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Coach Tony Bennett’s team is in the NCAA Tournament. |
The Virginia men’s basketball program earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since the 2007 event on Sunday. The Cavaliers received one of the 37 at-large bids to the Big Dance as a No. 10 seed in the West Region where it will meet No. 7 seed Florida from the Southeastern Conference. The contest is scheduled for Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.
Obviously, the Hoos were thrilled to make the field for the first-time under third-year coach Tony Bennett, who was especially pleased for seniors Mike Scott, Sammy Zeglinski, and Assane Sene . Sene will not participate in the tourney.
“We had practice today and then we watched it in one of the courtside meeting rooms at the [John Paul Jones Arena]. There was certainly excitement,” Bennett said. “I sat between Mike and Sammy and I felt pretty good going into it, but sitting between them I could feel the nervous energy flowing back and forth. I think they were really excited to see it and hoping it would come up with the commercials and all that. … Those guys being fifth-year seniors, I know how happy they were. It’s always special to be part of it. Every time I’ve gotten to experience that as a coach or a player, it’s a very nice feeling.”
The Omaha location is familiar to Hoo fans thanks to UVa coach Brian O’Connor and the baseball team. The diamond Cavaliers have made two College World Series appearances in the last three years in Omaha where a statue with Coach O’Connor stands outside of Rosenblatt Stadium.
“Maybe we can all take the team and rub the helmet of the statue of Coach O’Connor for good luck,” Bennett joked. “I think with our guys it didn’t matter where we were going, we just wanted the opportunity to play in the tournament and try to play well. In my experiences, I’ve not played in Omaha as a coach in the times I’ve been in the tournament. I understand it’s a beautiful arena.”
At first glance, Florida represents an interesting matchup for the basketball strategists out there. The Gators made 328 3-pointers this season at a clip of 39.0%, while the Hoos allowed just 145 triples on the season at a 29.5% rate. UF ranks No. 20 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage, while UVa’s defense ranks No. 13 nationally in the same category. The Gators lead the nation in made 3-pointers per game at 9.9, while attempting the third most triples per game nationally at 25.5 long-range attempts on average. The Hoos, meanwhile, allow just 4.7 made treys each game (21st nationally); they allow 15.9 attempted 3-pointers each outing (62nd nationally).
For the Pack-Line Defense, which prefers to sag toward the paint and then close out to contest jumpshots, the let-it-fly nature of Florida’s team will present a unique challenge.
“They’ll really spread you out and they have terrific guard play. One of their four’s can really shoot it,” Bennett said. “They have elite talent. … Their ability to stretch the defense plus their quickness to drive will really test you defensively, but that’s a lot of 3’s.”
Stay tuned to TheSabre.com for more information about the NCAA Tournament and the Hoos’ matchup with Florida.
