Hoos Got the Next Dance

The Virginia Cavalier basketball team had an exceptional season this year and will certainly be invited to the big dance when the results of the selection committee are released tonight. They finished first in the ACC with North Carolina. That's right, the Tarheels, whose talent is enough for three teams to compete let alone one. The Hoos did it with hustle, resilience and class. They had two talented guards in Reynolds and Singletary and a heap of scrap metal, both young and old, filling out the roster. They were picked to finish 8th in the ACC based on their talent. They overachieved from the beginning, defeating Arizona in the home opener, and stealing victories against Clemson, Duke, Maryland, Va Tech and Georgia Tech. They had folded in difficult situations over the past five years, but not this time. I managed to resist the temptation to have expectations for this team well into the season. When they had a chance to win the ACC league title outright against Wake, I got greedy and was disappointed. When they built a large lead against State in the ACC Tournament, I started singing the Good Ole Song. Again, more disappointment. It was a one game at a time year and I had abandoned my approach. I had forgotten that the only postseason action I'd witnessed over the past five years was in the NIT. Other teams had adjusted to the Reynolds and Singletary barrage and placed emphasis on stopping them. These teams sent a clear message stating that they wanted the other players to beat them. The program is still rebuilding, but a strong foundation is being built. We need horses, especially inside, and with the most exciting new arena in the nation we hope to attract some blue chippers such as Patrick Patterson from West Virginia. Players who can walk in and reestablish the University on the basketball map in their first year. In his second year at Virginia, Coach Leitao will lead this team into the NCAA tournament. Taking the floor in the first round will be a major triumph, even if they lose.