Virginia Draws No. 2 Seed, Belmont

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Virginia coach Tony Bennett led the program to its third NCAA Tournament trip in the last four years. ~ Courtesy Ivan Morozov

The Virginia men’s basketball team returned to the NCAA Tournament and the East Region for the second straight season, drawing the No. 2 seed in that side of the 68-team bracket. The Cavaliers earned back-to-back spots in the tournament for the first time since the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.

While Wahoo fans felt the team deserved a No. 1 seed, Virginia coach Tony Bennett said he did not focus much on the seeding vs. the matchups. UVa will play its opening game in Charlotte, N.C. at Time Warner Cable Arena on Friday (time to be announced on Monday).

“There’s so many good teams that you’re going to have to play whether you’re a one, two, three, four – it’s about that,” Bennett said. “To be in Charlotte, that’s good. For our fans, it’s drivable and there’s people around there. Hopefully we’ll have some good support. Exciting times. This is such an exciting time for coaches and players and obviously the country to watch.”

The Hoos drew No. 15 seed Belmont, which features Virginia transfer Taylor Barnette. He lifted his team into the field with a game-winning 3-pointer against Murray State with 3.2 seconds left in the Ohio Valley Conference title game. Barnette has started all 31 games this season for the Bruins and has made 39.9% of his 3-pointers (83 of 208). In his freshman season at UVa before transferring, he started twice in 26 appearances and made 43.2% of this 3-pointers (19 of 44). He made 58.8% of his triples against ACC competition (10 of 17).

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No. 2 seeds are 113-7 all-time against No. 15 seeds in the tournament. If Virginia can add to that high winning percentage (94.2%), it will face the winner of No. 7 seed Michigan State and No. 10 seed Georgia. The Hoos lost 61-59 to the Spartans in the Sweet 16 portion of the East Region last season in New York. MSU coach Tom Izzo is familiar with the Pack-Line defense from facing it at Wisconsin during Dick Bennett’s years in the Big 10. Like the Cavaliers, the Spartans return a lot of players from that showdown a year ago. Branden Dawson (24 points, 10 rebounds), Denzel Valentine (3 points, 5 rebounds), and Travis Trice (5 points) are all starters this season that played in that game a year ago.

Georgia, meanwhile, led undefeated and No. 1 overall seed Kentucky by 9 points with 9:10 remaining in the game just 12 days ago in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs feature forward Nemanja Djurisic, who has the ability to stretch the floor and pick and pop from ball screens. He has made 34.4% of his 3’s this season (33 of 96). The Bulldogs are also experienced with several players that like to drive and get to the free throw line, including Charles Mann (211 free throw attempts). Evan Nolte’s brother Connor Nolte played at Georgia with the current senior class that includes Djurisic.

“It’s so much about how you’re playing and matchups,” Bennett said. “I don’t lose any sleep over [the seeding] and I’m not frustrated. I’m certainly excited about what’s there and thankful for being in Charlotte and being a two seed and knowing what we have to do.”

Stay tuned to TheSabre.com for more on the NCAA Tournament!