserved better than a No. 12 seed by making the Sweet 16. (JE)

55. The "Do it for D.J." shirts St. John's fans wore in honor of injured swingman D.J. Kennedy. (JE)

56. The buzzer beater, specifically Morehead State's 3-pointer to beat Louisville. That was one of the most memorable shots of the tourney. (GW)

57. The emergence of smooth-as-butter Jeremy Lamb. I'd buy stock in that kid in a heartbeat. (JE)

58. Here's how teary-eyed Morehead State senior Kenneth Faried responded when asked about his emotions after losing to Richmond:� "I never had time to look back. But now I get the chance to, so, I'm going to miss it. I mean, Morehead is now my second home. I'm going to miss each and every last person that came out and supported us. I'm going to miss my teammates, playing with them, having a great time."

59. Last Thursday, there were moments in each four games when it seemed realistic that each eventual loser would win the game. (CC)

60. Morehead State coach Donnie Tyndall's daughter crying on the bench at the end of the loss to Richmond. It was tough to watch, but reminds you how special the tournament is. (RG)

61. The tweets from media members who were fortunate/unfortunate enough to sit behind Gus. Obstructed view, but replaced by entertaining dance moves and shimmies. (RG)

62. Jacob Pullen's emotion after losing to Wisconsin. Even thought K-State nation didn't like the question, Pullen's emotion was some of the rawest we've seen during this tournament. (GW)

63. In becoming the next George Mason, very few have called VCU "the next George Mason." (CC)

64. Jimmer mania ? Sad to see it end, but it was a good run for Jimmer especially since everyone counted BYU out after the first round. (GW)

65. Onions! (GW)

66. One Shining Moment … because it can't be any worse than it was last year. (RG)

67. Derrick Williams' dunks (GW)

68. Every year at around 11:58 a.m. on Thursday, I think to myself, "don't get too excited, Chris. The tourney can't possibly live up to your ridiculously high expectations." I'm always right. It far exceeds them every time. (CC)

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Video: Harrellson sends message by pegging ball at Sullinger

You could pick any number of single plays that best defined Kentucky's stunning upset of top-seeded Ohio State. Perhaps it'd be Brandon Knight's go-ahead jump shot or maybe one of the Wildcats' 11 blocks or perhaps the team's brilliant defensive stand when the Buckeyes had a chance to take the lead with 65 seconds remaining.

But if you want to get down to it, the game was summed up by a moment that won't even show up in the official play-by-play sheet. It happened when Kentucky's Josh Harrellson pegged the ball directly at Ohio State's star freshman Jared Sullinger:

He didn't have to throw it that hard but he did it for a reason. I can't get in his head, but I imagine it was something like, "watch out Jared, I'm gonna take it right at ya." There was no fear and Harrellson played like it.

He worked over the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, both on the offensive and defensive ends. Though Sullinger would finish with a game-high 21 points and 16 rebounds, Harrellson's own performance (17 and 10) overshadowed that. He was methodical in backing down Sullinger on offense and kept the freshman from getting too much action on his end, particularly with that aforementioned defensive stand late in the game.

In short, Sullinger was great. Harrellson was better.

Going back to the video clip, it was a completely legal play by Harrellson. That's not to say it was a classy one though. It's like a tennis player hitting the ball directly at an opponent. The act itself is allowed by the rulebook, but it's considered bad form.

It took a little of that attitude to knock off the mighty Buckeyes. It will take a little more of it for Kentucky to advance to the Final Four.

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NCAA president to explore giving players greater share of revenue

One day after PBS skewered the NCAA for not sufficiently compensating the players who help make March Madness profitable, NCAA president Mark Emmert said it's time his organization reassess its stance on that oft-debated issue.

Emmert told USA Today that he sees merit in increasing the value of players' scholarships by a few thousand dollars to pay for travel, laundry and other day-to-day expenses that currently aren't covered. He isn't guaranteeing anything will change, but he said that he'll bring up the idea at the next set of NCAA board meetings in April.

A small extra stipend certainly won't satisfy critics who suggest top players should be paid lavishly for their role in raking in TV rights money and merchandise sales, but it does represent a departure from the NCAA's previous stance. The NCAA has long maintained that to protect the principles of amateurism, college athletes should not be compensated aside from scholarships that cover tuition, room and board, and little else.

The problem with the PBS segment is that it identified a problem yet offered little in the way of a practical solution.

What critics of the current system often neglect is that the money generated by college basketball's NCAA tournament goes to help schools fund non-revenue sports like soccer, volleyball or track and field. If the revenue March Madness produces were used to pay college basketball players, cash-strapped universities would have to find another way to fund these other sports or they'd have to cut them entirely.

Furthermore, determining which athletes to pay and how much to pay them would be a nightmarish process.

Do you only pay athletes in revenue-producing sports like football, men's basketball and in some cases hockey or women's basketball? Do you pay the star point guard and the 11th man off the bench equally? Does the money come from the universities, or should the NCAA simply make it legal for agents to compensate the players with pro potential whom they hope to one day sign as clients?

Most everyone can agree that Michigan shouldn't be selling Chris Webber jerseys without him seeing some of the profit. The challenge of how to fix the system is a complex one to which there are few perfect solutions.

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Patrick Peterson, Are You Sure You Don?t Know Will Lyles?

Patrick Peterson: It's been a wild 24 hours for the former LSU star. Last night, a former Texas A&M assistant made some bold claims about Peterson and shady recruiting service guy Will Lyles. Peterson staunchly denied them today. But it didn't take long for a Rivals writer to unearth this story from 2007 when Peterson [...]

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