Commonwealth Power Rankings, April 12th

Bragging rights are all the matter right now, and only one team could take home the top spot in this year’s final CPR!

April 12, 2013; 11:12 AM • by RVANews staff

The college basketball season came a dramatic end on Monday with Louisville beating Michigan in the national championship in Atlanta. While VCU, JMU, and Liberty didn’t make it past the first weekend of the tournament, UVA made it to the NIT quarterfinal, and George Mason forced game three in the CBI Final.

Basketball in the Commonwealth has been finished for a week and the countdown to next season is well under way. A majority of the schools are expected to be even better next season. VCU returns their dynamic front court, UVA returns plenty of talent while adding the best recruiting class in the state, George Mason returns everything including Sherrod Wright, ODU cant possibly be worse than 5-25, Norfolk State and Hampton will be at the top of the MAAC, Richmond’s forwards will be older than 18, and Liberty and Longwood finally started putting the pieces together at the end of this season.

It’s now the time of year where sunny days are broken up by endless speculation about next season, and fans can’t stop talking about the upside of the incoming recruits. For the next six months basketball players will take to the gym and weight room, and teams won’t be able to settle things on the hardwood. Bragging rights are all the matter right now, and only one team could take home the top spot in this year’s final CPR!

— ∮∮∮ —

1

4 PTS

VCU

27-9, 12-4

It took five future pros and a “neutral” court to stop HAVOC! this year. The Rams weren’t the best team in Auburn Hills, MI, but they were undoubtedly the best team in the Commonwealth this season.Aaron Williams

2

8 PTS

Virginia

23-12, 11-7

The Cavaliers really put the selection committee through the wringer by beating Duke, but losing to George Mason, Delaware, and ODU. They’ll be back next season and they may even make the tourney.Aaron Williams

3

16 PTS

Norfolk State

21-12, 16-0

Back-to-back losses wasn’t the story-book ending the Spartans wanted after winning 15 straight games. Norfolk State will be back better than ever next season.Aaron Williams

⬆4

18 PTS

JMU

21-15, 11-7

The Dukes reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years and did it by winning a historically weak CAA that had just seven tournament-eligible teams.Mark Selig

5⬇

20 PTS

Richmond

19-15, 8-8

The Charlotte game will haunt the Spiders for a while. So much confusion, so much frustration, all culminated into three controversial fouls that spanned a total of five seconds. Next season the Rob is being renovated–hopefully the team will be as well.Joshua Grice

⬆6

21 PTS

George Mason

22-16, 10-8

It’s tough not being clutch. That was certainly the case for Patrick Holloway as he missed a potentially game-tying three that would have moved the Patriots into overtime vs. Santa Clara for the CBI championship crown. At least they’re leaving the decaying CAA, though!Joshua Grice

7⬇

25 PTS

Virginia Tech

13-19, 4-14

Mercifully, the Hokies’ season is over. Sadly, they have to play again next year. With Louisville and Syracuse joining the ACC.Gary Cope

8

35 PTS

Hampton

14-17, 11-5

The Pirates suffered through an 2-10 start, but they finished the season strong behind one of the best defenses in the state.Aaron Williams

⬆9

36 PTS

Liberty

15-21, 6-10

Wait, what? The Flames made the NCAA tournament?Gary Cope

10⬇

37 PTS

William & Mary

13-17, 7-11

If teams keep leaving the CAA, W&M may actually win the conference one of these years.Aaron Williams

11

44 PTS

VMI

14-17, 8-8

Intentionally left blank.Gary Cope

12

50 PTS

Radford

13-19, 7-9

Radford was too small, too young, and they couldn’t score, but they did play defense. First year coach Mike Jones has built the foundation, now can they win in the Big South? Aaron Williams

13

51 PTS

Old Dominion

5-25, 3-15

Last time I check, the Monarchs STILL beat UVA last year. — Gary Cope Gary Cope

14

55 PTS

Longwood

8-25, 4-12

The 13th youngest team in the nation, Longwood finished the season on a 5-4 run. 9 days later, Coach Gillian resigned.Aaron Williams

Contributors: Gary Cope (VT; TechHoops.com), Joshua Grice (UR; Richmond Rowdies), Mark Selig (JMU; DukesOfJMU.com), Aaron Williams (VCU; RVANews)