UVA Basketball: Johann Grunloh is ‘game-time decision’ for Miami in ACC semis

Johann Grunloh, who injured his right wrist after taking a hard fall on an attempt at a shot block in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 win over NC State on Thursday in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, is a “game-time decision” for tonight’s semifinal game with Miami, according to the pregame availability report on file with the ACC.

Grunloh went down the floor at the 9:09 mark while trying to defend a layup attempt by State forward Ven-Allen Lubin.

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ICYMI

• UVA Basketball: Ugonna Onyenso swats ’Hoos into ACC Tournament semis
• UVA Basketball: ‘Hoos advance to ACC Tournament semis with 81-74 win over NC State
• ACC Tournament: What UVA Basketball fans need to know about Miami

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The initial ruling on the play was goaltending, but UVA coach Ryan Odom challenged the call, because the ball hit the rim before Grunloh made contact, and the call was overturned on review.

During the replay review, Grunloh was checked by the training staff and had the wrist taped up, and he tried to continue to play, but eventually subbed out at the 8:17 mark, and didn’t return.

I assumed at the time that Grunloh not returning was less a function of injury and more so due to the effectiveness of his backup, Ugonna Onyenso, who finished the game with eight points, six rebounds and six blocked shots, and was a big part of why State was 5-of-22 on shots at the rim on the day.

The Pack was 3-of-18 on shots at the rim during Onyenso’s season-high 30 minutes on the floor.

Grunloh’s minutes in the win were initially limited by early foul trouble – he finished with four points and two rebounds in 10 minutes of floor time.

The seven-footer had initially indicated after the game that he would “be fine” for the semifinals, but you can see why the training and coaching staffs would be cautious.

The fan base remembers the case of De’Andre Hunter, who injured his left wrist in a 2018 ACC Tournament semifinal win over Clemson, went on to play, and score 10 points in 18 minutes, in the 72-63 win over UNC in the championship game, before it was learned that the injury was a broken wrist, which sidelined him for the NCAA Tournament.

You don’t need me to tell you what happened next.

And that we don’t want that to happen again.

For tonight, if Grunloh isn’t a go, Onyenso would start, and I would expect the lineup adjustment to be, more minutes for 6’7” power forward Devin Tillis, alongside 6’9” power forward Thijs de Ridder, who could move over to the five spot with Tillis on the floor.

We could also see minutes with either Tillis or de Ridder at the five with a four-guard lineup around them.