SJ103: Commending the University of Virginia men's basketball team.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 103
Commending the University of Virginia men’s basketball team.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, February 20, 2020
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 24, 2020

 

WHEREAS, on April 8, 2019, the University of Virginia men’s basketball team claimed its first national championship title with a victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball tournament; and

WHEREAS, in the tournament final, held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, the University of Virginia Cavaliers defeated the Texas Tech University Red Raiders 85–77 in a hard-fought contest; and

WHEREAS, after the Texas Tech Red Raiders recovered from a 10-point deficit and took the lead near the end of regulation, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter scored a critical three-pointer with 12.9 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime, where the Virginia Cavaliers regained the momentum and pulled away to win the game and the national championship, finishing the season with a 35–3 record; and

WHEREAS, the University of Virginia’s Kyle Guy, who finished the game with 24 points, was named most outstanding player of the Final Four; De’Andre Hunter led the team in scoring with a game-high 27 points, including four three-pointers; and

WHEREAS, after the conclusion of the season, Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter were selected in the National Basketball Association draft, along with their teammate Ty Jerome; and

WHEREAS, head coach Tony Bennett, well known in the Charlottesville community for his selfless commitment to the University of Virginia basketball program, received the 2019 Nell and John Wooden Excellence in Coaching Award in recognition of his personal integrity and high standards of excellence on and off the court; and

WHEREAS, after a stunning loss to a 16-seed team in the 2018 tournament, the University of Virginia Cavaliers regained their focus and defied expectations to win the 2019 national title, with major media outlets calling it one of the greatest redemption stories in the history of college athletics; and

WHEREAS, the University of Virginia basketball team’s victory is a testament to the hard work of the student-athletes, the leadership of coaches and staff, and the passionate support of friends, families, fans, and the entire University of Virginia community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the University of Virginia men’s basketball team on winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball tournament; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Tony Bennett, head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the team’s resilience, determination, and skill.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 103

Offered February 10, 2020
Commending the University of Virginia men’s basketball team.

Patrons-- Deeds, Bell, Chase, Howell, Morrissey, Peake, Reeves, Ruff and Spruill; Delegates: Adams, D.M., Avoli, Bell, Cole, J.G., Cole, M.L., Delaney, Heretick, Herring, Hodges, Hope, Hudson, Kilgore, Lindsey, Murphy, Plum, Sickles, Simonds, Sullivan and Ware

WHEREAS, on April 8, 2019, the University of Virginia men’s basketball team claimed its first national championship title with a victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball tournament; and

WHEREAS, in the tournament final, held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota, the University of Virginia Cavaliers defeated the Texas Tech University Red Raiders 85–77 in a hard-fought contest; and

WHEREAS, after the Texas Tech Red Raiders recovered from a 10-point deficit and took the lead near the end of regulation, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter scored a critical three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime, where the Virginia Cavaliers regained the momentum and pulled away to finish the season with a 35–3 record; and

WHEREAS, the University of Virginia’s Kyle Guy, who finished the game with 24 points, was named most outstanding player; De’Andre Hunter led the team in scoring with a game-high 27 points, including four three-pointers; and

WHEREAS, after the conclusion of the season, Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter were selected in the National Basketball Association Draft, along with their teammate Ty Jerome; and

WHEREAS, head coach Tony Bennett, well known in the Charlottesville community for his selfless commitment to the University of Virginia basketball program, received the 2019 Nell and John Wooden Excellence in Coaching Award in recognition of his personal integrity and high standards of excellence on and off the court; and

WHEREAS, after a stunning loss to a 16-seed team in the 2018 tournament, the University of Virginia Cavaliers regained their focus and defied expectations to win the 2019 national title, with major media outlets calling it one of the greatest redemption stories in the history of college athletics; and

WHEREAS, the University of Virginia basketball team’s victory is a testament to the hard work of the student-athletes, the leadership of coaches and staff, and the passionate support of friends, families, fans, and the entire University of Virginia community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the University of Virginia men’s basketball team on winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball tournament; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Tony Bennett, head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the team’s resilience, determination, and skill.