Mamadi Diakite
FILE - Virginia head coach Tony Bennett watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Miami, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
ACC favorite Virginia to display more firepower this season

By Hank Kurz Jr. Nov. 13, 2020 01:14 PM EST

Virginia guard Kihei Clark (0) stays close to Louisville guard Lamar Kimble (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Cavs' catalyst: Kihei Clark has No. 17 Virginia on the rise

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 10, 2020 03:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 31, 2019, file photo, Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. dunks against Boston College during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Durham, N.C. Carey Jr. was selected to the Associated Press All-ACC team selected Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Carey Jr. was also named AP ACC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the ACC. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Duke's Carey, FSU's Hamilton headline AP top honors in ACC

By Aaron Beard Mar. 10, 2020 11:15 AM EDT

Louisville center Steven Enoch (23) goes up for a dunk against several Virginia defenders during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Clark hits 3 to lift No. 22 Virginia past No. 10 Louisville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Mar. 07, 2020 06:19 PM EST

Miami guard Chris Lykes, right, loses the ball as Virginia guard Braxton Key (2) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Coral Gables, Fla. Virginia won 46-44. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
No. 22 Virginia wins another close one, beating Miami 46-44

By Steven Wine Mar. 04, 2020 11:13 PM EST

Georgetown's Jahvon Blair (0) drives around Creighton's Mitch Ballock (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Virginia Tech Hokies 3/5/2020

Mar. 04, 2020 08:51 PM EST

Virginia forward Mamadi Diakite (25) shoots over Duke forward Matthew Hurt (21) during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Shurtleff)
Huff plays huge as Virginia beats No. 7 Duke, 52-50

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 29, 2020 08:29 PM EST

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski calls over his team at the end of regulation against Wake Forest during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wake Forest wins in double overtime 113-101. (AP Photo/Lynn Hey)
No. 7 Duke's visit to Virginia highlights ACC's week ahead

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 28, 2020 10:36 AM EST

Virginia Tech's Jalen Cone (15) is defended by Virginia's Mamadi Diakite (25) and Kihei Clark (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Clark's 3-pointer lifts Virginia past Virginia Tech, 56-53

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 26, 2020 09:09 PM EST

Pittsburgh's Justin Champagnie (11) shoots over Virginia's Mamadi Diakite (25) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Virginia won 59-56. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Kihei Clark scores 17 as Virginia holds off Pitt 59-56

By Alan Saunders Feb. 22, 2020 03:27 PM EST

Virginia forward Mamadi Diakite (25) dunks against Boston College during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
Key, Clark lead Virginia past Boston College, 78-65

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 19, 2020 10:13 PM EST

North Carolina's Cole Anthony (2) goes for the ball against Virginia's Jay Huff (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Woldetensae shoots Virginia past North Carolina

Feb. 15, 2020 10:16 PM EST

Key's FT lifts Virginia past Notre Dame, 50-49, in OT

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 11, 2020 11:26 PM EST
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — In reigning national champion Virginia's battle to get back to the NCAA Tournament, Mamadi Diakite and his teammates are using the...

Louisville head coach Chris Mack reacts to a call during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. Louisville won 86-76. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
No. 5 Louisville faces Virginia riding 9-game winning streak

By Gary B. Graves Feb. 07, 2020 05:07 PM EST

Clemson forward Aamir Simms (25) looks for an opening during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Virginia on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Charlottesville, Va. (Erin Edgerton/The Daily Progress via AP)
Key's 3-pointers push Virginia past Clemson, 51-44

By Hank Kurz Jr. Feb. 05, 2020 09:11 PM EST

Virginia foreword Mamadi Diakite hits the floor after drawing a charge against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Clark drives Virginia past No. 5 Florida State, 61-56

By Hank Kurz Jr. Jan. 28, 2020 09:36 PM EST

Woldetensae, Virginia hold off Wake Forest 65-63 in OT

By Aaron Beard Jan. 26, 2020 02:30 PM EST
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Virginia kept sending Wake Forest players to the foul line, dug itself a double-digit hole and even threw in a major mistake to...

Virginia guard Kihei Clark (0) drives to basket as North Carolina State guard Markell Johnson (11) defends play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlottesville, Va., Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Wolfpack ends long skid against Virginia, 53-51

By Hank Kurz Jr. Jan. 20, 2020 09:23 PM EST

Virginia snaps 3-game skid with 63-58 win over Georgia Tech

By Paul Newberry Jan. 18, 2020 10:26 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Still a far cry from its national championship form, Virginia showed it hasn't forgotten how to grind out a tough victory. ...

Virginia forward Mamadi Diakite (25) shoots next to Florida State forward RaiQuan Gray (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tallahassee, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Vassell, Polite help No. 9 Florida State edge Virginia 54-50

By Bob Ferrante Jan. 15, 2020 09:21 PM EST