UVA HOOPS
Virginia edged Miami by one point, 52-51, Saturday at home. Mike Scott led the way with 23 points and was really the only player that was in a zone on offense. Jontel Evans and Sammy Zeglinski had six points each. Scott was really on in the first half, and then even he slumped in the second half. Virginia's defense was very good early on though as the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to just 17 points. Virginia led, 26-17, at the half but it wasn't easy building that lead. Virginia struggled mightily early on offense and was down 11-6 halfway through the first half. Then coach Tony Bennett put in all sophomores and freshmen -- Malcolm Brogdon, Darion Atkins, Akil Mitchell, Paul Jesperson, and Joe Harris -- and Virginia surged to take the lead.
Early in the second half, the Hoos had no trouble scoring but were unable to sustain the great defense that held Miami to just 17 first-half points. It was funny, one of my observations from being at the game was that the home crowd seems to really have taken to Bennett's defensive philosophy. Even though we were scoring, people started clapping to get us fired up for defense. Usually the home crowd claps when the team is having trouble getting going on offense and this time it was the exact opposite.
Miami ended up scoring 34 points in the half though, which I believe is the second-most a team has scored on UVa in a half this season (Seattle had 36 or 38 in the first half against UVa). Miami even briefly took the lead at 46-45 with just under four minutes remaining. A timely 3-pointer by Zeglinski (his second of the game) put UVa ahead for good and the Cavs held on down the stretch. Harris failed to convert on the front end of a 1-and-1 and Miami had the last possession with 13 seconds left. Durand Scott got off an unbalanced shot close to the rim as he was closely guarded by Evans. Scott got the rebound but Zeglinski was right there fighting for the ball and a jump ball was called as the clock ran out.
It was not the prettiest of wins (Virginia shot 38 percent and was just 6 of 10 from the free-throw line and the defense, despite holding Miami to 51 points, was not great in the second half) but a win is a win and it was good to see the Cavs tough one out when they weren't playing their best. Virginia is all the way up to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll and faces Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday at 9 p.m. ESPN. Dick Vitale will be in the house. Hopefully we can spoil the Duke love fest that will probably take place. That would be an absolute HUGE win for the program. Virginia will have to play its best game of the year in the toughest environment it will see this season. I'll be happy if we don't fall on our face and just play them tough. The Cavaliers can win. They led Duke at the half down there last season before losing 75-60.
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BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama, 8:30 p.m. ESPN
I've got Alabama in this one. These teams were so closely matched in November (LSU won 9-6 in OT) that I just think for one of them to go 2-0 against the other one will be very difficult. And the Crimson Tide pretty much outplayed the Tigers in Tuscaloosa. It was the field-goal kicking that did Alabama in -- 2 of 5 just isn't going to cut in a close game. I think Nick Saban will be cautious and punt it in long field-goal situations and the offense will cash in on opportunities this time.
Alabama 14, LSU 10
Virginia edged Miami by one point, 52-51, Saturday at home. Mike Scott led the way with 23 points and was really the only player that was in a zone on offense. Jontel Evans and Sammy Zeglinski had six points each. Scott was really on in the first half, and then even he slumped in the second half. Virginia's defense was very good early on though as the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to just 17 points. Virginia led, 26-17, at the half but it wasn't easy building that lead. Virginia struggled mightily early on offense and was down 11-6 halfway through the first half. Then coach Tony Bennett put in all sophomores and freshmen -- Malcolm Brogdon, Darion Atkins, Akil Mitchell, Paul Jesperson, and Joe Harris -- and Virginia surged to take the lead.
Early in the second half, the Hoos had no trouble scoring but were unable to sustain the great defense that held Miami to just 17 first-half points. It was funny, one of my observations from being at the game was that the home crowd seems to really have taken to Bennett's defensive philosophy. Even though we were scoring, people started clapping to get us fired up for defense. Usually the home crowd claps when the team is having trouble getting going on offense and this time it was the exact opposite.
Miami ended up scoring 34 points in the half though, which I believe is the second-most a team has scored on UVa in a half this season (Seattle had 36 or 38 in the first half against UVa). Miami even briefly took the lead at 46-45 with just under four minutes remaining. A timely 3-pointer by Zeglinski (his second of the game) put UVa ahead for good and the Cavs held on down the stretch. Harris failed to convert on the front end of a 1-and-1 and Miami had the last possession with 13 seconds left. Durand Scott got off an unbalanced shot close to the rim as he was closely guarded by Evans. Scott got the rebound but Zeglinski was right there fighting for the ball and a jump ball was called as the clock ran out.
It was not the prettiest of wins (Virginia shot 38 percent and was just 6 of 10 from the free-throw line and the defense, despite holding Miami to 51 points, was not great in the second half) but a win is a win and it was good to see the Cavs tough one out when they weren't playing their best. Virginia is all the way up to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll and faces Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday at 9 p.m. ESPN. Dick Vitale will be in the house. Hopefully we can spoil the Duke love fest that will probably take place. That would be an absolute HUGE win for the program. Virginia will have to play its best game of the year in the toughest environment it will see this season. I'll be happy if we don't fall on our face and just play them tough. The Cavaliers can win. They led Duke at the half down there last season before losing 75-60.
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BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama, 8:30 p.m. ESPN
I've got Alabama in this one. These teams were so closely matched in November (LSU won 9-6 in OT) that I just think for one of them to go 2-0 against the other one will be very difficult. And the Crimson Tide pretty much outplayed the Tigers in Tuscaloosa. It was the field-goal kicking that did Alabama in -- 2 of 5 just isn't going to cut in a close game. I think Nick Saban will be cautious and punt it in long field-goal situations and the offense will cash in on opportunities this time.
Alabama 14, LSU 10
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