CHARLOTTE – When Virginia opens NCAA Tournament play Friday, it’s pod in this city will be full of unfamiliar opponents. The Hoos haven’t faced UMBC since 2005 and they’ve never played Creighton or Kansas State.

There have been many occasions in this setting in recent years, where a similar grouping has greeted UVA in the NCAA Tournament. Generally, that’s been a good thing for Virginia. In 2014-15, Coastal Carolina and Memphis drew the Hoos in Raleigh and while the Chanticleers actually led at halftime in the 1-16 matchup, the Cavaliers took the second half by 16 points. The Tigers, meanwhile, looked shell-shocked for most of the first half and dug a 15-point hole before losing by 18.

The next season, Belmont gave Virginia fits but couldn’t get enough stops while also sending the Hoos the free throw line in a 12-point loss. In 2015-16, Iowa State felt certain it could speed up the tempo in Chicago but trailed by 14 points at halftime and allowed 56.1% shooting in a 13-point loss.

Yes, there have been games like UNC Wilmington too where unfamiliarity didn’t lead to UVA’s outlast mentality slowly taking care of business. Still, when you hear players, fans, or media less familiar with what playing the Cavaliers is really like, it’s always interesting to see what actually happens. That’s what was on my mind when I saw this quote from UMBC’s K.J. Maura on Thursday.

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