Virginia 63, Clemson 58
Virginia was able to snatch its ninth straight win Saturday by beating Clemson on the road, denying the Tigers a potential big win as they look to boost their NCAA tournament resume. It was the Cavaliers' sixth ACC road victory of the season. Virginia is off to its best start in the ACC, 12-1, in 32 years. Virginia has lost just one game, 69-65 at Duke on Jan. 13, out of 13 since the 35-point debacle of a loss at Tennessee.
Since I was unable to preview the Clemson-Virginia game, I will do something a little different in this post. I'm going to go back and rewatch the game and then just give a few of my thoughts as I watch.
1st half
Under 16 timeout - Clemson 12, Virginia 6
What a great game from Mike Tobey. He looked assertive and confident early on, something he had been lacking in recent contests. Up to this point, he had scored all of the Cavaliers' points, essentially keeping us in the game as Clemson was off to a red-hot start, making all six of their field goals. Without his early contributions, Virginia might have lost this game. Tobey ended up with 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Under 12 timeout - Clemson 16, Virginia 10
Clemson is off to a hot start, but I don't think Virginia's defense was right early, either. And Joe Harris needs to take control of the ball before starting a fast break. That caused a UVa turnover when he had the ball stolen. He isn't a good enough ballhandler to try to snatch the ball on the fly while trying to set up a fast break. Just gather yourself, grab the ball, stop, and find London Perrantes or Malcolm Brogdon.
Under 8 timeout - Clemson 21, Virginia 16
Virginia's defense starting to settle in a little better. Early on, Clemson was on pace for nearly 100 points. Harris hit a couple nice 3s in this game, but it would be good if he could start shooting better at the free
throw line. He missed two in this segment of time and then Clemson hit a 3-pointer to make it 21-14. Harris did make up for it next time down and get a lay-in to help UVa get it back to within five. Clemson's Sidy Djitte had a great chance for a dunk or layup around eight minutes left and he hesitated and thus had his shot blocked.
Under 4 timeout - Virginia 26, Clemson 21
OK, Harris really made up for his two free throw misses. He made back-to-back 3-pointers that were part of a 12-0 Virginia run that really allowed the Wahoos to start playing the game the way they wanted. This run kind of set the tone for the rest of the game. After this point, I don't believe Clemson led much more except for briefly in the second half.
Halftime - Virginia 31, Clemson 28
After going up 29-23, Clemson made a little run to try to grab momentum at the half but Virginia had the final score of the first 20 minutes. UVa was up 29-28 and Harris took a 3 from the wing but missed. Tobey, however, capped off an excellent first half for himself by tipping in the miss as the two teams headed to the locker room.
2nd half
Under 16 timeout - Virginia 33, Clemson 33
The second half did not open well for UVa. It took nearly four minutes for the 'Hoos to score their first second-half points and Clemson took a brief 33-31 lead. Austin Ajukwa hit a 3 for the Tigers after making just six field goals all year.
Under 12 timeout - Clemson 38, Virginia 36
Extremely frustrating time right now for UVa. The Cavaliers have only scored five points in eight minutes. Nothing is falling into the basket. Harris represents the team's struggles when he goes in for a fastbreak and gets caught in between a dunk and a layup and misses. In the first half, it was, "Harris, slow down, grab the ball, and find a ballhandler." In the second half, it is, "Harris, gather yourself, and go up for the more sure thing, the layup." Right before the timeout, Justin Anderson made a good move to the basket to draw a foul and almost made the shot, too. He made just one free throw but stopped Clemson's momentum.
Under 8 timeout - Clemson 43, Virginia 43
Wow. How athletic is Clemson's K.J. McDaniels? His fastbreak alley oop dunk was spectacular. It looked like he floated in the air before throwing down the dunk. I cannot believe it wasn't a SportsCenter top 10 play later. Virginia was a in a danger zone, down 43-37, when Anthony Gill made two good plays, drawing fouls and going to the line. He made only one of three free throws but made a basket to help stop Clemson's surge. Great ball movement opened up Harris for an open 3, which tied the game at 43.
Under 4 timeout - Virginia 49, Clemson 46
It's winning time and the 'Hoos are starting to stake their advantage. A bucket by Malcolm Brogdon to get him going, a pass from Gill to Tobey, and two baskets by Tobey help Virginia get out in front of Clemson a little bit.
Final - Virginia 63, Clemson 58
Something about this team -- it just gets it done when it needs to. A couple huge plays down the stretch. Joe Harris hit a big 3 to put Virginia up 52-48 and the Tigers never got closer than one point after that (and that was with 20 seconds left after a lucky 3 from McDaniels). Next time down the floor, Gill faked a handoff pass and rolled to the rim with a nifty move, made a basket while getting fouled and completed the three-point play at the line for a 55-50 lead. Harris added a floater a minute later. Particularly at the line, Harris has been known as being not clutch, so hitting the 3 and the floater were good to see for him. Brogdon added a few calm and cool free throws and that was that: Nine straight wins for the Cavaliers and they snapped a four-game losing streak at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum. Another team win for the 'Hoos. Very balanced scoring. Harris scored 16, Tobey and Brogdon added 14, and Gill chipped in 12. I was wondering why Clemson took such a terrible shot down three with 12 seconds left. It was hurried and not a good look for the Tigers. They had time to set up a better look but instead Jordan Roper took a 3 from beyond the arc and London Perrantes had his hand in his face.
