No. 3 Virginia 79, No. 7 North Carolina 74
The Cavaliers came out fired up and on point -- as did the crowd -- during their win over the Tar Heels on Saturday. UNC made the first field goal, a 3-pointer (a theme that continued), but Virginia quickly tied the game at 5 and assumed control. I believe the Heels led just one other time during the game at 14-13. North Carolina also tied it at 45, 47, and 49 in the second half.
Indeed, even though UNC came into the game making around 31 percent of its 3s, it was its shooting that kept it in the game after Virginia built a 29-21 advantage in the first half and then a 65-54 lead in the second half. The Tar Heels made 9 of their 19 3-point attempts, with Joel Berry II sinking 5 of 9, Marcus Paige 3 of 7, and Justin Jackson 1 of 3. Berry had 21 points to lead UNC, Paige had 13, and Jackson and Brice Johnson had 12 each.
The night, and especially the first half, belonged to UVa's Malcolm Brogdon. He scored 17 points in the first half, and it seemed as if he was on a Joe-Harris-vs.-Duke-during-his-junior-year pace, when Harris put up 36 in a win over the Blue Devils. One of the game's storylines was Brogdon vs. Johnson in a possible ACC
player of the year battle. Brogdon came out on top big time. Johnson appeared like he was going to be dominant at times with quick turnarounds in the post, but UNC didn't get him the ball enough, and Virginia's post defense on him was solid. He made 5 of his 9 shots. Isaiah Wilkins, who UVa fans weren't sure was even going to play after hurting his head against Miami, did a solid job on Johnson throughout the contest. He played 30 minutes and had eight points, four rebounds, a block, an assist, and two steals. Two of his baskets felt important -- the first score of the game on a tip-in after UNC had went up 3-0, and then the final layup at the buzzer as the first half ended, creating the 38-35 margin, which felt better after UNC had trimmed Virginia's eight-point lead to one over the final few minutes of the first half.
Brogdon slowed down his scoring pace in the second half, but still finished with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 5 from the free throw line.
Brogdon didn't need to score as much as the team as a whole was better on offense in the second half, putting up 41 points after recording an already solid 38 in the first half. One of the big questions before the game was would Anthony Gill show up? The senior had been struggling recently, but he came through with 15 points, nine boards, and two blocks. He made 6 of his 11 shots and 3 of his 4 free throws. The team was awesome at the line, making 18 of 21, compared to 7 of 13 for UNC. London Perrantes had 12 points on only 3-of-10 shooting, but he made 2 of his 5 3s and added six assists and a steal. Devon Hall had 11 points, his first double-digit ACC performance since he also dropped 11 on Clemson on Jan. 19. He made two 3s which obviously ended up being huge. Whenever the Cavaliers' "Big Three" of Brogdon, Gill, and Perrantes have good games, plus they have at least one other double-digit scorer, good luck beating them.
As I alluded to, I thought Virginia's defense was pretty good despite giving up 74 points and 49 percent shooting. UNC was frustrated into 13 turnovers and held to just two transition points, a stat boosted by Virginia's ability to take care of the ball -- UVa had just eight turnovers. UNC made some 3s it normally doesn't make. Without them, the Wahoos would have won by 10 or more.
The bottom line is Virginia continues to show up in big games this season. Yes, there have been a couple setbacks recently, but they were on the road against Miami and Duke, and one of those games was as close to a win as possible without it actually being recorded as one. UVa is playing some great ball right now and the Wahoos' best can be put against anyone else's best and a win would certainly be possible or even better than a 50-50 proposition. The level Virginia is playing at and is capable of bodes well as we turn the calendar to March.
No. 4 Virginia at Clemson, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Next up, Virginia gets Clemson on the road. The Tigers, once viable NCAA tournament candidates, have lost four of six and are 16-12. Almost nothing short of winning the ACC tournament will get them in the Big Dance at this point, but beating UVa would be another great win for them. Once upon a time, Clemson downed Duke, Louisville, and Miami in consecutive games in January before losing to Virginia, 69-62, in Charlottesville. Like UVa's win over Miami, I thought the victory over Clemson came at a great time for the 'Hoos, who were coming off their rough patch of losing three of four. They buckled down and got a hard-fought win over the Tigers. Jaron Blossomgame had 23 to lead Clemson, and Landry Nnoko had 15. Virginia was paced by 20 from Brogdon, 12 from Gill, 11 from Hall (his only other ACC game in double figures), and 10 from Wilkins.
A road game against a pretty quality opponent is a tough spot for UVa to be in coming off perhaps its biggest win of the season. The chance of a letdown is very real. Luckily, the pressure isn't too great for UVa. While another ACC regular-season championship would be nice, Virginia is still on the outside looking in at 11-5, while North Carolina and Miami are 12-4. So the possibility of a title still isn't likely. If Virginia were to win out and claim the ACC tournament championship, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is very likely, regardless of the Cavaliers' final place in the ACC standings. If UVa gets just one more win, either at Clemson, vs. Louisville, or in its first ACC tournament game, then I think a No. 2 seed for the Big Dance is all but locked up. So while there is some pressure on UVa, I think it really just needs one more victory to lock up a very favorable seed. A No. 1 seed is still out there to be had, but like an ACC regular-season crown, it seems more unlikely than likely at this point. UVa would change all of that by winning out, but that is a tall task.
