Two wins and counting...

It wasn't too long ago that many Virginia fans might have been expecting two ACC wins for the entire season.  After all, the Hoos had struggled in preseason play, with Coach Tony Bennett was preaching patience early and often and some even suggesting things wouldn't turn until he got "Bennett-Ball" players on campus.

Now that the Cavs have won six straight, including their first two ACC contests (something they haven't done since the Jeff Jones era), Hoo nation will be understandably jubilant.  Of course, let's keep in mind that Virginia's two ACC wins came against a N.C. State team that is likely to struggle all season and a young Ga. Tech team that, while talented enough to bury Duke at home, still has no idea how to consistently win on the road.  As Winston Wolf would say, "Let's not start..."

Still, two ACC wins is two ACC wins.  Its a league, unlike the one Bennett came from, where there are no free conference wins (since the Whack-10 always has one or two doormats, Oregon State filling the role in recent years, that any decent team can bank two wins against).  And hey, in the early season game of chance that is the ACC standings, Virginia stands alone at the top.

I won't pretend to know how they did it -- last night's tilt didn't even merit ESPN360 treatment -- but we can go around the Fourth Estate to get their thoughts:

• Hootie credited the win to matching the Yellow Jackets' inside presence.  In particular, Jerome Meyinsse, while he's still little more than a black hole offensively, was the most impressive, fighting off Tech's Gani Lawal all night.  For the second straight game, the Hoos fought for post position, an off-the-ball defensive key often lost under Leitao and Gillen.  Virginia simply didn't let Tech's big men catch in favorable spots, something they also did effectively against N.C. State's Tracy Smith.  Its something they'll have to continue to do, since their most effective lineup is still probably going small and their most legit big man -- Assane Sene -- still appears lost in Bennett's system.  On Tuesday, they outrebounded a much bigger Tech team 36-33 for the game.
• David Teel credited the Cavs' clutch three-point shooting.  As Teel notes, Virginia finished a pedestrian 5-for-14 from distance, but PG Sammy Zieglinski notched a pair of timely triples.  The first to cut the Tech lead to one at 55-54, and then, off a huge Landesberg offensive rebound, Zieglinski nailed another to put the game away at 72-63.
• Doug Doughty noted the Hoos' proficiency at the line.  So did the RTD.  Virginia was 23-of-26 from the charity stripe, a few days after going 19-of-20 at N.C. State.  Their opponents, meanwhile, let the Hoos hang around by failing to capitalize on those "free" points.  N.C. State was 16-for-26 from the line on Saturday, keeping the Hoos in the game when they may have had a chance to put it away.  Ga. Tech was worse, finishing a dreadful 3-for-11 from the charity stripe.  If you're perhaps undermanned, you have to find every advantage you can.  Bennett's charges have found one at the free throw line through two ACC games.  
• Resident Yellow Jacket killer Mustapha Farrakhan had another solid outing.  A year after stunning Tech with a couple of dagger threes in an OT win, Farrakhan scored 15 points off the bench in last night's triumph.  The junior guard is far from the most gifted player on the squad, but he's been its toughest player since his arrival three years ago.  And he's a perfect fit for how his new coach wants to play.

Virginia looks for ACC win No. 3 at home against Miami Saturday.  A day after mulling lowering ticket prices and sending an e-mail around (I know I got one) seeking suggestions on how to re-fill the JPJ like its 19 ... er 2006.  Yes, the lower ticket prices for nosebleeds would help -- it makes little sense that a seat in the last row cost as much as one twenty rows lower.  But if you build it - the program, not the building - they will come.  We'll see if that holds true with the Hoos 2-0 in the ACC and a Saturday night tilt against Miami coming up.