like Virginia Cavaliers Get a victory on the highway vs Syracuse orange With a ultimate rating of 67-62, UVA superior to 17-3 on the season and 9-2 in ACC play. With the win, we’ve 5 takeaways.
Jayden Gardner wins the sport for UVA within the final minute
Whereas his play all through the sport was stellar, Jaden Gardner’s two landing performs within the final minute primarily received this sport for the Wahoos. First, dealing with Jesse Edwards on the submit with only a minute left, Gardner guarded Edwards head-on, unconcerned with a five-inch top distinction, and successfully shuffled his ft to match Edwards’ drive to his left, drawing the cost as huge Syracuse started. name man. With this defensive stance and even offense, Gardner erred by taking Edwards out of competition and gave the Cavaliers an excellent alternative to place the sport on the ice with a 64-62 lead with 1:00 left.
Then, on possession, with the shot clock winding down and nobody having the ability to create area inside Syracuse’s territory, Gardner jumped to the center of the protection, picked up the ball, bumped Munir Hema into the 6’11” field, stride large, and hit a lackluster mid-range soar shot to set Virginia 4 factors and possession with 33 seconds remaining.
As talked about, Gardner’s stellar efficiency surpassed solely these two performs. His 17 factors, eight rebounds (5 of which have been offensive), two steals, 6-11 taking pictures from the ground, and a 5-7 efficiency on the free throw line led UVA’s manner. Offensively, he was a strong shooter within the delicate spots of Syracuse territory whereas enjoying on the glass and ending solidly on the edge. Defensively, he was notably nice within the second half each on the ball when he needed to shield Edwards and off the ball as he performed passing lanes properly, was sensible at time for the double, and was good on his runs.
With the outing, Gardner collected a season-best two video games prior to now three days after tallying 18 factors towards Boston School on Saturday. The veteran was on the skin instances throughout this successful streak, but it surely’s clear he stayed prepared and stepped up sturdy when the staff wanted him. That is equanimity, that is expertise, and that is sheer willpower.
Kadin Shedrick’s play is problematic
Forward of this season, Kadin Shedrick appeared prepared for a breakout season. Not solely is it a redshirt junior season when Virginia’s high males actually show themselves and discover consistency, however after final season he appeared very near ending his sport and turning into a dominant senior participant for UVA. His potential as a participant was at all times excessive as a result of he may very well be defensively blocking photographs, blowing up ball screens and making life straightforward on his teammates whereas his offensive sport was increasing. It appeared like he could be an enormous participant for the Cavaliers within the paint.
Sadly, regardless of his flashes early within the season as an efficient finisher and playmaking defensive middle, his persistent issues with foul troubles (Chedrick is 92 of 92 eligible ACC gamers in fouls each 40 minutes), normal inconsistency, and dangerous luck. Luck and foolish errors left the staff with no actual middle to depend on when wanted.
That lacking piece was evident towards Syracuse because the Orange ran their offense largely via quarterback Jesse Edwards – who completed with 14 factors, seven rebounds (4 offensive tackles), and three assists. Whereas Shedrick performed 11 minutes, he fouled 3 times in that interval as a result of he was enjoying protection a lot along with his arms as a substitute of his ft. With out Shedrick as a dependable particular person defender from Edwards, UVA was left scrambling as Vander Plas and Gardner normally struggled towards the peak and size of Syracuse’s middle.
Fortunately, these two managed to mix to get sufficient pit stops to get the win. However Shedrick’s play recently is legally worrisome when the Hoos are up towards huge guys like Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, North Carolina’s Armando Bacot, or Clemson’s PJ Corridor. The groups have clearly recognized defending the place as one in all Virginia’s weaknesses and it is solely a matter of time earlier than one pays them for it.
Virginia’s freshmen proceed to show their price within the huge moments
With Virginia’s Justin Taylor and Malik Brown (and the Charlottesville space) collectively to play 71 minutes on this sport, there was a transparent problem involving UVA’s Isaac McNeely and Ryan Dunn as Tony Bennett primarily picked these two guys over homegrown merchandise. Whereas Dunn and McNeely play for a staff that’s deeper and extra skilled than Taylor and Brown, they every had their moments within the second that proved essential for the ‘Hoos down the stretch.
McNeely’s pair of triples within the first half helped hold the offense from falling into lulls as Syracuse stifled the Wahoo offense whereas his normally faultless offensive sport stored the Orange upright all through the sport. He additionally added 4 highly effective defensive rebounds in 18 minutes.
In simply eight minutes of labor, Dan was (as standard) calm till he wasn’t anymore. His one-handed dunking of an alley cross from Kihei Clark was in typical Dunn model whereas offering an honest change on the defensive finish when Virginia was struggling to discover a technique to cease Jesse Edwards.
That Dan and McNeely proceed to achieve late sport expertise will likely be helpful within the quick and long run as their improvement continues to push UVA’s bar greater this season and into the long run.
The UVA expertise is totally revealed
Whereas the kids had their moments, this was a sport the place the worth of getting previous and staying previous was proven for Virginia. Within the fifth yr Gardner performed extremely properly, as did fellow seniors Kehey Clark and Ben VanderPlass. Clark hit a double-double, scored 12 factors and had 10 assists with 5 of his factors coming within the ultimate 3:04 of regulation as a three-pointer clutch and a pair of free throws on consecutive possessions prolonged Wahoo’s lead from 59-58 to 64-58.
BVP was additionally notably essential enjoying in Syracuse territory as his passing means and knack for creating area and discovering teammates open had him six assists – he additionally completed with seven factors and 7 rebounds.
Granted, Clark has 5 turnovers whereas Vander Blass has three. However that might merely occur towards a tall, well-trained zone protection like Syracuse when tight passing is crucial to creating an open look. General, having such an abundance of expertise continues to win UVA video games. These guys have had these moments time and again and are snug enjoying the clutch.
The subsequent three video games may mark UVA’s finish within the ACC
With that seven-win streak now, the Cavaliers are nonetheless in charge of their ACC future as first-place Clemson involves Charlottesville on February 28 in a sport that would very properly decide who wins the common season convention title. Nonetheless, issues can and doubtless will change dramatically earlier than this sport is even performed.
Virginia’s subsequent three video games signify UVA’s hardest group of opponents this season. play Virginia Tech In Blacksburg subsequent Saturday, then host North Carolina State on tuesday, and capped off a tricky week by saying whats up to Duke Blue Devils To city within the eleventh, the Hoos could make or break their common season right here.
By successful all three, UVA would fantastically set up themselves for successful the ACC title with video games towards Louisville (actually dangerous), Notre Dame (comparatively dangerous), and Boston School (dangerous) spilled the following week of motion earlier than heading to Chapel Hill, then dealing with Clemson, and shutting the common season at residence towards Louisville (once more, actually dangerous). Assuming these 4 video games go down as a win, a 4-1 lead or higher within the remaining 5 needs to be sufficient for the ‘Hoos’ to get the only seed in Greensboro.
Course 10-1 Clemson Tigers Ought to the UVA staff be involved about their problem in that spot. However with the best way the Tigers have performed on the highway this season and contemplating how fortunate they have been with some shut wins ( you, Florida), it appears cheap for them to drop at the very least two extra video games on their schedule (together with residence towards Miami, on the highway towards North Carolina, residence towards Syracuse, at NC State, and Virginia).
All of which is to say that this seven win streak has been large for Tony Bennett and firm. In the event that they hold at it, issues ought to begin to fall into place.