In the elite eight game against Purdue University, the University of Virginia Cavaliers trailed 67-70 with 5 seconds left on the clock. In the final four game against Auburn University, the Cavaliers trailed the Tigers 57-61 with 17 seconds left. In the National Championship, 65-68 with 12 seconds left. Unless you've been living under a rock (or just don't follow college basketball), you know that the Cavaliers won all of those games in the last few seconds.
I was in the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville to watch the NCAA National Championship late on Monday night where thousands of students and members of the UVA community gathered to watch history happen. At 12 seconds left, I gripped the railing in front of me, trying to steel myself against the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks. I thought that it was over. I thought that our luck had run out. My friend's mom texted her, an alumna, telling us that she is "so proud of my hoos no matter what happens."
I knew that we had pulled the last 2 wins in the last few seconds, but I didn't think that it could happen again. And then out of nowhere, DeAndre Hunter hit a 3 to get us to overtime. I turned to hug my friend who warned me, "No celebrating yet, this isn't over."
I had a picture of myself as a baby with a UVA hat on. My middle name is Virginia (thanks, Mom and Dad). My parents went to UVA, met there, and got married a few years after. They bleed orange and blue, so I wasn't surprised when they purchased last-minute flights from California to watch the Final Four live in Minneapolis.
What I love most about UVA is our undying spirit. We press on, no matter what obstacles lie in our way. I've found that trait in almost all of the people I've met here, and I've tried to embody it myself. So when the buzzer finally sounded and the players I have watched all season got crowned National Champions, I screamed with joy. We all ran down the streets, screaming and joining all together in the center of Grounds.
After the loss to UMBC last year, the basketball team and UVA as a whole have endured a lot of critics. But as Tony Bennett said, "If you learn to use it right, the adversity, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn't have gone any other way."
