The Virginia Cavaliers are NCAA champions for the first time in their college football program’s history, after winning a very close game over Texas Tech on Monday.
The Virginia Cavaliers are National Champions for the first time in school history. They played an extremely close and entertaining championship game that went into overtime, beating the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 85-77.
Neither team had won a National Championship in college basketball before, so we were always going to get a first-time winner in Monday’s game. Despite the late start time and lack of enthusiasm over the two defensive-minded teams, there was some excellent shooting across the board, especially of the three-point variety.
Virginia benefited from a controversial call late in the game. One of their players stripped the ball from Davide Moretti, and it went out of bounds. Instant replay shows that one of Moretti’s fingers grazed the ball as it was being slapped out of his hands, so the officials gave the ball to Virginia, and Tech never recovered.
The game got out to a slow start, with both teams putting up a stout defense. The first five minutes of the game were virtually scoreless, with a 2-2 tie lasting until there was 16:10 on the clock. Virginia managed to build a nice gap, leading 15-6 at one point.
Tech brought it back though, getting hot with around six minutes remaining in the first half. They managed to tie the game, and even took a lead. A pair of threes from Virginia — via Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome — put the Cavaliers back on top, 32-29, when the game went to the half.
Virginia managed to build a lead right out of the gate in the second half, scoring six unanswered points. They maintained about a six-to-eight-point gap over the Red Raiders for much of the second half, with multiple people stepping up for the Cavaliers. In addition to Guy and Jerome, De’Andre Hunter was having a very good night, especially in the second half.
Brandone Francis came off the bench for Tech and played very well, leading his team in scoring as the game was nearing its end. Jarrett Culver, Tech’s leading scorer for much of the season, struggled big time in shooting. He hit the bulk of his free throws, but struggled elsewhere. Tech went on an 11-4 run late in the second half and that tied the game with just over 3 minutes to go.
Culver picked up his play big time late in the second half, sinking a could free throws, earning an assist on a three from Davide Moretti and hitting a layup all in the final two minutes. Texas Tech took a three-point lead with under half a minute to go, but Hunter sank a three to tie it with 12 seconds remaining.
Texas Tech caught a break when Virginia bungled their final possession, but the Red Raiders couldn’t convert on the inbound play and they went to overtime at 68-68.
Virginia had a late instant replay review go their way, and it helped them on an 11-point run to take a lead with under a minute to go in overtime. Their lead grew, and Tech lost all the air from their sails. The replay really hurt them — it was a Virginia player stripping the ball out of bounds, but it grazed Moretti’s pinky, so they gave possession to the Cavaliers.
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Virginia Cavaliers are in the National Championship game, and both are fighting for their first ever college basketball national title. They’re set to face off from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, with tip scheduled for 9:20 p.m. ET on CBS (live streaming via fuboTV, CBS All-Access, March Madness Live).
It’s been a long road for both teams. Texas Tech’s last few games have included some truly impressive wins over Michigan State, Gonzaga and Michigan. Virginia downed Auburn, Purdue and Oregon over their past three games, though they barely survived their last two. They bested Auburn by a single point and went to overtime against the Boilermakers.
This year was the first year that Texas Tech even made it to the Final Four, having previously only reached the Elite Eight once, in 2018. Virginia had made it to the Final Four twice before, but not since 1984, though they made it to the final eight in 2016.
Texas Tech is a third seed while Virginia is a top seed.
Jarrett Culver has led the way for Texas Tech, with 18.6 points-per-game over the course of this past season. He’s also averaged 6.3 rebounds a game. Virginia has had more of a committee with their scoring. Kyle Guy, Deandre Hunter and Ty Jerome average 15.2, 14.9 and 13.5 points per game, respectively.
Below is all you need to watch the finale of the Big Dance.
How to watch the NCAA Tournament National Championship game
Date: Monday, April 8
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Online Streaming: fuboTV, CBS All-Access, March Madness Live
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