WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) officially congratulating the University of Virginia men’s basketball team for winning the 2019 NCAA championship.   

“This tournament was a wild ride with an ending that the entire Commonwealth can be proud of,” said Sen. Warner. “I want to commend Coach Bennett, his staff and the entire team for a hard-fought win and, for the first time in history, bringing this title home to Virginia!”

“We were so proud to watch UVA’s teamwork and tenacity day-in and day-out on the way to winning their first national championship,” said Sen. Kaine. “Congratulations to the entire team, Coach Bennett, and his coaching staff on a fantastic season and tournament. Go Hoos!”

During the tournament, Sen. Warner held a friendly wager with Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) on the outcome of the Final Four match between Auburn and UVA. With a nail-biting win, UVA beat Auburn, securing a seat in the championship game and ultimately bringing home the NCAA title.  

Text of the resolution “Commending the University of Virginia men's basketball team for winning the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball Championship” can be found here and below.

Whereas on Monday, April 8, 2019, the University of Virginia men’s basketball team (referred to in this preamble as the “Virginia Cavaliers”) won the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the “NCAA”) Division I Men’s Basketball Championship by defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders by a score of 85–77 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota;

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers made history by winning the first National Championship in men’s basketball for the University of Virginia;

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers were regular season co-champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference (referred to in this preamble as the “ACC”), marking the fourth time the team has won this title in the past 6 seasons;

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers finished the 2018–2019 season with a record of 35–3 and as the top-ranked scoring defense in the country, holding opponents to just 55.5 points per game;

 

Whereas Tony Bennett, the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, has, along with his staff, established a program built on “The Five Pillars” — Humility, Passion, Unity, Servanthood, and Thankfulness;

 

Whereas Coach Bennett has, in his 10 seasons at the University of Virginia, been named National Coach of the Year 3 times, placing him second all-time behind legendary coach John Wooden;

 

Whereas for the second consecutive season, Coach Bennett was named ACC Coach of the Year;

 

Whereas De’Andre Hunter and Kyle Guy received All-ACC First Team honors for the 2018–2019 season;

 

Whereas Ty Jerome received All-ACC Second Team honors for the 2018–2019 season;

 

Whereas De’Andre Hunter was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team;

 

Whereas to advance to the Final Four, true freshman Kihei Clark executed a precision half-court pass to teammate Mamadi Diakite, setting up his buzzer-beating tying basket;

 

Whereas the pass from Clark to Diakite was termed “the play of the century” by teammate Ty Jerome;

 

Whereas De’Andre Hunter finished the championship game with 27 points and 9 rebounds in 44 minutes;

 

Whereas Kyle Guy finished the championship game with 24 points and a 53.3 field goal percentage in 45 minutes;

 

Whereas De’Andre Hunter, Kyle Guy, and Ty Jerome — all part of the Virginia Cavaliers’ 2016 recruiting class — scored 67 of Virginia’s 85 points in the championship game;

 

Whereas Kyle Guy was 11-for-11 in his final free throws of the tournament;

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers made all 12 of their free throws during overtime of the championship game;

 

Whereas the entire Virginia Cavaliers team will forever be remembered for their resilience in overcoming defeat in the 2018 NCAA Tournament by winning the national championship just 1 year later;

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers represented the Commonwealth of Virginia with remarkable class, sportsmanship, dedication, and teamwork; and

 

Whereas the Virginia Cavaliers brought pride to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Charlottesville, and the greater University of Virginia community: Now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) congratulates and honors the University of Virginia men’s basketball team for their performance in the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament;

(2) highlights and celebrates the grit, resilience, and commitment to excellence of the players, coaches, managers, parents, and families of the Virginia Cavaliers; and

(3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to—

(A) the President of the University of Virginia, James E. Ryan;

(B) the Director of Athletics at the University of Virginia, Carla Williams; and

(C) the head coach of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team, Tony Bennett.

 

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