Wahoo Madness: Sweet 16

We’ve reached the Sweet Sixteen of “Wahoo Madness” with a few unexpected developments and some tough matchups before we reach the Elite Eight of the best Virginia basketball players of all time.

We have received lots of comments from fans voting in the 64-man bracket. Several of you have mentioned how great it has been to stroll down UVA Memory Lane with all these terrific players dating all the way back to when the Cavaliers joined the ACC in the early 1950s. One reader even mentioned that he has seen every single one of these players in the original 64-player bracket play basketball. Now that’s an achievement in itself.

My only disappointment in the operation thus far has been that while thousands are reading the results, not everyone is voting. We would appreciate your votes. It’s your team. Make your opinion count.

There have been some surprises in the early voting. We realized that by linking generations of players that some of the younger voters would have more of an appreciation for the modern players, which would leave some of the older players vulnerable to lose in a matchup. We’ve seen that happen now. If you’re unsure of an older player, please take the time to read their bios, which are supplied, and if you’re still unsure, ask your father or grandfather about how good certain players were.

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 second round:

Ballhandlers Region:

  • No. 8 Donald Hand def. No. 1 Barry Parkhill, 54% to 46%
  • No. 4 Cory Alexander def. No. 5 Harold Deane, 63% to 37%
  • No. 6 Ty Jerome def. No. 3 Sean Singletary, 58% to 42%
  • No. 2 John Crotty def. No. 7 Othell Wilson, 75% to 25%

Big Men Region:

  • No. 1 Ralph Sampson def. No. 9 Mamadi Diakite, 97% to 3%
  • No. 5 Junior Burrough def. No. 4 Marc Iavaroni, 73% to 27%
  • No. 6 Travis Watson def. No. 3 Gus Gerard, 54% to 46%
  • No. 2 Olden Polynice def. No. 10 Elton Brown, 88% to 12%

Forwards Region:

  • No. 1 Wally Walker def. No. 8 Adam Hall, 94% to 6%
  • No. 4 Mike Scott def. No. 5 Anthony Gill, 76% to 24%
  • No. 3 Justin Anderson def. No. 6 Chris Williams, 62% to 38%
  • No. 2 De’Andre Hunter def. No. 7 Andrew Kennedy, 94% to 6%

Shooters Region:

  • No. 1 Bryant Stith def. No. 9 Roger Mason Jr., 95% to 5%
  • No. 5 Kyle Guy def. No. 4 Jeff Lamp, 61% to 39%
  • No. 3 Malcolm Brogdon def. No. 6 Joe Harris, 79% to 21%
  • No. 2 Buzzy Wilkinson def. No. 7 Curtis Staples, 56% to 44%

Now, it’s time to vote for your ‘Elite Eight’ of Cavalier greats. Our second-round voting will run from now until Sunday (April 5) at 11:59 p.m. ET, to allow plenty of time to read about the accomplishments of each player in each matchup and decide who you think should advance to the next round.

We’ll reveal the winners on Sunday and present the ‘Elite Eight’ matchups soon thereafter.

There are some tough matchups in the Sweet 16 and as we said in the round of 32, 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 VOTING

No. 8 Donald Hand (1998-2001)

12.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.4 apg

vs.

No. 4 Cory Alexander (1992-95)

15.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.7 apg

A three-time team captain in each of head coach Pete Gillen’s first three years at the helm, Hand ranks 19th on Virginia’s all-time scoring list with 1,486 points. Cavalier fans will never forget when he set the UVA single-game scoring mark for a sophomore, pouring in 41 points against NC State in 1999. Hand ranks fifth on the school’s all-time assists list with 529 and is one of only five Cavaliers with 500 dimes or more. Hand is also tied for fifth in steals with 179.

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.

No. 6 Ty Jerome (2017-19)

9.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 apg

vs.

No. 2 John Crotty (1988-91)

12.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.3 apg

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).

Crotty ranks 14th on Virginia’s scoring list with 1,646 points and is the program’s career assist leader with 683. His 214 assists as a junior is a single-season record, and Crotty also holds the No. 2 spot with 208 in his sophomore season. Crotty notched 10 or more assists in 13 career games, a school record. He achieved the UVA single-game record of 14 assists on two separate occasions. Crotty posted 12 career double-doubles and is 10th on UVA’s career 3-pointers made list with 179. A McDonald’s All-American out of high school, Crotty was perhaps the grittiest point guard in Virginia basketball history. Fans labeled his 3-point shot “The Crotty Chop.” He was an All-ACC Tournament first-team choice in 1991. After playing in the NBA, Crotty now does color commentary for Miami Heat television broadcasts.

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BIG MEN REGION VOTING

No. 1 Ralph Sampson (1980-83)

16.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg

vs.

No. 5 Junior Burrough (1992-95)

15.3 ppg, 7.2 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.

