CORAL GABLES, Fla. — To teammates, Virginia senior Solomon Tat is known simply as “Solo.”
The nickname is ironic, considering Tat’s well-documented selflessness and team-first attitude.
In Virginia’s 74-62 loss to Miami on Tuesday night, Virginia coach Tony Bennett rewarded Tat — one of three team captains — for his behind-the-scenes contributions.
With 12:17 left in the game, Tat got the call for the first time since Jan. 31. The 6-foot-5 Nigerian, who hadn’t played in the team’s last six games — he had logged a total of just 20 minutes all season — finished with two points and a rebound in six minutes.
Bennett’s insertion of Tat into the action was probably more for symbolic and motivational purposes than for any kind of tangible results.
“When I saw Solo in the game, that was not a surprise to me because I know he’s been working really hard,” said Virginia sophomore Assane Sene. “He really deserves the minutes that he gets.
“He works hard every single day and that’s why coach put him in the game. Coach plays all the players who have been working hard in practice.”
Surprisingly, Tat didn’t feel rusty. “Because the practice that I’ve been doing has pretty much kept me in shape,” he said. “And I’m a fourth-year and have been out there against other big teams and stuff.”
During his teleconference on Monday, Bennett had singled out Tat for his leadership skills and work ethic during practice. Bennett said that he had never seen anyone quite like Tat — in terms of his always-positive morale.
Tat said it felt great to be able to contribute in an actual game for a change.
“Coach, I’m pretty sure, feels like it’s the right time for me to go out there and play,” Tat said. “Every day I come out to practice and play hard. Coach keeps saying, ‘Don’t ever give up’ and that’s what we’re trying to do now as a team and also as individuals.”
Added Sene: “Solo is a great [influence] for the whole team. He’s been here for four years. He talks to everybody. He says, ‘We have to be ready, we have to be strong.’”
Now Virginia, which faces the unenviable task of trying to break a six-game losing streak when it hosts Duke on Sunday, just needs to listen a little better.
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