I’ll share a personal story about the 2014 season since this seems to be a pretty obvious choice voting-wise. Don’t think anyone on here has heard this from my point of view. On New Years Eve day, 2013, I was actually at the Bennett’s house hanging out with Eli Bennett. We’d become good friends over the last few years after he started going to the school I was at back when I was living in Charlottesville.
That was one day after the 'Hoos 35-point loss to Tennessee. The high expectations heading into the season were yet to be realized, and the Virginia fan base in general was frustrated.
But back to my story, Eli and I were hanging out in the kitchen, doing dumb stuff, like blowing up marshmellows in the microwave, that eleven year olds tend to be fascinated by, when there was a knock at the front door. Eli and I stayed in the kitchen, and the car in the front driveway went ignored by the two of us. Thirty minutes later (and with 15 or so blown up marshmellows coating the inside of the Bennett microwave), Coach Bennett called us into the living room, where Joe Harris was sat, snacking on a few pieces of chocolate. I’d met him before, a couple times hanging out at JPJ on Saturdays when there weren’t games, but it still came as a surprise for a kid who’d idolized Virginia basketball players. So, Eli and I sat down, and grabbed a couple caramel filled chocolates for ourselves. Honestly, I can’t remember much of what the conversation was, but something like twenty minutes later they kicked us outside, and a few hours later the Bennetts drove me home.
When the team really hit its stride, some pointed back at that meeting and the team’s reaction to the Tennessee loss as the turning point of the season, and with it the program’s turnaround. Quite the coincidence, and a funny story, hope you enjoyed it!
ha thats great man. When I was 11 in Georgetown KY if any Wildcat walked in the door my Life woulda been complete. And am sure woulda had marshmellows or maybe grilled cheese as well. Great story to share
In 1981, Virginia made its first run to the Final Four led by Ralph Sampson, Jeff Lamp, and Lee Raker. In the Elite Eight, the 'Hoos met BYU on March 21st and came out on top 74-60. Sampson scored 22 and grabbed 12 boards. Jeff Lamp scored 18, and three more Cavs hit double figures (Jeff Jones, Othel Wilson, Lee Raker) as the Virginia basketball program captured its biggest win yet.
Securing Tony Bennett’s first final four appearance, and Virginia’s first since 1984, the Wahoos beat Purdue 80-75. Dramatic moment followed dramatic moment, culminating in Kihei Clark’s ridiculous pass to Mamadi who floated the game tying buzzer beater at the end of regulation. Carsen Edwards went off for 42 points, while Kyle Guy recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds (his first double double) and Ty Jerome contributed 24 points, 7 assists, and five rebounds. Deandre Hunter scored the go ahead basket with 28 seconds remaining in overtime, and the program’s biggest win in decades was secured. As we all saw earlier today, the Cavs would go on to win the National Championship.
After you vote, let us know what your reasoning was down below!
In 1984, Virginia made its second Final Four run, and first without Ralph Sampson. In the Elite Eight, they met Indiana. Led by Jim Miller’s 19 points and Olden Polynice’s 12, the Cavs won 50-48. A massive stop won the game, as, with sixteen seconds left, Indiana rebounded a Kenton Edelin missed free throw and brought the ball down the court. Dan Dakich drove, but was swarmed by Virginia defenders, and was forced to move the ball to Stew Robinson, who missed the mid-range jump shot, Virginia secured the rebound, the game was over, and the 'Hoos were heading back to college basketball’s biggest stage.
In the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1984, Virginia tipped off against an Auburn team that had already upset Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas. It was a back and forth battle all night, and despite leading by ten points in the final minutes, the ‘Hoos allowed Auburn back into the game. In fact, the Tigers were even leading by four points with eight seconds remaining. A clutch three from Kyle Guy with 7.1 seconds left cut the lead to one, before Kihei Clark fouled Jared Harper, Auburn’s 83% free throw shooter. Fortunately, after making the first free throw, Harper missed the second, and Ty Jerome took off up court with time running out. Before he could get anywhere, Auburn intentionally fouled him. Forced to in-bound the ball in the back-court, Clark passed the ball in to Jerome who was fouled again with 1.5 seconds left. The Cavs ran Bennett’s fabled “L” play, and Kyle Guy caught the ball in the near corner, and got the three off with time to spare. The ball clanked off the side of the rim, but the referee’s whistle pierced through the Auburn fans’ premature celebration, and signaled that Guy had been fouled, sending him to the line for three free throws with the score at 62-60, and giving the 'Hoos a chance to move on to the National Championship. Three shots and one Bruce Pearl timeout later, Virginia had its longest tournament run in program history.
Virginia’s first ACC Tournament Championship since the bicentennial was as sweet as it could be. Malcolm Brogdon scored twenty-three against the Blue Devils, and Joe Harris added fifteen to lead the ‘Hoos on offense. Defensively, Akil Mitchell put in the defensive performance of a lifetime against Duke star freshman Jabari Parker. Mitchell’s relentless attention forced Parker to settle time and time again. While Parker would score twenty-three points, he shot an ugly 9-24 from the field, good for just 37.5%, and the Cavs came out victorious 72-63. More than anything, this win announced Virginia’s re-emergence at the top tier of college basketball.
