DOUGHERTY: Keys to cutting down the nets
By Alec Dougherty | April 4, 2019A dive into what Virginia should both change and keep doing to win its final stretch
A dive into what Virginia should both change and keep doing to win its final stretch
No. 1 seed Virginia is in the Final Four this weekend in Minneapolis, Minn., for the first time since 1984.
Individuals without an advance ticket will be unable to go to Trinity Irish Pub or Boylan Heights this Saturday to watch the men's basketball Final Four game against Auburn.
The National Association of Basketball announced Tuesday that sophomore guard De’Andre Hunter has been selected as the 2019 National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I Defensive Player of the Year.
Virginia has what it takes to come out on top — a highly efficient offense and defense with multiple difference makers that can step up in clutch time.
By defeating Purdue in a calm, resilient and gritty fashion, Virginia has changed the narrative. The Hoos certainly can come back from tough spots, as they have all season.
The Cavaliers (33-3) took down the Boilermakers (26-10) in miraculous fashion. Virginia appeared to be headed for defeat in regulation, but a buzzer-beater by junior forward Mamadi Diakite sent the game to overtime, and the rest was history.
In a game that has the looks of an instant classic, Virginia will have to cut off Purdue’s lifelines to have a shot at the Final Four.
The Cavaliers (32-3) emerged from the Sweet Sixteen victorious for the second time under Coach Tony Bennett after getting a gritty four-point win over the Ducks (25-13) late Thursday night.
Dustin Jones and Rob Elder, hosts of the “Guys in Ties” Virginia sports podcast, emulate what being a Wahoo is all about.
When most people envisioned Virginia’s road to redemption in the NCAA Tournament this season, their minds likely flashed to the team’s Big Three willing the Cavaliers to victory game after game.
The Cavaliers will have to get past a red-hot Oregon team. If they win that one, they will have to face the winner of Purdue and Tennessee — two great teams with great players in Edwards and Williams.
Junior forward Mamadi Diakite got it done on both ends of the floor. He had a game-high 14 points and tied for a game-high with 9 rebounds.
After last year’s “shocker of all shockers” – No. 16 UMBC taking down No. 1 Virginia in the NCAA Tournament – the Cavaliers came out and showed history wouldn’t be repeated as they defeated Gardner-Webb in the opening round.
Standing in Virginia’s way to getting through to the next weekend are its 16-seed opponent Friday, Gardner-Webb, and two at-large teams from Power Five conferences — No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 8 Ole Miss.
With so many early exits in past seasons, I think Virginia has the ultimate chip on their shoulder. They know they have come up short and have not reached their potential.
Bennett has created a winning program in Charlottesville that doesn’t just contain NBA talent, but develops it.
Hunter has stepped up as a leader this year, and he has met the challenge, despite obstacles.
This is a good draw for the Cavaliers. If they can dictate the pace and establish offensive rhythm, the sky’s the limit for Virginia in March.
As March Madness approaches, the Cavalier Daily sports staff takes a look at some superlatives for the Virginia men’s basketball team in the Big Dance.