CAVALIERS BASKETBALL

This now marks the eighth time under head coach Tony Bennett that the Wahoos will be part of the Tournament field. UVA held a 17-6 record in the regular season and added a win in the ACC Tournament against Syracuse. Their lineup features All-ACC First Team honoree Sam Hauser, All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Defensive team honoree Jay Huff, and All-ACC Honorable Mention Kihei Clark. Virginia’s run for an ACC Tournament Championship was cut short when the program had a positive COVID-19 test result after its quarterfinal matchup with Syracuse. “It’s certainly a unique way to prepare for the NCAA Tournament,” Bennett said.

In his second year with the Hokies, Young guided a team picked for an 11th-place finish in the preseason to a No. 3 seed ties the highest Virginia Tech has ever earned in the ACC Tournament. Young’s selection marks the third time the ACC Coach of the Year honoree has come from Virginia Tech and the first time since 2008 (Seth Greenberg). Wright is the second Georgia Tech player to earn ACC Player of the Year honors and the first since Dennis Scott in 1990. Wright, who ranks sixth in the league in blocked shots with 38, also earned a spot on this year’s All-ACC Defensive Team.

Virginia's Sam Hauser, right, drives to the basket during the second half as the Louisville Cardinals took on the Virginia Cavaliers at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday. March 6, 2021LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sam Hauser scored 24 points, Trey Murphy III added 17 and No. 21 Virginia beat Louisville 68-58 to claim the ACC regular season championship. 2 seed entering the regular season finale, the Cavaliers received a huge opening for bigger things when first-place and No.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sam Hauser scored 18 points and No. 21 Virginia ended a three-game skid by handing Miami its sixth loss in a row, 62-51. Trey Murphy III added 12 points for the 16-6 Cavaliers, who took command with a 14-2 run to end the first half. It was very important and as we talked about Justin (McKoy), even “Papi” Francisco (Caffaro) gave us a good lift. Hopefully we can keep that.”Miami closed within six points several times after halftime, but each time Virginia kept the Hurricanes from getting closer.

ROANOKE, Va. – While many games will tipoff on Sunday during this Region Championship weekend in the Commonwealth, Region 3D was able to keep to its Saturday slate. On the girls side, top-seeded Cave Spring welcomed in a stout Carroll County squad. Zada Porter led the Knights with 11 points in the final game of her high school career. Carroll County defeats Cave Spring in the Region 3D Championship (WSLS)On the boys side, Northside traveled to a much-improved Abingdon team that knocked off defending Co-Champion, Cave Spring. It was a close back-and-forth game in the first half that led to a slim 2-point halftime lead for the Falcons.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Jay Huff had 18 points and 12 rebounds and No. 9 Virginia took control early and beat North Carolina for the seventh consecutive time 60-48. Sam Hauser added 17 points for 15-3 Virginia and Trey Murphy III had 12 as the ACC-leading Cavaliers won their fourth in a row. The Cavaliers led 21-4 midway through the first half as the Tar Heels missed 13 of their first 15 shots. Luckily we were able to stop that for the most part,” said Cavaliers center Jay Huff.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sam Hauser scored 10 of his 23 points during a key second-half stretch, and No. 14 Virginia pulled away from Pittsburgh for a 73-65 victory. Hauser, Jay Huff and Tomas Woldetensae all hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a 23-9 surge that turned a 36-all game into a 59-45 lead for the Cavaliers. Woldetensae had 14 points and Huff finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Also credit to Pittsburgh’s scrap and their ability to put pressure on the rim but we hung in there and certainly grateful for the victory,” said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett.

Virginia's Sam Hauser (10) shoots as N.C. State's Dereon Seabron (1) defends during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, February 3, 2021. RALEIGH, N.C. – Sam Hauser and Trey Murphy III each scored 18 points and No. 14 Virginia produced a strong finishing stretch to beat North Carolina State 64-57. Jericole Hellems poured in 23 points before fouling out for N.C. State, which won just one game in January. Virginia endured an eight-minute span without a field goal in the second half but Huff and Hauser ignited the Cavaliers’ offense down the stretch.

20 Virginia Tech to a 65-51 win over No. The Hokies rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Cavaliers. “I think it was an 8 point Virginia lead at the under 12. I thought the ball was moving a little bit better and I thought we screened a little bit better from that point on,” said Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young. We played well as a team, I thought it was a great team win and a great win to keep moving forward in ACC play,” said Hokies guard Hunter Cattoor.

13 Virginia survived a scare before rallying to beat Georgia Tech 64-62. Kihei Clark scored only two points for 10-2 Virginia, but they came on a short jumper with 1:09 left that broke a 62-all tie. They’re really good at playing with great confidence, they play fast and they’re quick. What I saw down the stretch is, I thought our on-ball defense really stepped up. They played really good defense, but I think we could get some of what we wanted.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Sam Hauser and Tomas Woldetensae had 14 points and four 3-pointers apiece as No. 18 Virginia won its 11th straight over 12th-ranked Clemson with an 85-50 victory. The Cavaliers moved to 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, their best start to league play since opening 12-0 in 2017-18. Virginia won its fifth straight since losing to No. “We’re learning about our team, we’re growing, we’re becoming steadier,” said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett.

23 Virginia continued its dominance over Notre Dame with a 66-57 victory Wednesday night. Jay Huff scored 15 points for Virginia, and Sam Hauser added 13 points and 10 rebounds. I think there’s just some good offensive plays,” said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett. I thought we made enough good offensive plays, took advantage and then enough key stops. But enough good plays defensively and offensively.

18 Virginia’s ACC/B1G Challenge contest against No. 4 Michigan State originally scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed. This comes as the school announced late Tuesday night that there are COVID-19 related issues within the Cavaliers’ program. This becomes the second game part of the ACC/B1G Challenge that was scheduled for Wednesday to be postponed. The status of Virginia’s home game with William & Mary on Sunday, Dec. 13 is now to be determined.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Sam Hauser (Stevens Point, Wis.) was one of 50 players named to the watch list for the 2021 John Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s announced Tuesday (Dec. 1). The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s. Players not chosen to the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.

15 Virginia rebounded from a stunning loss to San Francisco with a 76-51 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.). Kadin Shedrick had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their 24th consecutive home opener. Sam Hauser added 11 points and Trey Murphy had 10. Bryce Laskey led the Red Flash with 12 points and Mark Flagg had 11. Virginia put this one away quickly, opening a 21-4 lead before the game was eight minutes old.

ROANOKE, Va. In an Instagram post where he attempted to trick his followers and fans, Jay Huff certainly wasnt joking when he announced his intentions to return to Charlottesville for his senior season. Between lots of prayer with my family and those close to me, Ive made the decision Im at peace with. So in the words of Michael Jordan, IM BACK. Cant wait for one more year in Charlottesville, Huff said. During the 2019-2020 season, Huff started 18 games and averaged 8.5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks per game (ranking 4th in the ACC). His decision to return is a huge boost to the Cavaliers program, that will also see the return of Kihei Clark, Casey Morsell and Tomas Woldentensae.

ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) – Jay Huff and Mamadi Diakite scored 17 points apiece as defending national champion Virginia snapped a three-game losing streak with a 63-58 win over Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers finally regained their winning touch after dropping out of The Associated Press ranking for the first time since November 2017. Virginia led by as many as 14 in the second half, and held on after Yellow Jackets ripped off a 9-0 run to make a game of it. Georgia Tech lost its fourth straight home game despite 20 points from Jose Alvarado. The Yellow Jackets haven’t won at McCamish Pavilion since Dec. 4.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Cavaliers have certainly had a boost of offensive production of late, including Saturday, as they won their third consecutive match up against Virginia Tech. He notched a double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Hokies and seems to be returning to form. It’s a lot lighter, I have more access to my palms so catching the ball and shooting feels a lot better. I felt more comfortable with less padding, less tape it felt great,” Key said. In the nine games he’s played in, Key is averaging just under 10 points, 7 rebounds per game and shooting 50 percent from the field.