It’s been noted by local media that Virginia’s men’s basketball program just suffered its worst season in terms of winning percentage since 1966-67, its fewest wins since 1967-68, and its worst two-year run by one coach since 1972-74. The result was head coach Dave Leitao’s “resignation” following a 4-year reign – the shortest for the position in nearly 80 years.
This comes on the heels of a 5-7 football campaign – the worst in… wait for it… two years. 
But two years ago, the men’s basketball team was winning a share of the regular season conference title and advancing to the round of 32 in March. Ultimately, how bad is this academic year in terms of Virginia athletics?
Like the American economic engine, is it the worst in recent memory? Like calendar year 2008 for Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, the music business, the housing industry, and so many others was it the “worst year ever” ?
We all know AD Craig Littlepage’s program continues to churn out ACC winners and national title contenders in other sports, but in terms of the two big dogs generating the most revenue and fan interest (both waning?), 2008-09 ranks as his worst on the job and near the all-time nadir. 2008-09 offered:
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The fewest combined football & men’s basketball wins (15) since 1976-77, when football went 2-9 and basketball followed with a 12-17 campaign
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The fewest combined regular-season ACC wins (7) since 1984-85 (6)
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The lowest combined winning percentage (.375) since 1976-77 (.350)
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The lowest combined regular-season ACC winning percentage (.292) since 1976-77 (.176)
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The first year with no postseason in either sport since 1997-98 (football did finish 7-4 that year)
| Year | Football | Men’s Basketball | Combined Wins | Combined Win Pct | ||||||
| ACC | Overall | Postseason | ACC | Overall | Postseason | ACC | Overall | ACC | Overall | |
| 1970-71 | 0-6 | 5-6 | 6-8 | 15-11 | 6 | 20 | 0.300 | 0.541 | ||
| 1971-72 | 2-3 | 3-8 | 8-4 | 21-7 | NIT (1st round) | 10 | 24 | 0.588 | 0.615 | |
| 1972-73 | 1-5 | 4-7 | 4-8 | 13-12 | 5 | 17 | 0.278 | 0.472 | ||
| 1973-74 | 3-3 | 4-7 | 4-8 | 11-16 | 7 | 15 | 0.389 | 0.395 | ||
| 1974-75 | 1-5 | 4-7 | 4-8 | 12-13 | 5 | 16 | 0.278 | 0.444 | ||
| 1975-76 | 0-5 | 1-10 | 4-8 | 18-12 | NCAA (1st round) | 4 | 19 | 0.235 | 0.463 | |
| 1976-77 | 1-4 | 2-9 | 2-10 | 12-17 | 3 | 14 | 0.176 | 0.350 | ||
| 1977-78 | 1-5 | 1-9 | 6-6 | 20-8 | 7 | 21 | 0.389 | 0.553 | ||
| 1978-79 | 0-6 | 2-9 | 7-5 | 19-10 | NIT (2nd round) | 7 | 21 | 0.389 | 0.525 | |
