Commonwealth Power Rankings, February 18th

With March right around the corner, what teams will make the NCAA Tournament? VCU could be the only at large pick from the Commonwealth.

February 18, 2013; 12:38 PM • by RVANews staff

And the upset of the week is…Longwood over Radford. It’s embarrassing enough losing to Longwood, but the Lancers handed the Hilltoppers a 15-point thumping in a loss that could rival UVA losing to ODU in December.

After winning six of their last seven games, including a few blow-outs, Virginia found themselves atop the CPR last week. The recognition was deserved, but they followed it up by allowing UNC to score 93 points on Saturday. For a team that prides themselves on defense, that’s an embarrassing 1.35 points per possession.

Meanwhile, VCU went vintage (December being vintage) and dominated Massachusetts and George Washington in two of their most convincing A-10 victories. HAVOC! is back and it will be thoroughly tested over the coming month.

With March right around the corner, what teams will make the NCAA Tournament? VCU could be the only at large pick from the Commonwealth. With the loss, UVA is back on the bubble and they have at Miami, Duke, at Florida State, and Maryland still on their schedule. Norfolk State is cruising, but a MEAC Tournament loss will sour their attempt to encore last season’s topping of Mizzou.

The remaining 11 teams in Virginia are playing for bragging rights and an outside chance at earning an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament. Well, everyone except for ODU whose lame duck season can’t be over soon enough.

— ∮∮∮ —

⬆1

5 PTS

VCU

21-5, 9-2

The Rams beat UMASS and GW by a combined 45 points. That’s not a bad week.Aaron Williams

2⬇

7 PTS

Virginia

18-7, 8-4

Raise your hand if you thought that, at this point in ACC play, Virginia would be sitting third in the conference? Put your hand down, you’re lying.Brian Leung

3

12 PTS

Norfolk State

16-10, 11-0

The Spartans join Miami, Memphis, Gonzaga, Louisiana Tech, and Akron as the only undefeated teams in conference play.Aaron Williams

4

19 PTS

George Mason

15-11, 8-6

George Mason thought they could compete in the A-10?Aaron Williams

⬆4

19 PTS

Richmond

15-11, 5-6

Spiders are now 4-0 on the season when games go to overtime, but UR had to go to OT to fend off a lackluster St. Bona.Joshua Grice

6

25 PTS

Virginia Tech

11-14, 2-10

Despite eight straight losses, the Hokies are better than their record indicates–and they still have Erick Green, the nation’s leading scorer.Gary Cope

7

29 PTS

JMU

16-12, 10-5

The Dukes have won two straight heading into a game this week at first-place Northeastern and still hold an outside shot of winning the CAA regular-season title.Mark Selig

8

38 PTS

VMI

11-13, 6-6

VMI lost to Radford who lost to Longwood.Aaron Williams

9

32 PTS

William & Mary

11-13, 5-9

The Tribe picked up two wins this week.Gary Cope

10

37 PTS

Hampton

10-13, 7-3

The Pirates are winners of five straight but face Norfolk State next. Pirates vs. Spartans, sounds like a JJ Abrams movie.Gary Cope

11

44 PTS

Liberty

9-18, 5-8

Is there such thing as a red cold flame?Gary Cope

12

48 PTS

Radford

12-15, 6-7

A 15-point loss to Longwood should result in automatic last place.Aaron Williams

13

52 PTS

Old Dominion

3-23, 1-13

ODU continues to play in a world of its own.Brian Leung

14

53 PTS

Longwood

5-22, 2-11

LOOK OUT! Longwood has won two of their last three! Don’t call it a comeback!Brian Leung

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