VCU is Virginia Commonwealth University, and it is located in Richmond, Virginia. That answer matters a lot more today because VCU is no longer just North Carolina’s first-round opponent — the Rams already beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime on Thursday and advanced to face No. 3 seed Illinois on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament second round. VCU says it has 29,288 students, and public admissions profiles place the acceptance rate a little above 90%.
Readers searching“Where is VCU?” are usually doing so because the acronym disconnects the school from the city. But this is not just a basic geography post. VCU is a familiar March name, back in the field for its 21st NCAA tournament appearance, and this matchup has a lot more upset potential than a standard 11-vs-6 throwaway.
Where is VCU?
VCU is in Richmond, Virginia. The university’s fact page lists 29,288 students, including more than 21,800 undergraduates, which makes it one of the larger public universities in this group of tournament stories.
VCU enrollment and acceptance rate
VCU’s official university facts list 29,288 students. Public admissions profiles put the acceptance rate at roughly 92%. The bigger takeaway for this story is that VCU is a large, urban public university with an established basketball brand, not a school people only learn about once every March.
How did VCU get here?
VCU did not sneak into the field. The Rams won the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship, securing the league’s automatic bid, and the school’s NCAA release said this is the program’s 21st NCAA Tournament appearance. The Rams had also won 16 of their previous 17 games entering the bracket.
That matters because it gives this upset more context. VCU is coached by Phil Martelli Jr., who was hired in March 2025, and this year’s team arrived with real momentum, not just nostalgia from past March runs.
Can VCU keep this going against Illinois?
That is the next question now. VCU is scheduled to face Illinois on Saturday at 7:50 p.m. ET after the Rams improved to 28-7 by knocking out North Carolina. Illinois, meanwhile, advanced by beating Penn 105-70.
The turnaround is the real storyline. VCU just spent emotional energy on one of the tournament’s wildest rallies, and now it has to deal with a higher seed less than 48 hours later. But the Rams have already shown why higher-seeded teams hate seeing them in this spot: pressure, resilience, and guards capable of taking over late.
Has VCU ever won an NCAA tournament game?
Yes. VCU is making its 21st NCAA tournament appearance, and the program’s March history is one reason casual fans still know the Rams brand even if they do not immediately remember where the school is located.
VCU stats and top scorers
VCU entered the tournament at 27-7 and is led by Nyk Lewis, who scored 17 points with 11 rebounds in the A-10 title game against Dayton. Recent tournament coverage also points to the Rams’ depth and pressure style as part of what makes them such an uncomfortable first-round opponent.
That is the real bracket hook here. VCU is not just geographically easy to explain. It is also one of the teams higher seeds usually do not love seeing in this slot.
Where Is VCU? The School That Just Knocked Out North Carolina