Hard to see a situation where VCU doesn’t finish either fifth or, more likely, sixth in the CAA standings. The Rams have unfavorable tiebreakers in most scenarios.

    Which leads to the what if? question. What if VCU had held its second-half lead against George Mason and not lost in overtime? That was a two-game swing that would have had the Rams and Patriots swapping places in the standings. VCU would be tied for third with William and Mary, and George Mason would be tied for fifth with Drexel.
 
    As it is, VCU needs some unlikely help to get into one of the top four spots and get a first-round bye in the tournament. Northeastern’s loss Tuesday helped some by putting Old Dominion alone in first, but probably not enough.

    Old Dominion (14-3) and Northeastern (13-4) have taken two spots. William and Mary (11-5) has another spot for the taking. Hard to see the Tribe losing against Towson and UNC Wilmington.
 
    Mason is 11-5, VCU and Drexel 10-6. Mason has to play Delaware and at home against Northeastern. VCU has James Madison and a game at Old Dominion. Drexel has UNCW and James Madison.
 
  VCU needs to win twice. Then it needs Mason to lose twice and Drexel to lose once; or William and Mary to lose once.
   
  VCU loses out in scenarios with three-way ties.