RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams and University of Richmond Spiders Men’s Basketball teams are both heading into the final Capital City Classic of this season with winning streaks — but just one has a comfortable position at the top of the Atlantic 10 Conference standings.
The Spiders are going into their third-to-last game of their regular season at No. 1 in the conference standings with a conference record of 13-2, meaning they’re guaranteed a double-bye in this year’s A-10 Tournament, which goes from Tuesday, March 12 to Sunday, March 17.
The Rams are currently at No. 4 in the A-10 with a conference record of 11-4, meaning they will also secure a double-bye if they can stay in that position through the final three games of their regular season.
The Rams are two games ahead of the No. 5 and No. 6 teams, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen and St. Bonaventure Bonnies, either of which could end up with the same conference record as the Rams if they win their final two games and the Rams lose all three of theirs.
The Minutemen and Bonnies are both facing bottom-half teams to close out their regular seasons, meaning both could easily end up with the same amount of wins that the Rams currently have.
The Rams face both of the conference’s top two teams in their last three games of the season — the Spiders tonight and the Dayton Flyers to close out the season on Friday. The game in between is against the 7-8 Duquesne Dukes, who have won three of their last four.
Keeping their composure through the season and remaining in their top-four position would mean the Rams would not have to face an opponent in the A-10 Tournament until the quarterfinal, which takes place on day 3.
Rams at Spiders tips off tonight at 6 p.m. at the Robins Center.
