COLUMBIA, S.C. — Virginia has watched the motivational pick-me-up videos. The players have relived the loss when they are too tired to do one more drill at practice. And the Cavaliers have finally answered the last question about being the first No. 1 seed to lose in a NCAA Tournament game before getting a chance to redeem themselves.
On Friday, 370 days after the stunning 20-point loss to UMBC, Virginia (29-3) gets to take the court again as a top seed, this time against Gardner-Webb.
“We’re ready to put on a show so we can talk about something else,” junior guard Kyle Guy said.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s rehabilitation plan started with a motivational video about how a setback can open the door for something greater. “If you learn to use it right, it can buy a ticket to a place that you couldn’t have gone any other way,” Bennett said.
Kyle and his teammates used the loss as motivation anytime a practice seemed too tough.
“Whenever somebody is tired or you’re trying to fight through a rep or take a play off or something, I always think back to that,” Guy said.
The draw did Virginia as few favors as a No. 1 seed can get. Gardner-Webb is the best of the 16th seeds, according to the NCAA’s NET rankings, and won on the road at both Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs (23-11) beat the No. 1 and the No. 2 seeds in the Big South Tournament on their home floors to get to their first ever NCAA Tournament.
In their first practice after winning the conference tournament, Gardner-Webb coach Tim Craft showed his team clips of the great NCAA Tournament upsets of the past 20 years, including that UMBC win.
“Hey, anything can happen in this tournament. That’s why this tournament is great. Let’s get focused on preparing to play the best we can play,” Craft said.
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