Around noon on Monday, Virginia found out that it was ranked third in the nation. By 9 p.m., the Cavs were fourth in the ACC.
Such is life in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where you can be up in the afternoon, and reeling by evening.
Reeling is a bit of a hyperbole, but actually, maybe not. Starting forward Isaiah Wilkins was sent to the bench in the second half after taking a blow to the head, and you have to presume that he will enter into whatever concussion protocol is in place at UVA.
This going into a game against a team with the best frontcourt in the nation, by far. Not good timing there.
Meanwhile, the Anthony Gill problem that has been ongoing the past three weeks is now a full-fledged crisis. Gill had six points on 3-of-9 shooting, and once again failed to even get to the foul line.
London Perrantes was 3-for-11 from the field, Mike Tobey a deceptive 2-for-5, deceptive because he missed two critical chippies, including one with 37 seconds left that would have given the ‘Hoos a last-minute lead.
The only bright spot was Malcolm Brogdon, who once again did his part to try to will Virginia to victory, hitting his first eight shots from the field in the second half en route to a 28-point, 12-of-18 shooting effort.
But even that has to be viewed as bad news, that Brogdon could put up those kind of numbers and get absolutely no help.
So now the mega-game that we’d all been so much looking forward to with North Carolina on Saturday takes on a different feel.
UVA is technically still in the ACC regular-season title race, and of course we all know the value of these regular-season titles. Virginia has won the last two, and been bounced out of the NCAA Tournament early each year.
The goal isn’t to peak in late February, or even early March.
That said, a loss on Saturday, and Virginia is suddenly staring down playing on day two of the ACC Tournament, instead of beginning play on day three.
Virginia’s closing schedule was rated the toughest in the country by ESPN’s BPI. One game in, we have the loss at #11 Miami. Next up is #6 Carolina.
Next week is a road game at Clemson, which is playing for its NCAA Tournament life. Then a finisher next weekend with Louisville, right now sitting in third in the ACC, a game back of UNC.
It’s tough for everybody – Carolina finishes with three of its last four on the road, including games at UVA and Duke, Miami has Louisville and Notre Dame.
Even so, this one feels like one that got away.
Time to dust off the feet and get ready for Saturday.
– Column by Chris Graham
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