Tony Bennett Collapses Onto Court During Virginia vs. Hampton

Virginia head basketball coach Tony Bennett fell to the court during the first half of the Cavaliers' round-of-64 NCAA tournament game against the 16th-seeded Hampton Pirates on Thursday. 

According to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia said Bennett was dealing with dehydration but would coach the second half against Hampton. 

Per Jerry Ratcliffe of the Daily Progress, trainers were looking at Bennett after he went down on the sidelines. Ratcliffe added that Bennett appeared to be OK, though Virginia's team doctor and trainer took him back to the locker room just before halftime.  

ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted that Bennett was walking to the locker room under his own power. He grabbed his knee on the sideline with 34 seconds remaining in the half before being placed in a chair and eventually taken to the locker room.

Virginia earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years after posting a 26-7 record during the regular season. The Cavaliers advanced to the ACC tournament's championship game but lost to North Carolina. 

Ever since Bennett took over Virginia prior to the 2009-10 season, the Cavaliers have become one of the nation's best programs. They have made three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2014. 

Before Bennett arrived, Virginia had not reached the tournament in consecutive seasons since Jeff Jones was head coach in 1994 and 1995.

This year's Virginia team is arguably the best Bennett has ever had, finishing ninth in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.com, while allowing just 59.7 points per game on defense. His impact on the program can't be understated, so his health will be the big story following Thursday's game.