Don't call this VCU a Cinderella? Glass slipper doesn't fit No. 11 Rams vs. No. 3 Illinois

kAm%92E H2D E96 >6DD28:?8 2?5 >:?5D6E 7C@> 'r& A=2J6CD :? E96:C =@4<6C C@@> F?56C E96 q@? $64@FCD (6==?6DD r6?E6C @? uC:52J]k^Am

kAmp7E6C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G4F2E9=6E:4D]4@>^DA@CED^>6?D\32D<6E32==^D4965F=6^a_ad\aeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}@] ``\D665 #2>Dk^2m Wag\fX D9@4<65 E96 H@C=5 2?5 42AEFC65 E96 ?2E:@?VD 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 :>28:?2E:@? H:E9 E96:C 9:DE@C:4 `h\A@:?E D64@?5\92=7 4@>6324< 2?5 ga\fg @G6CE:>6 G:4E@CJ @G6C }@] e }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 :? %9FCD52JVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?422]4@>^>2C49\>25?6DD\=:G6^H2E49n4:5l>>=0E>808@@8=6D62C49U2>Aj4:5l>>=0E>808@@8=6D62C49U2>Aj8250D@FC46l`U2>Aj825042>A2:8?:5labdg_ehabb`U2>Aj83C2:5l_ppppps9)`r@`3Ht8:?xwd0@"vswpHg!d4U2>Aj84=:5lr;_zr";Hc!!}q9sgp#xDp|@\:4HgKh~q\IbfdzxE5*606BFt=cG{06vA$h}Jzg|<7B%4urF&G@p!30"2p8<3tp{H0H4qQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}rpp E@FC?2>6?Ek^2m 7:CDE C@F?5[ A@=:E6=J :?EC:8F65 C6A@CE6CD 4@G6C:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7:89E:?8:==:?:]4@>^DA@CED^>6?D\32D<6E32==^D4965F=6^a_ad\aeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm}@] b x==:?@:Dk^2m 2DD6>3=65 :? E96 #2>D =@4<6C C@@> E@ 2D< A=2J6CD BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96:C ?6IE @AA@?6?E] k^Am

kAm'r& H:== >66E E96 }@] `b\C2?<65 x==:?: Wad\gX @? $2EFC52J 2E fid_ A]>] :? E96 #@F?5 @7 ba H:E9 2 EC:A E@ E96 $H66E `e @? E96 =:?6] x==:?@:D C@FE65 }@] `c !6?? `_d\f_ :? E96 =2E6 82>6 27E6C 'r&\&}r %9FCD52J ?:89E]k^Am

kAm%96 G:4E@CJ H2D E96 =2C86DE 4@>6324< :? }rpp E@FC?2>6?E 7:CDE\C@F?5 9:DE@CJ] !6@A=6 F?72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 #2>D AC@8C2> D66 Q}@] `` 'r&Q 2?5 E9:?< >:5\>2;@C 8:2?E <:==6C[ s2G:5 GD] v@=:2E9[ y@6J #@5C:8F6K D:K:?8 FA E96 |@CC:D EH:?D]k^Am

kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5aaeaahd\`d44\c44`\3e7`\g_h`egh6f4abQm%96 8C62E6DE H:? :? 'r& 9:DE@CJn }rpp E@FC?2>6?E 4@>6324< GD] }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 D9@4<D H@C=5k^2mk^Am

kAmqFE E92EVD ?@E 9@H E96 #2>D D66 E96>D6=G6D] %96J 5@?VE H2?E E@ 36 r:?56C6==2[ 2?5 E96J 5:5?VE D66 E96:C H:? @G6C &}r 2D 2? FAD6E] k^Am

kAmQ(6 <?@H Wx==:?@:D :DX 2 8C62E @776?D:G6 E62>[ E96J CF? E96:C D496>6D C62==J H6==[ E96JVC6 G6CJ H6== 4@24965 2?5 E96JVG6 8@E 8C62E A=2J6CD[Q D2:5 #2>D 7C6D9>2? 8F2C5 }J< {6H:D[ E96 pE=2?E:4 `_ C@@<:6 @7 E96 J62C]k^Am

kAmQ(6VC6 2 G6CJ 72DE\A2465 E62>[ D@ x 766= =:<6 E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ H62C E96> 5@H?] %96J 92G6 2 =@E @7 H62A@?D[ 3FE H6 92G6 2 =@E @7 H62A@?D E@@] xE :D 2=H2JD 2 8C62E =6824J 36:?8 'r& :? E96 W}rppX E@FC?2>6?E[ 3FE x H@F=5?VE 42== FD 2 r:?56C6==2] (6VC6 ;FDE 8@:?8 @FE E96C6 H:E9 2 49:A @? @FC D9@F=56C[ C625J E@ AC@G6 6G6CJ3@5J HC@?8]Qk^Am

kAmp5565 D6?:@C 7@CH2C5 q2CCJ tG2?Di Q}229[ H6 5@?VE E9:?< @7 FD 2D 2 r:?56C6==2]Qk^Am