Burrough ranks sixth in the UVA career scoring category with 1,970 points, and he’s also fourth in career rebounds with 929. Burrough recorded 25 double-doubles over his career, the eighth-most in program history. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament first team in 1995; USBWA All-District Team, All-ACC Third Team in 1994 and 1995. Great all-around player who flourished and dominated during his senior season. Some observers believe he is worthy of jersey retirement. Burrough was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft.

No. 6 Travis Watson (2000-03)

13.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg

vs.

No. 2 Olden Polynice (1984-86)

12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg

One of the most physical big men in UVA history known for his spring-like jumping ability, Watson was a lethal shot blocker and physical rebounder with exceptional power moves around the basket. He is the second-leading rebounder in Virginia basketball history with 1,115, joining Ralph Sampson as the only Wahoo big men that reached 1,000 or more career rebounds. Watson averaged 9.4 rebounds for his career, which ranks fourth in school history, and hauled in more offensive boards (381) than any other Wahoo since the statistic was first kept in 1987. Watson, who led the ACC in rebounding in both 2001-02 and 2002-03 (the last Cavalier to do so), is one of only four UVA players since ‘87 to record 100 or more offensive rebounds in a season. He’s second in school history with 54 double-doubles, and also ranks second all-time with 12 games of 15-plus rebounds. Watson is fifth on UVA’s career blocks list with 130. An All-ACC second teamer in 2001, 2002 and 2003, Watson also was named to the league’s All- Freshman Team in 2000.

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.

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FORWARDS REGION VOTING

No. 1 Wally Walker (1973-76)

17.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg

vs.

No. 4 Mike Scott (2008-12)

11.8 ppg, 7.3 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.

An All-American and first-team All-ACC selection as a senior in 2012, Scott ranks 18th on the UVA scoring list with 1,538 points. He is also third in career rebounds with 944, third in double-doubles with 34, and seventh in career field-goal percentage (.521). He led the conference in field-goal percentage (.563) as a senior. Scott was one of the players who greatly benefited from a fifth year in the program, due to a broken foot in what would have been his senior season. When he returned the following season, he developed into a near-unstoppable force and was runner-up to Carolina’s Tyler Zeller for ACC Player of the Year (by a mere two votes), even though Scott easily outplayed Zeller in every face-to-face meeting. Scott, who was taken with the No. 43 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, is in his eighth year in the NBA and currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.

No. 3 Justin Anderson (2013-15)

8.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg

vs.

No. 2 De’Andre Hunter (2017-19)

12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Anderson, who decommitted from Maryland after Gary Williams left the Terrapins’ program, chose to play his college ball in Charlottesville, and Virginia fans sure are glad he did. Anderson was an All-American and Second-Team All-ACC selection in 2015. Like Diakite, Anderson always had what Tony Bennett described as “a joyful nature.” He was named the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2014, and Anderson always put a positive spin on any situation. With off-the-charts crazy athletic ability, he was known for amazing leaping skills and jaw-dropping dunks on offense. Defensively, he often came out of nowhere to steal or block opponents’ shots from behind. As a junior, Anderson worked on his 3-point shooting ability and it paid big dividends. He left UVA after his junior campaign for the NBA. Anderson was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 21st pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.

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.

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SHOOTERS REGION VOTING

No. 1 Bryant Stith (1989-92)

19.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .483 FG%, .353 3FG%

vs.

No. 5 Kyle Guy (2017-19)

12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .433 FG%, .425 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.

Named 2019 Final Four Most Outstanding Player after helping lead the Cavaliers to their first NCAA Championship, Guy was an All-American in 2018 and 2019. A two-time All-ACC first-teamer (2018 and 2019), Guy was named 2018 ACC Tournament MVP as UVA captured its third conference tourney title, and he was also named to the All-ACC Tournament first team in 2019. Despite playing only three years, Guy ranks 26th on the UVA scoring list with 1,323 points and is No. 3 in 3-pointers made with 254. He finished his memorable Wahoo career with the best 3-point percentage in school history (.425) with at least 100 makes. Guy was drafted by the New York Knicks and traded to the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

No. 3 Malcolm Brogdon (2012-16)

13.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .430 FG%, .365 3FG%

vs.

No. 2 Buzzy Wilkinson (1953-55)

28.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .520 FG%

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.

Wilkinson was an All-American and a first-team All-ACC selection in 1955. He holds the top all-time scoring average of 28.6 points per game — not only in school history, but ACC history. Wilkinson was also a first-team All-ACC selection in 1954. The third-leading scorer in program history with 2,233 career points, Wilkinson held the scoring record for over 25 years before Jeff Lamp broke it. Wilkinson is responsible for the top two scoring seasons in school history. His 898 points as a senior is a school record. He scored 40 points or more on 10 different occasions, including a career-high 48 against Hampden-Sydney in Dec. 1954. Wilkinson owns nine of the top 10 single-game performances in UVA history. He scored 30 points or more a school-record 36 times — 19 times as a senior in 1954-55. Wilkinson sank a school-record 18 free throws (on a career-high 25 attempts) against Duke in 1955. His No. 14 is retired at UVA. Wilkinson was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the third round of the 1955 NBA Draft.

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