Kyle Guy Sends Virginia To The National Championship

It was the junior and the sharp shooter who sealed the game for Virginia against Auburn.

Kyle Guy scored six points in the final 7.4 seconds Saturday – the final three coming on free throws with six-tenths of a second left – to send the Cavaliers to the NCAA championship game for the first time. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
UVA 63, Auburn 62. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"I could lie to you and say I knew I was going to hit them, but I was terrified," Guy said. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Maybe so, but he couldn't have looked more composed at the line. Each free throw dropped through the net, and the Wahoos moved on. Virginia (34-3) will meet Texas Tech (31-6), which ousted Michigan State in the second semifinal, for the NCAA title Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"We found a way," associate head coach Jason Williford said. "I don't know what else to say. I'm at a loss for words." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
He wasn't the only one who felt that way. For much of the second half, the 'Hoos were in control of their first NCAA semifinal in 35 years, and junior guard Ty Jerome's 3-pointer pushed their lead to 57-47 with 5:19 to play. But Virginia began to sputter at both ends of the court, and the Tigers (30-10) responded with 14 straight points, the last two in that run coming on free throws by Anfernee McLemore with 17.6 seconds to play. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
As was the case last weekend in the South Region final against Purdue, UVA's season was in peril. Again, the 'Hoos pressed on.  “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
With 7.4 seconds left, Guy's contested 3-pointer from the right corner cut Auburn's lead to 61-60. The Cavaliers then fouled guard Jared Harper, sending him to the line for a one-and-one. Harper made the front end but missed his second foul shot, and Jerome rebounded. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
The Tigers had two fouls to give before Virginia began shooting the bonus, and they used the first with 5.4 seconds left. Auburn fouled again with 1.5 seconds remaining, after which UVA head coach Tony Bennett called a timeout to set up a last-second shot for Guy. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"It's a play we put in and practiced it multiple times," Jerome said. "It wasn't just luck. We worked on that situation a lot." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Inbounding the ball from the left sideline, Jerome passed to Guy in the left corner. Guy rose for a 3-point attempt that Auburn's Samir Doughty contested. The shot missed, and the Tigers began to celebrate, only to realize that official James Breeding had called a foul on Doughty. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Breeding ruled that Doughty had moved into an airborne shooter, making contact with Guy while taking away his landing spot. The foul was a violation of Rule 4, Second 39.i., national coordinator of officiating J.D. Collins explained in a statement released after the game. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"This will be a memorable game, and I'd like it to be remembered for [being] a great game," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said when asked about the call. "Let's not remember this game because of just how it ended." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Guy, of course, still had to make the free throws, and the 'Hoos were 3 for 9 from the line at that point.  “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"I was saying that to [assistant coach Orlando Vandross] on the bench, 'We haven't made our free throws tonight,' " Williford said. "But give Kyle credit. He stepped up and banged 'em." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Redshirt junior Mamadi Diakite's assessment? "He was cold-blooded." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
With the other four Cavaliers watching from near midcourt, Guy calmly made his first two foul shots. Pearl called a timeout before the third, but that didn't faze Guy, who triggered jubilation among the UVA fans in the crowd of 72,711 with his 15th and final point. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"I just literally told myself that we dream of these moments, and to be able to make one happen was special," Guy said. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Bennett said: "We struggled from the line, but for him in that setting to do it, it doesn't get much better than that." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
And so another chapter was added to the remarkable story the Cavaliers have been writing all season. A year after falling to UMBC in the NCAA tournament's first round, thus becoming the first No. 1 seed ever to lose to a No. 16 seed, UVA will play for a national title. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"It's crazy," said redshirt sophomore forward De'Andre Hunter, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half and also finished with five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. "Especially after a game like that coming down to the last moments, it's a blessing to be in the championship." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Jerome led the Cavaliers in points (21), rebounds (nine) and assists (six). “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"I feel like I get asked this question every single round, every round we advance, and every round I say the same thing almost, and it feels a little bit sweeter, a little bit sweeter," Jerome said. "But to think this time last year we were starting our spring workouts, and to still be playing at this point in the season with, after tonight, one other team in the whole country on the stage that you dreamed about since you were a little kid, it's an unreal feeling. We're going to do everything we can to finish the job." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Two years ago, Florida blew out UVA in the NCAA tournament's second. One year ago, UMBC humbled Virginia.  “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Guy and Jerome experienced both of those defeats, and "now to sit with them here brings great joy to my heart, it really does, because it's good," Bennett said at the postgame press conference Saturday night. "That's all I can say, and I'm so thankful." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
Each of Virginia's starters played at least 34 minutes against Auburn. The 6-9 Diakite scored only two points but had six rebounds and a career-best five blocks. Freshman point guard Kihei Clark contributed nine points, three assists, one steal and no turnovers. “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx
 
"It's crazy," Clark said. "This is what we work for our whole life as kids growing up in the gym, working out. It's truly a blessing." “according to https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/4/6/jeff-white-auburn-game-report.aspx

Top seed Virginia out of the South Region will take on third seed Texas Tech out of the West Region on Monday night for the National Title in Minneapolis.