Virginia, obviously sluggish from the 11-day exam break, had 11 points in the first 16:17 in its return.
A Maryland team that had given up 100+ in three of its last five coming in led 19-11 before a Devon Tillis short jumper broke the seal on the rim – the ‘Hoos had missed 18 of its 19 shot attempts over an 11:26 stretch of the first half before the Tillis make.
UVA closed out the first half on a 13-0 run, led by as many as 16 in the second half, and went on to get to 80 again, winning 80-72.
It was ugly as sin there for a while for the Cavaliers (10-1, NET: 22), who started 4-of-26 from the floor.
Buzz Williams’ crew mucked things up with changing defenses – a mix of zones and man – that bumfuzzled the Virginia kids and the coaching staff there for a while.
And then: things got rolling.
Photos
Virginia shot 63.6 percent in the second half, getting 18 points after halftime from point guard Dallin Hall, who finished with 20 points and five assists, and 12 after the break from Jacari White, who finished with 15.
Tillis has 10 points in 22 minutes off the bench.
Former ‘Hoo Elijah Saunders had 10 points for Maryland (6-6, NET: 164).
Things to work on
- Rebounding: Maryland had 17 offensive rebounds and a 48.6 percent offensive-rebound rate, which is unacceptable.
- Closeouts: Maryland was 12-of-29 (41.4 percent) from three. The Terps were 33.2 percent on the season coming in. Too many free looks.
- Free-throw shooting: UVA was 69.2 percent from the line on the season coming in, 290th nationally. Today: 13-of-21 (61.4 percent). The Ryan Odom philosophy on offense, attack the paint relentlessly, is going to get these guys to the line. Need to convert there: no more excuses.
Inside the box score
- Quiet day for Thijs de Ridder: Just five points (1-of-8 FG, 3-of-6 FT) and four rebounds in 22 minutes. In his last three, de Ridder is averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on 34.6 percent shooting.
- Malik Thomas: A very quiet four points (2-of-6 FG) in 17 minutes. Since his 24-point effort in Virginia’s lone loss, to Butler back on Nov. 23, Thomas is averaging a somnolent 7.2 points 38.2 percent shooting.
- Chance Mallory: Only six points (2-of-9 FG), but six assists, five steals and four rebounds in 24 minutes.
Random note of the day
- Virginia, at 10-1, is off to its best 11-game start since the 2018-2019 national-title season. That Virginia team got to 16-0 before losing at Duke on Jan. 19, 2019. The 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 teams all started 9-2.
Around the ACC
- North Carolina (11-1, NET: 15) eeked out a 71-70 win over Ohio State (8-3, NET: 47) in Atlanta. Virginia will face Ohio State on Valentine’s Day in Nashville.
- Virginia Tech (11-2, NET: 57) escaped Elon (7-5, NET: 137) with an 82-81 OT win in Blacksburg. Virginia opens its ACC schedule on Dec. 31 at Tech.
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Chris Graham
