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Monday Motivation: This is March

The best month of the year is here.

By Caroline Darney
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The temps in Virginia are supposed to reach the 70s this week. The ACC tournament is around the corner. Lacrosse and baseball are in full swing. Tell me, Jon Rothstein, what is this?

Ah yes. March. The most glorious month of the year. Let's get to it.

Rapid Fire

-A HUGE congratulations to Malcolm Brogdon who was named ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year by the media and coaches. Brogdon is the first ever player to win both awards, and the first Cavalier to win it since Ralph Sampson (and only the third ever with Barry Parkhill). Unbelievably well deserved.

-Congratulations to redshirt third year George DiCamillo as he won his third ACC Championship in the 133 pound weight class. He becomes just the seventh Cavalier to ever win three ACC titles. The win gets him an automatic bid to the NCAAs.

-The Women's Golf team placed second in the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, led by Lauren Coughlin who finished as the runner-up in the challenging tournament. Virginia finished behind No.4 Alabama and three strokes in front of No.2 Duke for their best performance of the season. The Hoos have a break until early April when they'll play in their final regular season tournament. Apparently the Football team was excited about the golf result (?).

-Big congratulations to Chris long for welcoming his son, Waylon, to the world! Best wishes to your Wahoo family!

-No.9 Women's Lacrosse pounded William and Mary 16-8 behind goals from 10 different players. Posey Valis paced all goal scorers with four, and Kasey Behr, Kelly Boyd, and Daniela Kelly all chipped in two a piece. The Hoos are now 4-2 (0-1 ACC) on the season and will travel to Loyola (Md.) Wednesday at 7pm.

-No.2 Men's Tennis got off to a great start in ACC play with a 7-0 win over Louisville and a 6-1 win over Virginia Tech. The win over the Hokies gives Virginia another point in the Commonwealth Clash, bringing UVA's lead to 8-5. First school to 11 wins. Next up, Virginia travels to take on No.20 Tulsa and No.13 Oklahoma.

-Baseball picked up a 16-8 (same as lacrosse!) midweek win over William and Mary (seriously...the same!) and took two out of three games in their weekend series against Monmouth. Next up, the Hoos host Wagner before ACC play begins at Duke next Friday.

HOO-mongous Wins

-Oh, Virginia Basketball...I heart you. The No.4 Cavaliers won twice this week, securing the two-seed for the ACC tournament, which starts Tuesday in DC. First up, Malcolm Brogdon and the crew hit the road for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC to take on Clemson. Virginia got out to a great start, leading 12-0 early before Jaron Blossomgame started hitting everything.

The Tigers took a lead late, but clutch shooting from London Perrantes and solid work from the free throw line cemented the 64-57 victory. Only Notre Dame had beaten Clemson at home in conference this season with Louisville, Duke, and Miami all losing in Greenville.

Brogdon had 18 to lead Virginia and Perrantes chipped in 13 of his own. Anthony Gill had 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Next up, it was Senior Night. In an emotional affair, the Cavaliers absolutely crushed No.11 Louisville to close out the 2015-2016 home season at John Paul Jones Arena, where they were an impressive 15-0.

Louisville had plenty to play for, coming into the game knowing it was their final game of the season due to a self-imposed post-season ban. For graduate transfers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis, who were unfortunate victims of Louisville's off-court transgressions that occurred long before they arrived, it was their final college basketball game.

None of that mattered. There was an air of magic in the arena as Virginia honored fourth and fifth year players Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Evan Nolte, Mike Tobey, and Caid Kirven (along with hard working managers). This "senior" class has won 106 games, good for third place in Virginia history.

Just like against Clemson, Virginia got out to a red-hot start. Unlike Clemson, the Hoos never let up. Gill started the scoring with a long two. Evan Nolte hit back to back triples, forcing Rick Pitino to call a timeout as JPJ rocked.

Mike Tobey had 12 (!) first half rebounds en route to a career-high 20 rebounds, the first time a Virginia player has recorded 20 since Travis Watson in 2003. He complemented the 20 boards with 15 points, his third double-double of his career.

At one point, all 14,000 in attendance chanted TO-BEY, TO-BEY at the fourth year as he took the line for some free throws late in the game. He couldn't hide the smile.

As the clock dwindled, Coach Bennett got all five seniors on the court together.

With just 37 seconds remaining, Caid Kirven placed the cherry on top of the magical sundae as he buried a three pointer - the first of his career - from the corner in front of his teammates who lost their minds in celebration.

It couldn't have been more perfect.

The Hoos face the winner of Georgia Tech and Clemson in the ACC Tournament on Thursday night at 7pm at the Verizon Center in DC as they try and stretch this magic out just a little longer (nine more games, please!). Go Hoos!

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