The Brooklyn Nets are locked in an incredibly tight playoff race for the last few spots in the Eastern Conference. Shooting guard Joe Harris will have to step up if he wants to lead his team to their first postseason appearance since 2015.

But you can't blame Harris if his mind wanders elsewhere at times this weekend. That's because his alma mater, the University of Virginia, has made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984.

Virginia had an incredible 2018-19 season, going 33-3 to claim the ACC regular season championship and earning the first seed in the South. Now, after a last-second 63-62 win over Auburn, they seek their first national title in the program's history.

Harris spent four seasons at Virginia from 2010-14. The farthest he took the Cavaliers during that span was to the Sweet Sixteen in 2014. During his college years, Harris averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists, shooting 44.5% from the field. This earned him a second-round selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

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Since joining the Nets in 2016, Harris has been a key contributor. This season, the 27-year-old's first as a regular, has been his best. He is averaging 13.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 50.2%, all career-highs. He is especially effective from range, leading the league with a 47.2% three-point percentage.

On Monday night, Virginia will take on the winner of Michigan State and Texas Tech in the championship game. The Nets, on the other hand, play the Indiana Pacers in their second-to-last game of the season on Sunday afternoon.