ESPN College GameDay hosted by State Farm featured Virginia men’s basketball in Charlottesville for the first time this weekend ahead of the No. 2 Cavaliers’ Saturday night matchup with No. 4 Duke.
Fans showed up at John Paul Jones Arena in droves for the show’s morning edition, filling in particular the seats behind commentators Jay Williams, Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas, who discussed the Virginia-Duke matchup and college basketball in general from a blue podium just above the center-court “V.”
Students and local families waved fatheads, orange foam fingers and signs reading, as a sample: “Our Jefferson is better” (in reference to Blue Devils junior forward Amile Jefferson), “Zone is for Kowards” (referring to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, or “Coach K”) and “Coach K uses Allstate.” A fan in an orange Darth Vader mask held a sign reading, “Duke, I’m your father.”
Williams—once a star point guard at Duke—drained a one-handed 3-pointer. A group of trampoline dunkers, Acrodunk, put on an aerial display before unveiling a Cavaliers banner. Blue and orange streamers appeared in the stands at the start of the 11 a.m. live telecast and highlights of triumphs against the Blue Devils played on the JumboTron before that.
Famed Virginia center Ralph Sampson high-fived fans behind the scorer’s table before joining the GameDay crew to talk hoops. Coach Tony Bennett addressed the crowd, which showed its appreciation with cheers of “Tony, Tony.”
“You hope that someday there will be this much excitement and enthusiasm,” Bennett said. “Thank you for coming, and enjoy the show.”
Virginia student Tyler Lewis hit an $18,000 half-court shot on his fourth attempt. He climbed the scorer’s table after ball found net.
—compiled by Matthew Morris
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