The prestige of the ACC can be found simply by looking at who has made it to the Sweet 16. The NCAA Tournament features six ACC teams among the 16 teams left in the brackets, which broke the previous record. Virginia, Syracuse, Duke, North Carolina, Miami, and Notre Dame will all battle in the next round to continue their national title chase.
“It just speaks to the depth and quality of this conference,” UVA coach Tony Bennett said. “It’s hard to win in the tournament and you have to be fortunate enough to advance.”
Bennett’s teams have helped buoy the ACC’s depth. But Virginia’s precision style on both offense and defense is just one way to achieve success. Bennett says the “different styles, with the quality of coaches, and the depth of talent … I think it’s become a great basketball league.”
Virginia’s success in the great basketball league that is the ACC has been significant. The Hoos have won 88 games over the past three seasons, more than any other team in the league. UVA’s senior class has piled up 111 wins, just one short of matching the school record for a four-year span set by the 1983 group. The run includes two ACC Regular Season Championships and the 2014 ACC Tournament title as well as two Sweet 16 appearances after the Wahoos topped Butler in Raleigh.
Many alumni and former players have expressed excitement and support for Coach Bennett and the team.
“Our alumni are great. Our players they care,” Bennett said. “They care how the program is maintained, the guys in the program, of course, how you play and all that, but it’s very encouraging. “
Bennett expressed gratitude toward those former Virginia players who have reached out to him to congratulate the team on its latest run. The names include Bryant Stith, one of the first names Bennett saw on his phone’s texts, Ralph Sampson, Jimmy Miller, Wally Walker, and Barry Parkhill. Bennett’s former players Jontel Evans and Joe Harris are among those to reach out as well.
“There’s so many that live in this area. Other guys that reach out,” Bennett said. “And that’s part of being the family. Though I didn’t coach those guys … it’s special to see that.”
