CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia now has its chance to make up for being the first No. 1 seed to lose its NCAA Tournament opener. The Cavaliers are the second overall No. 1 seed and back in the South Region bracket after losing to the University of Maryland-Baltimore County — better known as UMBC — a year ago. This is the seventh time Virginia has been a No. 1 seed and the fourth time in six seasons, though the Cavaliers still are looking to reach their first Final Four with coach Tony Bennett.
The Cavaliers (29-3) will play an NCAA Tournament newcomer in Gardner-Webb (23-11) of the Big South Conference on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina.
Virginia had been in the running to be the top overall seed until losing 69-59 to Florida State in the ACC Tournament semifinals. The Cavaliers find themselves in a bracket with Tennessee, which had been hoping for a No. 1 seed, Wisconsin, Purdue and Cincinnati.