The Hotline picked Virginia to cover a big spread in the first round (below) and to reach the Final Four (here).
I did so while pondering both the Cavaliers’ first-round flameout in 2018 and the myriad examples of teams executing year-over-year turnarounds comparable to what Virginia hopes to produce:
Following a March flop with a March feast.
Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there are nine examples of teams not qualifying or suffering an embarrassing loss, then reaching the Final Four (at least) the next season.
Yes, Virginia’s loss was unlike any before, but a redemptive foundation exists in bracket history.