A quick-read Gator fans guide to the University of Virginia
Monday, March 12, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Women's Swimming & Diving, Chris Harry
YES, VIRGINIA, YOU ARE FLORIDA'S 1ST-ROUND FOE
A quick-read Gator fans guide to the University of Virginia heading into Friday's opening-round of the NCAA Tournament West Region in Omaha, Neb.
LOCATION: Charlottesville, Va.
FOUNDED: 1819 (by Thomas Jefferson)
ENROLLMENT: 14,039 undergraduate; 6,515 postgraduate
COLOR: Orange and Navy Blue
NICKNAME: Cavaliers (also Wahoos)
CONFERENCE: Atlantic Coast
COACH: Tony Bennett (3rd season at UVa, 53-40; sixth season overall, 122-73)
RECORD: 22-9, 10-6 in ACC (tied for fourth)
NCAA HISTORY
All-time tournament appearances: 18
Last tournament appearance: 2007 (Beat Albany in 1st round; lost to Tennessee in second round)
Best finish: Final Four in 1981 and '84
Sweet 16s (7): 1981, '82, '83, '84, '89, '93, '95
Elite Eights (5): 1981, '83, '84, '89, '95
Final Fours (2): 1981, '83 (lost in national semifinals both times)
GREATEST PLAYER
Ralph Sampson, 1979-83 (pictured below in 1982 Sports Illustrated over)
The 7-foot-4 center was the only three-time National Player of the Year in NCAA history and the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets.
OTHERS OF NOTE
G/F Buzzy Wilkinson (1952-55): Averaged 30 points per game in 1955; scored 2,233 career points
G Barry Parkhill ('69-73): ACC Player of the Year in 1972
F Wally Walker (72-76): MVP of '76 ACC Tournament; played 8 seasons in NBA and went to be GM for both Seattle Sonics and Portland Trailblazers.
G Jeff Lamp ('77-81): 4-year starter, two-time All-American with 2,317 career points.
F Bryant Stith (88-92): Left as UVA's all-time scoring leader (2,516 points), No. 2 rebounder and played 10 seasons in the NBA.
FUN FACT
A charter member of the ACC in 1953, Virginia has just one conference championship in its history.
FUNNER FACT
Won the 1980 NIT by defeating Minnesota and the 1992 NIT, behind Stith, by defeating the Gators -- coached by Lon Kruger, led by Stacey Poole and Andrew DeClerq -- in the semifinals at Madison Square Garden and Notre Dame in the finals.
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Edgar Allan Poe: The author and poet of such classics as "The Pit and the Pedulum," "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven" dropped out of UVA, but things turned out OK.
Walter Reed: Doctor and researcher has a fairly prestigious medical center named after him outside D.C.
Bill Nelson: U.S. senator from Florida who soared to space in the Space Shuttle Columbia one flight before the Challenger exploded in January 1986.
Woodrow Wilson: 28th President of the United States was born in Staunton, Va.
Robert F. Kennedy: The U.S. Senator from Massachussets and Attorney General received his law degree from UVa.
Katie Couric: Journalist, author and TV personality who has bounced around nearly every network.
Tina Fey: Emmy Award-winning actress made famous by "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock" and Sarah Palin.
Tiki and Ronde Barber: Most famous in sports history. Tiki was one of the best running backs in the NFL for XX seasons as a New York Giant, while Ronde just finished his 15th season as a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ryan Zimmerman: All-star third baseman for Washington Nationals was a first-round pick from UVa and last month signed a $100 million contract extension.
