Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy say they are working harder than they ever have in their life and are committed to competing for the national title next season.
This is not hyperbole. This is what Virginia鈥檚 leaders are determined to do since experiencing the worst and most embarrassing loss in their lives 鈥 the first ever 16 beating a 1 seed when UMBC shocked the Cavaliers and college basketball with a 74-54 victory on March 16 in Charlotte.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get back out there with this team," Guy told sifoeeprocess.com. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a new focus this year that we didn鈥檛 have the previous year. This year, there鈥檚 not going to be any let up on the pedal in each and every game. Some people say you鈥檒l get over the loss. That was history. It was made and we were on the wrong end. We want to be remembered for something better."
The reason for the optimism is simple: The Cavaliers have every piece needed to compete. Sure, Duke has the top three players in the class of 2018 and should be the most talented team in the country. But check the last three national championship games and you鈥檒l find veteran teams in each one of them (see: Villanova-North Carolina; Gonzaga-North Carolina and Villanova-Michigan). Oh, and even when Duke and North Carolina have had more 鈥渢alent,鈥欌 this past season, it was Virginia that won the ACC regular-season and tournament title 鈥 and it wasn鈥檛 close.
鈥淓veryone on the team knows we鈥檙e not going to be picked to win the ACC or the 草莓网站在线看," said Guy. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just how it鈥檚 been."
Virginia could have the goods with Jerome, Guy, the stunning return of De鈥橝ndre Hunter, who would have likely been a first-round pick had he declared. But Hunter, who missed the UMBC game with a wrist injury, decided to come back. That gives the Cavaliers as good a threesome on the wing/backcourt as any team in the country. Now, if Jack Salt can be an anchor inside and the Cavaliers can get the necessary role play then they can duplicate last season even with the losses of Nigel Johnson, Isaiah Wilkins and Devon Hall.
Guy said Salt is constantly working on his post moves, floaters, hook shots and trying to make an impact. Combine that with the improved play of big man Mamadi Diakite and Guy has reason to be giddy about this team. Hunter鈥檚 decision was even bigger boost to this team鈥檚 confidence in itself.
MORE: How UMBC's K.J. Maura went from afterthought in Puerto Rico to 草莓网站在线看 history-maker
鈥淪ome of the reason he didn鈥檛 test was his wrist but he didn鈥檛 want to be the player that says look at me, I鈥檓 declaring for the draft,鈥欌 said Jerome. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not in a rush to et to the NBA or be in the G League. A lot of guys don鈥檛 understand. He鈥檚 focusing on our team and getting himself better.鈥欌
Virginia lost just three games all season and went 17-1 in the ACC.
Could the Cavaliers have a similar season in 2019?
鈥淲e definitely have the potential to do so," said Jerome.
To understand why these two guards are so driven, you have to go back to the UMBC game.
Jerome said the Cavaliers expected to have a lead at the half but it was tied at 21-21. They were riding an emotional high only days earlier after winning the ACC tournament in Brooklyn.
Once UMBC got a lead in the second half, momentum swung and UVA struggled to regain control.
鈥淚t felt like we were drowning," said Guy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put into words."
Guy said he didn鈥檛 think about the historic nature of the loss until UMBC grabbed the early lead.
鈥淭hen it pops in your mind subconsciously," said Guy of the potential of a historic loss. 鈥淚t was a complete 180 (from the ACC tournament). I can鈥檛 put into words what that game was like. It鈥檚 something we hadn鈥檛 prepared for."
MORE: Why UMBC鈥檚 shocking, historic win over top-seeded Virginia will stand alone
Both players credited UMBC, but as Guy said, 鈥渨e were out-underdogged by the underdog."
Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who was a consensus national coach of the year, handled the postgame with professionalism and pride. The players said Bennett told them people would watch how they handle defeat, just like they would a victory.
鈥淗e let us know that one loss can鈥檛 define us," said Guy.
Guy said after that loss it was the lowest his confidence had ever been, but Bennett was quick to life his spirits.
鈥淲e lost our edge a bit," said Jerome. 鈥淲e lost our swagger and the way we do things. We had our eyes on the national championship, maybe too much.鈥欌
So how can each player quantify that they are working harder?
鈥淥n the court, in the weight room, sleeping and eating right and not letting any of these categories slip,鈥欌 said Jerome. 鈥淭here is a sense of focus that wasn鈥檛 there this time last year."
Guy said he has changed his sleep habits. He鈥檚 making sure he drinks a gallon of water each day. He鈥檚 eating the right foods. He鈥檚 much more disciplined.
鈥淚 have a newfound hate of losing," said Guy. 鈥淚鈥檝e built up a lot of anger about losing. I had never experienced that before. We will learn from that loss, because that loss was on such a big stage and will haunt us for the rest of our life."
