No. 12 Virginia 71, No. 14 Notre Dame 54
Silence the doubters, including myself.
Virginia picked up a huge victory at Notre Dame on Tuesday night to get to 16-3 and 6-2 in the ACC. After some inconsistent play from UVa, I didn't see the win coming. The Wahoos have been very good at times this year: the last 10 minutes vs. Wake Forest, the first 30 minutes at Louisville, the first 10 minutes vs. Georgia Tech. But they've also been off at times: the first half of the Ohio State game, most of the Wake game, the end of the Louisville game, second half vs. Florida State, defense the entire game at Pittsburgh, portions of the Clemson game. It has just seemed like a season of fits and starts for the 'Hoos. But they put a lot of good things together against the Fighting Irish, especially the second half, when UVa outscored Notre Dame, 44-28. Virginia has now won 10 in a row against Notre Dame, five of which have come since the Irish joined the ACC. And the Cavaliers are a strong 6-1 in true road games this season.
Virginia was led by the usual suspect, London Perrantes, who recorded 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point land. The senior has really taken control recently, scoring more than 20 points in three of the past five games. Whenever the Cavaliers need a big basket, he seems to be the one to take it, and he has unlimited 3-point range. He made one from the right edge of the clover at midcourt in the second half. It was revealed after the game that Perrantes was also sick and running a fever during the game, all the more reason to be amazed by his gutty performance. UVa almost got a double-double from Isaiah Wilkins, who tallied 13 points and nine rebounds. He was just one board
away from a double-double against Boston College as well. UVa also almost got a double-double from Devon Hall, who had 11 points and nine rebounds to continue his great showing in ACC play. As a team, Virginia outrebounded Notre Dame 38-22. Marial Shayok was the last Cavalier in double figures with 10 points. An unexpected revelation was true freshman Ty Jerome, who played for classmate Kyle Guy in the second half after Guy struggled in the first 20 minutes (though they both played together some in the first half, so I don't think it was a direct switch, and because Virginia has players who can play multiple positions). Jerome finished with eight points on two 3s and a really pretty drive to the middle of the lane capped off with a floater. Guy did finish with five points and a 3 with under a minute left in his home-state game. Darius Thompson did not score but was noteworthy for five assists and just one turnover in 21 minutes. He had a really nice no-look bounce pass to Hall for a baseline dunk when UVa went on its backbreaking run at the end of the game.
On defense, Virginia decided to try to disrupt Notre Dame's 3-pointers in the first half, since the Irish came in as one of the best shooting teams in the country. As a result, skilled post player Bonzie Colson scored 14 of their 26 points in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, Virginia did a better job on Colson, and he ended up with just 20 points, not too bad for the way he started out. Whether it was Virginia's attention or an off night from beyond the arc, the Irish never got going from 3, making just 3 of 18 while UVa converted 9 of 19.
It was just a really impressive and somewhat surprising win for Virginia. Notre Dame came in 17-3, but like I posted before the game, had put up some shaky performances. Still, I was not convinced, given Virginia's off-and-on recent play against subpar ACC teams, that it could pull off this upset (which it was by Vegas' line) on the road. But my team proved me wrong, but I love when it does with me picking against it. The eight-game stretch UVa has embarked on is crazy: at Notre Dame (17-3), at Villanova (19-2), vs. Virginia Tech (15-4), at Syracuse (12-9), vs. Louisville (17-4), at Virginia Tech (15-4), vs. Duke (15-5), at North Carolina (18-3). I said before the Georgia Tech game that 4-4 in this stretch would be solid. The 'Hoos are off to a 1-0 start with the defending national champions up next.
Silence the doubters, including myself.
Virginia picked up a huge victory at Notre Dame on Tuesday night to get to 16-3 and 6-2 in the ACC. After some inconsistent play from UVa, I didn't see the win coming. The Wahoos have been very good at times this year: the last 10 minutes vs. Wake Forest, the first 30 minutes at Louisville, the first 10 minutes vs. Georgia Tech. But they've also been off at times: the first half of the Ohio State game, most of the Wake game, the end of the Louisville game, second half vs. Florida State, defense the entire game at Pittsburgh, portions of the Clemson game. It has just seemed like a season of fits and starts for the 'Hoos. But they put a lot of good things together against the Fighting Irish, especially the second half, when UVa outscored Notre Dame, 44-28. Virginia has now won 10 in a row against Notre Dame, five of which have come since the Irish joined the ACC. And the Cavaliers are a strong 6-1 in true road games this season.
Virginia was led by the usual suspect, London Perrantes, who recorded 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point land. The senior has really taken control recently, scoring more than 20 points in three of the past five games. Whenever the Cavaliers need a big basket, he seems to be the one to take it, and he has unlimited 3-point range. He made one from the right edge of the clover at midcourt in the second half. It was revealed after the game that Perrantes was also sick and running a fever during the game, all the more reason to be amazed by his gutty performance. UVa almost got a double-double from Isaiah Wilkins, who tallied 13 points and nine rebounds. He was just one board
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| London Perrantes scored 22 points against Notre Dame despite feeling ill. He made the Fighting Irish sick I'm sure. |
On defense, Virginia decided to try to disrupt Notre Dame's 3-pointers in the first half, since the Irish came in as one of the best shooting teams in the country. As a result, skilled post player Bonzie Colson scored 14 of their 26 points in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, Virginia did a better job on Colson, and he ended up with just 20 points, not too bad for the way he started out. Whether it was Virginia's attention or an off night from beyond the arc, the Irish never got going from 3, making just 3 of 18 while UVa converted 9 of 19.
It was just a really impressive and somewhat surprising win for Virginia. Notre Dame came in 17-3, but like I posted before the game, had put up some shaky performances. Still, I was not convinced, given Virginia's off-and-on recent play against subpar ACC teams, that it could pull off this upset (which it was by Vegas' line) on the road. But my team proved me wrong, but I love when it does with me picking against it. The eight-game stretch UVa has embarked on is crazy: at Notre Dame (17-3), at Villanova (19-2), vs. Virginia Tech (15-4), at Syracuse (12-9), vs. Louisville (17-4), at Virginia Tech (15-4), vs. Duke (15-5), at North Carolina (18-3). I said before the Georgia Tech game that 4-4 in this stretch would be solid. The 'Hoos are off to a 1-0 start with the defending national champions up next.
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