Monday, March 17, 2014
Vol. 124, Issue 47
Cavs down Duke, 72-63
No. 6 Virginia wins first ACC Tournament title since 1976, earns No. 1 NCAA seed Michael Eilbacher Associate Editor
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tony Bennett had been asked so frequently by the media about Wally Walker that it had become a running joke. The Virginia coach was well aware that it had been nearly 40 years — 38, to be exact — since Walker’s Cavaliers had won the ACC Tournament, and his team had the first opportunity to match the 1976 team’s feat since their last ACC tournament appearance in 1994. With all that pressure, it would
Wrestling ACC Championship recap PAGE 3
be understandable for top-seeded Virginia (28-6, 16-2 ACC) to slip up in their ACC final against thirdseeded Duke (26-8, 13-5 ACC). But instead of shrinking from the pressure, Bennett’s team performed as well as it has all season, beating the Blue Devils, 72-63, behind 23 points from sophomore guard Malcolm Brogdon. As time wound down and the confetti fell at the Greensboro Coliseum, Bennett no longer had to joke about the comparisons to 1976 — history had repeated itself. “That moment when you’re on the floor, you see your wife, you see
Men’s Lacrosse Recap PAGE 4
your parents, you see the joy in these guys’ eyes and hearts — that’s as gratifying as anything,” Bennett said. “I soak that up without a doubt. I gave thanks certainly for all that’s happened, as I said, through the tough times, through the good times.” Bennett could not have asked for a better start from his team, as the Cavaliers answered an opening bucket from Duke sophomore forward Amile Jefferson with a 9-0 run, electrifying Virginia fans in at-
see BASKETBALL, page 2 Grad Schools earn top rankings PAGE 6
Kelsey Grant| The Cavalier Daily
A tradition unlike any other Back in Charlottesville, hours There were two student newspaafter the confetti was swept off the per seats in the back of the press secfloor of the Greensboro tion, one for the higher Coliseum, it still doesn’t seed of each game and feel real. The Virginia one for the lower. If your Cavaliers, 2014 ACC team wasn’t playing, you Tournament champions. had to duke it out for an Arriving at the Coliopen seat — if you were seum Thursday for my lucky enough to even first-ever ACC Tournaspot one — or head to ment, I was skeptical. the break room to watch Relatively thin crowds the game on TV. during the early games But despite the unZACK BARTEE begged the question, derstated arena and Sports Editor why is this tournament space constraints — or played in an outdated, the lack of respect for middle-market venue? The Cavalier Daily Doesn’t the ACC deserve the spotlight that accompanies playing in a big city like Atlanta, New York or see BARTEE, page 2 Washington, D.C.?
Medical Student Q&A PAGE 8
Love Connection Q&A PAGE 15