{"id":13165,"date":"2018-03-14T17:30:51","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T21:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=13165"},"modified":"2018-03-14T17:54:05","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T21:54:05","slug":"1-seed-march-madness-achieved-success-testament-power-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2018\/03\/1-seed-march-madness-achieved-success-testament-power-god.html","title":{"rendered":"How the #1 Seed in March Madness Achieved Success is a Testament to the Power of God"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Thomson200\/WikiCommons\"<\/a>
Thomson200\/WikiCommons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

God\u2019s Word has transformative power.<\/p>\n

As the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament begins this week, the coach of the number one seed, the University of Virginia, says biblical principles have played a major role in getting them to this point.<\/p>\n

They are headed to the NCAA as the number one seed for the third time in the last five years under UVA Cavaliers men\u2019s head basketball coach, Tony Bennett. He shared that faith plays a major role in how he coaches:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy faith \u2013 that defines me. That\u2019s what gives me my meaning and purpose and how I try to treat people with my life,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cI make so many mistakes. The fact that I know I\u2019m forgiven is probably the greatest joy that I have, but that is significant. That is the bedrock of my life and therefore the foundation of why I coach and how I coach, how I try to treat people and my perspective on the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to CBN News, Bennett uses five biblically-based pillars to teach his players lessons that will be of help to them both on and off the basketball court. They are life lessons and are very specific to basketball in ways you wouldn\u2019t think, Bennett said.<\/p>\n

These include humility, passion, unity, servanthood and thankfulness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really am thankful that we have a program that is building things of value that are basketball-oriented but life-oriented and family-oriented and career-oriented,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

Another big factor that has played a role in their success? They are taught character before anything else, Roger Cheeks, the athletic director at Regent University told CBN News.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are willing to work with athletes and enhance their character, then wins will come,\u201d Cheeks said.<\/p>\n

Cheeks also shared that Bennett is using his platform to share a message about the about the body of Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is interesting being a Christina and understanding the body of Christ. Everybody on the team may not have the same level of experience, but when you put them together something happens,\u201d he said. \u201cNo matter what the sport is, the mindset will be to honor the weakest player, more than the strongest player.\u201d<\/p>\n

He believes Bennett teaches the biblical message of honor in addition to the five biblical principles previously listed.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Honor] is what gives Tony a great motivational platform for his players. He treats each player as if they are the number one player,\u201d Cheeks said. \u201cThe Bible tells us we celebrate the weakest in the body rather than the strongest in the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cavaliers beat the North Carolina Tarheels, 71-63, in the ACC championship and will be challenging the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in the first round of the NCAA tournament. However, team is not resting on its successes alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s capable in this tournament. That\u2019s just how it is,\u201d Bennett told the Washington Post. \u201cTo get a one seed is, I guess, a reward for a heck of a regular season and then postseason games in the conference tournament, but then you get your seeding, and then it starts over.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UVA Cavaliers will play their first March Madness game on Sunday against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

God\u2019s Word has transformative power. As the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament begins this week, the coach of the number one seed, the University of Virginia, says biblical principles have played a major role in getting them to this point. They are headed to the NCAA as the number one seed for the third time…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":565,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3630,10],"tags":[1162,1085,3664,548,1081,3663,3661,3662],"class_list":["post-13165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-athletes","category-sports","tag-basketball","tag-faith","tag-faith-and-basketball","tag-march-madness","tag-ncaa","tag-number-one-seed","tag-the-cavaliers","tag-tony-bennett-uva"],"yoast_head":"\nHow the #1 Seed in March Madness Achieved Success is a Testament to the Power of God<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2018\/03\/1-seed-march-madness-achieved-success-testament-power-god.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How the #1 Seed in March Madness Achieved Success is a Testament to the Power of God\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"God\u2019s Word has transformative power. 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