In order to comprehend the University of Virginia’s 2019 NCAA Championship, one must revisit the events of March 16, 2018, specifically around 9:20 p.m.
In the men’s college basketball tournament, the top-seeded Cavaliers faced off against the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers, who held the No. 16 seed.
The commencement of the initial round of the 2018 tournament marked the unremarkable start to what eventually transpired as the most astonishing upset in the history of the tournament. This unexpected turn of events not only left the college basketball community astounded but also sent shockwaves throughout the entire sports realm.
In the final moments of the game, UMBC managed to score a corner three, leaving the renowned announcer Jim Nantz in awe as he uttered the unimaginable statement.
“We have a twenty-point lead and we are about to witness the most astonishing upset ever witnessed in the history of this tournament.”
UVA endures sting of historic loss, preps for 2019 tourney
The team’s 74-54 defeat against UMBC was a complete nightmare for Virginia fans. Harrison Keevil, a devoted supporter of the ‘Hoos and owner of Charlottesville dining hall Multiverse Kitchens, vividly recalls that fateful night.
Keevil recollected being with his family during their kids’ Spring break, watching the game. He reflected that it was most likely during halftime when he had a realization. He simply pondered that this event could potentially be the epitome of a typical Virginia occurrence, comparable to the Chaminade game.
The term “The Chaminade game” alludes to the program’s significant defeat against Chaminade University, an NAIA school, back in 1982. While the feeling of impending disaster brought back past memories, Keevil’s focus shifted to the UVA players as the game reached its conclusion.
He expressed his deep sadness for the kids as the buzzer sounded. The dedication they put into their studies and sports activities made their defeat truly heart-wrenching. Witnessing them go through such a loss, one couldn’t help but empathize with their pain as if they were one of them.
The pain resonated throughout the entire UVA lineup, from the bottom to the top, and even reached head coach Tony Bennett. With great poise, the admirable leader of the Cavaliers expressed in post-game interviews that the defeat did not signify the end of his program’s journey.
“We may encounter challenging nights, as success is within reach, but rest assured, pure joy will greet us in the morning due to the remarkable foundations laid by these individuals for Virginia basketball.”
UVA gets No. 1 seed in 2019 tourney – and first-round scare
The Cavaliers entered the 2019 March Madness tournament as a potentially stronger team compared to the previous year. DeAndre Hunter, a redshirt sophomore, emerged as the team’s standout player due to his impressive offensive skills and relentless defense. Hunter had unfortunately missed the 2018 tournament due to a wrist injury.
Despite having a strong momentum, the team found themselves facing a significant deficit against the No. 16 seed Gardner Webb. It felt like a repeat of the events in 2018. However, for Keevil, he noticed a distinct change in atmosphere, despite UVA once again being behind against an underdog opponent.
He stated that during halftime, it was evident that Gardner Webb had exerted all their efforts up to that point and were exhausted. Simultaneously, it was clear that Virginia’s performance was improving steadily, and they were determined not to repeat the same outcome as the previous year’s game.
And the ’Hoos didn’t.
After a triumphant victory in their first-round matchup, they proceeded to defeat Oklahoma and Oregon as they advanced towards the Elite Eight.
Trio of stunning games to end 2019 NCAA Championship
Keevil entered the tournament with the hope that UVA would reach the Elite Eight. Miraculously, his desire was fulfilled when the Cavaliers triumphed over Oregon by a narrow four-point margin in the Sweet Sixteen.
The following trio of games were absolutely extraordinary, making them potentially the most exhilarating and unlikely culmination in the history of NCAA championship runs.
Purdue buzzer-beater
With only 5.9 seconds remaining on the clock, Virginia trailed Purdue by two points. Ty Jerome stood at the free throw line, aiming to close the gap. However, he failed to convert the shot. Fortunately, Mamadi Diakite, the towering big man, swatted the ball towards the backcourt. Kihei Clarke, the agile guard, swiftly retrieved the ball with a mere 3.7 seconds left. Dribbling a few times, Clarke then unleashed a precise pass to Diakite, who managed to catch the ball and swiftly sink a jumper, leaving no time on the clock. This incredible play propelled Virginia to win the game in overtime.
Heart-stopping foul with 0.6 seconds left
In the Final Four, Virginia faced Auburn. 17.6 seconds remained on the clock and the Cavaliers trailed by four points. Guard Kyle Guy came through with a clutch corner three-pointer, narrowing the gap to just one point with 7.4 seconds left. Auburn managed to convert one of two free throws, extending their lead to two points. However, UVA swiftly inbounded the ball with only 1.5 seconds remaining, locating Guy in the corner once again. While his initial three-point attempt fell short, Guy drew a foul and confidently sank all three of his free throws, securing a remarkable victory for Virginia.
An unbelievable NCAA final
UVA appeared to have destiny on its side when it faced off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the NCAA Championship game. This was evident in the first 10 minutes of the game, as the Cavaliers swiftly took a 10-point lead. However, Texas Tech fought back and managed to surpass UVA with less than 3 minutes remaining. Nevertheless, UVA regained the advantage with a three-pointer from Jerome just before halftime, ending the first half with a three-point lead.
The second half mirrored the first half, with UVA dominating for most of the time and holding a 10-point advantage at one stage. However, in the final three minutes, the Red Raiders made a strong comeback, ultimately securing a three-point lead with only 22 seconds remaining.
Virginia’s basketball team, known as the ‘Hoos, pulled off another impressive move as De’Andre Hunter sunk a three-pointer from the corner, resulting in a tie game at 68-68. The game then moved into overtime. With Virginia leading by two points, Davide Moretti, a guard from Texas Tech, grabbed a rebound after a missed shot by Jerome and dribbled up the court.
As Moretti advanced beyond half court, Hunter swiftly intercepted him, causing the ball to slip from Moretti’s grip. The Texas Tech team was rewarded possession by the officials. Nevertheless, after an excruciatingly extensive review of the incident, officials concluded that the ball had grazed Moretti’s finger prior to exiting the boundaries.
Keevil expressed, “In my opinion, the most enjoyable moment of the game and the point where I was certain these kids would emerge victorious was when the out-of-bounds call was overturned. Throughout the analysis of the play, I had a feeling that the longer it took, the more likely it was that the decision would be in our favor, resulting in possession of the ball.”
After the reversal, UVA embarked on a 6-0 run, effectively sealing the game and completing the Cavaliers’ remarkable comeback. They became the inaugural No. 1 seed to be defeated in the first round, only to triumphantly claim their first national championship one year later.
Keevil sat alone in his home, eyes fixed on the dwindling seconds of the championship game. The hour was late, and he was the sole person awake.
As I reminisced about the times spent with my granddaddy, attending games together flooded my mind. Recollections of my days at UVA, cheering alongside friends at (University Hall), also surfaced. The overwhelming happiness that those kids deserved to experience in that very moment consumed my thoughts. Contemplating all of these precious memories, I took a deep breath, switched off the TV, and drifted off to sleep with a contented heart.
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