Virginia Cavaliers
ACC (23-7, 15-5)
Two years ago Virginia became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed. Last year they won the national championship. This time around the Cavaliers will not enter the tournament as a #1 seed after an up and down campaign, but this is still a team that will not give up many points and that should keep them in most games.
Big Wins: 1/28 Florida State (61-56), 2/29 Duke (52-50), 3/7 Louisville (57-54)
Bad Losses: 12/22 South Carolina (59-70), 1/7 at Boston College (53-60), 1/11 Syracuse (55-63)
Coach: Tony Bennett
Why They Can Surprise:
The Cavaliers led the nation allowing just 52.4 points per game. They also rank second in field-goal percentage at 36.9 percent. Those are some impressive numbers and UVA can win a national title again with performances like that. Mamadi Diakite has stepped into a larger role during his senior season and has not disappointed. The 6-9 big man averages 13.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. The offense will work through Diakite, but Kihei Clark and Braxton Key are solid perimeter scorers. Clark is a solid outside shooter and Key is a big 6-8 wing who averages a team high 7.4 rebounds.
Why They Can Disappoint:
As we saw two years ago, Virginia can lose to inferior teams. And that was a much more proven Virginia squad than this one. Coach Tony Bennett often runs just a seven man rotation and that can be difficult for those players to keep up their defensive pressure. Virginia is going to make every game close and then it all comes down to a few key possessions down the stretch. That can result in six wins and a national title or it could result in a big upset. This group has played relatively well this season but they have not had many big wins either. As is often the case, Virginia will likely do something between an early upset and a national title and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen would be a good showing for this team.
Probable Starters:
Kihei Clark, Sophomore, Guard, 10.8 ppg, 5.9 apg, 4.2 rpg
Braxton Key, Senior, Guard, 9.9 ppg, 1.8 apg, 7.8 rpg
Tomas Woldetensae, Junior, Guard, 6.6 ppg, 1.1 apg
Mamadi Diakite, Senior, Forward, 13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Jay Huff, Junior, Forward, 8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Key Role Players:
Kody Stattmann, Sophomore, Guard, 3.6 ppg
Casey Morsell, Freshman, Guard, 4.0 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 57.0 (348th in nation, 15th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 52.4 (1, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.3 (297, 13)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.9 (2, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (305, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.4 (314, 14)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.7 (143, 8)
Rebound Margin: 3.6 (70, 4)
Assists Per Game: 11.4 (294, 14)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (92, 7)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 64 Gardner-Webb |
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Oklahoma |
| 2019 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Oregon |
| 2019 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Purdue |
| 2019 | NCAA | National Semifinal win over Auburn |
| 2019 | NCAA | National Final win over Texas Tech |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to UMBC |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over UNC Wilmington |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Florida |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Hampton |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Butler |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Iowa State |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Syracuse |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Belmont |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Michigan State |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Coastal Carolina |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Memphis |
| 2014 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan State |
| 2013 | NIT | First Round win over Norfolk State |
| 2013 | NIT | Second Round win over St. John's |
| 2013 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Iowa |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Florida |
| 2008 | CBI | First Round win over Richmond |
| 2008 | CBI | Second Round win over Old Dominion |
| 2008 | CBI | Semifinal loss to Bradley |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Albany |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss Tennessee |
| 2006 | NIT | First Round loss to Stanford |
| 2004 | NIT | First Round win over George Washington |
| 2004 | NIT | Second Round loss to Villanova |
| 2003 | NIT | First Round win over Brown |
| 2003 | NIT | Second Round loss to St. Johns |
*all team stats through 3/8
