No. 15 Belmont vs. No. 2 Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., 3:10 p.m. truTV
Virginia gets its dancing shoes on Friday around 3:10 p.m., tipping off long before the nightcap, which is when the Cavs had to wait around until last year before facing No. 16 seed Coastal Carolina as a No. 1 seed.
If there is one thing Thursday's action taught us, no lead is safe and no favorite is safe. The day featured four lower seeds winning (out of 16 games) and 11 games decided by single digits. A 12th game was decided by 10 points. Two 14 seeds, UAB and Georgia State, beat Iowa State and Baylor, respectively.
Let's find out more about the Belmont Bruins, Virginia's opponent in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Record: 22-10, 11-5 Ohio Valley Conference, OVC tournament champions
Scorers in double figures: Junior guard Craig Bradshaw (18.1), sophomore guard/forward Evan Bradds (14.3), sophomore guard Taylor Barnette (10.7)
Leading rebounders: Bradds (7.2), senior guard Reece Chamberlain (5.5)
Assist leaders: Chamberlain (6.1), Bradshaw (3.2)
Notable: Barnette played for UVa two years ago his freshman year before sitting out last year as a transfer. At UVa, he averaged 2.6 points and shot 43.2 percent from 3. In the OVCU tournament championship game, he hit the winning 3 that sent the Bruins to the dance and to a mach against his former team. Chamberlain averages 8.5 points, Nick Smith puts in 6.9 per game, and Amanze Egekeze scores 5.3 per game.
Best win: It has to be the 88-87 win over Murray State to clinch the OVC tournament title.
Other wins: Lipscomb (twice), Trevecca Nazarene, Western Kentucky, Denver, Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Fairfield, Southeast Missouri State, SIU-Edwardsville, Austin Peay, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State (twice), Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech (twice), Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky (twice), Eastern Illinois
Best loss: 67-56 at Butler, which finished the regular season 22-9 and earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Worst loss: Wright State finished 11-20 but Belmont lost to the Raiders twice, 79-71, on Dec. 11, and 73-70 in the season opener.
Other losses: Evansville, VCU, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Jacksonville State
Common opponents: Belmont lost to VCU, 78-51. Virginia beat VCU, 74-59. Belmont beat Tennessee State, 63-55, and 88-62. Virginia beat TSU, 79-36.
What Belmont does well: The Bruins put up 74.5 ppg (32nd), dish out 15.4 assists per game (26th), and shoot 47.6 percent (25th). They also shoot 38.2 percent from 3-point range (39th).
What Belmont does poorly: The Bruins have a leaky defense, giving up 70.3 ppg (277th), don't rebound well (223rd in their own rebounding, 163rd in giving up rebounds), and also don't create many steals (153rd) on block many shots (325th). Should the game come down to free-throw shooting, Belmont is decent, but not great (69.1 percent, 175th).
Why Virginia should not be worried: Belmont plays porous defense and doesn't rebound well, meaning UVa should be able to gets its offense going early, whether through ball movement or on the boards. Belmont ranks 290th in the country in field-goal percentage defense. Early effective offense has been a problem for the Cavaliers recently but they would probably do well to take control and show some aggression that has been lacking at the opening tip of games. Virginia has a significant size advantage, too. The tallest regular player for Belmont is 6-foot-8 Nick Smith, but he averages only 15 minutes and 2.1 rebounds. In the starting lineup, Bradds is the biggest Bruin, but he is only
listed at 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7 in some places. On offense, the Cavs should get it inside to Anthony Gill, Darion Atkins, and Mike Tobey. On defense, the Bruins can shoot well, but Virginia is long and should be able to plenty of hands in faces. Nobody that shoots 3s on Belmont is as tall as, for instance, Dinos Mitoglou from Wake Forest. His height combined with his shooting prowess proved to be an issue for Virginia in the first meeting between the schools. The ' Hoos don't have to worry about anyone like that for Belmont despite its bevy of shooters.
Why Virginia should be worried: Despite the height difference, Belmont still does shoot very well (10 made 3-pointers per game) and if it gets hot, the game gets that much more interesting and nail-biting for Wahoo supporters. Of course, the flip side of Virginia have a size advantage is trying to move around. If Belmont's smaller players can scoot around quickly, they might be able to find some breathing room to get off shots. That's why it is very important for Virginia to close out on the shooters. And in this game, I would maybe gamble for the block more, because even if the Belmont player pump fakes to get past, Virginia should have some trees waiting near the basket.
