Can we just bottle for future use the defense that we saw tonight from Virginia, which defeated Cal, 84-60, holding the Bears to 25.9 percent shooting in the second half?
And actually, after Cal (13-3, 1-2 ACC) made 10 of its first 16 shots from the field, it went 9-of-38 (23.7 percent) from there.
After holding Cal to 60 points on 65 offensive possessions, the UVA defense moved up to a season-high 30th nationally in KenPom in defensive efficiency (season: 0.986 points per possession).
Through three games of ACC play, the ‘Hoos rank second in the conference in defensive efficiency, at 0.945 PPP (Notre Dame is first: 0.924 PPP).
Dai Dai Ames finished with 18 points, but after hitting three of his first four shots in the opening 6:11, he missed six of seven – and, ahem, got his points at the line, where he was 10-of-10.
Virginia (13-2, 2-1 ACC) blocked nine Cal shots – four of those registered by Ugonna Onyenso, who had a big night, with 12 points and nine boards to go with the four blocked shots.
The ‘Hoos also owned the glass – topline: 45-26, but it was more than that.
The defensive-rebound rate was 84.2 percent; the offensive-rebound rate: 39.4 percent.
You can tell I’m still recovering from writing about the Tony Bennett era; all this focus on defense numbers.
Other Odom Ball stats:
- Points off turnovers: Virginia 17, Cal 7 (Virginia: +10).
- Second-chance points: Virginia 16, Cal 4 (Virginia: +12).
- Threes: Virginia 9-of-29, Cal 3-of-19 (Virginia: +18).
Quick game recap
This one was tight for most of the first half. Cal led 22-20 at the 10-minute mark after a three by Justin Pippen (17 points, 5-of-12 FG), and a modest 7-2 UVA run in the final 3:22 pushed the lead, for the first time all night, to double-digits.
Virginia went on to outscore Cal 18-4 in the first 9:34 of the second half to extend the margin to 24, and it never got closer than 22 the rest of the way.
Nice win.
Player notes
- Malik Thomas had a game-high 20 points (7-of-12 FG, 4-of-8 3FG, 2-of-4 FT).
- Sam Lewis got the most minutes of the night, 33, finishing with 12 points (4-of-12 FG, 0-of-7 3FG, 4-of-4 FT).
- Johann Grunloh had 12 points (4-of-6 FG, 1-of-2 3FG, 3-of-4 FT) and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.
- Thijs de Ridder ultimately fouled out, but finished with 12 points (5-of-8 FG, 1-of-2 3FG, 1-of-4 FT).
- The point guards: Chance Mallory finished with eight points (3-of-4 FG, 1-of-2 3FG, 1-of-2 FT) and seven assists; Dallin Hall (2-of-4 3FG) had six points and six boards.
- Devin Tillis had 16 rather unproductive minutes: zippo, 0-of-2 from the field, both threes, with two rebounds, an assist and two turnovers.
Shooting zones
- Rim: UVA 14-of-21, Cal 9-of-15
- Paint (including rim): UVA 16-of-24, Cal 11-of-27
- Midrange: UVA 5-of-7, Cal 5-of-8
- Three: UVA 9-of-29, Cal 3-of-19
Video: Highlights
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Chris Graham
