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, an on-campus arena on the North Grounds of the university, in front of 14,593 spectators whom ESPN College Gameday has called some of the most responsive and engaged fans in college basketball.
Virginia has been ranked AP No. 1 on 17 occasions, first in January 1981 and most recently in March 2018.
The Cavaliers have a total of eight ACC regular season championship seasons, third best (behind Duke and North Carolina) all-time. UVA won those titles outright (no ties) in 1981, 2014, 2015 and 2018; won the 1976, 2014, and 2018 ACC Tournaments, and are six-time Runners-Up of the ACC Tournament.
The Wahoos, as they are unofficially known, have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twenty-two times, advancing to the Elite Eight six times (1981, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2016). They further advanced to the 1981 and 1984 Final Fours; in the former winning the last NCAA third place game ever played, defeating No. 1 LSU 78â€"74. The Cavaliers won the post-season NIT Tournaments of 1980 and 1992.
Statistics
North Carolina vs. Virginia ACC Basketball Tournament Highlights (2018) - North Carolina vs. Virginia: 4 Cavaliers scored in double figures as UVA won its third-ever ACC Tournament Championship, 71-63 over the 6th-seeded Tar Heels. Kyle Guy led the Hoos with 16 points...
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. The March 2018 matchup between the two teams ended with Virginia scoring 5 points in the final .9 seconds and potentially ending Louisville's post season bid. Virginia leads the all-time series 11-4.
The most recent matchup was a 75-58 Virginia win in the ACC Tournament on March 8, 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 in the ACC Tournament championship on March 10, 2018, where Virginia beat UNC 71-63.
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 John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, with UVA falling in overtime 61-60 on February 10, 2018.
Coaches
Postseason
NCAA tournament results
The Cavaliers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twenty two 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
