RICHMOND, Va. — Tents are popping up outside the VCU Siegel Center in Richmond as students camp out to ensure good seats for Saturday’s match-up against the #7-ranked and currently undefeated University of Virginia Cavaliers. The Cavaliers will be the highest-ranked team to take on the Rams at the Stu.
“We’re really fortunate here. We’ve got a terrific group of students and fans that support our team and have a level of passion in enthusiasm about our team, so we are appreciative of that,” VCU Rams men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart said about the tent city dubbed “Shakaville.”
Smart said the tents tend to come out during Rams’ games against conference rivals, but admitted “usually we are not playing a home non-conference game of this magnitude.”
Coming off a win at then-undefeated and #21-ranked Maryland, the Cavaliers visit to the Stu may be one of the most anticipated college basketball games in recent Richmond history.
VCU, which began the season ranked in the Top 25, has lost two of its last four games. Both losses were away from home.
VCU went 15-0 last year in home games at the Siegel Center. The Rams won their first two home games this season.
