Two weeks ago, with Virginia standing a surprising 3-0 in the ACC, the Hoos welcomed in 6-12 UNC-Wilmington. It was a game that a front-running ACC team should have handled easily at home, but the Cavaliers needed a late Sylven Landesberg jumper to eke out a two-point win. After the game, Tony Bennett cautioned that his team, while improved, would continue to walk "a fine line" between winning and losing.
That fine line reared its head last night against N.C. State, a team Virginia handled on the road just three weeks ago and standing at a lowly 2-5 in the ACC. But with Landesberg struggling to find his shot, and having trouble slowing the Pack's inside tandem of Tracy Smith and Richard Howell, Virginia simply wasn't good enough to cruise at home, even against an inferior opponent.
Thankfully, the Hoos remembered the line they have to walk in time to win the game. The inside lanes that were open in the first half closed down in the second. Virginia reasserted control of the glass. And the Wolfpack, who had shot 46% in the first half, could no longer crack the code. Keyed by a six-plus minute run midway thru the second half in which the Hoos held N.C. State scoreless, Virginia pulled away and (almost unbelievably) into a tie atop the ACC.
It wasn't pretty (except for Mustapha Farrakhan's right-handed, and-1 dunk, which was pretty sweet), but Bennett-Ball usually isn't. Still, after surrendering 28 in the first half, Virginia gave up only 19 in the second. It doesn't matter how much your leading scorer scores (Landesberg only had 7 on 2-10 shooting) if you hold your opponent to 47 points.
So despite having to walk that fine line, Tony Bennett's charges have ascended to a share of the lead in the conference. If they keep that line in mind, there's no limit to how well they can do in a down ACC.
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The win itself isn't necessarily significant. Virginia won its ACC opener on the road last season too (an 88-84 OT win at Georgia Tech). But its the way they won 70-62 against N.C. State that, while not necessarily portending great things this season (that's still very unlikely), does give the Cavalier faithful some hope that the program is again moving in the right direction.
- In just 13 games, Tony Bennett has gotten this group to do what Dave Leitao couldn't - play rock solid halfcourt defense. The Cavaliers closed down driving lanes, fought gamely for post position, and outrebounded the Wolfpack despite playing with four guards most of the second half.
- Playing small (something Leitao tried at times last season) only works if everyone boxes out and all five players hit the glass. The stats say N.C. State had eight offensive rebounds, but I didn't see many that were caused by a missed box out or a guard waiting for someone else to get the board, two things that plagued the Hoos frequently last season. Virginia outrebounded the Pack 36-30 for the game.
- On the offensive side of the ball, the Hoos were rarely spectacular, but very efficient. JP Sports flashed a graphic that Virginia had gone from 242nd last season to top 10 in least turnovers committed so far this season. That looked like it might be the product of a soft preseason schedule after the Cavs committed eight in the first half and then another on the first possession of the second half. But they only had one more the rest of the way. Amazing what a few more possessions ending in shots can do for a team that still struggles at times offensively.
- It took him a year (two if you count his medical redshirt season) for Sammy Zieglinski to understand that he simply can't finish around the rim at his size in the ACC. His drive and kickout for a Jeff Jones' three cut the Wolfpack lead to one at 53-52 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Last season, Zieglinski throws something up at the rim on that play. Saturday, he took four shots, two were threes, both of which he made. That's how Zieglinski (generously listed at 6-0) needs to play to be successful in this league.
- Speaking of Jones, it took him two years to figure out his role at this level. Jones has trouble creating his own shot, and still disappears for stretches. But if he catches in space, Jones is a deadly shooter.
- Mike Scott spent a little too much time around the perimeter for my liking in the first half. But he went inside when it mattered most in the second half. His drive and dish to Landesberg gave Virginia a 54-53 lead it would never relinquish. Then, his turnaround from the right block stretched the lead to 58-53. On the defensive end, Scott also fought off Tracy Smith in the post with no possibility of help (surrounded by nothing but guards). Simply put, Scott doesn't complete that effort last season.
- Its easy to single out Landesberg, but people will do it anyway. He was the best player on the court in the second half. But he should have been. Landesberg is capable of going both right and left, but teams have picked up that, like most players, he isn't nearly as strong going to his off hand (he's almost unstoppable going right). But his runner going left to make it 60-55 (after N.C. State briefly broke out of an offensive funk with two points) was a dagger in the heart of the Pack.
- I close with one final observation. Its often said that college basketball teams adopt the personality of its head coach. In contrast to Leitao, who was often erratic and frenetic on the sideline, Bennett is the picture of cool. The team followed his lead. Throughout Virginia's second half run, the players (bench included) rarely overreacted - a few fist pumps here and there, but no jumping up and down. They looked methodical - just like their coach, and just like the win. I like it.
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