Looking back on the game, its hard to see how Virginia could have played the system any better. They only turned the ball over only nine times against a very tough Wake Forest defense. They fought inside against an opponent with superior size and strength inside. Jontel Evans ran himself ragged trying to keep Ish Smith out of the lane. But in the end, the Deamon Deacons, playing a similar style to Bennett-Ball, was just too big, too strong, too good for the Hoos.
A few observations from the Hoos' second OT loss at home:
- He struggled at times, but Sylven Landesberg was the best player on the court when he had to be, and single-handedly kept Virginia in the game late. With no one else scoring in the second half, Landesberg's tireless drives, runners, and clutch free throws were impressive, even in a losing effort.
- Evans made some key stops on Ishmael Smith in the second half as Virginia pulled even late, but looked gassed on the penultimate possession when Smith beat him left and got to the basket for a layup. He also seemed to have nothing left for the extra session. Don't worry, Jontel, the kid you were trying to stop is a senior. In three years, you're going to be him, maybe better.
- The Hoos fought on the glass, even getting some key minutes off the bench from the oft-forgotten Assane Sene, but Wake was just too big and too good on the offensive glass, an area Virginia has limited this season despite generally playing a smaller lineup. Aided by Smith's penetrating drives to the basket that broke down the Virginia defense, Aminu, McFarland, Williams, and Woods were relentless finishing around the basket and on the offensive glass.
- Mike Scott was good in the first half, utterly frustrated in the second. He's been a key second option for the Hoos, but Wake's bigger defenders made life miserable for him down the stretch.
- The Deacs also did a nice job closing out on shooters, holding Virginia to 5-19 from three. Sammy Zieglinski in particular struggled to get good looks while played by bigger defenders (while his more logical defender, Ish Smith, was used on Landesberg to try to keep him out of the lane). Get used to it Sammy. As a non-threat to get to the basket, you're going to start seeing face up defense by bigger players the rest of the way.
- Virginia's last possession left a bit to be desired, but was more the result of a tired and frustrated team. Landesberg's contested three was followed by a horrific hoist by Will Sherill, who looked like he was trying to be a hero instead of finding a better shooter with a few ticks left on the clock. But I'm not going to pick on Sherill too much. He played tough and smart despite being physically outmatched. And the fact that anyone's nitpicking on Sherill tells you how far he's come as a ball player.
Finally, a shout-out to the 11,972 that braved the reported 30 or so inches of snow in the Charlottesville area. Virginia sent out an e-mail a while back soliciting opinions how to fill the building like it had been in its inaugual season. Not surprisingly, the crowds have returned in lockstep with winning basketball. Still, Craig Littlepage was right to thank the crowd for coming out. The fact that Virginia had any homecourt advantage (which UNC notably did not have just a week ago under less dire weather conditions) speaks volumes about the health of the program, even on a day in which the program showed how far it still has to go to match the talent-level of a team it hopes to look a little more like in the near future.
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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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