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NCAA Tournament: Following Virginia loss, Tony Bennett says to his team, "Joy is coming"

It doesn't feel that way, but it's true. For this team, joy is coming.

By Brian J. Leung
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

When asked immediately after the game what he told his team, who had come so close to a Final Four, but ultimately faltered in the waning minutes, Virginia head coach Tony Bennett used the words from an old church hymn that was ringing in his ears.

"Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning."

"There will be some weeping and some pain for some nights because of this, but absolutely, joy will come in the morning for these guys," Bennett said. "For what they've established for our program, where they've taken us - what they've done for me - joy is coming. But, you still feel that stuff inside."

In his opening remarks to the media in the postgame press conference, Bennett continued, "There will be joy, and I am just so thankful to have coached them, and I know every coach says this at this time, but it's not lip service. It's real."

"Proud to have Anthony and Malcolm and Mike and Evan and Caid, and all that stuff, and I know it doesn't feel that way, but I know it will be true."

Virginia fell to Syracuse, 68-62, in the Elite 8.

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