Virginia wins her first national men's basketball title

After being shocked by Maryland's No. 16 seed, the University of Maryland, in Baltimore County (UMBC) at the NCAA Tournament last season – the Cavaliers lost that 20 point gain – Virginia was the only seeded No. 1 to reach the Final Four this year. .

"When they arrive in my office, I've got a Rocky poster on the steps," said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett at CBS. "And I told them, I just want a chance at a title fight someday."

For the Cavaliers junior, Kyle Guy, who was named the most outstanding player and has 24 points, he said "that's how it should end," he told Westwood One.

"I think a lot of us were in a dark place," Guy said of his defeat at UMBC last year. "There was humiliation, embarrbadment for ourselves, our families and the program." Being able to redeem all of this and give this program something that had never happened before was everything I could wish for. "

Bennett, whose father, Dick Bennett, drove Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000, joined the exclusive company to reach the Final Four, making him the second father-and-son pair to reach the Final Four as the # 39 principal coaches. The other duet is John Thompson Jr. (Georgetown in 1982, 1984, 1985) and John Thompson III (Georgetown, 2007).

"I think every father would like to see his son do a lot better than him," Dick Bennett told Westwood One.

It was the third appearance in the Final Four for the Cavaliers and the first since 1984.

It was the first appearance in the final and in the championship game for Texas Tech (31-7), a school that has only one national championship in all sports. team of his story. This came from the women's basketball team in 1993 led by the legendary Sheryl Swoopes. This team is so revered in Lubbock that a highway has been named according to coach Marsha Sharp.

A school in a state best known for football – the most valuable player in the NFL and former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was present on Saturday and Monday and spoke with the team – Texas Tech and its Red Raiders made a quick climb of hardwood.

Led by head coach Chris Beard over the last three seasons, Texas Tech's previous NCAA success was at the Elite Eight, which took place last year. After losing five senior team 2017-2018, the Red Raiders relied on veterans Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens, as well as on former seniors, as well as on the return of seniors, Norense Odiase and Brandone Francis .

A Red Raider badistant to Bob Knight and Pat Knight from 2001 to 2011, Beard has been head coach of Division I – the highest level in the NCAA – for the past four years.

Previously, he had coached in Division II for Angelo State and McMurry University in Division III (Texas) and for the South Carolina Warriors of the American Basketball Association. His first two head coaching opportunities were held at college, Fort Scott Community College, Kansas, and Seminole State College, Oklahoma.

"When you talk about a fate team, I just think they're really good," Beard told Virginia after the setback.

"Calm, and they just find a way to win, I just want to congratulate them on their program, it's an honor to be up against them on this biggest stage, Monday night, of my guys, I've never was so proud of training, it's real life, we're going to bounce back, I'm so proud of these guys. "

On Monday, Francis had 17 points on the bench to lead Texas Tech. Sophomores Jarrett Culver and Davide Moretti each had 15.

It was the first meeting between the men's basketball programs.

This year, the final four of the NCAA men was a little different. This year was missing the well-known blue bloods: It's the first Final Four since 1987 to not have Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville or UCLA.