In 1976, 33 year old Head Coach Terry Holland was in his second year in Charlottesville, and the 'Hoos generally struggled in regular season play. Finishing 4-8 in ACC play, they entered the seven team ACC Tournament as the six seed. They knocked of #19 NC State in the first round, then beat the hosts of the tournament, #9 Maryland, to set up a contest with #2 UNC in the ACC Championship game. Behind Wally Walker’s 21 points and Billy Langloh’s five free throws in the final 30 seconds, the Cavs came out on top 67-62, securing the program’s first ACC Title and first NCAA tournament bid. Walker was named ACC tournament MVP. That team would go on to lose to Depaul in the first round of the NCAA tournament. While they had little success in the NCAA tournament, this was the program’s biggest win yet and set the stage for the program’s rise in the late 20th century and the establishment of a history of success.
This should be a pretty close result, so make sure to explain your reasoning for your decision down below!
2014 ACC Championship vs Duke
1976 ACC Championship vs UNC
0voters
Also, since this is the last poll of the Elite Eight, the Elite Eght polls will be closing later tonight, and we’ll try to get the updated bracket out quickly so we can start voting on the first Final Four matchup tomorrow.
Yes, there has been a good amount of recency bias, but those last three games from last years title run are INCREDIBLE. One of the best elite eight games in the history of march madness, a back and forth final four game, and a national championship game that will forever be in the history books. As for that fourth matchup, that was really a toss up. The 1976 ACC Championship started the dynasty that is Virginia Basketball, but the 2014 ACC Championship really started the Tony Bennett era of Virginia Basketball, which is only 11 years in, but we all know how it’s gone so far. That was a really tough matchup, but it is what it is
Virginia’s first ACC Tournament Championship since the bicentennial was as sweet as it could be. Malcolm Brogdon scored twenty-three against the Blue Devils, and Joe Harris added fifteen to lead the ‘Hoos on offense. Defensively, Akil Mitchell put in the defensive performance of a lifetime against Duke star freshman Jabari Parker. Mitchell’s relentless attention forced Parker to settle time and time again. While Parker would score twenty-three points, he shot an ugly 9-24 from the field, good for just 37.5%, and the Cavs came out victorious 72-63. More than anything, this win announced Virginia’s re-emergence at the top tier of college basketball.
I’m certain we all have fairly good memories of the National Championship game, so I’ll just mention that the final score was 85-77, Deandre Hunter led the way for the 'Hoos with 27 points and 9 rebounds, and that he canned both the game tying shot to send the game to overtime with 12 seconds in regulation, and the go ahead three-pointer with roughly two minutes remaining in overtime. Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome both hit double figures as well, scoring 24 and 16 points, respectively, as Jerome also tallied eight assists. This was the program’s first National Championship (of hopefully many), and could not have come in more dramatic fashion.
In that 2014 game, it’s fun to watch CTB throw his hands down disgustedly as Harris lines up the dagger 3 … with 29 seconds to go on the shot clock despite incentives to run down the clock.
Securing Tony Bennett’s first final four appearance, and Virginia’s first since 1984, the Wahoos beat Purdue 80-75. Dramatic moment followed dramatic moment, culminating in Kihei Clark’s ridiculous pass to Mamadi who floated the game tying buzzer beater at the end of regulation. Carsen Edwards went off for 42 points, while Kyle Guy recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds (his first double double) and Ty Jerome contributed 24 points, 7 assists, and five rebounds. Deandre Hunter scored the go ahead basket with 28 seconds remaining in overtime, and the program’s biggest win in decades was secured. Fittingly, the Cavs would go on to win the National Championship.
In the program’s first Final Four appearance since 1984, Virginia tipped off against an Auburn team that had already upset Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas. It was a back and forth battle all night, and despite leading by ten points in the final minutes, the ‘Hoos allowed Auburn back into the game. In fact, the Tigers were even leading by four points with eight seconds remaining. A clutch three from Kyle Guy with 7.1 seconds left cut the lead to one, before Kihei Clark fouled Jared Harper, Auburn’s 83% free throw shooter. Fortunately, after making the first free throw, Harper missed the second, and Ty Jerome took off up court with time running out. Before he could get anywhere, Auburn intentionally fouled him. Forced to in-bound the ball in the back-court, Clark passed the ball in to Jerome who was fouled again with 1.5 seconds left. The Cavs ran Bennett’s fabled “L” play, and Kyle Guy caught the ball in the near corner, and got the three off with time to spare. The ball clanked off the side of the rim, but the referee’s whistle pierced through the Auburn fans’ premature celebration, and signaled that Guy had been fouled, sending him to the line for three free throws with the score at 62-60, and giving the 'Hoos a chance to move on to the National Championship. Three shots and one Bruce Pearl timeout later, Virginia had its longest tournament run in program history.
Had to make some tough choices here. But winning a National Title well that’s as good as it gets. And the Purdue game is honestly one of the best games I’ve ever seen and the Clarke Diakite pass and shot will now be played alongaide Hill Laitner. For greatest plays in history
Rewatching the Purdue game made me realise how great and high level a game it was. Would put it up against any NCAA tourney game I have ever seen in terms of high level play by both teams.
