RICHMOND, Va. – VCU and Butler have seemingly been linked since Shaka Smart and the Rams met Brad Stevens and the Bulldogs in the most unlikely of Final Four matchups two years ago.
On Saturday, they will meet again — this time with Atlantic 10 Conference title implications on the line.
Smart became a rock star among college coaches with that 2011 Final Four run, but he says comparing his program to what No. 20 Butler has done is misguided because the Bulldogs have sustained their success by becoming postseason regulars and reaching the national championship game in back-to-back seasons.
Smart says anyone who still considers Butler a mid-major is "out of their minds."
VCU (22-6, 10-3) is second in the A-10 standings and a game ahead of Butler (22-6, 9-4).
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