San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Virginia 80, Purdue 75: A year after being the first No. 1 seed eliminated in the first round, the Cavaliers, again a No. 1 seed, earned their first trip to the Final Four since 1984.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — From embarrassment to exhilaration. From early exit to regional champ. From bracket busters to net cutters.
Virginia, the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed a year ago, survived overtime and Carsen Edwards’ staggering 3-point show Saturday night to make it to the Final Four for the first time since 1984.
The top-seeded Cavaliers needed a last-ditch buzzerbeater to send the South Region final to overtime and finally contained Edwards in the extra period to hang on for an 80-75 victory over Purdue.
The Cavaliers (33-3) redeemed themselves from last year’s loss to Maryland-Baltimore County by relying on experience, sound defense, poise, controlling the ball and a failure to be rattled even when the Boilermakers had the chance to ice the game in regulation at the foul line.
Their balance and experience allowed them to overcome a brilliant performance by Edwards, whose 10 3-pointers were one shy of the NCAA Tournament record. Edwards finished with 42 points for third-seeded Purdue (26-10) and none of his teammates scored more than seven. Edwards was named the Most Outstanding Player of the region, becoming the first player to win the honor from a losing team since Stephen Curry in 2008. Fitting, too, since Edwards scored the most points (139) through four NCAA Tournament games since 2000; Curry had the previous most with 128 points for Davidson.
De’Andre Hunter scored four points in overtime, including two on the go-ahead layup with 29 seconds remaining, and Kyle Guy and Kihei Clark each added two free throws as Virginia finally broke free from Purdue.
“We’ve come from so far. The way last year ended, everyone probably counted us out,” Guy said. “Man, I’m so proud of our guys, our coaching staff and our beautiful fans. I can’t even put into words what this means.”
Virginia got a last-gasp jumper from Mamadi Diakite as time expired to force overtime and the Cavaliers got clutch baskets from Ty Jerome and Hunter, who also had two free throws, before Guy and Clark sealed the victory.
Guy injured his ankle in the first half and his return was uncertain. But he came out from the break and hit backto-back 3s and finished with 25 points — 21 after halftime — and 10 rebounds. Jerome had 24, Diakite 14 and Hunter 10 for the Cavaliers.
Edwards had been unstoppable until overtime, and although he connected on a jumper, he missed a late 3point attempt and committed a turnover that ultimately led to Clark’s game-sealing foul shots.
“I tried to get a catch and we were down three so we were expecting the foul,” Edwards said of his mistake. “We had a screen for Ryan (Cline) and I was just trying to kick it ahead before he fouled me, and I just, just kind of ... it was a tough catch for Ryan, and just how it happens.” The win put coach Tony Bennett in the Final Four for the first time in a decade with the Cavaliers. His father, Dick Bennett, coached Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000 — beating Purdue in the regional finals.
“No one knows what this team has been through,” Tony Bennett said in a TV interview. “I do. And it’s good.”
Purdue had its chances and the momentum at times. But the Boilermakers were beat 39-31 on the boards, giving Virginia opportunities that ultimately made the difference.
“Give them credit, because when we were getting stops from them, we couldn’t secure the basketball,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “If we could have done a better job defensive rebounding, it would have really helped us.”
Gary B. Graves is an Associated Press sports writer.