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Virginia couldn’t handle Syracuse’s pressure. Now the Cavaliers will never forget it. Virginia couldn’t handle Syracuse’s pressure. Now the Cavaliers will never forget it.
(about 1 hour later)
CHICAGO — Virginia guard London Perrantes stood alone on one end of the court, pulling his jersey over his face. Coach Tony Bennett put his hands on his hips, powerless now to overcome this. Four Cavaliers players stood and watched Syracuse center DaJuan Coleman make another free throw, another dagger.CHICAGO — Virginia guard London Perrantes stood alone on one end of the court, pulling his jersey over his face. Coach Tony Bennett put his hands on his hips, powerless now to overcome this. Four Cavaliers players stood and watched Syracuse center DaJuan Coleman make another free throw, another dagger.
A few seconds remained in the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Region final, but it was finished. A few seconds remained in the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Region final, but it already was finished.
In time, Bennett would suggest later, this season would be remembered fondly. Eventually, Perrantes would say as he stared blankly at his locker, this stain might fade.In time, Bennett would suggest later, this season would be remembered fondly. Eventually, Perrantes would say as he stared blankly at his locker, this stain might fade.
But it won’t. A collapse this epic, with the 10th-seeded Orange doing exactly what the top-seeded Cavaliers knew they would eventually do, cannot be forgotten. Virginia built a 15-point lead with less than 10 minutes to play, and then Syracuse attacked. The stunned Cavaliers were helpless. But it won’t. A collapse this epic, with the 10th-seeded Orange doing exactly what the top-seeded Cavaliers knew it would eventually do, cannot be forgotten. Virginia built a 15-point lead with less than 10 minutes to play, and then Syracuse attacked. The stunned Cavaliers were helpless.
“I’m not ever going to forget these moments,” Virginia guard Devon Hall said. “I’m never going to forget this.”“I’m not ever going to forget these moments,” Virginia guard Devon Hall said. “I’m never going to forget this.”
This 68-62 Syracuse win, and more importantly how it happened, is something that — for better or worse — will follow the players and coaches on this year’s Virginia team. It is something that, no matter what comes next in Bennett’s promising career, will be written about and mentioned until he retires.This 68-62 Syracuse win, and more importantly how it happened, is something that — for better or worse — will follow the players and coaches on this year’s Virginia team. It is something that, no matter what comes next in Bennett’s promising career, will be written about and mentioned until he retires.
[Virginia collapses late, falls to Syracuse in Midwest Region final][Virginia collapses late, falls to Syracuse in Midwest Region final]
The Orange, who two weeks earlier had watched the NCAA tournament selection show to find out whether it would even be part of the field, had one window against a methodical, disciplined team like Virginia. It had to play a full-court press defense, and Bennett and his players knew that. The Orange, whose players two weeks earlier had watched the NCAA tournament selection show to find out whether they would even be part of the field, had one window against a methodical, disciplined team like Virginia. It had to play a full-court press defense, and Bennett and his players knew that.
Coach Jim Boeheim, whose zone defense is perhaps the nation’s most famous, knew it too. At halftime, with Virginia pounding Syracuse by 14 by holding it to 30.8 percent from the field, Boeheim told his players it was coming.Coach Jim Boeheim, whose zone defense is perhaps the nation’s most famous, knew it too. At halftime, with Virginia pounding Syracuse by 14 by holding it to 30.8 percent from the field, Boeheim told his players it was coming.
But they had to wait.But they had to wait.
If Syracuse could trim the Cavaliers’ lead to 10 points or even a dozen, he would order the press. Virginia kept dominating. Fifteen minutes, then 12 — Perrantes and senior guard Malcolm Brogdon building on a legacy-securing cushion — and Boeheim wanted to wait. He was patient.If Syracuse could trim the Cavaliers’ lead to 10 points or even a dozen, he would order the press. Virginia kept dominating. Fifteen minutes, then 12 — Perrantes and senior guard Malcolm Brogdon building on a legacy-securing cushion — and Boeheim wanted to wait. He was patient.
Soon enough, he could no longer wait. He had one final trump card, and it was time to deploy it.Soon enough, he could no longer wait. He had one final trump card, and it was time to deploy it.
“You have to take the chance,” Boeheim said.“You have to take the chance,” Boeheim said.
He told them to go. Fast. The Orange got in the Cavaliers’ faces, harassing them from one end of the court to the other. With 9 minutes 32 seconds until Houston, the Cavaliers led by 15. A little over a minute later it was 12. Then seven.He told them to go. Fast. The Orange got in the Cavaliers’ faces, harassing them from one end of the court to the other. With 9 minutes 32 seconds until Houston, the Cavaliers led by 15. A little over a minute later it was 12. Then seven.
