Well Deserved

For Virginia fans, it probably feels good to smile - even if it is only a slight grin. At the very least, you can't help but feel happy for these guys who, in the face of adversity, continued to play hard and battle. It's only fitting that Virginia got off the snide with a well-balanced effort. As a team, the Hoos refused to roll over (even when it would have been easy and understandable to do so), and it was a team effort that lead to Virginia's 68-62 win over Boston College in the opening round of the ACC tourney. Five guys scored in double figures lead by a very strong outing from Sammy Zeglinski. He finished with a team-high 21 points while Jeff Jones pitched in 14 (going 3-5 from beyond the arc). Jerome Meyinsse continued his strong play and put up 12 points. After a slow start made it look as if Mike Scott was still stuck in his funk, the junior forward played very well in the second half and finished the game with a double-double. Mustapha Farrakhan added 10 points, including a strong layup and one down the stretch.

Without Sylven Landesburg, guys like Farrakhan, Jones, and Zeglinski needed to step up offensively and all three answered the call. The new-look offense also affords these guys the opportunity to get more involved offensively, and without Landesburg in the last two games, Jones has especially blossomed. The disparity in pure talent and scoring ability between Landesburg and the rest of the crew likely makes it difficult for the supporting cast to find a good, comfortable role that allows them to be consistent contributors. Now the players are far more balanced and even which makes it easier for them to be more comfortable on the court and to simply play. To be honest, this particular team might be as good or even better without him. Bennett's system calls for a balanced, deliberate, and well-executed approach on both offense and defense - it's vital that everyone gets involved on both ends of the floor. It's a a style of play that actually helps teams with less pure talent stay competitive with just about anyone - as long as everyone gets involved and executes their assignments, the team has a chance. Of course, getting involved offensively generally leads to more energy and passion defensively. With one player serving as such a focal point offensively, it makes it far more easy for guys to struggle finding a rhythm and to simply check out - that leads to breakdowns. Without Landesburg (at least in the last two games) it appears everyone looks more comfortable and can get more involved which enables the group to gel more and play more cohesively.

Yesterday, the Hoos committed a season-low five turnovers, and unlike their recent trip to Chestnut Hill, Virginia rebounded extremely well and kept BC from getting a ton of second-chance points. Today UVa faces number-one seed Duke - a tall task indeed though not impossible (see: Big East Tournament). In order for Virgina to pull off the major upset, another well-rounded effort is absolutely in order. Protecting the ball and owning the defensive boards will once again prove vital. On top of having 4-5 guys in double figures, the Hoos will likely also need someone like Will Sherrill or even Tristan Spurlock, what a made-for-tv story that would be, to go Kyle Kuric (see: Louisville over Syracuse to close down Freedom Hall) on the Dookies.

Regardless of today's outcome, the Hoos notched a much-needed win over BC in order to avert complete disaster. For the players and the fans, it feels good to win again. Yesterday featured a few first-round surprises, and with few expectations and virtually no pressure, Hoo knows, Virginia might just make it interesting. From the Society's perspective, a win yesterday is really all we asked for, so at this point, we're playing with house money...as long the team goes all in, we'll either leave fairly satisfied or stay to play another hand.