NCAABThrowback

#TBT: Some 35 Years Ago, Greenberg Helped Guide Virginia To The Final Four

ESPN College GameDay analyst was an assistant on Cavs team that made surprising run to 1984 national semifinals

In the 1983-84 season, Seth Greenberg (seated nearest the Gatorade container) was a University of Virginia assistant coach. (Photo courtesy of Cavalier Athletics)

MINNEAPOLIS – When College GameDay analyst Seth Greenberg watches Virginia compete in the Final Four men’s basketball semifinals Saturday against Auburn, familiar feelings will stir.

Greenberg (pictured above) was a Virginia assistant coach who helped guide the upstart Cavaliers to the 1984 Final Four in Seattle — the program’s last Final Four appearance.

The No. 7 seed beat Iona, Arkansas, Syracuse and Indiana to reach the Final Four.

In Seattle’s Kingdome, Virginia lost to Houston in the semifinals in overtime, 49-47.

Greenberg told Front Row: “We were fortunate to get a bid and had little pressure on us – very different from this year’s Virginia team.”

The 1984 squad “was a collection of unselfish role players that championed their roles, could defend and had tremendous resilience. I worked with an amazing head coach in Terry Holland and a staff that included [eventual head coaches] Dave Odom, Jim Larranaga, and Jeff Jones,” said Greenberg, who like his colleagues became a collegiate head coach himself.

For more information on ESPN’s 2019 Men’s Final Four coverage, visit ESPN Press Room.

Seen here earlier this season, College GameDay commentators (L-R) Rece Davis, Jay Williams, Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas will report this week from the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four. (Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images)
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