The 25 most spectacularly emotional photos from Virginia’s title win over Texas Tech
Virginia completed one of the most incredible narratives in NCAA history when it took down Texas Tech in the national championship game Monday, a little more than a year after the Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 16 seed in the opening round of the tournament.
In an 85-77 overtime stunner in Minneapolis, sophomore guard De’Andre Hunter led Virginia with 27 points, while junior guard Kyle Guy added 24. It was a physical and impressively offensive matchup, so just about the opposite of what everyone expected with two of the nation’s best defenses.
Call it an unbelievable redemption story — or don’t — but it was a thrilling national championship game, filled with more emotions than we could detail. So we won’t.
Instead, here are the 25 most spectacularly emotional photos from Virginia’s championship victory over Texas Tech.
Kyle Guy takes a moment prior to the national championship game. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) misses a shot against Virginia Cavaliers forward Mamadi Diakite (25) in the first half in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_jla_usa_048.jpgTexas Tech head coach Chris Beard, right, talks to Jarrett Culver (23) during the first half in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament against Virginia, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) ORG XMIT: FF125Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) blocks a shot by Virginia Cavaliers guard De’Andre Hunter (12) during the first halfin the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_pjc_sd2_439.JPGMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141337325Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Tariq Owens (11) dunks the ball during the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_cja_ah7_062.JPGApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Tariq Owens (11) knocks the ball away from Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) during the first half in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_pjc_sd2_458.JPGApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (11) celebrates his three-point score at the end of the half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_rvr_usa_191.jpgApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Mamadi Diakite (25) and Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Tariq Owens (11) and guard Brandone Francis (1) go up for a rebound during the first half in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190406_jtl_sd2_063.jpgApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (11) is defended by Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_rvr_usa_195.jpgMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives to the basket against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141342122MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates the play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141342472Texas Tech’s Norense Odiase (32) is fouled by Virginia’s Braxton Key (2) during the second half in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt York) ORG XMIT: FF162Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard reacts on the sideline against the Virginia Cavaliers in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_rvr_usa_201.jpgApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) and guard Davide Moretti (25) defend against Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy (5) in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_rvr_usa_205.jpgApr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard De’Andre Hunter (12) and Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) go for a loose ball during the second half in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_pjc_sd2_505.JPGMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: The Virginia Cavaliers bench reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141343640MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers attempts to save the ball that was called out on Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (not pictured) during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141347485Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy (5) celebrate winning the game over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in overtime in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_rvr_usa_222.jpgMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Brandone Francis #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after his teams 85-77 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141348450MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after his teams 85-77 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141348485Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Braxton Key (2) and teammates celebrate after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_cja_ah7_100.JPGPlayers react after Texas Tech defeat Texas Tech 85-77 in the overtime in in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) ORG XMIT: FF202MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Brandone Francis #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after his teams 85-77 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775283875 ORIG FILE ID: 1141349917Apr 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett celebrates with fans after beating the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the championship game of the 2019 men’s Final Four at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-400702 ORIG FILE ID: 20190408_pjc_sd2_580.JPG
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