No. 1 Virginia 77, No. 9 Butler 69
There are lots of angles to take and things to talk about following the Cavaliers' second-round victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday in the NCAA tournament. The win puts UVa into the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. Two years ago, Virginia had a much easier time in beating Memphis to move on. This time, the smart Bulldogs showed their tournament savviness and nearly beat Virginia at its own game.
Letting go of the reins helped the Wahoos win.
This Washington Post article (click here) explains it pretty well. It is ironic to think about, but the teams that have done well against UVa the past couple seasons tend to beat Virginia at its own game. UVa's slow pace frustrates athletic, fast-paced teams. The Cavaliers' Pack-Line defense, which I liken to a python or boa constrictor, usually grinds teams to dust after a close first half. If you are a fan, you've seen it before: UVa leads something like 28-24 at the break, then wins by 10-20. Coaches should be learning that you cannot speed Virginia up. Jacking up quick shots will usually lead to doom.
In the postgame news conference, Butler coach Chris Holtmann said he knew of Michigan State's two victories against Virginia, and I think it is reasonable to think he studied what the Spartans did vs. the Cavaliers. The secret coaches should be understanding, and I'm not sure why more don't honestly, is to play Virginia's game and just try to be better at it. Push the methodical, calculating, efficient game right back into Tony Bennett's face. That's what the Bulldogs did in the first half. They didn't play particularly well, but Virginia was frustrated into poor offense and turnovers. In the second half, though, Bennett rode his athletes. Virginia isn't known for having an athletic team, but some of that is its own doing. The Cavaliers don't put it on display often. They did Saturday in the second half in Raleigh. There's no other way to explain 23 points in the first half and then 54 in the second half. Sure, some X's and O's were changed -- Virginia went small with its lineup -- but I think a lot of it had to do with Bennett letting the Cavaliers be more aggressive on the offensive end, or at least letting them know he believed in their ability to take over. Bennett said in the postgame he tried to free the players' minds to get after it and play the right way. The result was a more confident-looking team that took advantage of a size differential down low (Mike Tobey had 10 points and Anthony Gill had 19, 15 of which came in the second frame) and drove to the hoop more often. The Cavs made an incredible 19 of 26 field goals in the second half. Getting hoops that way was important, too, on a night when one of the better 3-point teams in the nation was woefully off: UVa made just 2 of 10 shots
from beyond the arc.
Defense is the cornerstone of Virginia's program, but the offense can take the 'Hoos far.
Virginia needed every bit of those 54 points to win. Butler played the slow game well in the first half, then nearly played the "second" game as well as UVa also. Three-pointer after 3-pointer -- the Bulldogs made 7 of 15, but it seemed like more -- and circus shot after circus shot seemed to go in, keeping the game from getting out of control once UVa had taken a small lead. Early on, it looked like Virginia's offensive outburst wasn't going to be enough, because Butler's Andrew Chrabascz was red-hot. He had 12 points in the first half, and 12 in the first five minutes of the second half. Make no mistake, Virginia would not be where it is today without defense. It took a couple years, but once Bennett installed his defense, it was far better than the offense. This offense, however, as I have referenced before, is probably the best Bennett has had in his seven seasons. It is in the top 10 in the country in efficiency. You don't always notice because of the slower pace, but the offense is capable of cutting opposing defenses to ribbons. The defense kept Virginia in the game in the first half. Without it, Virginia loses. It is incredibly important. But then in the second half, the offense was just as important, because Butler did not give in like lots of teams. The Bulldogs made shots and stayed right with UVa. Bennett knew how significant defense would be to his program. That had to be put in place before anything else. It is the foundation. But the offense is the extra giddy-up that can push UVa farther in the tournament.
Marial Shayok is hopefully blossoming before our eyes.
Many fans hoped the sophomore from Canada would have a breakout campaign this season. Early returns were encouraging and it looked like he was headed that way. Shayok had a career-high 17 points against Long Beach State in November and scored in double figures in three of four games. Then the middle of the year happened. Shayok started against Miami at home but went scoreless and played just nine minutes, getting benched after he allowed an easy blow-by straight to the rim for one of the Hurricanes. He didn't play at Florida State or at home vs. Clemson. He put up nine goose eggs in a 12-game stretch from Dec. 5 to Jan. 24. Then, he scored 10 points at Wake Forest to get back on track. Including that game, he's only put up three goose eggs in 16 games. He's scored in double figures three of the past four games and was third on the team with 12 points vs. Butler, hitting one of the team's two 3s. He played 25 minutes, the most since the Long Beach State game. He appears to be gaining confidence in driving to the rim -- he has a very quick step and should look to drive more often in my opinion -- and in creating his own jump shot. He's increased his shooting percentage from 40.5 to 49.6 this year and his 3-point percentage from 38 to 44.7. Now, if he can just get his free throws straightened out, he will really be cooking: He was at 63 percent last year and is down to 55.6 this year. His potential for offensive prowess coupled with his solid on-ball defense makes Shayok a huge X-factor for UVa as it tries to continue to make a run in the tournament. And next season, he has a chance to be one of the most important pieces on the team.
