The Virginia Pack-Line D is ranked fourth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency by KenPom.com. But for the second time in three weeks, the Cavs had to rely on their seventh-ranked offense to beat a top team.
Back on Feb. 28, UVA beat a North Carolina team that shot 49.2 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three-point range, 79-74.
Friday night at the ACC Tournament, the ‘Hoos beat a Miami team that was 54.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from three.
The ‘Canes also did UNC one better. The Tar Heels were just 7-of-13 from the foul line in their loss in Charlottesville. Miami hit 18-of-24 from the line Friday night.
The difference in both wasn’t the top-shelf D that can smother opponents into submission, but rather that silent assassin offensive unit that makes up for its lack of flash with ruthless efficiency.
Against UNC, the Cavs shot a seemingly modest 44.3 percent from the field, but hit 7-of-16 from three and went 18-of-21 at the line, and the points-per-possession line was a nice 1.179.
Against Miami, Virginia shot 52 percent from the field, 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from three and went 17-of-25 at the line, scoring 1.123 points per possession.
The knock against UVA the past couple of years has been that the Cavs can only win when they stop opponents in their tracks.
This year’s Cavs now have three wins in games against top teams (throwing in now an 86-75 December win over #2 Villanova) who have had highly efficient offensive performances.
Which is to say, Virginia can beat you its way, with defense, and it can beat you your way, with offense.
Picking up the slack for off-night from AG
Anthony Gill got into early, and late, foul trouble, and was basically a non-factor – with six points and three rebounds in 23 minutes.
Isaiah Wilkins and Mike Tobey picked up the slack. Wilkins had eight points on 4-of-4 shooting with seven rebounds in 22 minutes, and Tobey had six points on 3-of-5 shooting and five rebounds in 17 minutes.
Evan Nolte got nine minutes as a stretch four, and coach Tony Bennett went four-guard for a stretch, giving some extra minutes to Marial Shayok, who had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 23 minutes.
With all the lineup shuffling, Virginia held its own with the bigger ‘Canes in the post, outrebounding Miami 26-25, and losing the points in the paint battle by a narrow 32-30 margin.
Virginia also outscored Miami 12-8 in second-chance points.
Clean stat sheet for Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon was … Malcolm Brogdon. Obvious statement there.
The ACC player of the year had 24 points on what was pretty much an off-night. Brogs was 6-of-15 from the field, but he did go 10-of-11 from the line.
Brogdon also had four assists and one turnover in 37 minutes.
Turnovers
The Pack-Line isn’t built to force opponent turnovers, but rather to force tough opponent shots that are then defensive-rebounded.
So of course Miami shoots 52 percent, and commits 16 turnovers, and UVA gets a 19-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
That’s why this column is called Inside the Numbers. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes not.
– Column by Chris Graham
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