If you’re looking for a reason why seventh-ranked Virginia is back among the nation’s elite, you could do worse than looking at sophomore forward Isaiah Wilkins.
Wilkins was re-inserted into the starting lineup two weeks ago at Louisville, and the Cavs have ratcheted up the defensive intensity since, holding three of their last four opponents under 50, the fourth, Pitt, hitting 50 right on the nose.
In Tuesday’s 67-49 win over Virginia Tech, Wilkins, a 6’7” sophomore, had a career night on the other end of the floor, pouring in 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wilkins also had three of UVA’s seven offensive rebounds.
“He was real good on the offensive glass which I thought was extremely important. He had the three offensive rebounds. He also got to the free throw line. But that little 17-foot shot when they sagged off of him was significant. He’s made some of those shots before,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said.
In the UVA offense, which has bigs setting a seemingly endless series of screens for perimeter players, then rolling to the rim or popping to open spots in the mid-range, depending on what the defense does, Wilkins’ ability to knock down open jumpers adds another dimension in the post alongside rim-finisher Anthony Gill.
“I feel like my role is still to bring energy. I have to produce in different areas now,” Wilkins told reporters after the win over Tech.
Wilkins said his teammates have been “preaching to me to be aggressive,” to be a fourth option after the Big Three – Gill, Malcolm Brogdon and London Perrantes.
He hasn’t been a consistent threat, with just one other double-digit game this season, scoring 10 in a Jan. 19 win over Clemson.
Wilkins had already been contributing in other key ways on the offensive end, with five assists in the win at Pitt last weekend, and four dimes in a Jan. 2 win over Notre Dame.
So he had the energy part of the equation down on the defensive end and the boards, and he was helping key the offense with his passing.
If Wilkins can build on what he’s been able to do shooting the ball – he has shot 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) from the field since being re-inserted into the starting lineup at Louisville on Jan.30 – watch out.
That was the assessment, anyway, of Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams.
“I think he has been playing well,” Williams said. “I’m not coaching their team, but I think there is more productivity from top to bottom than when we played them last month. They changed the starting lineup, and so the minutes have varied a little bit since the last time. I would say that a portion of that is why they have been playing at such a higher clip.”
– Story by Chris Graham
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