Malcolm Brogdon can and is willing to take over on both ends of the floor.
The senior showed why he was both ACC overall and defensive player of the year against Butler, scoring 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He made all six of his free throws. It was clear to me be he wanted to shoulder more of the offensive load in the second half as he aggressively started taking the ball to the rim down the stretch, whether he ended up going up himself or dishing it to a post player. It was smart, too, as part of the decision might have come from his inability to hit from 3 as he missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. And on defense, it was very much publicized how he lobbied Bennett to defend Chrabascz after the first four minutes of the second half. Chrabascz led Butler with 25 points, but scored just one point after
Brogdon took him. The 6-foot-8 junior had a career-high four 3s, making all his attempts. Did he even get a shot off after Brogdon started guarding him? I'm not sure, but Brogdon showed terrific leadership in keying the offense in the second half and shutting down the opponent's best player in the game. In Brogdon, the Cavaliers have a go-to player who is capable and now willing to accept responsibility on both ends of the floor, a huge asset as the they move on.
The even keel.
Could anyone else not sleep after the win? I couldn't. Bennett harps on his team never getting too up or too down, and I think that can be a big factor going forward. Brogdon was asked after the game if the team knew Michigan State was upset in the first round. He of course said yes, but said the team's focus was on Butler. It would be easy to look ahead after MSU's loss and figure Virginia is the favorite in the region, but it would be foolish to look ahead when games still must be won. No free passes to the Final Four are issued. I am glad the team is so composed after a big victory, because I couldn't be. The steady nature of the Wahoos can help them down the stretch of the season as each potential win would bring with it more attention and more hoopla. Keeping the singular focus on the court and on the next opponent is important.
There are lots of angles to take and things to talk about following the Cavaliers' second-round victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday in the NCAA tournament. The win puts UVa into the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. Two years ago, Virginia had a much easier time in beating Memphis to move on. This time, the smart Bulldogs showed their tournament savviness and nearly beat Virginia at its own game.
Letting go of the reins helped the Wahoos win.
This Washington Post article (click here) explains it pretty well. It is ironic to think about, but the teams that have done well against UVa the past couple seasons tend to beat Virginia at its own game. UVa's slow pace frustrates athletic, fast-paced teams. The Cavaliers' Pack-Line defense, which I liken to a python or boa constrictor, usually grinds teams to dust after a close first half. If you are a fan, you've seen it before: UVa leads something like 28-24 at the break, then wins by 10-20. Coaches should be learning that you cannot speed Virginia up. Jacking up quick shots will usually lead to doom.
In the postgame news conference, Butler coach Chris Holtmann said he knew of Michigan State's two victories against Virginia, and I think it is reasonable to think he studied what the Spartans did vs. the Cavaliers. The secret coaches should be understanding, and I'm not sure why more don't honestly, is to play Virginia's game and just try to be better at it. Push the methodical, calculating, efficient game right back into Tony Bennett's face. That's what the Bulldogs did in the first half. They didn't play particularly well, but Virginia was frustrated into poor offense and turnovers. In the second half, though, Bennett rode his athletes. Virginia isn't known for having an athletic team, but some of that is its own doing. The Cavaliers don't put it on display often. They did Saturday in the second half in Raleigh. There's no other way to explain 23 points in the first half and then 54 in the second half. Sure, some X's and O's were changed -- Virginia went small with its lineup -- but I think a lot of it had to do with Bennett letting the Cavaliers be more aggressive on the offensive end, or at least letting them know he believed in their ability to take over. Bennett said in the postgame he tried to free the players' minds to get after it and play the right way. The result was a more confident-looking team that took advantage of a size differential down low (Mike Tobey had 10 points and Anthony Gill had 19, 15 of which came in the second frame) and drove to the hoop more often. The Cavs made an incredible 19 of 26 field goals in the second half. Getting hoops that way was important, too, on a night when one of the better 3-point teams in the nation was woefully off: UVa made just 2 of 10 shots
 |
| Getting the ball in the paint to Anthony Gill was an emphasis for Virginia in the second half vs. Butler. |
Defense is the cornerstone of Virginia's program, but the offense can take the 'Hoos far.
