Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the death of Virginia's winning streak. The Cavalier streak died over the weekend in Blacksburg, Va. -- a place where streaks typically flourish, instead of perish.
But I digress. We, as Wahoo nation, simply cannot move forward with the next chapter of our basketball season without fully appreciating the life -- and death -- of the streak.
Virginia's win streak began on a glorious Tuesday night nearly one month ago, Jan. 16 against Maryland. With the hated Terra-blins coming to Charlottesville, a nervous tension filled the air around Mr. Jefferson's University. After all, Virginia had not beaten the Terra-blins in the last three seasons, enduring buzzer-beater shots as well as a defeat at "Last Ball at U-Hall." Coming off three consecutive losses -- at home to Stanford and on the road to Boston College and North Carolina -- Wahoo nation yearned for something positive. What it got, however, was the birth of a streak.
Virginia mauled the Terra-blins 103-91, using the "run and stun" to out-shoot, out-defend, and out-hustle Maryland all the way back to College Park.
Still in its infancy, the streak had a logical growth spurt at home against Wake Forest Jan. 21, as the Cavaliers manhandled a struggling Demon Deacon squad 88-76. While encouraged by the team's improved play, surely few in Wahoo nation realized at the time just how impressive the streak could become.
The first real sign of the streak's streakiness came the following Wednesday as the Cavaliers pulled out a crucial win on the road at N.C. State. In addition to earning its first road win in the ACC, Virginia proved to many -- myself included -- that this team was capable of buckling down on defense and winning a low-scoring affair. I believe this night to be one of the most important nights throughout the streak, as a streaky Virginia squad finally started to gain confidence outside the ridiculously comfy confines of The John.
The most improbable night of the streak's life -- arguably -- took place the following Sunday, Jan. 28 at Clemson. With the streak on life support and Virginia down 14 points with less than five minutes to play, the Cavaliers scored the game's final 15 points to rob the Tigers of a win. The doctors -- a.k.a. everyone -- gave the streak an almost zero chance of survival. What the doctors did not know, however, was that the streak was destined to live on -- and live on it did.
Just days after leaving a Clemson hospital, the streak suffered another near-death experience at home against Duke Feb. 1. With the game tied 66-66 in overtime, world-class surgeon Sean Singletary miraculously saved the streak's life once again with the shot-to-end-all-shots in the game's final seconds. If the streak's life is to be remembered by one photograph, it would be surgeon Singletary's glare-and-point following his buzzer-beater. Priceless.
After a meticulous 11-point win over Miami at home two days later, the Cavaliers carried their elderly streak to Maryland, hoping it had just enough stamina for one final hurrah. In typical streak fashion, the Cavaliers did exactly what was asked, pulling out a tough-fought, four-point win over the Terra-blins in College Park.
Unfortunately, this would be the last wonderful moment in the life of the streak. Over the weekend, the streak was joined by its friends and family as most knew its life was nearing an end. Never having a chance at survival, the streak officially passed away at around 6 p.m. Saturday after the desperate Hokies annihilated a cocky Virginia team 84-57 in front of a rabid, Cavalier-hating fan base in Blacksburg.
In total, the streak lived a wonderful life. It lived 26 days and enjoyed seven wonderfully consecutive ACC victories -- including three on the road. In addition to being a wonderful family streak that never said a mean thing about anyone, the streak did wonderful things for the Virginia community. Namely, the streak has made it possible for this Virginia team to end another, terrible streak -- zero NCAA tournament appearances since 2001.
Streak: Wahoo nation loves you. Rest in peace.
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