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A year after becoming the number one seed in the history of college basketball losing a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament, Virginia reached the title title by beating the head of Auburn series number 5 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
"Thinking about the same time last year we started our spring training and continue playing at this point of the season with, after tonight, another team from across the country on the stage you've been dreaming of since childhood it's an unreal feeling, "said Virginia Guard Ty Jerome. "We will do everything we can to finish the job."
The Cavaliers will face Texas Tech, third seed, finalist surprise. The Red Raiders, in their first Final Four, defeated Michigan 61-51, seeded, in a tough battle in the second semifinal.
"Why not us?" Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard said. "We have good players, we have a big university, we play in the best league in the country, we won the Big 12 regular season title, we are a good team, we have good players, I think we deserve to be here. "
The men's championship is Monday at 21h. AND. This will be the first meeting between the two programs and neither team has won a national title.
Controversial end
Virginia's victory was far from badured.
Auburn had a lead of 62-60 with 1.5 seconds. But Samir Doughty of Auburn made a foul on Kyle Guy of Virginia, while he was attempting a batting attack with 0.6 seconds to go. He hit the three free throws, giving the Cavaliers the 63-62 win.
"These are moments that all basketball players have dreamed of, winning the winning shot, free throws or whatever," said Guy. "Somehow, you have that feeling in your belly, like a good nervousness, good, that's my chance." Being able to participate in the national championship with these guys and (head coach Tony) Bennett, I I mean, I really do not have the words. "
J.D. Collins, National Coordinator of NCAA Officials, made a statement regarding the fault.
"The call was made by official James Breeding, who decided that Doughty was going into the airborne shooter, making contact with Guy while removing his landing point," Collins said. "The misconduct constituted a violation of Article 39.i of Regulation 4, which states that" Verticality applies to a legal situation, as well as to offensive and defensive players. The basic principle of the principle of verticality is as follows: "" or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact outside of its vertical plane or in the vertical plane of the opponent. "
In addition to the fault, there was a no-call that made the fans talk. It seems that officials have missed a double dribble Jerome, which happened a few seconds before the fault of Guy. If this figure had been called, Auburn, instead of Virginia, would have had the balloon late.
"I really feel for Auburn, but I feel better for ourselves now, and I'm just grateful to these guys for playing and playing as we wanted," Bennett said. "Survive and move on, I guess it takes a new meaning."
Jerome led all scorers with 21 points. Guy was 15, while De & Andre Hunter was 14 for Virginia.
Doughty had 13 points for Auburn, while Bryce Brown and Jared Harper had 12 points respectively.
A football school plays for a basketball title
Texas Tech has just a team sport with a national championship in the history of the school. This came from the women's basketball team in 1993 led by the legendary Sheryl Swoopes.
The men's basketball team now has the chance to do two.
A school these days best known for football – the NFL's most valuable player and former Texas Tech quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was present on Saturday – Texas Tech and his Red Raiders have made a quick climb.
Texas Tech (31-6) defeated No. 2 seeds Michigan and No. 1 lead Gonzaga to reach the Final Four, and now the Michigan State (32-7).
Led by Beard over the past three seasons, Texas Tech is now in the league game one year after reaching the Elite Eight. The Associated Press coach of the year only leads in Division I – the highest level of the NCAA – for four years.
He had previously coached in Division II for Angelo State and McMurry University (both in Texas) and for the Warriors of the American Basketball Association (ABA) South Carolina. His first two head coaching opportunities came at college, Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and at Seminole State College in Oklahoma.
"I would not want to trade my experiences for anything," Beard said earlier this week by accepting the AP Coaching Title. "I am very proud of my professional background, in small universities and small universities and in division II.I have the impression of representing a lot of people, maybe even people I do not know not even."
Seniors Norense Odiase, Tariq Owens and Matt Mooney, as well as the second year, Jarrett Culver, are among the leaders of the formations. Saturday, Mooney – who had stopped at Air Force and South Dakota before arriving at Texas Tech for this season – was the top scorer of the game with 22 points on 8 shots out of 16.
"It has been a hell of a trip," Mooney said. "A lot of people have helped me reach this stage, have helped me all the way in. You know, it is I'm living the dream right now."
Cbadius Winston had 16 points for Michigan State.
"In my career, we have rarely been beaten, and tonight was one of those nights," said Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo, who fell to 2 -6 in the semifinals.
No blue blood
Winning a title would be an appropriate end given the end of 2018 for Virginia. After being shocked by the University of Maryland (16th in the standings), in Baltimore County (UMBC) at the NCAA Tournament last season, Virginia (34-3) is the only seeded number 1 to reach the Final Four this year.
The final four of this year's NCAA has a somewhat different feel. This year is 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.
Instead, the most experienced team to qualify for the Final Four – and the only one to win a championship – was Michigan State, which won it all in 2000 and 1979.
Until Saturday, Auburn and Texas Tech were never in the Final Four. This is Virginia's third appearance in the Final Four and the first since 1984.
Although there was no real Cinderella in this year's Final Four, the closest was Auburn (30-10).
The Tigers beat three of those blue bloods – Kansas, UNC and Kentucky – on their way to Minneapolis, making Auburn the only team to have beaten those programs in consecutive games of the year. history of NCAA tournaments.
"I think for us, I thought we looked like our membership," said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl after the loss to Virginia on Saturday. "We were not supposed to be here – we were not supposed to have a chance to win – or maybe a chance to win, but unlikely … so it will be a memorable match, and I would like to remember for a great match. "
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