Wahoo Madness: Elite Eight
Posted on Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2020, 5:11 pm
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Okay, Wahoos, it’s that time.
We are down to the Elite Eight of the best Virginia basketball players of all time. While you may think a player or two is missing from your preferred list of finalists, it’s still tough to argue with the last eight Cavaliers standing.
We implore you to vote on your favorite four Wahoos and we hope this takes you down your UVA Memory Lane. There is still a lot to decide and we want the fans to have a strong voice in the vote.
Our bracket is broken up into four “regions” — Ballhandlers, Shooters, Forwards and Big Men. We did our best, with the help of a few long-term observers, media and former players, to assemble this list and give the fans a little bit of March Madness in a unique way, since there are unfortunately no “shining moments” to experience through the Big Dance this season, other than the fact that your Cavaliers are still reigning national champs for one more year.
We realize this list may not be perfect. Please try to keep in mind that this is all unofficial, and is for fun and to help us all get through March Madness. For the record, we did not set up any of the matchups, just the seeding, which was a very tough process in and of itself. All matchups are “luck of the draw,” and 100 percent of the voting is done by you, the fans.
Here’s a quick look at the final results from the Sweet 16 round:
Ballhandlers Region:
- No. 4 Cory Alexander def. No. 8 Donald Hand, 81% to 19%
- No. 6 Ty Jerome def. No. 2 John Crotty, 60% to 40%
Big Men Region:
- No. 1 Ralph Sampson def. No. 5 Junior Burrough, 97% to 3%
- No. 2 Olden Polynice def. No. 6 Travis Watson, 66% to 34%
Forwards Region:
- No. 1 Wally Walker def. No. 4 Mike Scott, 78% to 22%
- No. 2 De’Andre Hunter def. No. 3 Justin Anderson, 85% to 15%
Shooters Region:
- No. 1 Bryant Stith def. No. 5 Kyle Guy, 72% to 28%
- No. 3 Malcolm Brogdon def. No. 2 Buzzy Wilkinson, 70% to 30%
Now, it’s time to vote for your Final Four, your ‘Mount Rushmore’ of Cavalier greats. Our voting for this round will run from now until Sunday (April 12) at 11:59 p.m. ET, and will then reveal the winners early next week and present the ‘Final Four’ matchups soon thereafter.
There are some tough matchups in the Elite 8 and as we said in the round of 16, there are some gut-wrenching decisions about voting for one of your favorite players over another.
So, please consider voting and participating in this attempt to identify the best Wahoos in UVA basketball history.
After reading the player bios, you can make your selections below, check back for updated results, and if you’ve got a few other Wahoo friends, please feel free to share away! (Note: click on any image to enlarge.)
THE BRACKET
Click to enlarge/expand
BALLHANDLERS REGION
No. 4 Cory Alexander (1992-95)
15.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.7 apg
vs.
No. 6 Ty Jerome (2017-19)
9.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 apg
Alexander ranks 28th in the UVA career scoring category with 1,286 points. One of the most highly recruited players in UVA history from Oak Hill Academy by way of nearby Waynesboro, Alexander was both a McDonald’s and Parade All-American and the centerpiece of the UVA recruiting class that was ranked second behind Michigan’s “Fab Five.” Alexander, who’s 10th on the Cavaliers’ career assist list with 401, had his career cut short with injuries or his numbers would be even more impressive. He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 1993, and also made the All-ACC Tournament first team and was a USBWA All-District selection. Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th pick in 1995, Alexander went on to play professionally and is now an ACC hoops TV analyst.
Jerome is tied for third on the single-season assist list with 202 over the national championship season. He tied the single-game school record of 14 helpers against Syracuse in his final home game. Jerome is tied for fourth on the single-season steals list with 57, which was the most ever recorded by a Cavalier junior. The Mad Bomber had no fear when it came to shooting deep 3-pointers, especially in crunch time. He sank a few of the most memorable shots in UVA history, but a few of them will always stand out. We all recall the one from nearly halfcourt at the block-S logo at Syracuse in a Wahoo 3-point barrage, the one at the end of the first half in the national title game that gave the ‘Hoos a halftime lead. But the one Jerome shot that will never be forgotten by Cavalier fans was his dagger at Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2018 to clinch the first UVA win at Duke in over 20 years. Jerome was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the first round (24th pick) of the NBA Draft (traded from the Philadelphia 76ers).
BIG MEN REGION
No. 1 Ralph Sampson (1980-83)
16.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg
vs.
