UVA Called Out by MCBB Fans for 67-42 Loss to Colorado State in 2024 March Madness | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

A lot of seemingly deserving bubble teams were left out of the NCAA men's basketball tournament after a series of surprising outcomes during the conference tournaments reduced the number of at-large bids available.

Those squads probably have a few thoughts about Virginia's performance Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers put up a massive clunker in their First Four showdown with Colorado State, losing 67-42 in a game that saw them only manage 14 points in the first half.

Adam Rittenberg @ESPNRittenberg

Virginia made 5 field goals in the first half.

John Fanta @John_Fanta

In the final 9:20 of the first half, Virginia scored as many points in Dayton as Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Indiana State and Pittsburgh did tonight.

Joel Scott (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Nique Clifford (17 points, 11 boards) were excellent for the Rams, each notching a double-double.

Reece Beekman was the only Virginia player to hit double-digit points (15) on a night that saw the Cavaliers shoot just 14-of-56 from the field (25 percent), 3-of-17 from three (17.6 percent) and get absolutely crushed on the boards (43-24 in favor of Colorado State).

It wasn't the only place Virginia got crushed—social media had some thoughts on the performance too:

Josh Hart @joshhart

They really picked this Virginia team over the Big East teams

Matt Norlander @MattNorlander

Literally everyone on this app right now watching Virginia in the 2024 NCAA Tournament <a href="">

Seth Davis @SethDavisHoops

Virginia not doing a whole lot to silence the Virginia-shouldn't-have-gotten-a-bid crowd.

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops

Can we do this again with Indiana State in place of Virginia? <br><br>Pretty please.

Pat Forde @ByPatForde

Why would anyone want to see Indiana State (28-6, No. 1 in the nation in effective FG percentage, averaging 84.4 ppg) in the NCAA Tournament when you can be treated to this viewing experience instead?

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie

Yeah I mean...this first half is basically a full-scale encapsulation of why people didn't think Virginia should be in the Tournament. Just not enough offensive juice. Everything contested. No one to get anywhere off the bounce.

Dennis Dodd @dennisdoddcbs

Virginia just went 51 actual minutes of real time between baskets.

Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS

A Virginia team that had lost 5 of its previous 9 games, was unable to score 50 points in 4 of its previous 8 games and is 18 spots worse at KenPom than the next lowest at-large team looked like it didn't belong in this NCAA Tournament.<br><br>A lot of us said this two days ago.

Rodger Sherman @rodger

Don't let the fact that Virginia plays a distressing, unenjoyable style of basketball distract you from the fact that they are also not good enough to be in the NCAA Tournament

Jeff Borzello @jeffborzello

This is the fifth game in the last 31 days that Virginia has failed to score 50 points.

This was a historically bad performance from Virginia, which now holds the unenviable distinction of scoring the fewest points in First Four history. The previous low was 46 points, set by two different teams.

Virginia is no stranger to the highs and lows of the NCAA tournament. In 2018, the Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed in the history of the men's tournament to lose to a No. 16 seed. In the ultimate redemption story, Virginia won the tourney the very next season.

Adam Rittenberg @ESPNRittenberg

Virginia reaches 40 points, avoiding a new record for fewest points by an ACC team in an NCAA Tournament game (39 by Virginia in 2017 against Florida).

Perhaps next season the Cavaliers will bounce back in a major way. It would be little consolation to the array of bubble teams who were left home in favor of Virginia.

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