NCAA Tournament: The rebirth of Virginia basketball
Ralph Sampson isn’t walking through the door, but Tony Bennett has the Cavaliers ready to challenge for a national title.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden Age of Virginia basketball occurred years a decade most of the current roster was born. Ralph Sampson led the Hoos to three straight Sweet 16 appearances from 1981-1983, and Virginia re-appeared in the Round of 16 without their vaunted center the following season. But in the 20 years since that great run, Virginia has reached that plateau just four more times. You would be hard-pressed to find a more frustrated fan base in the last three decades, one that is four games away from its first national title.
ACC Coach of the Year Tony Bennett has the Cavaliers in early-80s form, reaching the Round of 16 as the No. 1 seed in the East region. He achieved a top seed by winning Virginia's first outright ACC regular season title since 1983, holding off a talented field that featured Duke, North Carolina and newcomer Syracuse. Bennett topped that achievement by winning the ACC Tournament a few weeks later, the second in school history and first since 1976.
March Madness
The name of the game is defense, and if the Hoos are going to survive four more games, they are going to have to be grueling. According to stat-cruncher Ken Pomeroy, Virginia has the fifth-best defensive squad in the country and fourth overall. Pomeroy also has the Cavs as sixth-slowest team in the nation, using fewer possessions than any other team remaining in the Big Dance. The eye test flushes out most of this, with Virginia opponents appearing to be carrying water coolers on their backs in the second half of games.
But it isn't just defense that carries Virginia, as it sports the nation's 20th-most efficient offense. Four players have averaged double digits in the Cavaliers' first two games, led by 30 total points by Anthony Gill. Balance has been an advantage all season, with a consistent backcourt featuring leading scorers Malcolm Brogdon and Joe Harris.
There are no guarantees as the Hoos battle a very tough Michigan State team in the Sweet 16. Bennett must have Virginia’s rotations in order if it plans to knock off a well-coach team with two potential first-round picks. A win would give the Cavaliers a game against the Iowa State/UConn winner in the East region final. It’s hard to tell where such a tortured fan base would draw the line on a successful season, but Virginia’s first Final Four appearance since 1984 would be a pretty good start.
Virginia tips off against Michigan State Friday night at 10 p.m. ET on TBS.
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