The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The team is coached by Tony Bennett. Since 2006, the team has played at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia, in front of 14,593 fans whom ESPN College Gameday has called some of the best and most knowledgeable in all of college basketball.
The Cavaliers finished first in the ACC regular season standings in both 2013â€"14 and 2014â€"15, and have won or shared seven ACC season titles overall, tied for third among the 15 programs of the ACC (behind only Duke and North Carolina). Moreover, Virginia won the 2014 ACC Tournament and 1976 ACC Tournament, and were Runners-Up of the 1977, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994, and 2016 ACC Tournaments.
The Wahoos, as they are unofficially known, have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twenty-one times, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen nine times, and the Elite Eight six (1981, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2016). They further advanced to the 1981 and 1984 Final Fours; in the former winning the final NCAA third place game ever played, against No. 1 LSU. In their recent resurgence under Bennett, they have tallied Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2014 and 2016, reaching the Elite Eight in the latter. The Cavaliers additionally won the post-season NIT Tournaments of both 1980 and 1992.
Statistics
Individual honors
Notable alumni
National honors
- ^* Consensus First-Team All-American.
- ^** AP Honorable-Mention All-American.
Retired numbers
The Cavaliers have retired eight numbers to date:
Retired jerseys
The University of Virginia's athletic department has issued the following statement distinguishing "retired jerseys" from "retired numbers": "Jersey retirement honors Virginia players who have significantly impacted the program. Individuals recognized in this way will have their jerseys retired, but their number will remain active."
- 5â€"Curtis Staples
- 44â€"Sean Singletary
Rivalries
Louisville Cardinals
Following conference realignment, the Cardinals moved from the Big East to the ACC and were designated UVA's rival, replacing Maryland. While the two schools have little previous history, having met only 8 times prior to becoming conference rivals, the series has been characterized by tight games and blowouts since 2014. The rivalry has taken on a similar feel to the old Maryland series, as both teams have acted as spoilers to the other with a Cardinal win in 2015 and a 2017 Cavalier win delaying or preventing an ACC regular season title, while an injury to star player Justin Anderson during the 2015 matchup derailed UVA's national championship aspirations. Virginia leads the all-time series 10-4.
The most recent matchup was a 74-64 Virginia win in Charlottesville on January 31, 2018.
Maryland Terrapins
Thanks to the proximity of these two long-time ACC members, and their status as Tobacco Road outsiders, Maryland and Virginia have a long-standing rivalry that spans many decades. Traditionally, these two schools would meet in the last game of the season, and they both acted as spoilers to the other as they sought conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. This rivalry has been dormant in recent years however, thanks to Maryland's move to the Big Ten Conference, though they did match up in the 2014 ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
The most recent matchup was 76-65 win for the Cavaliers on December 3, 2014 in College Park, Maryland.
North Carolina Tar Heels
As two of the ACC's oldest and most successful members, the UVA-UNC rivalry spans all sports and has persisted since the late 1800s. The 1980s were a particular highlight for this series as All-time greats like Ralph Sampson and Michael Jordan leading both programs to national prominence. While the Tar Heels have a significant lead in the All-Time series, the resurgence of both programs under Roy Williams and Tony Bennett has rekindled this once-fierce rivalry, as both schools have regularly found themselves at or near the top of national and conference polls during the 2010s.
The most recent matchup came on January 6, 2018, with the Cavaliers defeating the Tar Heels 61-49 in Charlottesville.
Virginia Tech Hokies
As the two Power Conference teams in the Commonwealth, the Cavaliers and Hokies have a long-standing rivalry. While the intensity has picked up since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, the series has long been dominated by UVA, with the Cavaliers leading the series 91-55 (.623 winning percentage).
The most recent matchup occurred at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, with UVA prevailing 78-52 on January 3, 2018.
Coaches
Postseason
NCAA tournament results
The Cavaliers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twenty one times. Their combined record is 29â€"21.
NIT results
The Cavaliers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 13 times. Their combined record is 17â€"11. They were NIT champions in 1980 and 1992.
CBI results
The Cavaliers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) once, in 2008. Their record is 2â€"1.
Yearly records
References
External links
- Official website