Virginia loses valuable player for NCAA tournament opening weekend
ORLANDO — If 5 seed Virginia is going to advance out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, it will probably have to do it without forward Isaiah Wilkins.
After playing through a progression of strep throat and a sinus infection over the past three weeks, Wilkins said he has a “mono thing.”
“I’ve been playing through it but today it really caught up with me,” he said Thursday following Virginia’s 76-71 win over 12 seed UNC Wilmington.
“I’m probably done for the rest of this weekend.”
VIRGINIA WINS: Cavs suppress UNCW
NCAA TOURNAMENT:Live scoreboard
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS:North Carolina's special attire
The Cavaliers (23-10) will play either East 4 seed Florida or 13 seed East Tennessee State on Saturday.
They played most of Thursday without Wilkins, who has started 28 games but managed just five minutes in the first-round game.
Wilkins looked visibly winded early trying to keep up with UNC Wilmington forward Devontae Cacok.
“I was about to foul to come out or something like that,” he said.
Wilkins left for the Cavaliers’ locker room in the first half.
An ACC all-defensive player, Wilkins leads Virginia in rebounds, blocks and steals. Without him, the team went to five-guards at times and used redshirt sophomore Jack Salt to try to contain Cacok.
“He pushed so hard, and he hasn't filled his tank up enough from this virus and this sickness,” said Virginia coach Tony Bennett.
“But then during the game — I think it was when we tied — he jumped up and got excited. I don't know if it was a sinking spell or what, but it was not right. I feel for him. I put my arm around him, and I said, ‘I'll never forget your courage and your heart to try,’ because we needed him when he was sick to get us into this tournament.”
Wilkins said he has taken a course of antibiotics and steroids to try to get better. Should Virginia advance to the Sweet 16, he hopes to be able to play by next weekend.
“You try to fight through it, but I think at this point me playing is probably going to hurt us more than it helps us,” Wilkins said. “I think I’m at the end of this. I just need to kick it.”
