Getting things started today will be the Hofstra Pride and the Towson Tigers. The teams are playing for the right to face No. 1 VCU tomorrow morning, which will likely be the end of their stay in Richmond. Hofstra lost twice to the Rams this season, Towson also lost it’s only game against the Rams.

VCU coach Anthony Grant is in the building, and was seen grabbing media guides for each of these two schools. He will watch attentively from courtside with two of his assistants, who appear to have found the free bagels.

As we warm up the blog, here’s your guide to the two schools:

No. 8 Hofstra Pride (8-10 CAA, 12-17)
Location/Enrollment: Long Island, NY/13,000
Last time out: Defeated Drexel 56-48
Watch out for: Guard Antoine Agudio is the team’s all-time leading scorer, and is averaging 22.5 points per game this season.
Most foreign player: Arminas Urbutis is from Kaunas, Lithuania
Most local (to Richmond) player: Kevin Nee is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Relevant: Freshman guard Charles Jenkins leads all CAA freshmen in scoring with 15.1 ppg.
Irrelevant: The New York Jets hold training camp on Hofstra’s campus.

No. 9 Towson Tigers (7-11 CAA, 12-17)
Location/Enrollment:Towson, Maryland/18,011
Last time out: Defeated Delaware 89-74
Watch out for: Turnovers. The Tigers are in the top 10 nationally in turnovers per game, with 11.6.
Most foreign player: Forward Sean Raboin is from Columbia, Missouri
Most local (to Richmond) player: Forward Tony Durant is from Suitland, Maryland
Relevant: Towson has only advanced out of the first round once in the last four years.
Irrelevant: Until the 1960’s, Towson’s teams were known as the knights.