2023 NCAA BRACKET (.pdf)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Twelfth-seeded VCU will take on fifth-seeded St. Mary's (Calif.) in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17 at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y.
 
The Rams (27-7) will be making their 19^th all-time tournament appearance and return to the field of 68 following a one-year absence. VCU has reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times since 2004.
 
VCU punched its ticket via a 68-56 win over Dayton in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Game Sunday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Rams have won nine straight games and 22 of their last 25 contests.
 
This will be the second all-time meeting between the Gaels and Rams, both in the NCAA Tournament. St. Mary's topped VCU 85-77 in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
Led by 22^nd-year Head Coach Randy Bennett, the Gaels (26-7) tied for first in the West Coast Conference with Gonzaga. St. Mary's fell in the WCC title game to the Bulldogs 77-51 on March 7. The Gaels boast WCC Defensive Player of the Year Logan Johnson, who averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Gaels are ranked 16^th in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll.
 
NCAA game times and TV info will be released later Sunday night.