SELECTION SUNDAY: VCU seeded #12, headed to Portland

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The NCAA Selection Committee has given Virginia Commonwealth University the #12 seed, and placed them in the South region. The Rams will play their first game in Portland against #5 seed Wichita on Thursday.

If they win that match-up, they will go onto to meet the winner of the Indiana (#4) and New Mexico State (#13) game. VCU will tip off at 7:15 eastern time Thursday against Wichita St. CBS 6 will air the game. [Set up your own bracket with March Mayhem]

Last year the VCU Rams received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The bid came as a surprise to some members of the national media who argued VCU did not do enough during the season to deserve a bid in the tournament. [Web Extra: Your A to Z guide for March Madness]

VCU was selected to play in the then newly-formed “First Four” in which bubble teams play each other with the winner moving on to play in the round of 64.

In the First Four, VCU beat Southern California and advanced in the tournament as a #11 seed. VCU went on to win five more games, advancing all the way to the Final Four in Houston, Texas.

This year the Final Four will be played in New Orleans, LA. Below are the dates and locations for the NCAA tournament games.

Tell us in the comments how far you are willing to go to see VCU play. [Web Extra: VCU Students Excited about Another NCAA Run]

Last year Richmond rallied hard behind their two teams that went to the Big Dance, both VCU, and the University of Richmond.

Last year, the further VCU advanced, the more frenzied the celebration became. Shirts rolled off of the presses, sports bars were packed 6 hours before game tip-off, songs were written, students took to the streets and city pride swelled.