Virginia's been here before. For the second year in a row, the Cavaliers have a high seed and are the double-digit favorite over a low seed. Virginia came into last year's tournament with all kinds of momentum after winning the ACC tournament and almost became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed. Coastal Carolina led by 10 in the first half and by five at halftime, but Virginia got ahead and pulled away in the second half for a 70-59 victory. This season, Virginia isn't peaking going into March Madness. The Cavs have lost two of three. Granted, by a combined total of six points to North Carolina ("neutral" floor in Greensboro) and Louisville on the road. But still, Virginia's low point this season was losing two of three and failing to defend its ACC tournament crown. That could be a good thing, though. Coming off losses, I think the players might be more likely to take a low-seeded team more seriously than coming in riding on a high note. The last few weeks have probably shown the guy that they can't afford to play around if they want to try to make a run at a national title. They have to be locked in from start to finish and be playing their best basketball.
Of course, a significant part of Virginia's successes or failures in this tournament could hinge on a pinky finger. Justin Anderson was reportedly making lots of shots and dunking during practice Thursday. Maybe he is finally rounding into shape. He will wear some protection on the finger but it is going to be less than what he wore in the ACC tournament. If he still isn't right, that could obviously play a role in Virginia stumbling against Belmont or in the third round should the Cavs advance. A hitting-on-all-cylinders Anderson is just what Virginia might need to re-ignite the engine a little bit and help the Wahoos regain their mid-season form.
It's pretty simple really. If Virginia comes out active on both ends of the floor, it probably doesn't matter what Belmont does. The Bruins can make a few 3s but it probably wouldn't matter if Virginia brings close to its "A" game. But if Virginia comes out looking too relaxed and passive on offense, Belmont will gain confidence and some made 3s can turn into an avalanche. Pretty soon, Virginia defenders are flying by helplessly at the arc and the Bruins are slashing into the lane and suddenly, their offense has opened up.
If I'm Virginia, I attack from the beginning with London Perrantes and Malcolm Brogdon slashing the lane looking for their own shots, or dumping off down low to the big men. Virginia does not want to get into a jump-shooting contest with Belmont, because that is where it could lose. The Cavs need to overpower the Bruins and win a physical game and minimize the finesse aspect. Virginia likes to win games with defense, but if Belmont starts making shots, it might need to win with offense instead, in a 75-65 type game. I know UVa is capable of that, especially against a defense like Belmont's, but would the players and Tony Bennett allow themselves to play like that.
I am worried about the game because it is natural to worry as a UVa fan and because I think Belmont is a pretty good No. 15 seed. But realistically, the Bruins should not be able to hang with the Wahoos if their heads and energy level are right.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 10-15.
Virginia gets its dancing shoes on Friday around 3:10 p.m., tipping off long before the nightcap, which is when the Cavs had to wait around until last year before facing No. 16 seed Coastal Carolina as a No. 1 seed.
If there is one thing Thursday's action taught us, no lead is safe and no favorite is safe. The day featured four lower seeds winning (out of 16 games) and 11 games decided by single digits. A 12th game was decided by 10 points. Two 14 seeds, UAB and Georgia State, beat Iowa State and Baylor, respectively.
Let's find out more about the Belmont Bruins, Virginia's opponent in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Record: 22-10, 11-5 Ohio Valley Conference, OVC tournament champions
Scorers in double figures: Junior guard Craig Bradshaw (18.1), sophomore guard/forward Evan Bradds (14.3), sophomore guard Taylor Barnette (10.7)
Leading rebounders: Bradds (7.2), senior guard Reece Chamberlain (5.5)
Assist leaders: Chamberlain (6.1), Bradshaw (3.2)
Notable: Barnette played for UVa two years ago his freshman year before sitting out last year as a transfer. At UVa, he averaged 2.6 points and shot 43.2 percent from 3. In the OVCU tournament championship game, he hit the winning 3 that sent the Bruins to the dance and to a mach against his former team. Chamberlain averages 8.5 points, Nick Smith puts in 6.9 per game, and Amanze Egekeze scores 5.3 per game.
Best win: It has to be the 88-87 win over Murray State to clinch the OVC tournament title.
Other wins: Lipscomb (twice), Trevecca Nazarene, Western Kentucky, Denver, Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Fairfield, Southeast Missouri State, SIU-Edwardsville, Austin Peay, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State (twice), Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech (twice), Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky (twice), Eastern Illinois
Best loss: 67-56 at Butler, which finished the regular season 22-9 and earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Worst loss: Wright State finished 11-20 but Belmont lost to the Raiders twice, 79-71, on Dec. 11, and 73-70 in the season opener.
