A late surge by the Orange torpedoed the Cavaliers’ quest for their first Final Four berth since 1984, but the real success for coach Tony Bennett’s team came in the manner they comported themselves against the challenges of the regular season.
Top-seeded Virginia got a taste of its own medicine Sunday night, and boy it sure was bitter. The Cavaliers (29-8) led No. 10 seed Syracuse 35-21 at the half, but the Orange (23-13) unleashed a torrid 25-4 run to win 68-62 and reach the Final Four.
Senior center Mike Tobey scored a season-high 18 points off the bench as No. 1 seed Virginia dismissed No. 4 seed Iowa State 84-71 in the Midwest Regional Semifinals in Chicago, Ill.
The No. 18 Virginia baseball team won its second straight conference series, with two wins in three games against Wake Forest. The Cavaliers (15-6, 4-2 ACC) swept the Demon Deacons (13-9, 2-4 ACC) Friday before dropping the series finale Saturday.
No stranger to having his name called, senior guard Malcolm Brogdon was once again tasked with rising to the challenge Saturday night. As has so often been the case, Brogdon responded and took over both ends of the court while leading No. 1 seed Virginia past No. 9 seed Butler, 77-69.
Hampton embraced their role of spoiler, and did what any team punching above their weight must do — hit hard and hit early.
The NCAA tournament expanded to a 64-team field in 1985. In that span of time, No. 16 seeds are 0-124 against their top-seeded opponents.
Saturday night’s ACC Tournament championship game seemed to be a matchup made in heaven — the top-two teams in the nation’s premier league slugging it out with conference dominance on the line. The dream slowly devolved into a nightmare for second-seeded Virginia.
Coach Tony Bennett could not keep his joy hidden. Sitting at the podium after his second-seeded Virginia team defeated Miami 73-68 Friday night to reach his second ACC Tournament championship in three years.
For the second game in a row coach Tony Bennett emptied his bench. No. 2 seed Virginia played its reserves Thursday night in a 72-52 quarterfinal victory No. 10 seed Georgia Tech.
