Every year, there are teams that come out of nowhere and take the college basketball world by surprise.  This year’s team appeared to be the University of Virginia’s Men’s basketball team.

 After not even making it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament, UVA earned a number one seed.  The Cavaliers took care of their in-conference schedule by going 16-2 and winning the regular season title.

 “They are an awesome defensive team,” said math teacher Mr. Robbin Marvin.  UVA is ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just over 55 points per game.  Many attribute the team’s defensive efficiency to the pack line defense ,which allows all of the driving lanes to be clogged and force outside shots.

 As much as the defense relies on the team as a unit; so does the offense.  The team’s leading scorer is redshirt second year (that is what they call them down in Charlottesville) Malcolm Brogdon who only averages 12 points a game and senior Joe Harris who follows up with 11 points a game.

 It takes unselfish players to play in coach Tony Bennett’s system, and that is what he has created.

 “If you had to call anybody a saint, I’d put that in front of his name,” said UVA associate athletic director Barry Parkhill who played at UVA when Marvin attended the school.

 “I really like his demeanor and poise,” said Marvin, “He coaches the team with principles.”  Bennett has been able to turn a relatively young team into a number one seed in the tournament.  UVA’s starting point guard, London Perrantes, is a freshman who Bennett was able to recruit out of Los Angeles.

  It may be confusing as to why Perrantes would come all the way across the country to a team that did not make the tournament the previous year, but he wanted to play in the Atlantic Athletic Conference and UVA was the only school to offer him a scholarship.

 It may be hard to believe by the way the team is playing now, but UVA was not always shutting teams down.  UVA got off to a nine and four record, and on Dec. 30 they suffered their worst loss of the season losing to Tennessee 85-55.  That game is largely attributed to the team’s current success.

 “The Tennessee game allowed for them to recommit themselves,” said Marvin.

 With what many are calling a successful regular season, it can be hard to perform in the postseason with such pressure.

 UVA ended their season on Friday, March 28 against Michigan State who was actually favored by analysts despite their four seed.

 “I think it was a successful season,” said Marvin, “They haven’t won the ACC since 1995.”

 UVA was not thought about much coming into the season.  The boys from Charlottesville were able to exceed expectations.

 With the loses of seniors Akil Mitchell and Joe Harris, the Cavaliers will need to fill some holes.  Sophomores Justin Anderson and Anthony Gill are likely to fill those voids.

 Because of the relatively young squad, UVA looks to bounce back next year and make another tournament run.