Long before Tony Bennett called his name to sub in Saturday, teammate Desmond Roberts wrapped an arm around Tristan How. On Senior Night at Virginia, a familiar script was unfolding and soon How would go from supporting actor to main character in front of thousands of John Paul Jones Arena fans.
The Hoos led big, by as many as 23 points in fact, on the way to a 72-57 win in the regular season finale against Georgia Tech. And that meant Coach Bennett would have an opportunity to substitute. The Cavaliers other three seniors all had played already so the final moments on the stage would potentially belong to How.
As the reality of that picture became clearer, fellow green team – the affectionate name given by Bennett to the scout team – members were already supporting How. Eventually, the fans behind the Virginia bench and around the arena began to chant his name too. ‘We want Tris-tan!’ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.
“It gives me chills because my whole experience here at UVA has been one that’s brought me a lot of joy,” How said on the Virginia Sports Radio broadcast after the game. “To hear those fans chanting, they know who I am, they know the way I serve the team that’s brought a lot of joy to my heart.”
A walk-on getting into the final home game of their career is a worthy moment by itself. Virginia, though, has somehow stumbled upon storybook endings in the Tony Bennett era. Not only does a walk-on get into the game among chants from the stands, that player then hits a shot that sends the arena – and the Cavaliers’ bench – into pandemonium. It’s so common, that UVA Today did an article on the ‘tradition’ recently.
Thomas Rogers did it in 2014. Caid Kirven in 2016. Chase Coleman in 2023. How’s moment came Saturday.
The Virginia Beach native checked into the game for Reece Beekman, a senior-for-senior curtain call moment for Beekman and the chance for a fairytale farewell for How. In the final 20 seconds, the Hoos moved the ball to How on the left side for an isolation look.
With the shot clock still on, an important detail because Bennett would not want anyone to shoot in the final seconds otherwise, How faced the basket, gave a shot fake, dribble toward the middle into the mid-post area, and then spun away for a fall-away jumper. Georgia Tech’s 6’9” forward Tafara Gapare jumped to contest the shot, but How had sent it skyward and over that outstretched hand.
Boom!
“I actually work on that shot – believe it or not, I do,” How said on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. “I went to work. … He was really tall so I let it go and I couldn’t really see it. Then I saw it went through net and I was like I worked on this, but super thankful that it went it because sometimes it doesn’t.”
李 A memory that will last forever!#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/Tggpdw5fKG
— Virginia Men’s Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) March 11, 2024
As How caught the ball on the wing and looked for a shot opportunity, the Wahoos on the bench leaned, crouched, and waited … and then erupted as the ball fell through the net. On the floor, Isaac McKneely raised both hands on the right side. How spun around on the way back to defense.
The crowd roared.
“It’s uncanny I guess is the right word for Tristan to make that shot,” Bennett said. “We can got all the way back to Thomas Rogers. The list goes on. Our guys that come in [and hit a shot]. That was a heck of a little fall-away, the guy bodied him.”
“That was special,” Beekman said. “The amount of time and work Tris puts in, it goes unseen, but I see him late night sometimes, after practice, getting shots up. For him to have that special moment on this special day just means the world.”
Special is likely a word that How would use to describe his Virginia experience well beyond this past Saturday. That time has included appearances in just 13 games for a grand total of 27 minutes. He’s made 4 shots, the last one wrapping up the storybook part of Senior Night.
When asked by Virginia radio commentator Jimmy Miller what he would remember most about his time with UVA basketball, How provided a response about the whole experience.
“I could sum it up as time with the guys,” How said. “I loved every road trip dinner, every time we’d eat out together and chat, obviously grinding in practice and playing in the games and being in this atmosphere, but as Coach Bennett just continues to preach to us, the relationships will last forever. You’re here for four maybe five years, but it’s the bonds that will last. So I think that’s what I’m going to remember.”
Here’s to the unsung heroes!