2014 NCAA Tournament: Virginia Cavaliers Stave off Coastal Carolina
By Cam Newton
Mar 21, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers guard Josh Cameron (3) reacts on the bench against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half of a men
The fourth one seed in the NCAA tournament was hotly debated throughout the last few days of conference tournament play, with many debating whether it should be given to Virginia, Michigan, or possibly Duke. In the end, however, the one seed went to Virginia, the ACC regular season and conference tournament champions.
When Selection Sunday rolled around, it was unveiled that Virginia would face off against Coastal Carolina, a sixteen seed. Obviously there’s never been a case of a sixteen seed beating a one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Of course, every sixteen seed enters with the same mindset of wanting to make history.
Tonight, Coastal Carolina looked like a team that could do just that.
After a strong offensive start, Coastal Carolina was able to hit two consecutive three pointers in order to push their lead to eight points. This was also helped out by a four minute scoring drought for Virginia. They were cold and down ten points to Coastal Carolina. Nevertheless,Virginia was able to get many fouls go their way, scoring seven of their next nine points on free throws to go into halftime down five to the Chanticleers.
In the second half, things seemed to snap back to reality. Virginia found the groove we’ve so often seen them in and quickly put the upset bid to bed. Coastal Carolina put up a good fight, but wound up losing 70-59. So far, Wichita State is the only one seed that actually played like a one seed in their opening game.
Virginia will face eight seed Memphis on Sunday, after the Tigers beat George Washington earlier today. The Cavaliers will no doubt have to step up their offense against a relatively low-seeded Memphis team. Josh Pastner’s guys will be ready and could no doubt pull off an upset.
Courtesy of ESPN.com: