They lined up, looking for the place and eventually finding it. It was a buffet with four stations — four cardboard boxes — serving all the same items. Banners. These were miniature versions of the large orange thing that later joined the rafters.
“Tony Bennett,” the banners said, in large capital letters. “2009-2024.”
The fans walked away, many of them not with one clutched in their fists but with two or three or four — for themselves, for family and friends, for the next-door neighbor. Then they shoved them into pockets for safekeeping and headed to their seats for the game.
There was, after all, a game to play, even though it didn’t always feel like it. Some fans left before the second half began, staying only for the ceremony. There seemed a collective sigh after halftime, when the band blared its announcement of the players’ return.
The sentiment, of course, made sense. Feb. 8, 2025, is Tony Bennett Day — officially — in the state of Virginia. Bennett, the winningest coach in program history, the deliverer of its only national title and a whole lot more, returned to the court Saturday to be honored during Virginia’s 75-61 win over Georgia Tech.
And there was a lot to honor. Bennett built the program into a winner, a six-time ACC regular-season champion, a perennial national contender. He won the program’s first ACC Tournament title in almost four decades, and then its first NCAA Tournament title ever. He did it his own way, molding the program to the storied five pillars.
The fans in the stands knew all that. They watched as Bennett entered through the tunnel, like he had so many times before. This time, though, instead of the suit of his earlier years or the quarter-zip of his later ones, he wore an unadorned blue sweater. He smiled a lot as he high-fived former players waiting in the tunnel.
Bennett reached the middle of the court and stood under a spotlight in a darkened area, with his family courtside. Everyone watched as the banner ascended to the rafters. Then Bennett spoke, starting with a joke.
“Thank you very much,” Bennett said. “You sure know how to make a guy look good in front of his parents.”
Then, in typical fashion, he directed the attention elsewhere.
“It’s a bit uncomfortable being honored like this,” Bennett said. “But the way I look at it, this is a celebration of all the people that have been along with me on this journey.”
That meant players. Isaiah Wilkins, Kyle Guy and Chase Coleman were already there, dressed in their coaching garb, and Ty Jerome, De’Andre Hunter and Jack Salt traveled in for the ceremony. More — Joe Harris and Mamadi Diakite, Hunter and Jerome again — appeared on the jumbotron in timeouts throughout the game.
“I’m happy and glad that I got the opportunity to learn from you and to go to the University,” Hunter said onscreen. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and the program.”
Harris’s words, though coming through the sound system, struggled to puncture the clapping. So did Diakite’s, except for the way the smiling big man began — “Hey TB, it’s your favorite player, Mamadi.” Bennett surely appreciated it all.
“This is a special group,” Bennett said, pointing to the column of former players, “and they represent to me what is right about college sports.”
The celebration, in Bennett’s mind, also included coaches and other staff members. In his remarks, Bennett’s father, Dick Bennett, told him something back in 2009, Bennett said — bring in the right people, Dick said, ones who believe in the five pillars.
“They’ll go through the adversity with you and stick with it for the long haul,” Bennett said, still quoting his father. “You just might have a chance to touch something great.”
The celebration included fans, too. Bennett’s face on cardboard wagged in the student section. A national title trophy cutout floated a few rows up. A sign read “thank you,” with confetti around the edges.
At the end of the day, though, it was about the man who put them all there. Given the choice — not that he had one — he would have avoided it all.
“Tony’s very simple when it comes to certain things,” Interim Coach Ron Sanchez said. “I’m sure he really appreciated all the stuff today. But if he would have had a choice, he probably would have said, ‘Don’t do it.’”
Sanchez missed the ceremony, huddled in the locker room making halftime adjustments. So did his players. But despite focusing on the game, they all still understood the moment.
“I’m grateful to have played under him,” junior guard Andrew Rohde said. “And I’m grateful to have him in my life.”
Rohde and his team, in an important game, played as if bolstered by the spirit of their former coach. They submitted arguably their best performance of the season on a special night and rose to 12th in the ACC.
At the end of the first half, with time winding down, everyone in the stadium stood, clapping and crescendoing. It was one of those moments that sends chills through even the most cynical of codgers.
With a minute left in a 16-point game, the last three players off the bench went in. One of them wore “Bennett” on his back.
Eli Bennett is a junior guard, a practice player on the team and the former coach’s son. He and another practice player, junior guard Markus Rouse, alternate suiting up for home games. Saturday was Eli’s turn.
On his first defensive possession, he stripped his man and pushed the ball the other way. He passed to another walk-on, who flipped it to another, who scored. A real hockey assist.
Up in his box, Tony Bennett stood up, smiling and laughing, and cheered.
Read More
Women’s basketball collapses against Virginia Tech
By Lauren Halak | 14 hours agoVirginia made just two of its 16 three-point attempts in another ACC loss.
Gary Martin runs the second-fastest collegiate mile in NCAA history
By Caroline Wulff | 23 hours agoThe star Cavalier made history, while others joined him on the podium.
In season’s final home meet, freshmen shine for No. 1 women’s swimming and diving
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayThe top-ranked Cavaliers will now prepare for the ACC Tournament, beginning Feb. 18.
