Tony Bennett’s farewell was a thing of beauty

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Hollywood couldn’t have dreamed up a much better script than the ending of “Tony Bennett Day” at John Paul Jones Arena last Saturday night.

Virginia paid tribute to its all-time winningest coach by hoisting a banner to the rafters of JPJ, right beside Terry Holland’s, honoring the deeds of a coach destined to the Hall of Fame. Standing ovations, surprise visits from former players, and all the trimmings added glitter to the halftime ceremony, which featured Bennett baring his soul to a sold-out crowd.

But the ending, oh the ending, was perfect, as the Cavaliers put a cap on a 75-61 whipping of visiting Georgia Tech, an opponent Bennett only lost to twice in his 15 seasons.

Interim coach Ron Sanchez emptied his bench for the final minute, and one of those players who subbed in was none other than Eli Benett, Tony’s son, a walk-on member of Virginia’s “Green Team.”

Here’s where it gets interesting. With Tony and Tony’s father, Dick Bennett, watching from the stands, Eli makes a steal with 19 seconds to go and leads the fast break — yes, fast break — down the floor and unselfishly (Five Pillars) dishes it off to Green Team mate Desmond Roberts for a driving layup, thrilling the elder Bennetts looking on (photo gallery).

🧡💙 Things we love to see!

🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/TmcO442UCn

— Virginia Men’s Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) February 9, 2025

If you didn’t get the opportunity to watch the halftime, check out this video of the entire ceremony by clicking on this link.

Perhaps our favorite part of Bennett’s speech to the crowd was about the 2019 National Championship, a point that Bennett went out of his way to emphasize.

Standing at midcourt, with his parents and family over one shoulder, former players and managers scattered about, Bennett said to Dick Bennett:

“Dad, I can remember when I got this job, you said, ‘Son, if you’re going to build a program at Virginia, try to find players and hire coaches that are all about the pillars, and if you find that, if they’ll go through the adversity with you and stick with it for the long haul, you just might have a chance to touch something great.’

“And you know what? When I look at all those ACC championships, and look at that national championship banner …” Bennett slightly paused to add to the drama, “Which might be the last amateur championship banner, I think we touched greatness.”

JPJ went wild. How is it that Bennett, a man of few words, always says the exact right thing and the right time? How could anyone have wrapped up this gift to Virginia fans any better?

Last amateur championship, indeed.

Touched greatness, indeed.

Bennett saluted new Cleveland Cavalier teammates De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome, part of that last amateur championship, for going out of their way to be there to pay tribute. The two came down from D.C. after the Cavs played the Washington Wizards the night before. Kiwi Jack Salt was also on hand, while the UVA basketball alumni were also in the arena as part of their annual reunion.

Of course, Bennett’s farewell was just as meaningful as one might expect.

“It was the time of a lifetime,” Bennett said. “For 15 years, to get to coach all these guys and watch them grow in front of you, God bless you. Once a Hoo, always a Hoo. Thank you so much.”