A few minutes before tip-off at the John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday, a Virginia fan stood with a button on her orange shirt. It read: “This is next year.”
The phrase, of course, alludes to all the years that fans suffer through heartbreak or disappointment. For UVa fans, the past decade has featured lean times in the two sports with the most visibility. The football team has just two winning seasons in the last eight years, while the men’s basketball team earned only two trips to the NCAA Tournament since 2004. In other words, Hoo fans have had to hold on to the hope of the future – next year – quite often in recent years.
But thanks to Tony Bennett’s bunch, next year is here. The UVa men’s basketball team wrapped up the outright ACC regular season championship Saturday with a 75-56 victory against Syracuse. It is the first outright regular season championship in 33 years, the last coming in 1981. Virginia is just the fifth team other than Duke or North Carolina to win the ACC title outright in the past 30 seasons.
So when Senior Night for Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell, and Thomas Rogers ended with the Cavaliers as champions, a celebration followed. Fans stormed the court and lingered until the team returned from its locker room. The players carried a ladder through the throng and cut down the nets.
And Wahoos everywhere rejoiced. Take a look …
Joe Harris: “It’s unbelievable. I can’t even describe this feeling right now. One of the main reasons I came here, and I know that Akil [Mitchell] came here, was to be the foundation for Coach Bennett’s program and turning this thing around back to what it used to be. For us to go out this way with an ACC crown is unreal. I can’t even describe it. But at the same time, we still have a lot of basketball left. This is exciting, and I can’t wait for the postseason, but I also can’t wait for Maryland. We’re going to have a good week of practice and we’re going to keep this thing rolling.”
Akil Mitchell: “This is a team full of guys that live for the big game. We got our opportunity and we were blessed to be here. We just tried to make the most of it.”
GoodNight Syracuse! Hoos Run the ACC! #UVaNWO #1 #WaHooWa!
— Sean Singletary (@SeanSingletary) March 1, 2014
WAHOO NATION STAND UP!!!!! Congrats to Coach Bennett, his staff, and players for a job WELL DONE!!!!#champs
— Bryant Stith (@UVA_swish20) March 2, 2014
🙋.. Huuuaaaahhhh!! Proud of y'all.. Y'all definitely deserve it ✊ @TJonesUVA5 jusanderson1… http://t.co/BozmlgrsK6
— Mike Scott (@mikescott) March 2, 2014
Champs!!!!!!!!!
— Bub Evans (@JontelEvans1) March 1, 2014
ACC Champs! #UVA
— Sammy Zeglinski (@SammyZeglinski) March 1, 2014
So happy to hear the great news down in Charlottesville! Proud to be a wahoo!
— Mustapha Farrakhan (@lilmu2) March 2, 2014
ACCchamps.#UVa
— assane sene (@azousene89) March 1, 2014
— Cory Alexander (@CoryAlexanderVA) March 1, 2014
What a statement made by my hoos. Congrats boys!! #wahoos#1inacc
— J.R. Reynolds (@Jrreynolds02) March 1, 2014
@jchmielewski44 yes it is and couldn't be more proud !!! WAHOO WAH!!!
— Junior Burrough (@jrburrough) March 2, 2014
Let's gooooo #UVA #Acc champs !!! Let's get that #1 seed!! So proud of the young homies !! We run the ACC lmao . We the bosses of Bball!
— Elton Brown (@Elton_Ballz) March 1, 2014
Thanks to all who showed Wahoo love. It truly was a Great Day to be a Hoo.
— Jason Williford (@CoachWillyUVA) March 2, 2014
Been busy with Junior Day, but how about the Hoos winning the ACC title in hoops. What a great day it was in JPJ.
— Mike London (@CoachMikeLondon) March 2, 2014
Congrats to Tony Bennett & @UVAMensHoops on their ACC championship – a special team that's made this university proud.
— Brian O'Connor (@UVACoachOConnor) March 2, 2014
Congrats to @UVAMensHoops ! ACC Champs way to show how to win w/class & unselfishness #missionnotfinished @ajmitchell25 @London_Tyus
— Coach Bryan Fetzer (@coachfetz) March 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/Bust_a_Capps/status/439959571537199104
https://twitter.com/BStephens27/status/439898729840386048
https://twitter.com/Miranda4Sports/status/439904073559441408
https://twitter.com/maciepstein/status/439900169333534720
Congrats to our men's team for being regular season acc champs!!!!!!!!! So unreal excited for them!! Well deserved boys well deserved. #HOOS
— Lexie Gerson (@Ballinjew14) March 1, 2014
These guys are so humble and they implement teamwork. You very rarely see this in men's ball. I am so proud! #wahoowa
— Telia Marks (@Coach_T_Marks) March 1, 2014
#ACC Champs! Congrats fellas http://t.co/o32N9Z8JGl
— PK (@ImHuuuungry) March 1, 2014
Congrats to @UVAMensHoops on the #ACC championship. #tourneytime #ACCchamps #gohoos #WahooWah
— John Hicks (@JohnHicks08) March 1, 2014
— Phil Gosselin (@PGosselin15) March 1, 2014
Congrats to @UVAMensHoops for their ACC Regular Season title win against Syracuse. #GoHoos
— Tyler Cannon (@Tyler_CannonLU) March 1, 2014
Yo Hoos in first in the ACC?
Yup!
No I mean the team that's in first place.
The Hoos.
The best team in the ACC?
Hoos!
