Virginia fans bristle when someone suggests that something is lacking in Tony Bennett’s resume. I can understand it too. Virginia under Tony Bennett has been enormously successful. They have plenty of wins against Duke and UNC. There are #1 seeds, 30+ wins seasons, ACC regular and tournament titles. If there’s something to accomplish in the regular season, Virginia has done it.
It’s just never happened in NCAA tournament for Virginia. For all the success Virginia has had under Bennett, they still haven’t been to a Final 4. From the losses to Michigan State to last year’s loss to UMBC, Virginia has had plenty of March heartache. Fair or not until Virginia reaches a Final 4, there will always be critics and skeptics of the Virginia program.
Even if Virginia bows out of the tournament this upcoming weekend, the Hoos have the staying power to make several more runs at the Final 4 and a possible national title. This isn’t a make or break weekend for Virginia, but their time has come.
In their first game of the tournament, Gardner-Webb opened up a 14 point lead on Virginia. Virginia faced with another 16-1 upset could have panicked and fell apart. Gardner-Webb already had beat two ACC teams this year in Wake Forest and Georgia Tech so it was not out of the question that Gardner-Webb could beat Virginia given the early lead. Virginia righted the ship and locked down on defense and won 71-56.
Virginia followed that up with a 63-51 win over Oklahoma in a game that was never in doubt.
Here’s why Virginia is going to reach the Final 4 this weekend. They are winning despite not playing their best basketball. They are winning even though their All-American Kyle Guy has gone 1 for 15 from 3 point land. Guy is going to heat up, and it will be in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.
Virginia in the Sweet 16 plays a much improved 12 seed Oregon team. Oregon is playing some quality basketball, but they are widely regarded as the weakest Sweet 16 team remaining the field. Tennessee for all their athleticism is prone to long stretches of sloppy play. That’s not something you want against a team like Virginia. Purdue has played well, but Carson Edwards isn’t scoring 42 points against Virginia like he did against Villanova. The Boilermakers can tend to be a one man show, and that’s not a recipe for success when you play a team as good defensively as Virginia.
Virginia just needs to play anywhere like they are capable of and they are going to the Final 4. Pack your bags Virginia fans, you are headed to Minneapolis. .
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