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Mamadi Diakite of Virginia, center, reacts with teammates Kyle Guy and 33-year-old Jack Salt after firing a shot at overtime in the South Regional final of the NCAA tournament against Purdue, Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Louisville. , Ky. (Associated Press)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – From embarrassment to the joy of living. From the anticipated exit to the regional champion. From support busters to net cutters.
Virginia, the # 1 seed to lose a seed of 16 last year, survived Saturday and Saturday night at Carsen Edwards to the Final Four, allowing her to qualify for the Final Four for the first time. times since 1984.
The top-ranked Cavaliers needed a last-minute drummer to send the game in overtime and eventually had to hold Edwards in overtime to keep their 80-75 win over Purdue in the South Region Finals.
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The Cavaliers (33-3) have saved themselves from last year's defeat against UMBC by relying on veterans, solid defense, coolness, ball control and failure, even when the Boilermakers have had the chance to play the game in a regulatory manner. line.
Their balance and experience allowed them to defeat Edwards' brilliant performance, with the 10 points at 3 points just one point behind the NCAA tournament record. Edwards finished with 42 points for Purdue (26-10), seeded third, and none of his teammates scored more than seven each.
Edwards was named the most outstanding player in the Southern region, becoming the first player to win the honor of a losing team since Stephen Curry in 2008. In form too, since Edwards scored the most points (139 ) in the four games of the NCAA Tournament since 2000; Curry had the precedent over with 128 points for Davidson.
De 'Andre Hunter scored four points in overtime, including the starting double with 29 seconds left, while Kyle Guy and Kihei Clark added two free throws and Virginia finally managed to free Purdue.
"We have come from so far, and by the end of last year, everyone has probably counted us," said Guy. "Dude, I'm so proud of our guys, our coaches and our wonderful fans, I can not even say what it means."
"Dude, I'm so proud of our guys, our coaches and our wonderful fans, I can not even say what it means."
Virginia had a final jump from Mamadi Diakite at the end of the allotted time and the Cavaliers received clutch baskets from Ty Jerome and Hunter, who also made two free throws, before Guy and Clark sealed the win.
Guy was injured at the ankle in the first period and his return was uncertain. But he came out of the break and hit three consecutive goals to finish with 25 points – 21 after halftime – and 10 rebounds. Jerome had 24, Diakite 14 and Hunter 10, while the Cavaliers survived the Boilermakers.
Edwards had been unstoppable until overtime, and although he jumped on a rider, he missed a late 3 and made a reversal that eventually led to Clark's colossal shots.
"I tried to take a hold and we were three less so we were expecting the blame," Edwards said of his mistake. "We had a screen for Ryan (Cline) and I was just trying to do it before it got dirty, and I just, somehow … c & # 39; was a difficult catch for Ryan, and how it went. "
The win allowed coach Tony Bennett to qualify for the Final Four for the first time in ten years with the Cavaliers. His father, Dick Bennett, coached Wisconsin in the Final Four in 2000 – beating Purdue in the regional final.
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"Nobody knows what this team has been through," Bennett said in a television interview. "Yes, and it's good."
Purdue had his chances and momentum sometimes. But the Boilermakers were beaten 39-31 on the board, giving Virginia opportunities that ultimately made the difference.
"Give them credit, because when we had stops, we could not secure basketball," said Purdue coach Matt Painter. "If we could do a better job of rebounding on the defensive, it would have really helped us."
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