X (Twitter): @TreyKelleher3 (https://twitter.com/treykelleher3)
CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA- UVA (-2.5) VS. WAKE FOREST
It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win and a win in the ACC against a team who desperately needed to improve their resume should never be taken for granted. After a 49-47 final, Virginia improves to 20-6 (11-4 ACC) and Wake Forest falls to 16-9 (8-6, ACC).
The Good: After two straight games of allowing 70+ points to their opponents, Virginia's defense showed up in a big way, and was the reason they left JPJ victorious. Steve Forbes' team shot 34% from the floor, 24% from three, and had 12 turnovers. UVA was relentless on defense for all 40 minutes having 5 steals, 13 blocks and only allowing 47 points. Ryan Dunn was a brick wall all game long and tallied 7 blocks along with 9
rebounds, Reece Beekman Isaac McKneely and Andrew Rohde put the clamps on Hunter Sallis (18.4 ppg) and Cameron Hildreth (13.6 ppg) allowing only 16 combined points between the two of them,
and Blake Buchanan seemed to always be in the right place while also doing a fantastic job manning up Efton Reid, The suffocating defense that was absent for the last two games made a glorious return Saturday afternoon to the dismay of Wake Forest.
The Bad: 9%, 1-11, 1-6 in crunch time, and more airballs from the charity stripe than one should have to witness in a whole lifetime. It's okay to joke about it now because Virginia won the game, but this team will not go far in the NCAA tournament if they keep this up. Bring in Bob Rotella, have them shoot underhand like Rick Barry, or have them switch shooting hands when shooting free throws. I don't care what it is, something has to change. It is a mental thing at this point, so I vote a Bob Rotella masterclass once a week until March Madness begins.
The Ugly: I usually try to give referees a break as they have the most thankless job in America. They don't get a break from me today. Tony Henderson, Bill Covington, and ESPECIALLY Mark Schnur had zero control of this game. They seemed to be on a seesaw all game long trying to decide if they were going to "let the boys play" or not, the amount of foul calls that were missed
were suspect, and Mark Schnur gave Tony Bennett his first technical foul since 2010. Imagine being so out of tune with how to do your job that you give the calmest, most level headed coach in the NCAA his second technical of his 18 year head coaching career for saying a phrase Coach K would say 408 times a game. "Call the bleeping foul." Coach Bennett of course later apologized for being "classless" and reacting in "the heat of the moment." I want an apology from this crew for making Tony Bennett think he has to apologize for anything.
Next Up: @ Virginia Tech 2/19. #GoHoos
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