Basketball fans are trolling Virginia over shaky start against Gardner-Webb

One year after UMBC stunned the nation by becoming the first 16-seed to take out a No. 1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs outplayed Virginia in the first half of their game Friday and took a six-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Cavaliers were blown out by UMBC in 2018, and coach Tony Bennett’s team got off to a terrible start against Gardner-Webb. Virginia trailed 28-14 with 7:33 left to play in the half, but managed to close the gap to 36-30 by halftime.

David Efianayi and the 'Dogs are feelin' it from deep 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/FogpVErHZy

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 22, 2019

The Cavaliers will still be heavily favored to pull off the comeback in the second half – but Twitter erupted as Virginia struggled once again against a 16-seed.

Why are our notifications blowing up—-oh pic.twitter.com/t8KIq5Iapc

— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) March 22, 2019

Aye now Virginia cmon now pic.twitter.com/Ne25cfhhEO

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 22, 2019

Virginia is gonna be the first No. 1 seed in history to upset a 16.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 22, 2019

Imagine how humiliating it would be to be a 16-seed and lose to Virginia.

— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) March 22, 2019

No one:

Virginia vs the 16th seed: pic.twitter.com/4RpU8LMkCy

— 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨 (@LoneIyChris) March 22, 2019

It’s a terrible idea to overreact to one basketball game but if Virginia loses to a No. 16 seed again they should shut down the program, close the campus and lose statehood.

— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) March 22, 2019

Virginia absolutely should have tanked a bit this year in order to avoid getting a No. 1 seed.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 22, 2019

If Virginia loses to a 16 seed again they should be put on tournament probation for five years

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) March 22, 2019