RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- VCU President Michael Rao says the
university Is leaving the Colonial Athletic Association and will
join the Atlantic 10.

The president said at press conference Tuesday to announce the
move that "premier universities are premier across the board and
that include athletics."

Rao says the switch will take effect in all sports on July 1,
2012.

With VCU's basketball program on the rise under coach Shaka
Smart the Rams want to become NCAA tournament regulars.

VCU became the biggest story of the 2011 NCAA tournament when
they were one of the most controversial schools invited as an
at-large entry. They went from the First Four to the Final Four,
but would rather not have to win the conference tournament to be
assured a spot in the NCAA field.