In the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers play Iowa State tonight at United Center in Chicago. It follows the first game of the night between Syracuse and Gonzaga and is expected to start around ten o’clock. Tonight’s game in Chicago brings back memories as an NBA player for UVA coach Tony Bennett.
Trotting out to a public practice was a far cry from the game atmosphere that UVA coach Tony Bennett felt during the Michael Jordan era with the Chicago Bulls. Bennett played in the old Chicago Stadium and the Bulls present home at United Center.
“A gentleman came up and gave this great picture of myself and Michael Jordan,” said Bennett. “It was an action shot. We were just in the frame. He’s like, ‘You’re going to want this someday.’ “I said, ‘Oh, thanks.’ I remember looking at it and thinking it was cool. But I left it in the locker.”
Bennett says he has regretted it ever since.
But he’ll feel a lot better about Chicago if the Cavaliers extend their stay with a victory over Iowa State, a No. 4 seed from the Big 12 Conference.