Virginia Cavaliers Men's Basketball at John Paul Jones Arena
The University of Virginia men's basketball team has called John Paul Jones Arena home since 2006. Paul Tudor Jones II, who graduated from Virginia in 1976, named the multipurpose arena after his father. The two shared a bond over basketball and wanted to replace University Hall, where the Cavaliers had played since 1965. Capacity at JPJ Arena is approximately 14,600, and during home games, several sections are dedicated to the 'Hoo Crew student section.
Virginia Cavaliers Men's Basketball History
The Cavaliers men's basketball made modern history when capturing the 2018-19 national title just one year removed from becoming the first No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament history to be upset by a No. 16 seed. It marked not only Virginia's first men's basketball title but the first-ever appearance in the national title game.
Head coach Tony Bennett is the winningest head coach in program history, surpassing Terry Holland, who was in charge from 1975 to 1990 and recorded a 326-173 overall record. There have been 11 head coaches since the team was founded in 1905. The Cavaliers began as an independent before competing in the Southern Conference from 1921 to 1937, converting back into an independent and joining the ACC in 1953.
The university, located in Charlottesville, was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, a founding father and the third U.S. president. Those who attend or play for UVA are affectionately known as Wahoos in addition to the official Cavaliers nickname. The name Wahoos, more commonly shortened to 'Hoos, stems from the Wahoowa chant that was first sung in the 1890s as a remix to alma mater song "Auld Lang Syne."
The most decorated player to don the navy blue and orange is Ralph Sampson. The 7'4" center played under Holland from 1979 to 1983 and earned several coveted honors including the Naismith Award, given to the nation's best collegiate player, in three consecutive seasons. Sampson was drafted No. 1 overall in the 1983 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. The Virginia native went on to mount a Hall of Fame career with four All-Star nods.