Click above to watch: The men's basketball team and staff watch as Virginia is announced as a part of the NCAA Tournament field.
Click to watch: Jontel Evans and Mike Scott make good on their promises to cut their hair after Virginia received a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
CHARLOTTESVILLE - The first group of players entered the Courtside Club at John Paul Jones Arena around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, a half-hour before the NCAA tournament selection show would begin on CBS.
Those 30 minutes could have not passed much more slowly for members of the UVa men's basketball team. It didn't get any easier for the Cavaliers once the show began.
"It was nerve-wracking," All-ACC forward Mike Scott said. "Jitters. It was all of the above. It was crazy."
"Too much tension," said assistant coach Jason Williford, who as a UVa player in the '90s made three trips to the NCAAs.
A large screen had been set up along one wall of the room, and on a couch in front of it sat head coach Tony Bennett, with Scott to his left and Sammy Zeglinski to his right.
"I could feel the electricity," Bennett said. "You could feel the nervousness and the excitement and the anticipation [of Scott and Zeglinski] before our name was called, because they've been through a lot."
When the show began, Bennett said later, he was "cool, calm and collected." That changed as the first bracket, for the South Region, was revealed, with no mention of UVa.
"I could feel Mike and Sammy, and I was listening to them sighing and going, 'Oh, come on,' " Bennett said with a smile. "And that started getting me a little anxious."
The Wahoos didn't have to wait too long. About 20 minutes into the show, the bracket for the West Region was revealed, and the 'Hoos could finally exhale. For the first time since 2007, they're headed to the NCAA tournament.
In its opening game, No. 10 seed Virginia (22-9) will meet No. 7 seed Florida (23-10) in Omaha, Neb., at 2:10 p.m. (Eastern) Friday. TNT will televise the game. The winner will meet No. 2 seed Missouri or No. 15 seed Norfolk State on Sunday.
When the pairing was announced, the room erupted in cheers, and hugs and handshakes were exchanged. For a team that has faced more than its share of adversity this season -- UVa heads into the NCAAs with only seven healthy scholarship players -- this was no small feat.
"It was amazing, man," junior point guard Jontel Evans said of seeing UVa in the bracket. "This team worked so hard in the offseason. We've been through a lot of ups and downs. We have a new season now, and we're just trying to make the best of it."
Zeglinski said: "It means everything. We've come a long way from my first year. It's been a long time coming."
Those 30 minutes could have not passed much more slowly for members of the UVa men's basketball team. It didn't get any easier for the Cavaliers once the show began.
"It was nerve-wracking," All-ACC forward Mike Scott said. "Jitters. It was all of the above. It was crazy."
"Too much tension," said assistant coach Jason Williford, who as a UVa player in the '90s made three trips to the NCAAs.
A large screen had been set up along one wall of the room, and on a couch in front of it sat head coach Tony Bennett, with Scott to his left and Sammy Zeglinski to his right.
"I could feel the electricity," Bennett said. "You could feel the nervousness and the excitement and the anticipation [of Scott and Zeglinski] before our name was called, because they've been through a lot."
When the show began, Bennett said later, he was "cool, calm and collected." That changed as the first bracket, for the South Region, was revealed, with no mention of UVa.
"I could feel Mike and Sammy, and I was listening to them sighing and going, 'Oh, come on,' " Bennett said with a smile. "And that started getting me a little anxious."
The Wahoos didn't have to wait too long. About 20 minutes into the show, the bracket for the West Region was revealed, and the 'Hoos could finally exhale. For the first time since 2007, they're headed to the NCAA tournament.
In its opening game, No. 10 seed Virginia (22-9) will meet No. 7 seed Florida (23-10) in Omaha, Neb., at 2:10 p.m. (Eastern) Friday. TNT will televise the game. The winner will meet No. 2 seed Missouri or No. 15 seed Norfolk State on Sunday.
When the pairing was announced, the room erupted in cheers, and hugs and handshakes were exchanged. For a team that has faced more than its share of adversity this season -- UVa heads into the NCAAs with only seven healthy scholarship players -- this was no small feat.
"It was amazing, man," junior point guard Jontel Evans said of seeing UVa in the bracket. "This team worked so hard in the offseason. We've been through a lot of ups and downs. We have a new season now, and we're just trying to make the best of it."
Zeglinski said: "It means everything. We've come a long way from my first year. It's been a long time coming."
Article by Jeff White from VirginiaSports.com
