<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2jBowz_0wA9NNHL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2jBowz_0wA9NNHL00" width="1000" height="600" ></figure>Tony Bennett has done a lot of good for Virginia basketball. Taking over in 2009, Bennett quickly turned UVA into a basketball power in the ACC. From 2012-2019, Virginia made the NCAA tournament seven times in eight years, were a one-seed four times, a two-seed once, won 13 games in the tournament, and even won the program’s first national title in 2019.However, since Bennett hung the national title banner in Charlottesville, things haven’t been the same. He hasn’t won a single NCAA tournament game since the final buzzer went off in said title game and even missed the tournament altogether in 2022.In 2020, the tournament was canceled due to Covid-19, but in 2021 and 2023, the Cavaliers made the tournament as a four-seed only to lose to a 13-seed both times. In 2021, the Ohio Bobcats came from behind to knock off the Cavs and in 2023, Virginia choked away the game late to Furman in what was one of the best finishes in tournament history.Then, just last season the Cavs struggled for much of the season and squeaked into the dance as a First Four team and promptly lost that game by 25 to Colorado State. The game was hard to watch as Virginia scored just 14 points in the first half, 42 points for the game, and shot just 25% from the field as a team. The game in Dayton left many wondering if Tony Bennett’s grit and grind, defense first mentality could still work in today’s game of college basketball.For a lot of coaches, no NCAA tournament wins in five years, multiple losses to double-digit seeds, and a First Four loss would put them on the hot seat. The only issue is Virginia just extended Bennett through 2030 back in June.The extension obviously comes with the expectation that things will turn around, but Virginia is not in the preseason AP top 25 and is picked to finish just fifth in the ACC. The Cavs are ranked 78th in the preseason rankings on KenPom and 65th at Bart Torvik. That isn’t good enough to make the NCAA tournament. So, unless Bennett’s team overachieves and proves a lot of smart people wrong, Virginia is in danger of missing the tournament again and going another year without a tournament win.Tony Bennett means a lot to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the University of Virginia, and the game of basketball, and rightfully so. However, his lack of success over the last half-decade, and presumed lack of success again this year, should put him squarely on the hot-seat heading into 2024, despite the contract extension he received this June.</div></body>

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Despite the Contract Extension, Tony Bennett Should be on the Hot Seat at Virginia

Tony Bennett has done a lot of good for Virginia basketball. Taking over in 2009, Bennett quickly turned UVA into a basketball power in the ACC. From 2012-2019, Virginia made the NCAA tournament seven times in eight years, were a one-seed four times, a two-seed once, won 13 games in the tournament, and even won the program’s first national title in 2019.