Other losses: Evansville, VCU, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Jacksonville State
Common opponents: Belmont lost to VCU, 78-51. Virginia beat VCU, 74-59. Belmont beat Tennessee State, 63-55, and 88-62. Virginia beat TSU, 79-36.
What Belmont does well: The Bruins put up 74.5 ppg (32nd), dish out 15.4 assists per game (26th), and shoot 47.6 percent (25th). They also shoot 38.2 percent from 3-point range (39th).
What Belmont does poorly: The Bruins have a leaky defense, giving up 70.3 ppg (277th), don't rebound well (223rd in their own rebounding, 163rd in giving up rebounds), and also don't create many steals (153rd) on block many shots (325th). Should the game come down to free-throw shooting, Belmont is decent, but not great (69.1 percent, 175th).
Why Virginia should not be worried: Belmont plays porous defense and doesn't rebound well, meaning UVa should be able to gets its offense going early, whether through ball movement or on the boards. Belmont ranks 290th in the country in field-goal percentage defense. Early effective offense has been a problem for the Cavaliers recently but they would probably do well to take control and show some aggression that has been lacking at the opening tip of games. Virginia has a significant size advantage, too. The tallest regular player for Belmont is 6-foot-8 Nick Smith, but he averages only 15 minutes and 2.1 rebounds. In the starting lineup, Bradds is the biggest Bruin, but he is only
Why Virginia should be worried: Despite the height difference, Belmont still does shoot very well (10 made 3-pointers per game) and if it gets hot, the game gets that much more interesting and nail-biting for Wahoo supporters. Of course, the flip side of Virginia have a size advantage is trying to move around. If Belmont's smaller players can scoot around quickly, they might be able to find some breathing room to get off shots. That's why it is very important for Virginia to close out on the shooters. And in this game, I would maybe gamble for the block more, because even if the Belmont player pump fakes to get past, Virginia should have some trees waiting near the basket.
Virginia's been here before. For the second year in a row, the Cavaliers have a high seed and are the double-digit favorite over a low seed. Virginia came into last year's tournament with all kinds of momentum after winning the ACC tournament and almost became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed. Coastal Carolina led by 10 in the first half and by five at halftime, but Virginia got ahead and pulled away in the second half for a 70-59 victory. This season, Virginia isn't peaking going into March Madness. The Cavs have lost two of three. Granted, by a combined total of six points to North Carolina ("neutral" floor in Greensboro) and Louisville on the road. But still, Virginia's low point this season was losing two of three and failing to defend its ACC tournament crown. That could be a good thing, though. Coming off losses, I think the players might be more likely to take a low-seeded team more seriously than coming in riding on a high note. The last few weeks have probably shown the guy that they can't afford to play around if they want to try to make a run at a national title. They have to be locked in from start to finish and be playing their best basketball.
Of course, a significant part of Virginia's successes or failures in this tournament could hinge on a pinky finger. Justin Anderson was reportedly making lots of shots and dunking during practice Thursday. Maybe he is finally rounding into shape. He will wear some protection on the finger but it is going to be less than what he wore in the ACC tournament. If he still isn't right, that could obviously play a role in Virginia stumbling against Belmont or in the third round should the Cavs advance. A hitting-on-all-cylinders Anderson is just what Virginia might need to re-ignite the engine a little bit and help the Wahoos regain their mid-season form.
It's pretty simple really. If Virginia comes out active on both ends of the floor, it probably doesn't matter what Belmont does. The Bruins can make a few 3s but it probably wouldn't matter if Virginia brings close to its "A" game. But if Virginia comes out looking too relaxed and passive on offense, Belmont will gain confidence and some made 3s can turn into an avalanche. Pretty soon, Virginia defenders are flying by helplessly at the arc and the Bruins are slashing into the lane and suddenly, their offense has opened up.
If I'm Virginia, I attack from the beginning with London Perrantes and Malcolm Brogdon slashing the lane looking for their own shots, or dumping off down low to the big men. Virginia does not want to get into a jump-shooting contest with Belmont, because that is where it could lose. The Cavs need to overpower the Bruins and win a physical game and minimize the finesse aspect. Virginia likes to win games with defense, but if Belmont starts making shots, it might need to win with offense instead, in a 75-65 type game. I know UVa is capable of that, especially against a defense like Belmont's, but would the players and Tony Bennett allow themselves to play like that.
I am worried about the game because it is natural to worry as a UVa fan and because I think Belmont is a pretty good No. 15 seed. But realistically, the Bruins should not be able to hang with the Wahoos if their heads and energy level are right.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 10-15.
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