Clark, Guy, Jerome, Diakite, and Hunter.
Virginia basketball fans will remember those names for an extended period.
The 2019 March Madness championship earned by the University of Virginia Cavaliers stands as a pinnacle moment in the history of college basketball in Virginia.
Nevertheless, the men’s basketball programs from the commonwealth consistently manage to grab attention and make headlines in the Big Dance.
UVA has commonwealth’s only March Madness tournament title
UVA stands out as the most accomplished men’s basketball team in NCAA Division I within the state. It proudly holds Virginia’s sole national title for men’s basketball and boasts the highest number of appearances in the esteemed Big Dance.
The university’s tournament history can be categorized into two primary eras.
- The Terry Holland years
- The Tony Bennett years
1975-1990: Holland Guides ’Hoos to First Tourney Appearance, First Final Four Appearance
The Cavaliers didn’t experience their first taste of the Big Dance until almost four decades after the launch of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in 1939.
In 1974, Coach Terry Holland joined the team from Davidson University and steered them to a 12-13 record. The following year, Holland worked his magic and propelled the team to an impressive 18-12 record, securing their first tournament berth in 1975. However, despite their efforts, the Cavaliers fell short of capturing their first tournament win, losing 69-60 to DePaul University at the Charlotte Coliseum.
In the 1981 tournament, Virginia secured the top seed in the East Region, entitling them to a first-round bye. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were defeated by the North Carolina Tarheels in the Final Four. However, they bounced back and emerged victorious against the LSU Tigers with a score of 78-74 in the third-place game, which is no longer a part of the tournament.
In an astonishing turn of events, Holland successfully led the team to an incredible Final Four appearance in 1984, just one year after star player Ralph Sampson left the program. Like a true Cinderella story, the seventh-seeded Cavaliers defeated teams seeded second, third, and fourth on their journey, only to be defeated by the second-seeded Houston Cougars in a heart-wrenching overtime loss by just two points.
After that, Holland guided the ‘Hoos to four additional tournament appearances.
2009-Present: The Tony Bennett era brings Virginia its first title
In the 2008-2009 season, the Cavaliers ended with a disappointing 10-18 record, causing Virginia fans to question the possibility of the program regaining its past glory from the Terry Holland era. However, Virginia made a decisive move by selecting Tony Bennett, the head coach of the Washington State Cougars, to lead the team’s revival. True to expectations, Bennett successfully orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the program.
In a mere three seasons, Bennett propelled his team to the tournament, ultimately establishing them as a formidable force in college basketball by 2013. From 2013 to 2018, the Cavaliers achieved remarkable success, securing a spot in the AP top 10 on five occasions and in the top five four times. Throughout this period, the team consistently qualified for the tournament, reaching the pinnacle of their achievement with a remarkable championship win in 2019.
That year, the team:
- The game proceeded to overtime during the Elite Eight.
- The victory in the Final Four was secured by a mere bucket against the Houston Cougars.
- The championship game saw the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated.
Of course, all of this happened merely one year following the Cavaliers’ achievement of becoming the inaugural No. 1 seed in the tournament’s history to suffer a loss in the opening round.
George Mason and VCU: Incredible Cinderella runs
The team from George Mason University has participated in the NCAA tournament on six occasions, with their most outstanding performance being their run to the Final Four in 2006.
The Patriots made history as the first team seeded 11th to reach the semifinals, creating a stir nationwide with their victories over esteemed programs like Michigan State, North Carolina, and Connecticut.
The Patriots experienced a defeat in the Final Four, losing 73-58 to the University of Florida. However, prior to their loss, they had an incredibly memorable run in the tournament, which was considered the most remarkable at that time.
Virginia Commonwealth University replicated GMU’s unlikely journey five years later. The Commodores triumphed over USC in a play-in game, commencing an unforgettable Final Four campaign. They conquered the likes of No. 6 seed Georgetown, No. 3 Purdue, and No. 1 Kansas along the way. However, their remarkable run came to an end when they were defeated by fellow underdog Butler University in the Final Four.
The program’s incredible streak began with a miracle run, marking the first of seven consecutive tournament appearances.
George Mason has made six appearances in the Dance, while VCU has participated a total of 18 times.
Virginia Tech: 1 Elite Eight, 1 trip to Sweet Sixteen
Following the Cavaliers and VCU, the level of accomplishment for Virginia schools in the NCAA tournament experiences a significant decline.
In the modern era, the Virginia Tech Hokies have participated in the tournament 12 times, with their advancement beyond the second round occurring on just one occasion.
In 1967, when the first round comprised only 32 teams, the team achieved the impressive feat of reaching the Elite Eight. However, when considering the entire tournament history, the team’s record stands at 8-12, indicating a majority of losses.
Old Dominion: 12 appearances, no Sweet Sixteens
ODU and Virginia Tech have both reached the Big Dance an equal number of times. However, in contrast to the Hokies, the Monarchs have yet to secure a victory in the second-round matchup.
ODU’s last tournament victory occurred in 2010 when they defeated Notre Dame with a score of 51-50. The game was decided by a final shot, which happened to be a missed three-pointer by Notre Dame. This outcome marked ODU’s first upset of the tournament.
Best of Rest: Richmond, Hampton, VMI, Norfolk State, Liberty
The state’s prominent figures have accumulated remarkable achievements, having participated in the tournament on over 10 occasions.
The following teams in Virginia have successfully made it to the tournament, and in certain instances, achieved remarkable victories.
- The Richmond Spiders have made it to the NCAA tournament nine times and had a successful Sweet Sixteen run in 2011.
- In 2001, the Hampton Pirates made a remarkable impact with their five appearances and a memorable upset over the No. 2 seed Iowa State.
- In 2019, the Liberty Flames made an impressive mark by participating in five appearances and achieving a remarkable upset against the No. 5 seed Mississippi State.
- The VMI Keydets had three showings and reached the Elite Eight in 1976.
- In 2012, the Norfolk State Spartans made two notable appearances, including a stunning upset over the No. 2 seed, Missouri.
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