UVA basketball forward Kadin Shedrick. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
In the face of unimaginable tragedy, UVA basketball found a way to lift spirits in Charlottesville with an upset win over Baylor on an emotional night.
There is no playbook for what the University of Virginia has gone through this week. On Sunday night, three UVA football players were killed and two other students, including running back Mike Hollins, were wounded in a shooting.
On Friday, the Cavaliers community was still trying to process the loss of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry when the UVA basketball team tipped off against Baylor in the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas.
Virginia players wore sweatshirts during warm-ups honoring the names and numbers of the fallen on their backs with the words “UVA Strong” on the front. Then they went out and played “UVA Strong.”
UVA basketball’s emotional win over Baylor meant more than basketball
The No. 16 Cavaliers came away with an 86-79 victory over No. 5 Baylor. It was a win that clearly meant more than just basketball.
“We know the pain and grief that so many are going through,” head coach Tony Bennett said after the win. “Situations like that really do put things in perspective…I want that coaching staff and those players to know how much we love them and are with them.”
As you can imagine, the UVA community and Twitter at large were emotional.
Credit is due to Baylor for the way they handled a difficult scenario as well, locking arms with the Cavaliers to pray in solidarity after the final whistle.
Virginia will be back in action on Sunday against the winner of the matchup between Illinois and UCLA.
The Virginia football team will not play this weekend. Saturday’s scheduled game against Coastal Carolina was canceled.
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