Virginia was able to snatch its ninth straight win Saturday by beating Clemson on the road, denying the Tigers a potential big win as they look to boost their NCAA tournament resume. It was the Cavaliers' sixth ACC road victory of the season. Virginia is off to its best start in the ACC, 12-1, in 32 years. Virginia has lost just one game, 69-65 at Duke on Jan. 13, out of 13 since the 35-point debacle of a loss at Tennessee.
Since I was unable to preview the Clemson-Virginia game, I will do something a little different in this post. I'm going to go back and rewatch the game and then just give a few of my thoughts as I watch.
1st half
Under 16 timeout - Clemson 12, Virginia 6
What a great game from Mike Tobey. He looked assertive and confident early on, something he had been lacking in recent contests. Up to this point, he had scored all of the Cavaliers' points, essentially keeping us in the game as Clemson was off to a red-hot start, making all six of their field goals. Without his early contributions, Virginia might have lost this game. Tobey ended up with 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Under 12 timeout - Clemson 16, Virginia 10
Clemson is off to a hot start, but I don't think Virginia's defense was right early, either. And Joe Harris needs to take control of the ball before starting a fast break. That caused a UVa turnover when he had the ball stolen. He isn't a good enough ballhandler to try to snatch the ball on the fly while trying to set up a fast break. Just gather yourself, grab the ball, stop, and find London Perrantes or Malcolm Brogdon.
Under 8 timeout - Clemson 21, Virginia 16
Virginia's defense starting to settle in a little better. Early on, Clemson was on pace for nearly 100 points. Harris hit a couple nice 3s in this game, but it would be good if he could start shooting better at the free
Under 4 timeout - Virginia 26, Clemson 21
OK, Harris really made up for his two free throw misses. He made back-to-back 3-pointers that were part of a 12-0 Virginia run that really allowed the Wahoos to start playing the game the way they wanted. This run kind of set the tone for the rest of the game. After this point, I don't believe Clemson led much more except for briefly in the second half.
Halftime - Virginia 31, Clemson 28
After going up 29-23, Clemson made a little run to try to grab momentum at the half but Virginia had the final score of the first 20 minutes. UVa was up 29-28 and Harris took a 3 from the wing but missed. Tobey, however, capped off an excellent first half for himself by tipping in the miss as the two teams headed to the locker room.
2nd half
Under 16 timeout - Virginia 33, Clemson 33
The second half did not open well for UVa. It took nearly four minutes for the 'Hoos to score their first second-half points and Clemson took a brief 33-31 lead. Austin Ajukwa hit a 3 for the Tigers after making just six field goals all year.
Under 12 timeout - Clemson 38, Virginia 36
Extremely frustrating time right now for UVa. The Cavaliers have only scored five points in eight minutes. Nothing is falling into the basket. Harris represents the team's struggles when he goes in for a fastbreak and gets caught in between a dunk and a layup and misses. In the first half, it was, "Harris, slow down, grab the ball, and find a ballhandler." In the second half, it is, "Harris, gather yourself, and go up for the more sure thing, the layup." Right before the timeout, Justin Anderson made a good move to the basket to draw a foul and almost made the shot, too. He made just one free throw but stopped Clemson's momentum.
Under 8 timeout - Clemson 43, Virginia 43
Wow. How athletic is Clemson's K.J. McDaniels? His fastbreak alley oop dunk was spectacular. It looked like he floated in the air before throwing down the dunk. I cannot believe it wasn't a SportsCenter top 10 play later. Virginia was a in a danger zone, down 43-37, when Anthony Gill made two good plays, drawing fouls and going to the line. He made only one of three free throws but made a basket to help stop Clemson's surge. Great ball movement opened up Harris for an open 3, which tied the game at 43.
Under 4 timeout - Virginia 49, Clemson 46
It's winning time and the 'Hoos are starting to stake their advantage. A bucket by Malcolm Brogdon to get him going, a pass from Gill to Tobey, and two baskets by Tobey help Virginia get out in front of Clemson a little bit.
Final - Virginia 63, Clemson 58
Something about this team -- it just gets it done when it needs to. A couple huge plays down the stretch. Joe Harris hit a big 3 to put Virginia up 52-48 and the Tigers never got closer than one point after that (and that was with 20 seconds left after a lucky 3 from McDaniels). Next time down the floor, Gill faked a handoff pass and rolled to the rim with a nifty move, made a basket while getting fouled and completed the three-point play at the line for a 55-50 lead. Harris added a floater a minute later. Particularly at the line, Harris has been known as being not clutch, so hitting the 3 and the floater were good to see for him. Brogdon added a few calm and cool free throws and that was that: Nine straight wins for the Cavaliers and they snapped a four-game losing streak at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum. Another team win for the 'Hoos. Very balanced scoring. Harris scored 16, Tobey and Brogdon added 14, and Gill chipped in 12. I was wondering why Clemson took such a terrible shot down three with 12 seconds left. It was hurried and not a good look for the Tigers. They had time to set up a better look but instead Jordan Roper took a 3 from beyond the arc and London Perrantes had his hand in his face.
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