The media herd already had concluded that Virginia, which won its first dozen ACC games, would win six more and finish undefeated in league play.
In-state rival Virginia Tech made sure that didn’t happen, even if it took surviving a blown late lead in regulation and a two-basket deficit late in overtime to beat the Cavaliers on their home court.
The Hokies’ victory over the Cavs at JPJ Arena in Charlottesville means that 19 seasons have now passed since a team cruised through the ACC without a loss. The 1999 Duke squad coached by Mike Krzyzewski was 16-0, most wins ever en route to a perfect league record.