Virginia has never been known for its offense.
Tony Bennett’s squad has always been a slower-paced team that prides itself on suffocating opponents on defense.
While the Cavaliers’ defense hasn’t been atrocious, their offense has been historically bad against Colorado State in the First Four on Tuesday night.
Virginia scored just 14 points in the first half and went scoreless for the final 10:30 in the first half. The Cavaliers’ drought continued in the second half as they missed 19 straight field goals and didn’t score until the 16:38 mark.
Reece Beekman broke a 12-minute, 42-second scoreless drought for the Cavaliers. Virginia spent 51 minutes of real time without scoring.
The NCAA selection committee had faced some backlash on social media after Virginia made the NCAA Tournament over other schools fans deemed as more deserving.
Here are some of the best reactions from Virginia’s rough offense night.
Social media reacts to Virginia men’s basketball
Perhaps if Virginia performed like this in December, fans may have missed it or shrugged it off as typical Cavalier basketball.
Not in March.
Everything during March Madness is viewed under a microscope, and Virginia didn’t slip through any cracks in the First Four.
Only scoring 14 first half points and missing 19 straight field goals warranted college basketball fans to chime in. Debates returned on why Virginia was even invited to the NCAA Tournament in the first place.
They really picked this Virginia team over the Big East teams
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) March 20, 2024
Virginia just scored for the first time in 51 minutes of real time!
They trail by 19, have put 16 points through 23.5 minutes of play.
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 20, 2024
Virginia has missed 19 consecutive shots and scored 14 points (we’re in the second half) and I was told this week we need to expand this tournament because there too many good teams.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) March 20, 2024
Don’t let the fact that Virginia plays a distressing, unenjoyable style of basketball distract you from the fact that they are also not good enough to be in the NCAA Tournament
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) March 20, 2024
“The committee took a considerable amount of flak for putting Virginia in at the expense of some of the other teams. And based on what we’ve seen, that conversation is going to linger — unless Tony Bennett’s team can turn this around quickly.”
Spero Dedes on a rough showing for… pic.twitter.com/4Mzln5fFbX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2024