| 1979-80 | 2-4 | 6-5 | 7-7 | 24-10 | NIT (Champ) | 9 | 30 | 0.450 | 0.667 | |
| 1980-81 | 2-4 | 4-7 | 13-1 | 29-4 | NCAA (Final 4) | 15 | 33 | 0.750 | 0.750 | |
| 1981-82 | 0-6 | 1-10 | 12-2 | 30-4 | NCAA (Sweet 16) | 12 | 31 | 0.600 | 0.689 | |
| 1982-83 | 1-5 | 2-9 | 12-2 | 29-5 | NCAA (Elite 8 ) | 13 | 31 | 0.650 | 0.689 | |
| 1983-84 | 3-3 | 6-5 | 6-8 | 21-12 | NCAA (Final 4) | 9 | 27 | 0.450 | 0.614 | |
| 1984-85 | 3-1-2 | 8-2-2 | Peach (win) | 3-11 | 17-16 | NIT (3rd round) | 6 | 25 | 0.300 | 0.556 |
| 1985-86 | 4-3 | 6-5 | 7-7 | 19-11 | NCAA (1st round) | 11 | 25 | 0.524 | 0.610 | |
| 1986-87 | 3-8 | 2-5 | 8-6 | 21-10 | NCAA (1st round) | 11 | 23 | 0.440 | 0.605 | |
| 1987-88 | 5-2 | 8-4 | All-American (win) | 5-9 | 13-18 | 10 | 21 | 0.476 | 0.488 | |
| 1988-89 | 5-2 | 7-4 | 9-5 | 22-11 | NCAA (Elite 8 ) | 14 | 29 | 0.667 | 0.659 | |
| 1989-90 | 6-1 | 10-3 | Citrus (loss) | 6-8 | 20-12 | NCAA (2nd round) | 12 | 30 | 0.571 | 0.667 |
| 1990-91 | 5-2 | 8-4 | Sugar (loss) | 6-8 | 21-12 | NCAA (1st round) | 11 | 29 | 0.524 | 0.644 |
| 1991-92 | 4-2-1 | 8-3-1 | Gator (loss) | 8-8 | 20-13 | NIT (Champ) | 12 | 28 | 0.522 | 0.622 |
| 1992-93 | 4-4 | 7-4 | 9-7 | 21-10 | NCAA (Sweet 16) | 13 | 28 | 0.542 | 0.667 | |
| 1993-94 | 5-3 | 7-5 | Carquest (loss) | 8-8 | 18-13 | NCAA (2nd round) | 13 | 25 | 0.542 | 0.581 |
| 1994-95 | 5-3 | 9-3 | Independence (win) | 12-4 | 25-9 | NCAA (Elite 8 ) | 17 | 34 | 0.708 | 0.739 |
| 1995-96 | 7-1 | 9-4 | Peach (win) | 6-10 | 12-15 | 13 | 21 | 0.542 | 0.525 | |
| 1996-97 | 5-3 | 7-5 | Carquest (loss) | 7-9 | 18-13 | NCAA (1st round) | 12 | 25 | 0.500 | 0.581 |
| 1997-98 | 5-3 | 7-4 | 3-13 | 11-19 | 8 | 18 | 0.333 | 0.439 | ||
| 1998-99 | 6-2 | 9-3 | Peach (win) | 4-12 | 14-16 | 10 | 23 | 0.417 | 0.548 | |
| 1999-00 | 5-3 | 7-5 | Micronpc.com (loss) | 9-7 | 19-12 | NIT (1st round) | 14 | 26 | 0.583 | 0.605 |
| 2000-01 | 5-3 | 6-6 | 9-7 | 20-9 | NCAA (1st round) | 14 | 26 | 0.583 | 0.634 | |
| 2001-02 | 3-5 | 5-7 | 7-9 | 17-12 | NIT (1st round) | 10 | 22 | 0.417 | 0.537 | |
| 2002-03 | 6-2 | 9-5 | Continental Tire (win) | 6-10 | 16-16 | NIT (2nd round) | 12 | 25 | 0.500 | 0.543 |
| 2003-04 | 4-4 | 8-5 | Continental Tire (win) | 6-10 | 18-13 | NIT (2nd round) | 10 | 26 | 0.417 | 0.591 |
| 2004-05 | 5-3 | 8-4 | MPC Computers (loss) | 4-12 | 14-15 | 9 | 22 | 0.375 | 0.537 | |
| 2005-06 | 3-5 | 7-5 | Music City (win) | 7-9 | 15-15 | NIT (1st round) | 10 | 22 | 0.417 | 0.524 |
| 2006-07 | 4-4 | 5-7 | 11-5 | 21-11 | NCAA (2nd round) | 15 | 26 | 0.625 | 0.591 | |
| 2007-08 | 6-2 | 9-4 | Gator (loss) | 5-11 | 17-16 | CBI (3rd round) | 11 | 26 | 0.458 | 0.565 |
| 2008-09 | 3-5 | 5-7 | 4-12 | 10-18 | 7 | 15 | 0.292 | 0.375 | ||
