I grew up in a family where three uncles attended the University of Virginia, and they and my parents (William and Mary graduates with the need to live vicariously through Virginia sports) always told me about the history of Cavalier basketball. They told me about Ralph Sampson winning three consecutive National Player of the Year awards in the early 1980s. The first time I watched a game in U-Hall, I saw banners on the rafters commemorating two Final Four, three Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen appearances in the last 25 years. Saturday afternoon I looked closer and saw four regular season ACC championships since 1981.
In the skeptical and near-sided age that we live in, fans often forget the history of Virginia basketball, which now stretches one full century, and the pride that exists for anyone who has been associated with the program during its history.
In recent seasons Virginia basketball has been made into a joke by a variety of pundits, sportswriters and even many of the fans themselves. As the football team improved each year, afternoons waiting in line for a seat in U-Hall were considered worthless when a spectator could come just minutes before the contest and still get a decent seat.
On Saturday, that was different.
At halftime, over 50 former Cavalier players walked onto the court one more time to celebrate 100 years of Virginia basketball. They ranged in age from 99 to recent graduates. Some were household names, and some were not. A triple-tiered birthday cake was brought out for the program, and the crowd joined in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" followed by a standing ovation for the former players.
The pride that resounded from these alumni in U-Hall Saturday stretched outward to fill the arena, resounding further than a simple defeat of our Hokie rivals from Blacksburg.
Virginia freshman guard Sean Singletary and senior forward Devin Smith attended the luncheon held for these former players on Friday, emerging with an apparent appreciation for the history of the program. In the locker room Saturday, they were proud that they could earn a win in front of them.
"It's a treat for them to come watch us play and perform well," Singletary said. "I talked to a couple of former players [at the luncheon], like Buzzy Wilkinson. He just told me to keep my head up, and keep playing hard. That's what I've been doing."
Wilkinson played point guard for the Cavaliers in the 1950s and still holds the all-time record for career points per game. Against Virginia Tech, Singletary played the entire 40 minutes, scoring 10 points with seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. I think it is safe to say that Wilkinson was proud of the freshman's performance.
We all have been frustrated by this basketball team, and they have certainly been frustrated with themselves. But on Saturday, it was apparent that the current Virginia basketball team was inspired by the former players who were watching from the stands.
"It's good when you see people come back who used to play basketball here," Cavalier center Elton Brown said. "That's always a great feeling, because sooner or later we're going to be in the same shoes."
The number of alumni who chose to come back and celebrate the program's history is a reminder of all that once was good for Virginia basketball. It was a reminder that every once in a while, we should take a step back and look, like the current players did, at what preceded us.
Saturday Virginia took pride in playing defense. They took pride in rebounding, controlling the basketball and being less selfish on the offensive end of the floor. To put it simply, they competed like so many of the attending former players did in their heyday.
And that is the best tribute they could have received.
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