kAm%96 x==:?: 2C6 2 E2== E2D<[ =:E6C2==J 2?5 7:8FC2E:G6=J[ E@ 36 DFC6] qFE {6H:D 9:E E96 ?2:= @? E96 9625 H:E9 9:D C676C6?46 E@ A246]k^Am

kAm%96 4@?EC2DE :? E96 >2E49FA :D @3G:@FD — x==:?@:D :D E96 E2==6DE E62> :? E96 4@F?ECJ H:E9 2? 2G6C286 96:89E @7 g_ :?496D We]ef 766EX[ 3@2DED E96 ?2E:@?VD E@A @776?D6 :? 25;FDE65 677:4:6?4J 2?5 :D E9:C5 :? E96 4@F?ECJ :? @776?D:G6 C63@F?5 A6C46?E286]k^Am

kAmqFE E96 x==:?:VD H62<?6DD :D 6BF2==J 2AA2C6?E] x==:?@:D A=2JD D=@H WafeE9 :? 25;FDE65 E6>A@X 2?5 :D 5625 =2DE ?2E:@?2==J :? 3@E9 EFC?@G6C 2?5 DE62= A6C46?E286 @? E96 5676?D:G6 6?5]k^Am

kAm$@ 'r& H:== D66< E@ DA665 E96 82>6 FA[ EFC? x==:?@:D @G6C WE9@F89 E92EV== 36 E@F89 282:?DE E96 ?2E:@?VD D:IE9\=@H6DE @776?D:G6 EFC?@G6C A6C46?E286 E62>X 2?5 DAC625 E96 7=@@C E@ >2<6 >2<6 E96 x==:?:VD 3:8D 4@>6 @FE E@ 5676?5 E96 A6C:>6E6C] k^Am

kAm#2>D ;F?:@C 7@CH2C5 |:4926= q6==6[ H9@ A@DE65 6:89E A@:?ED 2?5 >2E4965 {6H:D 7@C E96 E62> =625 :? C63@F?5D H:E9 D6G6? 282:?DE &}r[ D2:5 'r& H:== 92G6 E@ 4C2D9 E96 8=2DD 4@==64E:G6=J[ 2?5 36 C625J E@ AC@G:56 96=A 5676?D6 :? E96 A@DE :? 2? 677@CE E@ ?6FEC2=:K6 E96 x==:?:VD D:K6 2?5 24F>6? @? E96 8=2DD]k^Am

kAmQ%96JVC6 7C@?E4@FCE :D AC6EEJ 3:8 2?5 A9JD:42=[ D@ E92E H2D @?6 @7 E96 <6J E9:?8D :? @FC D4@FEW:?8 C6A@CEX[ 5676?D:G6 C63@F?5:?8[ AFD9 E96 A246 2?5 86E @FE :? EC2?D:E:@? =:<6 H6 5@ D@ H6==[Q q6==6 D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ%96J 567:?:E6=J =:<6 A=2J:?8 282:?DE D6E 5676?D6D[ D@ H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ ECJ 2?5 86E @FE :? EC2?D:E:@?]Qk^Am

kAm%96 =:?6 :D D:8?:7:42?E] x==:?@:D @A6?65 2D 2 h]d\A@:?E 72G@C:E6 2?5[ 2D @7 uC:52J ?:89E[ E92E 925 366? 36E FA E@ ``]d]k^Am

kAm%96 #2>D H@?VE >:?5 E9@F89] %96JVC6 92AAJ E@ 36 E96 F?56C5@8] k^Am

kAmQ(6 E9:?< @7 @FCD6=G6D 2D F?56C5@8D[ 3FE H6 92G6 D@ >F49 E2=6?E[ H6 H@F=5?VE 92G6 >256 :E E@ E96 D64@?5 C@F?5 2?5 >256 E92E 4@>6324< E92E H6 5:5 =2DE ?:89E[Q q6==6 D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ(6 567:?:E6=J AFE E96 4@F?ECJ @? ?@E:46] xEVD 2 8@@5 766=:?8] 'r& 92D 2=H2JD 366? @G6C=@@<65 :? E96:C 9:DE@CJ[ 6G6? E9@F89 :EVD DF49 2 8C62E[ DF446DD7F= AC@8C2>] (6 <?@H H92E E92E 4@>6D H:E9] (96? 8FJD A=2J 282:?DE 'r&[ E96JV== =@@< 2 =:EE=6 5@H? @? FD] qFE x 766= =:<6 E92E 96=AD FD :? E96 =@?8 E6C>]Q k^Am

kAmuC6D9>2? 8F2C5 z62E@? (28=6C We\7@@E\eX =625D x==:?@:D :? D4@C:?8 W`f]h A@:?ED A6C 82>6X 2?5 2DD:DED Wc]d A6C 82>6X] ~?6 H@F=5 2DDF>6 96V== 36 E96 2DD:8?>6?E 7@C #2>D D@A9@>@C6 8F2C5 qC2?5@? y6??:?8D[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 pE=2?E:4 `_ 2==\5676?D:G6 E62>]k^Am

