”We wanted to make sure we started ACC right,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “I think this is a pretty dominant win to start.”
Self-inflicted errors pained the Cavaliers all night.
“[Jacari’s] was just one of those performances where, every time he was open and he had it, you could hear the crowd going, ‘yes!,’” Odom said.
"Doesn't matter who we're playing, and we're prepared to win a one-score game in the fourth quarter.”
While the Cavaliers had a talented locker room, something just did not click this season.
Throughout the game, Virginia never surrendered, but a free throw discrepancy and off-nights from Levy and Amanze sunk the chance to steal a ranked win.
Elliott, who captained Virginia to the best regular season ACC record this year, has his Cavaliers set to play in the ACC Championship for the second time in program history.
“Kids growing up in Virginia want to root for winners, and the Hoos will prove that they are the face of the state.”
“I didn’t come all the way to Virginia as a Texas boy to win five, six games. I want to win the conference championship.”
“Gabby has been impressive,” Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.
The Cavaliers (7-1, 0-0 ACC) broke a stalemate just five minutes into the game, leading by double digits for the final half hour of play.
“There is nobody on our roster that is more competitive than Antonio Clary,” Elliott said.
Bushée’s team-first mentality applies off the track as well — she brings this sense of collective good to her volunteering work.
“This is a great opportunity for the University of Virginia and our football program,” Athletic Director Carla Williams said.
“I think our team is at our best when we’re confident, and I think that we just regained our confidence,” Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.
Odom doesn’t have to choose between Hall’s steady hand and the spark plug that is Mallory — he can, and should, have both.
“[Marcellus’ performance] just shows the type of young men that we have in that locker room,” Elliott said.
“Score first, get time and not get ridden,” Garland said. “They hit all those goals.”
Ending on a high note against the Eagles should allow them to head into the offseason hopeful.
It’s hard to say there has ever been more on the line for Virginia football than what this program fought for and won Saturday night.
