For as long as I remember, and I’ve got a long memory, the UVA Basketball program didn’t schedule games during Finals.
Technically, Thursday is designated as a “Reading Day,” so none of the guys are going to have to miss a final for tonight’s game with Bethune-Cookman.
But still.
They had to break up their study time to game plan.
We’re willing to surrender to the money gods here, but we won’t give the coaches flexibility in recruiting.
Got that?
Quick look at Bethune-Cookman
The coach at Bethune-Cookman is Reggie Theus, a 13-year NBA veteran who averaged 18.5 points per game, before a stint as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, going 44-62 in parts of two seasons, around jobs at New Mexico and Cal State-Northridge.
Theus is in Year 4 at Bethune-Cookman, with a 40-64.
He’s also the AD at the HBCU, which is located in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Wildcats are 2-6 so far this season, with losses at Texas Tech (94-61, Nov. 5), Nebraska (63-58, Nov. 9) and Minnesota (79-62, Dec. 1).
The leading scorer is well-traveled 6’2” senior Brayon Freeman (16.5 ppg, 41.5% FG, 36.4% 3FG), who is on his fourth school in four years (in order: George Washington, Rhode Island, Coastal Carolina, Bethune-Cookman).
Forecast
- BartTorvik: Virginia 71-55, 93% win probability
- EvanMiya: Virginia 72-57, 90.6% win probability
- KenPom: Virginia 70-56, 89% win probability
First half
Dai Dai Ames isn’t in the starting lineup tonight. Presumably, it’s related to the sprained ankle from the SMU game.
Taine Murray is starting in his place.
First media timeout: UVA 2, Bethune-Cookman 2, 15:56/1st
Three UVA turnovers and 1-of-4 shooting in the first four minutes.
One basket in seven possessions against this group.
Remember that 46-26 game with Maine from a few years ago?
Buckle in.
Second media timeout: Bethune-Cookman 8, UVA 2, 11:45/1st
Two points: 1-of-10 shooting, four turnovers, 14 possessions.
Not much else to say.
Maybe this is why you don’t play games during exams.
Third media timeout: Bethune-Cookman 14, UVA 11, 5:11/1st
Virginia was 1-of-15 at the floor with three points total inside of eight minutes to go in the half.
A pair of Ishan Sharma threes and an Elijah Saunders driving layup later: 4-of-19 FG, seven turnovers.
Cue Tony Elliott postgame taking responsibility for not having the team prepared to play a game.
Fourth media timeout: Bethune-Cookman 19, UVA 14, 2:32/1st
Ishan Sharma is 3-of-4 from three. The rest of the team is 2-of-18 overall.
This is unacceptable.
Half: Bethune-Cookman 21, UVA 18
Quick analysis: Blow it up and start over, as I wrote earlier in the week.
Link: UVA Basketball: One idea for an offense fix, not that they’ll actually try it
Virginia is 7-of-25 from the floor, 3-of-15 from three, 3-of-5 at the rim, so, good news, I guess, only five midrange jumpers (1-of-5 on those).
Eight turnovers in 28 possessions.
This group looks lost.
We’re 10 games in. They still don’t know what to do.
Second half
First media timeout: Bethune-Cookman 27, UVA 24, 15:57/2nd
UVA is 3-of-5 from the floor, 2-of-2 at the rim, to start the second half.
Second media timeout: UVA 32, Bethune-Cookman 31, 11:49/2nd
Can’t wait to hear Ron Sanchez tell us after the game that he’s pleased with the progress that he saw from his team tonight.
Third media timeout: UVA 45, Bethune-Cookman 37, 7:24/2nd
UVA on an 11-0 run over the last 2:21, ignited by a nice out-of-bounds play with 0.8 seconds left on the shot clock. Andrew Rohde connected with Elijah Sauders, who had fought his way through several screens, for the flush.
Ishan Sharma hit his fourth three of the night in the stretch.
Virginia is 10-of-15 from the floor in the second half – 3-of-5 from three, 6-of-6 at the rim, 1-of-4 in the midrange.
Final media timeout: UVA 50, Bethune-Cookman 41, 3:08/2nd
It’s still a game. BCU is going to press in the final three minutes, and sad to say, they’re more athletic than we are, with Ames out.
Final: UVA 59, Bethune-Cookman 41
Final analysis
The score makes this one look better than it was.
Virginia (6-4, 0-1 ACC) had three points in the opening 12 minutes, trailed 21-18 at the half, didn’t get its first lead of the night until the 14:48 mark, and had to close on a 13-0 run to get the 59-41 win.
Maybe chalk this one up to UVA Basketball playing a game in the first time in forever during final exams.
The offense finally got going in the second half: 15-of-25 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, 8-of-10 at the rim.
For the game, just 12 midrange jumpers – a big improvement over the 21 flung at the rim in the loss at SMU.
Elijah Saunders had 15 points (6-of-11 FG) and eight rebounds. Jacob Cofie had 12 points (5-of-8 FG) and 10 rebounds.
Ishan Sharma had 12 points (4-of-7 3FG) off the bench.
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Chris Graham