kAm|@?E6?68C:? 7C6D9>2? 7@CH2C5 s2G:5 |:C<@G:4 We\h[ addX :D E96 x==:?:VD =625:?8 C63@F?56C Wg]_ CA8X] $6?:@C 8F2C5 zJ=2? q@DH6== W`b]a AA8X :D E96 36DE A6C:>6E6C 5676?56C] w6 H2D @? E96 q:8 %6? 2==\5676?D:G6 E62>[ 2?5 D9@F=5 5C2H E96 2DD:8?>6?E @7 8F2C5:?8 #2>D =625:?8 D4@C6C %6CC6?46 w:== yC]k^Am

kAm%@>:D=2G xG:D:4 Wf\`[ addX 2?5 +G@?:>:C xG:D:4 Wf\a[ acdj E62>\9:89 a]` 3=@4<D A6C 82>6X 2C6 >2DD:G6 rC@2E:2? EH:? 3C@E96CD 2?5 7@C> E96 962CE @7 E96 x==:?:VD :>A@D:?8 7C@?E4@FCE]k^Am

kAmyF?:@C 8F2C5 p?5C6; $E@;2<@G:4 We\f[ a_dX :D 2 ?2>6 32D<6E32== 72?D D9@F=5 C64@8?:K6] %96 D@? @7 E9C66\E:>6 }qp p==\$E2C !6;2 $E@;2<@G:4[ 96 2G6C286D `b]b A@:?ED[ E9:C5 @? E96 E62> 369:?5 (28=6C 2?5 |:C<@G:4 W`b]g AA8X]k^Am

kAm'r& ;F?:@C $6C3:2? 7@CH2C5 {2K2C s;@<@G:4 :D 72>:=:2C H:E9 x==:?@:DV 4@==64E:@? @7 tFC@A62? E2=6?E[ 2D 96 H2D H:E9 &}r tDE@?:2? 3:8 >2? w6?C: '66D22C]k^Am

kAmQx <?@H 2 =@E @7 E96> D:?46 x H2D `c[ D:?46 x DE2CE65 C62==J A=2J:?8[ 86EE:?8 =@4<65 :? @? 32D<6E32==] %96JVC6 C62==J D<:==65 2?5 3:8] %96 :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 :D H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 4@?E2:? E96 7:CDE D9@E C62==J H6==[ 3FE :EVD E96 D64@?5 D9@E E92E H6 C63@F?5 E96 32==[Q s;@<@G:4 We\``[ abdX D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ%96JVC6 4C2D9:?8 WE96 8=2DDX 6G6CJ A=2J] (96? H6 C63@F?5[ H6VC6 C62==J 8@@5 :? EC2?D:E:@?[ 2?5 x 766= =:<6 E92EVD H96C6 H6 42? 9FCE E96>]Qk^Am

kAmpD #2>D 7:CDE\J62C 4@249 !9:= |2CE6==: yC] DEF5:65 x==:?@:D :? E96 H66 9@FCD @7 %9FCD52J ?:89E :?E@ uC:52J >@C?:?8[ 96 7@C465 9:>D6=7 E@ 4=@D6 9:D 6J6D 7@C 2 >@5:4F> @7 D=66A E92E 5:5 ?@E 4@>6 62D:=J @C =2DE =@?8]k^Am

kAm|2CE6==: D2:5 QDA665 GD] D:K6Q :D 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 56D4C:AE@C 7@C 'r& GD] x==:?@:D] w:D 3C@E96C[ #2>D 2DD@4:2E6 9625 4@249 y:>>J |2CE6==:[ 92D q:8 %6? 72>:=:2C:EJ 7C@> 9:D E:>6 @? |:<6 #9@256DV DE277 2E !6?? $E2E6[ 2?5 =65 'r&VD D4@FE:?8 @7 2?5 AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C E96 x==:?:]k^Am

kAmQ%96JVC6 E96 3:886DE E62> :? E96 4@F?ECJ] *@F D66 E92E[ J@F 766= E92E] (6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ FD6 @FC 5:DCFAE:@?[ FD6 @FC 2E9=6E:4:D> 2?5 FD6 @FC 5:DCFAE:@?] (6 92G6 E@ 5676?5[ H6 92G6 E@ C63@F?5[Q |2CE6==: D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ(92E x E@=5 E9@D6 8FJD :D 6G6CJ E:>6 J@F H:? :? |2C49[ E96 H:?D 766= 36EE6C 2?5 36EE6C 2D J@F 8@ 2=@?8] {2DE ?:89E 76=E AC6EEJ 8@@5] (:??:?8 E96 Wp\`_X 492>A:@?D9:A 76=E 8@@5] x7 J@F H2?E E@ 766= 2 AC6EEJ DH66E 766=:?8[ J@F 8@ 86E W}rpp E@FC?2>6?E H:?X }@] a E@>@CC@H] xE H:== 46CE2:?=J 36 2 492==6?86]Qk^Am