[North Carolina’s future is cloudy, but its present is a Final Four]
Bennett tried to slap down his own trump card, moving to the four-guard lineup that had helped Virginia survive in the second round against Butler. But unlike the Bulldogs, Syracuse was just as fast at the Cavaliers. The Orange was not intimidated or physically overmatched. The Orange was, just as Virginia feared — the one thing it could not allow — dictating the game’s pace.Bennett tried to slap down his own trump card, moving to the four-guard lineup that had helped Virginia survive in the second round against Butler. But unlike the Bulldogs, Syracuse was just as fast at the Cavaliers. The Orange was not intimidated or physically overmatched. The Orange was, just as Virginia feared — the one thing it could not allow — dictating the game’s pace.
Syracuse freshman Malachi Richardson made a three-pointer. Tyler Lydon followed. Senior forward Michael Gbinije converted a fast-break layup. Richardson powered a shot through traffic and in. Virginia’s lead was down to three and then one.Syracuse freshman Malachi Richardson made a three-pointer. Tyler Lydon followed. Senior forward Michael Gbinije converted a fast-break layup. Richardson powered a shot through traffic and in. Virginia’s lead was down to three and then one.
Brogdon dribbled through the lane, losing control of the ball. Perrantes paused at the top of the key, looking hurried and panicked. Richardson turned to the Syracuse fan section and shouted: “They can’t guard me!”Brogdon dribbled through the lane, losing control of the ball. Perrantes paused at the top of the key, looking hurried and panicked. Richardson turned to the Syracuse fan section and shouted: “They can’t guard me!”
Bennett tried to regain control, and Boeheim allowed later that a made basket or two would have stifled the Orange’s press. You can only gun an engine for so long, and Syracuse’s players would have burned themselves out. Instead, the Cavaliers kept missing, kept committing turnovers, kept showing frustration. They went almost five minutes without a field goal.Bennett tried to regain control, and Boeheim allowed later that a made basket or two would have stifled the Orange’s press. You can only gun an engine for so long, and Syracuse’s players would have burned themselves out. Instead, the Cavaliers kept missing, kept committing turnovers, kept showing frustration. They went almost five minutes without a field goal.
“The press,” Gbinije said, “gave us life.”“The press,” Gbinije said, “gave us life.”
The Orange’s deficit was, somehow, now a lead: one point and then four and then six. This was happening. Virginia players couldn’t believe it. Who could? The Orange’s large deficit was, somehow, now a lead: one point and then four and then six. This was happening. Virginia players couldn’t believe it. Who could?
“It’s a good zone,” Bennett would say later, looking shellshocked and trying to force a gracious smile. “It’s a good defense.”“It’s a good zone,” Bennett would say later, looking shellshocked and trying to force a gracious smile. “It’s a good defense.”
Over the final 10 minutes, around the time Boeheim hit the gas, Syracuse outscored the Cavaliers 31-11. Richardson introduced himself to America, and Brogdon — the steady, often overachieving face of Virginia’s program — could not stop him, confused by what he would describe as a “hesitation” in Richardson’s game that kept the Atlantic Coast Conference’s defensive player of the year off balance.Over the final 10 minutes, around the time Boeheim hit the gas, Syracuse outscored the Cavaliers 31-11. Richardson introduced himself to America, and Brogdon — the steady, often overachieving face of Virginia’s program — could not stop him, confused by what he would describe as a “hesitation” in Richardson’s game that kept the Atlantic Coast Conference’s defensive player of the year off balance.
“We struggled with him all game,” said Brogdon, who missed four shots in the final 6:41. “We struggled with him all game,” said Brogdon, who missed four shots in the final 6:42.
With nine seconds to play, Bennett called a timeout. This was, somehow, his final chance, his last play to draw up. Brogdon missed a three-pointer, and Syracuse’s Coleman secured the rebound. [March Madness 2016: Scores, news, notes]
It was finished. Bennett stood for a second before dropping into his seat. Perrantes pulled his jersey over his face a moment and back down. A few minutes later, while Syracuse players took turns cutting down the United Center nets, Bennett thanked his senior players and members of his team wept. Perrantes sat in his locker, looking dazed. Hall vowed to learn from this, to become stronger because of it. Others were silent. With nine seconds to play, Bennett called a timeout. This was, somehow, his final chance, his last play to draw up.
After a missed three-pointer, it was finished. Bennett stood for a second before dropping into his seat. Perrantes pulled his jersey over his face a moment and back down. A few minutes later, while Syracuse players took turns cutting down the United Center nets, Bennett thanked his senior players and members of his team wept. Perrantes sat at his locker, looking dazed. Hall vowed to learn from this, to become stronger because of it. Others were silent.
“We’ve been together for so long, and for it to end like it did tonight,” Cavaliers forward Anthony Gill said, trailing off. “We were so close.”“We’ve been together for so long, and for it to end like it did tonight,” Cavaliers forward Anthony Gill said, trailing off. “We were so close.”
Perhaps these moments will spring the Cavaliers toward future greatness, a crossroads moment in the program that could galvanize and motivate. But forget? No chance.Perhaps these moments will spring the Cavaliers toward future greatness, a crossroads moment in the program that could galvanize and motivate. But forget? No chance.
Something this painful leaves scars.Something this painful leaves scars.