No. 2 Olden Polynice (1984-86)
12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Sampson really needs no introduction, but here goes. A three-time National and ACC Player of the Year in 1981, ‘82 and ‘83, and member of both the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame, Sampson ranks fourth on the UVA career scoring list with 2,228 points. He posted a career-high 40 points against Ohio State and boasts two of the program’s three triple-doubles, while recording an insane 84 career double-doubles, 24 of them as a senior. Sampson tops the Cavalier career rebounds list with 1,511. His career average of 11.4 boards a game is also a school record. He owns each of the top 4 rebounding seasons in school history; the 386 he hauled in as a senior were the most in a single season by any player at UVA. His best single-game total of 22 ranks fourth in school history (he also grabbed 21 boards four times and 20 twice). Sampson had an additional 27 games with at least 15 rebounds. He leads the career blocks category by a country mile with 462. His 157 swats as freshman were a single-season record — he also sits in second, third (103 in both his sophomore and senior seasons) and fourth place (99 as a junior). His 12 blocks in a game set a single-game mark, while his .604 field-goal percentage (250 for 414) as a senior was the best ever by any Cavalier. His 899 career field goals are another UVA record and his number (50) is retired. Sampson was chosen with the No. 1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, winning Rookie of the Year honors. A four-time NBA All-Star (and 1985 All-Star Game MVP), Sampson is one of three former ‘Hoos selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
Polynice was under immense scrutiny when he came in as the Cavaliers’ starting center as a freshman, following in the footsteps of Sampson. A powerful, physical rim protector and rebounder, he came of age quickly in two showdowns against Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon and helped UVA reach the Final Four in 1984. Polynice, an All-ACC second-teamer in 1986, had an early exit from UVA and played in Europe before returning home. He was taken with the No. 8 pick by the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and enjoyed a long NBA career. He ranks 41st on Virginia’s all-time scoring list with 1,151 points and owns the second-highest field-goal percentage (.578) in school history. He is 14th on the career rebounds list with 667 and is tied for 10th in school history with 19 double-doubles.
FORWARDS REGION
No. 1 Wally Walker (1973-76)
17.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg
vs.
No. 2 De’Andre Hunter (2017-19)
12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
He was known as “Wonderful Wally” for his amazing offensive abilities and his scoring rampage in leading the Cavaliers to their first ACC Tournament championship — and first NCAA Tournament appearance — in 1976. Walker, who served as team captain in that magical Cavalier season (the second under Terry Holland), is the seventh-leading scorer in Wahoo history with 1,849 career points. He also ranks 15th in career rebounds with 665 and posted 14 career double-doubles. Walker’s No. 41 is retired. He was an All-ACC second-team selection in ’76. He was also the Everett Case Award winner (ACC Tournament MVP) in ‘76, then was drafted in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers and went on to enjoy a lengthy career in the NBA (he won a pair of titles, one with the Blazers in ’77, one with the Seattle SuperSonics in ’79) before he moved into the front office as president of the Sonics from 1994-2001.
Hunter, an All-American choice as a junior in 2019, was also named first-team All-ACC and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Also an All-ACC first-team selection in 2019, Hunter made the ACC All-Freshman Team as well as being named Sixth Man of the Year in 2018. Injured at the end of his freshman season, he became the Cavaliers’ defensive stopper, but it didn’t take long for his offense to bloom as he became a complete player. His defensive game continued to build throughout his career and he was often assigned to shut down the best or hottest scorer from the opposing team. His offensive game was diverse. A three-level scorer, Hunter could do it all, often putting his team on his back and leading it to victory. His piercing drives to the basket and his ability to make big 3-point shots drove opponents crazy. He was so versatile that he became a matchup nightmare. Some of his best moments included game-winning shots at Louisville and against Texas Tech in the national championship. Hunter left UVA after his junior campaign and was a first-round choice by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (originally drafted by Lakers with No. 4 pick), who traded up in order to secure his services.
SHOOTERS REGION
No. 1 Bryant Stith (1989-92)
19.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .483 FG%, .353 3FG%
vs.
No. 3 Malcolm Brogdon (2012-16)
13.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .430 FG%, .365 3FG%
Stith reigns as Virginia’s all-time leading scorer with 2,516 points, with a career scoring average of 19.2, which ranks fourth in program history. Stith, the ACC’s Freshman of the Year in 1989, had nine 30-point performances and is tied for 10th in school history with 19 double-doubles. He is fifth in career rebounding as well with 859. Named MVP of the 1992 NIT after leading the ‘Hoos to the title at Madison Square Garden, Stith was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection (1990, 1991 and 1992). He’s one of only five players in program history with 800 or more rebounds. He posted more career field-goal attempts (1,774), free-throw attempts (875), and made free throws (690) than any other Wahoo. The native of Brunswick, Va., also ranks seventh on the UVA career steals list with 177. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament first team in 1990, His No. 20 is retired. Stith was taken with the 13th pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.
Brogdon was the first player to be named ACC Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year in the same season in 2016. He was a unanimous, consensus first-team All American and was named National Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He was also an All-American in 2015. A first-team All-ACC selection three times (2014, 2015, 2016), Brogdon was named ACC co-defensive player of the year in 2015 with Darion Atkins. Brogdon owns the best free-throw percentage in UVA history with a minimum of 200 made (.876). He only missed 60 of his 482 career attempts from the charity stripe. Brogdon is ninth on the UVA all-time scoring list with 1,809 points, while ranking ninth in made 3-pointers with 185. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament first team in both 2014 and 2015 and he is the last Cavalier to have his number (15) retired. Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 36th pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Brogdon went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. He currently starts at point guard for the Indiana Pacers.