Why do you keep asking— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) March 1, 2014
Congradulations @UVAMensHoops bring home that ACC TITLE. #champs #ACC #Wahoowa
— Kevin Arico (@Arico11Suave) March 1, 2014
What did I say! Don't doubt them boys from virginia #WahooWah http://t.co/CB1jfkUY32
— Branden Kline (@BrandenKline16) March 1, 2014
I'm proud to be a uva alum every day of the week, but it's especially sweet today. Congrats… http://t.co/jdfp643CRg
— Alecko Eskandarian (@alecko11) March 2, 2014
What a win by @UVAMensHoops. Great group of guys who earned all the success they're having. And how Thomas Rogers!!! #3ball #ballerstatus
— Will Bates (@WillBates10) March 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/HunterJumper_/status/439899508877443072
Great day for UVA sports. The sweep is complete! @UVAWomensLax @UVAMensLacrosse @UVABaseball @UVABasketball #Wahoowa
— Chris Bocklet (@CRockN10) March 2, 2014
1st day I worked with @London_Tyus I knew he was special, poised/mature/elite court vision; Today he is the PG of the ACC Champs, Congrats!
— Sean Farnham (@SeanFarnham) March 2, 2014
Congrats, Hoos. ACC Champs, 76-56. A game as exciting as an election night. #UVABasketball
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) March 1, 2014
Don't dare call it an upset — Cavs are the better team!! #UVAvsCUSE
"That good old song of WaHooWa…"— Tiki Barber (@TikiBarber) March 1, 2014
What up Hoos!!!!
— Nate Collins (@BIGN98) March 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/439900524356182016
Acc champs #UVA
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) March 1, 2014
Lets Goooo HOOOOS. Congrats to @UVABasketball on the outright ACC title with win over 'Cuse tonight. #Dominant #MarchMadness
— Billy Schautz (@Schautz47) March 1, 2014
Wahoo nation
— LaRoy Reynolds (@LetItReign52) March 1, 2014
@TMLTKF ACC CHAMPS BABY pic.twitter.com/E8K2BJhsJ7
— TAVON MASON (@TMASON18) March 1, 2014
How bout them #Wahoos #AccChamps!!
— Walun (@Wali_Sultan_) March 1, 2014
Still geeked up about that victory earlier ! #HoosOverCuse
— Rijo Walker (@RADW510) March 2, 2014
https://twitter.com/toobadsukkah/status/439962651871821825
Keep chanting Wahoowa @DickieV baby!!! ACC CHAMPS!!
— Ross Metheny (@RMetheny15) March 1, 2014
Just watched my HOOS kill it against Syracuse to win the ACC title!!! So proud to be a Cavalier✌️@UVAMensHoops pic.twitter.com/zACwSUzoSq
— Lauren Perdue (@LoPerdue) March 1, 2014
— Steele Stanwick (@steelewick) March 1, 2014
Great day to be a wahoo!!! So proud of @UVAMensHoops!!! Thank you to @WahooMikeyMike & @JonayOnTheSpot for the amazing seats #AccChamps
— Kim Kastuk (@KimmmyKUVA) March 2, 2014
— Rachel Gray (@rachgray2) March 1, 2014
Hoos ya daddy? @ John Paul Jones Arena http://t.co/9VX5E11f1i
— Michelle Vittese (@MichelleVitt55) March 2, 2014
WAHOOWA!!! This team has so much heart. Tears of joy that last minute… #notashamed #UVA #proudalum #HOOS
— Whitney Neuhauser (@Whit_Neuhauser) March 1, 2014
Wahoowa from the Virginia Sports Radio Network team! From L to R: Lil' Ted Jeffries, me, @macongunter, @davestipe pic.twitter.com/bqBm0LPqmJ
— Dave Koehn (@wahoovoice) March 2, 2014
Wahoooooo!!! @uva is for real.
— John Brenkus (@Sport_Science) March 1, 2014
Tell me about our soft schedule now and how we're not best team in the ACC. ACC CHAMPS! #WAHOOWA #WEARETHECHAMPIONS
— Cody Miller (@Illinois_Hoo) March 1, 2014
Wahoowah! @UVAMensHoops ACC champs!
— Ryan Comes (@RBComes) March 1, 2014
https://twitter.com/bballardNCHoo/status/439901848007241728
Just finished my rewatch of #UVA winning ACC reg season. Mannnn wish I could have been there! Way to go #Hoos!
— Ben S.(uperhoo) (@The_Superhoo) March 2, 2014
I have to be up in 6 hours. I'm gonna hate everything so much in the morning. but WORTH IT! #gohoos
— Philtered nevermore (@philiosaurushoo) March 2, 2014
HOOS WIN AGAIN!! ! #WAHOOWA #GOHOOS #ACCSEASONCHAMPS #16-1
— Andrew Hudson (@AHudson_UVA) March 1, 2014
And the Cuse sweep is complete! Wahoowa! Thank you @UVaWomensTennis @UVABasketball and @UVAMensLacrosse #BeatCuse
— Kevin Rankin (@KORankin) March 2, 2014
Thank you Tony Bennett, @UVAMensHoops, @UVaHooCrew, & all of our #UVa fans for an absolutely unbelievable season.
— Major Events Office (@UVA_Events) March 2, 2014
We did it!!!!!!!!! #WAHOOWA #ACCchamps @UVABasketball #CanIGetAnUpdatedAPRankings
— Thomas Jefferson (@MrJefferson_UVa) March 1, 2014
nice.. good to see alumni and fellow players shout outs to the team…
Proud to be a Wahoo and especially proud of a great group of BB players and coaches. They represent the best of scholar athletes.
Just look at that photo of seniors Harris and Akil. Beautiful. What say you, Kentucky? And we owe so much to you, Coach B.