Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Cavaliers vs. Tar Heels game preview

By Brandon Griffin

Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia Cavaliers

Feb 15, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett gestures from the bench against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Blue Devils won 65-55. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett gestures from the bench against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. The Blue Devils won 65-55. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Head Coach: Tony Bennett. Career Record: 252-112. This is Bennett’s eighth season at Virginia and his second head coaching stop. Bennett previously coached at Washington State where he went to the NCAA tournament twice in three seasons.

Since coming to the Cavaliers, Bennett has slowly taken the team into the upper echelon of college basketball. In his past three seasons, Bennett is 89-19 with two ACC regular season titles, a conference championship, and two one seeds (the other year his teams were a two seed).

Last Season: Last season the Cavaliers went 29-8. They went 13-5 in the ACC finishing second. They made it all the way to the ACC championship game where they lost to UNC in a close battle.

For their efforts the Cavaliers were rewarded a one seed in the NCAA tournament. They took that all the way to the Elite Eight where they lost to Cinderella and fellow ACC opponent Syracuse.

The team was highlighted by Malcolm Brogdon. The senior forward finished the season as ACC Player of the year, first-team all-American, and National Defensive Player of the Year.

Best  Former Player: Ralph Sampson. Sampson is a former four-time All-Star and NBA Rookie of the year. Though not nearly as dominant in the pros as in college, Sampson did play nine seasons in the NBA. He finished his career with 7,039 points and 4,011 rebounds.

This Season: This season the Cavaliers are 18-7 overall and 8-5. They started off strong going 11-1 to start the season. After two early losses they went 6-1 and were back in talks for the ACC and a one seed. Virginia is currently in a bit of slump. They are 1-3 in their last four games including consecutive losses entering the game against the Tar Heels.

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