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March 13, 2001
Virginia returns to the “Big Dance” for the first time in four years, and though the Cavaliers come in as a five-seed, many believe the Hoos might be singing the Memphis blues Friday afternoon instead of two-stepping right past their first-round opponent. Virginia opens the NCAA Tournament against the most recent of perennial Cinderella-squads – the Bulldogs of Gonzaga. While Virginia finished last season with a heartbreaking, triple-overtime loss to Georgetown, the Zags once again slipped on the glass slipper and wore it all the way to the “Sweet Sixteen.” In fact, Gonzaga represents one of only five squads to advance to the round of sixteen each of the past two seasons.
“We are just going to try and upset Gonzaga,” said Virginia sharpshooter Keith Friel jokingly. “Obviously, we are the underdog throughout the nation right now, and we are going to try and be the giant killer. We are well aware of what Gonzaga has done the last couple of years, and I think because of their success the last couple of years, they feel they are ready for another run, and they are going to try and start it with us.”
While many of the analysts, so-called experts, and self-proclaimed gurus are pegging the Cavaliers as a prime candidate to become a Gonzaga upset victim before the clock strikes 12 for the Zags in this year’s tournament, it might not hurt to take a closer look at Virginia. The Cavaliers hold wins over six teams seeded higher than Gonzaga in this year’s tournament, one of which came against top-seeded Duke. While the Bulldogs boast zero wins against any team currently or previously ranked in the top-twenty five, the Hoos notched three wins over top-five teams this season for the first time in the program’s history. Sure, Virginia enters Friday’s matchup having lost two straight, a main reason why many believe the Cavaliers prove vulnerable to yet another Gonzaga tournament upset, but the Hoos remain 11-0 in non-conference play with all of their loses coming in one of the nation’s toughest leagues. Though the nay-sayers fail to give the Cavaliers enough credit and continue to overlook their credentials, Virginia remains confident, but wisely maintains a certain degree of well-deserved respect for Gonzaga.
“They are a good team, but we are a very good team too. We play in the best conference in the country, and every night we have a war, so we are ready,” said Roger Mason, Jr. “I know a lot of teams used to sleep on them and not give them too much credit, but they have played well in the tournament the last two years, and I know we cannot take them too lightly.”
With each NCAA Tournament comes the desire for a story, an underdog to root for, and another run to watch unfold. This year, yet again, many have anointed the Zags as the tournament’s “team to watch,” with hopes the Bulldogs can make things exciting for a third year in a row. Besides the mystique of once more bearing the Cinderella moniker, Gonzaga holds few numerical or statistical advantages over the Cavaliers. Remember, the Bulldogs are a twelve-seed who have defeated only one other team in this year’s tournament.
“It is about our team being prepared, and we have to worry about Virginia at this point right now,” said Donald Hand. “It is not about Gonzaga, because we have enough players on this team that are very talented. It is a whole new season, and it is just time to get back to the way Virginia is capable of playing.”
Though the Zags will most likely prove a formidable opponent, in the end, the Cavaliers are the ones who ultimately determine how long they will attend this year’s “Big Dance.” Should the Cavaliers play to their potential, and it will be Gonzaga’s players, not the Virginia squad, walking down Beale Street Friday afternoon, humming the blues.