No. 23 Virginia 53, No. 5 North Carolina 43
One week ago, I was at John Paul Jones Arena when Malcolm Brogdon had his number retired at the Miami game. Unfortunately, fans were reminded how much we missed him as they despondently left the arena after watching their Cavaliers lose to the Hurricanes in disappointing fashion in overtime.
This Monday, fans are feeling differently. While having Brogdon would of course be great, this team might be okay without him. The Wahoos built on their solid victory at N.C. State by taking down the Tar Heels in Charlottesville behind more incredible defense -- one of my favorite stats from the game is the 43 points were the fewest for UNC in the shot clock era (1985-86) and since 1979 -- and some timely, albeit not consistent, offense.
Yes, Virginia scored only 53 points, and shot just 32 percent, but the shots were the right kind, were taken with gusto, and came at the perfect moments. The Cavaliers made 10 of their 24 3s, keyed for a second straight game by Kyle Guy (17 points), who has 10 3s and 36 points his past two games. He was 5 for 7 from beyond the arc for the second game in a row. Last Monday, he played two minutes against Miami. That's it. Two. After the UNC game, he said Tony Bennett had told him that he will play if he puts forth effort all over the court, especially on defense. And he has certainly improved on that end. At the same time, he is obviously hot from deep, and it has really sparked the 'Hoos.
Meanwhile, Guy's emergence has opened up opportunities for London Perrantes, who has rediscovered his shot. Against the Tar Heels, he had 13 points and made three 3s, all in the second half. His defense on Justin Jackson was awesome, too. Jackson is taller than Perrantes and had a terrific game at UNC when the Heels
crushed the 'Hoos. Bennett seemed to employ a much more aggressive version of the Pack Line on Monday, and Perrantes was up in Jackson's grill, making him miserable. Jackson managed just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Isaiah Wilkins, Mamadi Diakite, and Jack Salt all played great post defense, combining for seven blocks and helping cause several of UNC's 14 turnovers.
UVa seemed to take to the underdog role well. UNC was the favorite at JPJ, and I've been thinking that, at times, UVa had lost its edge as a favorite this season. A few years ago, when the Cavaliers were the new hot thing and rising up the ranks nationally, they seemed to get there by always having a chip on their shoulders and outhustling everyone. That mentality seemed to be missing in a few games this season, especially during the losing streak. It was present against UNC, as the 'Hoos were the scrappier team that gave the most effort, and it showed.
The defense was not a sit-back-in-the-Pack-Line defense. It was a more aggressive, in-your-face variety, and it was great. And the aggressiveness carried over to offense. Even though the point total was not high, you could tell the players had confidence in their shots and also were determined when driving the lane. So determined in fact that Devon Hall (11 points and UVa's final player in double figures) missed two dunks, one spectacular attempt in the second half that would've blown the roof off JPJ had he slammed it home, and in the closing seconds, he rimmed out a celebratory dunk. Almost everyone that came into the game looked to score at least once, a good change from the Miami game where there was lots of tentative passing. And even though shots weren't falling at a great rate, the mentally tough Wahoos didn't let it affect them on the other end of the floor.
The change in attitude over the past week has been great to see, as UVa will have to adopt a junkyard dog, blue-collar work ethic if it hopes to advance far into March. That's the Cavaliers' essence, it is at their core and in their soul, and that's when they have their greatest success.
One week ago, I was at John Paul Jones Arena when Malcolm Brogdon had his number retired at the Miami game. Unfortunately, fans were reminded how much we missed him as they despondently left the arena after watching their Cavaliers lose to the Hurricanes in disappointing fashion in overtime.
This Monday, fans are feeling differently. While having Brogdon would of course be great, this team might be okay without him. The Wahoos built on their solid victory at N.C. State by taking down the Tar Heels in Charlottesville behind more incredible defense -- one of my favorite stats from the game is the 43 points were the fewest for UNC in the shot clock era (1985-86) and since 1979 -- and some timely, albeit not consistent, offense.
Yes, Virginia scored only 53 points, and shot just 32 percent, but the shots were the right kind, were taken with gusto, and came at the perfect moments. The Cavaliers made 10 of their 24 3s, keyed for a second straight game by Kyle Guy (17 points), who has 10 3s and 36 points his past two games. He was 5 for 7 from beyond the arc for the second game in a row. Last Monday, he played two minutes against Miami. That's it. Two. After the UNC game, he said Tony Bennett had told him that he will play if he puts forth effort all over the court, especially on defense. And he has certainly improved on that end. At the same time, he is obviously hot from deep, and it has really sparked the 'Hoos.
Meanwhile, Guy's emergence has opened up opportunities for London Perrantes, who has rediscovered his shot. Against the Tar Heels, he had 13 points and made three 3s, all in the second half. His defense on Justin Jackson was awesome, too. Jackson is taller than Perrantes and had a terrific game at UNC when the Heels
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| UVa freshman Kyle Guy has exploded for 36 points the past two games. |
UVa seemed to take to the underdog role well. UNC was the favorite at JPJ, and I've been thinking that, at times, UVa had lost its edge as a favorite this season. A few years ago, when the Cavaliers were the new hot thing and rising up the ranks nationally, they seemed to get there by always having a chip on their shoulders and outhustling everyone. That mentality seemed to be missing in a few games this season, especially during the losing streak. It was present against UNC, as the 'Hoos were the scrappier team that gave the most effort, and it showed.
The defense was not a sit-back-in-the-Pack-Line defense. It was a more aggressive, in-your-face variety, and it was great. And the aggressiveness carried over to offense. Even though the point total was not high, you could tell the players had confidence in their shots and also were determined when driving the lane. So determined in fact that Devon Hall (11 points and UVa's final player in double figures) missed two dunks, one spectacular attempt in the second half that would've blown the roof off JPJ had he slammed it home, and in the closing seconds, he rimmed out a celebratory dunk. Almost everyone that came into the game looked to score at least once, a good change from the Miami game where there was lots of tentative passing. And even though shots weren't falling at a great rate, the mentally tough Wahoos didn't let it affect them on the other end of the floor.
The change in attitude over the past week has been great to see, as UVa will have to adopt a junkyard dog, blue-collar work ethic if it hopes to advance far into March. That's the Cavaliers' essence, it is at their core and in their soul, and that's when they have their greatest success.
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