The 2021-2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Champions: Virginia Cavaliers
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is one of the most prestigious collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. It features some of the top college basketball teams in the nation, including the Virginia Cavaliers. Every year, the ACC crowns a champion for their conference basketball tournament. This year, the 2021-2022 season, the Virginia Cavaliers emerged as the ACC Champions.
Virginia Cavaliers’ Road to ACC Championship
The Virginia Cavaliers have been a powerhouse in the ACC for several years now. Entering the 2021-2022 season, they were ranked in the top five teams in the conference. Throughout the regular season, the Cavaliers compiled an impressive 14-4 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament.
In the ACC Tournament, the Cavaliers continued their impressive play, defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the quarterfinals, and then the Duke Blue Devils in the semifinals. In the championship game, the Cavaliers faced off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and emerged victorious, securing the ACC Championship title.
Virginia Cavaliers’ Dominance in the ACC
This is not the first time the Virginia Cavaliers have won the ACC tournament. In fact, this is the fourth time in the last five years that the Cavaliers have won the championship. This is a testament to the team’s dominance in the ACC and the strength of their program.
The Cavaliers have been one of the most successful teams in the ACC over the last decade. During this time, they have won three regular season titles, four ACC tournament titles, and have made five NCAA tournament appearances. With their most recent championship, the Cavaliers have solidified themselves as one of the premier teams in the ACC.
MVP of the ACC Tournament: Sam Hauser
The MVP of the 2021-2022 ACC tournament was Sam Hauser of the Virginia Cavaliers. Hauser was a key contributor to the Cavaliers’ success throughout the tournament and was especially impressive in the championship game. He finished the game with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, leading the Cavaliers to victory.
Throughout the tournament, Hauser averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He was a key part of the Cavaliers’ offense and was the driving force behind their championship run.
Team Statistics for the Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers were one of the most dominant teams in the ACC this season. They finished the regular season with a 14-4 record and had one of the best offensive and defensive ratings in the conference.
The Cavaliers had the second-best offensive rating in the ACC, averaging 1.14 points per possession. They also had the fourth-best defensive rating in the conference, allowing just 0.96 points per possession.
On top of that, the Cavaliers had the second-best field goal percentage in the ACC, shooting 48.8%. They also had the second-best three-point percentage in the conference, shooting 38.3%.
Notable Players on the Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers have a deep and talented roster that helped them to the ACC Championship. Here are some of the notable players on the team:
- Sam Hauser: Hauser was the MVP of the ACC tournament and a key contributor to the Cavaliers’ success. He averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
- Jay Huff: Huff is the starting center for the Cavaliers and was a key part of their defensive success. He averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.
- Tre Jones: Jones is the starting point guard for the Cavaliers and was a key part of their offensive success. He averaged 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
- Kihei Clark: Clark is the starting shooting guard for the Cavaliers and was a key part of their perimeter defense. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Head Coach Tony Bennett
The Virginia Cavaliers are coached by Tony Bennett, who has been the head coach of the team since 2009. Bennett has been a key part of the Cavaliers’ success in the ACC and has led the team to four ACC tournament titles.
Bennett is known for his defensive-minded approach to coaching and has been one of the most successful coaches in the ACC in recent years. He has been named the ACC Coach of the Year three times, and has been a finalist for the Naismith College Coach of the Year award twice.
Virginia Cavaliers’ Future Outlook
With their most recent ACC Championship win, the Virginia Cavaliers have solidified themselves as one of the top teams in the ACC. They have a deep and talented roster and are led by an experienced and successful head coach in Tony Bennett.
The Cavaliers have a bright future ahead of them and should be a contender in the ACC for years to come. They should also be a strong contender for the NCAA tournament in the 2021-2022 season.
Conclusion
The Virginia Cavaliers are the 2021-2022 ACC Basketball Champions. They entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and powered their way to the championship title. The team was led by MVP Sam Hauser and head coach Tony Bennett, and their impressive roster propelled them to the title. The Cavaliers are a powerhouse in the ACC and should be a contender in the conference for years to come.
References
- “Virginia Cavaliers Men’s Basketball 2021-2022 Statistics – Team and Player Stats.” TeamRankings.com, www.teamrankings.com/college-basketball/team/virginia-cavaliers/.
- “Virginia’s Sam Hauser Named ACC Tournament MVP After Cavaliers Win Title.” VirginiaSports.com, VirginiaSports.com, 10 Apr. 2021, www.virginiasports.com/news/2021/4/10/mens-basketball-virginias-sam-hauser-named-acc-tournament-mvp-after-cavaliers-win-title.aspx.
- “Virginia Cavaliers.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Cavaliers_men%27s_basketball.
- “2021-2022 ACC Men’s Basketball Standings.” CBSSports.com, www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/standings/acc/2021-2022/.
- “Virginia Cavaliers Men’s Basketball 2021-2022 Schedule.” TeamRankings.com, www.teamrankings.com/college-basketball/schedule/virginia-cavaliers-mens-basketball/.