A loss would not shock me at all tonight. But I think UVa will come in with plenty of confidence, and this is a tough game for the Tigers as well, who certainly have to feel a little disappointed at this point of the season that they haven't done better given their early ACC victories. They aren't necessarily in desperation mode either, as I pointed out it seems unlikely they could make a push for an at-large Big Dance bid at this point. An ACC tournament championship is probably Clemson's only option.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 1-5 points.
The Cavaliers came out fired up and on point -- as did the crowd -- during their win over the Tar Heels on Saturday. UNC made the first field goal, a 3-pointer (a theme that continued), but Virginia quickly tied the game at 5 and assumed control. I believe the Heels led just one other time during the game at 14-13. North Carolina also tied it at 45, 47, and 49 in the second half.
Indeed, even though UNC came into the game making around 31 percent of its 3s, it was its shooting that kept it in the game after Virginia built a 29-21 advantage in the first half and then a 65-54 lead in the second half. The Tar Heels made 9 of their 19 3-point attempts, with Joel Berry II sinking 5 of 9, Marcus Paige 3 of 7, and Justin Jackson 1 of 3. Berry had 21 points to lead UNC, Paige had 13, and Jackson and Brice Johnson had 12 each.
The night, and especially the first half, belonged to UVa's Malcolm Brogdon. He scored 17 points in the first half, and it seemed as if he was on a Joe-Harris-vs.-Duke-during-his-junior-year pace, when Harris put up 36 in a win over the Blue Devils. One of the game's storylines was Brogdon vs. Johnson in a possible ACC
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| Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Paige battle for a rebound. Brogdon had a first half for the ages against the Tar Heels, recording 17 points. |
Brogdon slowed down his scoring pace in the second half, but still finished with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 5 from the free throw line.
Brogdon didn't need to score as much as the team as a whole was better on offense in the second half, putting up 41 points after recording an already solid 38 in the first half. One of the big questions before the game was would Anthony Gill show up? The senior had been struggling recently, but he came through with 15 points, nine boards, and two blocks. He made 6 of his 11 shots and 3 of his 4 free throws. The team was awesome at the line, making 18 of 21, compared to 7 of 13 for UNC. London Perrantes had 12 points on only 3-of-10 shooting, but he made 2 of his 5 3s and added six assists and a steal. Devon Hall had 11 points, his first double-digit ACC performance since he also dropped 11 on Clemson on Jan. 19. He made two 3s which obviously ended up being huge. Whenever the Cavaliers' "Big Three" of Brogdon, Gill, and Perrantes have good games, plus they have at least one other double-digit scorer, good luck beating them.
As I alluded to, I thought Virginia's defense was pretty good despite giving up 74 points and 49 percent shooting. UNC was frustrated into 13 turnovers and held to just two transition points, a stat boosted by Virginia's ability to take care of the ball -- UVa had just eight turnovers. UNC made some 3s it normally doesn't make. Without them, the Wahoos would have won by 10 or more.
The bottom line is Virginia continues to show up in big games this season. Yes, there have been a couple setbacks recently, but they were on the road against Miami and Duke, and one of those games was as close to a win as possible without it actually being recorded as one. UVa is playing some great ball right now and the Wahoos' best can be put against anyone else's best and a win would certainly be possible or even better than a 50-50 proposition. The level Virginia is playing at and is capable of bodes well as we turn the calendar to March.
No. 4 Virginia at Clemson, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Next up, Virginia gets Clemson on the road. The Tigers, once viable NCAA tournament candidates, have lost four of six and are 16-12. Almost nothing short of winning the ACC tournament will get them in the Big Dance at this point, but beating UVa would be another great win for them. Once upon a time, Clemson downed Duke, Louisville, and Miami in consecutive games in January before losing to Virginia, 69-62, in Charlottesville. Like UVa's win over Miami, I thought the victory over Clemson came at a great time for the 'Hoos, who were coming off their rough patch of losing three of four. They buckled down and got a hard-fought win over the Tigers. Jaron Blossomgame had 23 to lead Clemson, and Landry Nnoko had 15. Virginia was paced by 20 from Brogdon, 12 from Gill, 11 from Hall (his only other ACC game in double figures), and 10 from Wilkins.
A road game against a pretty quality opponent is a tough spot for UVa to be in coming off perhaps its biggest win of the season. The chance of a letdown is very real. Luckily, the pressure isn't too great for UVa. While another ACC regular-season championship would be nice, Virginia is still on the outside looking in at 11-5, while North Carolina and Miami are 12-4. So the possibility of a title still isn't likely. If Virginia were to win out and claim the ACC tournament championship, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is very likely, regardless of the Cavaliers' final place in the ACC standings. If UVa gets just one more win, either at Clemson, vs. Louisville, or in its first ACC tournament game, then I think a No. 2 seed for the Big Dance is all but locked up. So while there is some pressure on UVa, I think it really just needs one more victory to lock up a very favorable seed. A No. 1 seed is still out there to be had, but like an ACC regular-season crown, it seems more unlikely than likely at this point. UVa would change all of that by winning out, but that is a tall task.
A loss would not shock me at all tonight. But I think UVa will come in with plenty of confidence, and this is a tough game for the Tigers as well, who certainly have to feel a little disappointed at this point of the season that they haven't done better given their early ACC victories. They aren't necessarily in desperation mode either, as I pointed out it seems unlikely they could make a push for an at-large Big Dance bid at this point. An ACC tournament championship is probably Clemson's only option.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 1-5 points.
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