Virginia needed every bit of those 54 points to win. Butler played the slow game well in the first half, then nearly played the "second" game as well as UVa also. Three-pointer after 3-pointer -- the Bulldogs made 7 of 15, but it seemed like more -- and circus shot after circus shot seemed to go in, keeping the game from getting out of control once UVa had taken a small lead. Early on, it looked like Virginia's offensive outburst wasn't going to be enough, because Butler's Andrew Chrabascz was red-hot. He had 12 points in the first half, and 12 in the first five minutes of the second half. Make no mistake, Virginia would not be where it is today without defense. It took a couple years, but once Bennett installed his defense, it was far better than the offense. This offense, however, as I have referenced before, is probably the best Bennett has had in his seven seasons. It is in the top 10 in the country in efficiency. You don't always notice because of the slower pace, but the offense is capable of cutting opposing defenses to ribbons. The defense kept Virginia in the game in the first half. Without it, Virginia loses. It is incredibly important. But then in the second half, the offense was just as important, because Butler did not give in like lots of teams. The Bulldogs made shots and stayed right with UVa. Bennett knew how significant defense would be to his program. That had to be put in place before anything else. It is the foundation. But the offense is the extra giddy-up that can push UVa farther in the tournament.
Marial Shayok is hopefully blossoming before our eyes.
Many fans hoped the sophomore from Canada would have a breakout campaign this season. Early returns were encouraging and it looked like he was headed that way. Shayok had a career-high 17 points against Long Beach State in November and scored in double figures in three of four games. Then the middle of the year happened. Shayok started against Miami at home but went scoreless and played just nine minutes, getting benched after he allowed an easy blow-by straight to the rim for one of the Hurricanes. He didn't play at Florida State or at home vs. Clemson. He put up nine goose eggs in a 12-game stretch from Dec. 5 to Jan. 24. Then, he scored 10 points at Wake Forest to get back on track. Including that game, he's only put up three goose eggs in 16 games. He's scored in double figures three of the past four games and was third on the team with 12 points vs. Butler, hitting one of the team's two 3s. He played 25 minutes, the most since the Long Beach State game. He appears to be gaining confidence in driving to the rim -- he has a very quick step and should look to drive more often in my opinion -- and in creating his own jump shot. He's increased his shooting percentage from 40.5 to 49.6 this year and his 3-point percentage from 38 to 44.7. Now, if he can just get his free throws straightened out, he will really be cooking: He was at 63 percent last year and is down to 55.6 this year. His potential for offensive prowess coupled with his solid on-ball defense makes Shayok a huge X-factor for UVa as it tries to continue to make a run in the tournament. And next season, he has a chance to be one of the most important pieces on the team.
Malcolm Brogdon can and is willing to take over on both ends of the floor.
The senior showed why he was both ACC overall and defensive player of the year against Butler, scoring 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He made all six of his free throws. It was clear to me be he wanted to shoulder more of the offensive load in the second half as he aggressively started taking the ball to the rim down the stretch, whether he ended up going up himself or dishing it to a post player. It was smart, too, as part of the decision might have come from his inability to hit from 3 as he missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. And on defense, it was very much publicized how he lobbied Bennett to defend Chrabascz after the first four minutes of the second half. Chrabascz led Butler with 25 points, but scored just one point after
 |
| Malcolm Brogdon got more aggressive in the second half, helping push UVa to 54 points in the final 20 minutes. |
The even keel.
Could anyone else not sleep after the win? I couldn't. Bennett harps on his team never getting too up or too down, and I think that can be a big factor going forward. Brogdon was asked after the game if the team knew Michigan State was upset in the first round. He of course said yes, but said the team's focus was on Butler. It would be easy to look ahead after MSU's loss and figure Virginia is the favorite in the region, but it would be foolish to look ahead when games still must be won. No free passes to the Final Four are issued. I am glad the team is so composed after a big victory, because I couldn't be. The steady nature of the Wahoos can help them down the stretch of the season as each potential win would bring with it more attention and more hoopla. Keeping the singular focus on the court and on the next opponent is important.
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