Yeah, I know I preached patience a couple of days ago, but after really digesting this five-game losing streak I have a new point to make: Any progress Tony Bennett has made with Virginia Basketball this season is teetering in the balance with four games to play prior to the ACC Tournament. Losing all four to finish 14-15 and on a nine game losing streak would completely demolish the faith the fans have placed in Bennett Ball, and I think it would strike a resounding blow against whatever confidence the players have built up in their coach's systems.
Make no mistake, we need to win another game or two down the stretch.
@ Miami
Duke
@ Boston College
Maryland
That's the schedule. At this point, I think we have to assume losses to Duke (a legit Elite Eight type of team this season) and Maryland (whose big guards offer a matchup nightmare for Virginia), which leaves the two away games against Miami and BC.
If we lose tomorrow night in Coral Gables, is there any chance we could pick ourselves up off the mat after the inevitable beatdown at the hands of Duke in order to rally for a victory at BC? I think no.
I also think that going from 14-6 / 5-2 ACC to 14-15 / 5-11 ACC would be an extremely tough pill to swallow for everyone following Virginia Basketball.
If we enter the ACC Tournament at 14-15, there's no chance we'd be able to win two games in a row -- including against a top-four conference team on Friday -- and thus no chance to rally to 16-16 and a chance at the postseason.
So yeah, I'll go ahead and say it. While we all need to have patience in the product Coach Bennett is building over the long haul, I think tomorrow night's game against Miami is a MUST-WIN for the Virginia Basketball program. For better or worse, it's a game that will ultimately define this season. Will we remember the baby steps we've taken forward this season, or will we remember the ten game collapse that ended it?
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