Man that was one heck of a game Tuesday night, wasn't it?
Virginia gave North Carolina all it could handle and then some. I think the 'Hoos gave everyone a little surprise. All I heard in the days leading up to the game was how Virginia was going to get smashed by the Tar Heels. I don't think anyone gave them a chance, here at U.Va. or elsewhere. Everyone seemed to be expecting a repeat of the Clemson game, or worse.
I sure am glad the players on the team believed in themselves more than their fans, because they gave everyone in attendance and everyone watching on TV one whale of a game to witness. I mean, sure, our hearts were broken once again for like the millionth time this men's basketball season, but wasn't it a fun game to be at compared to the game last Thursday? At least we had something to cheer for the entire game and something to be proud of when the final buzzer sounded. Our Cavaliers almost pulled off the upset of the year in college basketball. I could just see Roy Williams' hair getting grayer the closer Virginia inched to taking the lead in the second half.
I was as embarrassed as anybody after the Clemson game to be a Wahoo fan, but c'mon, let's at least back up our boys a little bit. I'm going to brag a little here and point out that I never said we would get destroyed by Carolina. I did not think we would win, sure, but I thought we had a fighter's chance. I thought the Clemson game was an anomaly and the Cavaliers would be able to shake a game like that off, get it out of their system and get back to playing respectable basketball. And they did.
Virginia has one of the most determined players I've ever seen play in Sean Singletary, and I don't see him -- having as big a heart as he does -- letting the Cavaliers get taken behind the woodshed for every game the rest of the season.
In a year when the team is playing sub-par, it won't help the situation if the fans turn their backs on the team -- that would only make the situation worse. If the Cavaliers are to make anything out of this season, they are going to need fans to support them. I'm not talking about the NCAA Tournament. It would take a minor miracle for the 'Hoos to make the Big Dance now. All I'm talking about is the Cavaliers making the most of the games they have left. If that means winning those games, that's great. If that means being in every game and giving the fans something to go bonkers over like Tuesday night, even though they may lose, that's great, too. If anything, Virginia should be able to play looser now because it doesn't have the pressure of being a "bubble" team.
Without trying to make this sound like a repeat of Paul Montana's Wednesday column, I urge fans to not quit on these players. I don't think they will. If they keep giving it their all every night and keep putting forth the effort to be in every game, special things could happen during these last several games.
Two of the games remaining are huge: a nationally televised bout with Duke on ESPN March 5 at home and the seniors' last home game against Maryland March 9.
Yes, I know, some of you will not be here for the Duke game because of Spring Break, but if you will be here, you should definitely come, because the 'Hoos will need lots of back up from the JPJ crowd to pull off the monumental upset.
I don't think I have to say much about the senior night game against the Terrapins. Singletary's last home performance of his career should be electric, and the game itself should be a barn-burner. Singletary won't be going down without a fight in that one. Greivis Vasquez will have his hands full, I can promise you that.
The fans can put the rest of this season to use however they want. They can quit on the team and be miserable for the rest of the season or they can put the losses behind them, forget about the team's record and make JPJ intimidating for the remaining visiting teams.
I think an interesting note to end on is to draw a parallel between this men's basketball season and the football season. Whereas the football team was getting all the breaks and winning the close games for most of the season, the basketball team has endured the opposite fate, losing the close games and not getting the bounces or breaks it needs at the right time. But what happened to the football team? It finally faltered in failing to win a close game with its loss in the Gator Bowl. I don't think this basketball season can progress the way it has for the rest of the season. Eventually, the team will have a breakthrough game, and you won't want to miss it.
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