"Notre Dame is a team that isn't really going to surprise you." I wrote that in the game preview I posted yesterday afternoon. Well, I think the ND team Virginia saw last night was pretty much the one it expected to see. The Irish struggle defensively and allowed Virginia's Pack Line defense to frustrate them all night long. However, while the Irish played like the 11-9 team that they were, the night was really about Virginia. With the exception of a pair of two 9-0 runs by ND, UVA played a brilliant basketball game on both ends of the floor. The first 18 minutes of the first half were some of the best basketball this team has played all year. They played stifling defense, causing ND to turn the ball over at an uncharacteristic rate. They ran the offense to perfection, getting guys the ball in fantastic positions to score. They knocked down shots, made the right passes, and played with a purpose.
Game Recap:
While Notre Dame certainly looked, it was because Virginia made them look bad. Against Florida State in Tallahassee a few weeks ago, the Nole were extremely careless with the ball and lacked effort on the defensive end. Last night, UVA's defense forced a team that usually protects the ball well (35th in turnovers per game) to turn the ball over 12 times in the first 15 minutes of the game. There were a few sloppy passes, but for the most part, it was more of a case of Virginia forcing turnovers with great defense than Notre Dame simply being careless with the ball.
On the other end of the floor, UVA just executed. The Irish threw a number of different looks at the UVA offense, but none of them could stop the Hoos from putting the ball in the basket. London Perrantes and Malcolm Brogdon toyed with the Irish defenders from the get go. I said going into the game that I though Perrantes would have a "field day" against an Irish defense that often lagged behind cutting players. London certainly made me look smart, as a "field day" is a good way to describe what it was like for him last night. And Brogdon simply continued his streak of great performances in conference play. When he shoots the ball like he has been as of late, he's nearly impossible to guard. He was particularly great in transition, with his early "Hollywood" slam along with his setup of the Tobey dunk later in the game.
Speaking of Tobey, he too made me look smart. I thought going into this game that he was due for a breakout game. He's simply too talented to keep down for too long. He had been getting better recently but struggled to play a complete game, like he did against Davidson and, to a lesser extent, Florida State this year. Because of the matchups, I said that this might be a game where he finally puts it all together, and that's exactly what he did. He resurrected his unguardable baby hook that we saw early in the year. He was both assertive and aggressive, as shown by his two dunks along with another strong finish through contact late in the game. He broke the zone with his sweet shooting touch, draining a pair of jumpers from the elbow. This was the complete performance we have been waiting for. Hopefully, Mike builds off last night's success and plays with confidence the rest of the year. I remember telling a friend from out of town who was visiting for the Hampton game earlier in the year that Tobey was one of the best big men in the country. Well, Mike made me look like a moron, as he went out and had his worst game of the year. I told my friend to, "trust me," because when he puts all of the pieces together, he will indeed be one of the best around. Last night was a big step in the right direction.
Takeaways from the Game:
1) Road games against inferior competition shouldn't scare us anymore: Because of what has happened in recent years, many fans were scared of this 9 pm game against a struggling but talented team on the road. Many fans assume that we were bound for a "road letdown" at some point or another. I think I'm finally ready to say that that's BS. This team simply takes care of business. Thanks to the Tennessee game (as well as others), they know full well that they can't afford to get complacent. So instead, they have opted to go full #beatemdown mode on the opposition. I'm okay with that. I think that if we're going to lose a game, home or away, it will be to a good team who plays well. I'm not expecting very many surprises from this team.
2) This might be Bennett's best defense EVER: Earlier in the year, the thing that disappointed me the most about our team was our inability to get stops. We seemed to have more defensive breakdowns than any other Bennett coached UVA team. Well, times have certainly changed, as this team has become one of the toughest to score on in the country. The combination of size, smarts, and athleticism allows this team to defend on another level. Last night was a thing of beauty. ND is no slouch offensively, but UVA made them look completely incompetent with the ball in their hands.
3) London Perrantes, is....well....AWESOME: I'll be brief here cause everyone already knows this, but Good Lord the kid can ball. He makes this offense work so much better than it has in the past. If he keeps playing like this, our success will continue.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Notre Dame Preview
I think just about every Virginia fan feels the same way heading into this game against Notre Dame. We can't help but look forward to the crucial matchup against Pittsburgh on Sunday, but fully realize that getting out of Notre Dame with a win is no sure thing. Heck, with the way the weather is acting up over there, maybe we should just be focused on getting out of there period! Anyways, I think it is safe to say two things about this game: this is a game Virginia should win; and this is a game Virginia could lose. Now, I know many of you say that any game is a game that UVA could lose, and while I understand that, especially with the memories of ODU and Delaware just a season ago, I'm not sure I totally buy into it with this team. For example, there was no way we were going to lose to Virginia Tech at home. And while anything is possible on the road, I don't think there's any way we can lose to them in Blacksburg, either. They simply just don't have the horses (or jockey/trainer, but that's another story).
However, tonight is definitely a game Virginia could lose. For all of Notre Dame's struggles, they still have a talented starting five and a great, though criticized, coach. Even without Jerian Grant, the Irish are a team that poses a threat. Right now, they might pose an even bigger one, as they realize that they are a team that is on the ropes. They just finished a tough stretch, where they played four out of 5 on the road, only winning the one in South Bend against Virginia Tech. Now, they return to Purcell Pavilion understanding that if they don't get a win tonight, things will likely only get worse and worse the rest of the season.
So, despite the fact that tonight a contest Virginia could lose, it's one that they really have no business doing so. I don't think I'd be going out on a limb if I said that fewer than 5 teams in the country have been more impressive than UVA since the start of conference play. Yesterday, ESPN posted this little nugget, providing evidence in support of Virginia's hot streak. And while you can question the validity of BPI all you want, I think it does a good job of showing how strong a team is at a given moment. So with this in mind, the way Tony Bennett's squad is playing, they should expect to beat the Irish.
Notre Dame is a team that isn't really going to surprise you. They score the ball pretty well (2nd in the ACC in PPG), they pass the ball well (2nd in the ACC in APG), they're average on the glass (9th in the conference in rebound rate), and they're terrible defensively (2nd to last only to BC in just about every defensive category). They heavily rely on their starting five, only going seven maybe eight deep with the losses of Jerian Grant and Austin Burgett. They like to run a four out, one in style of offense with Sherman on the block. They tend to either give him touches when he's in a good position or let their guards slash from the wings to free up shooters. Occasionally they'll make it all the way to the basket, but against the Pack Line, I don't see that happening all that often. Overall, their offense is not extremely complicated, but they have talented players that know how to play to their strengths.
Garrick Sherman is really crafty and poses a real threat to Virginia's bigs. It's becoming cliche to say this, but Garrick's a "throwback" kind of player that you rarely ever see anymore. I anticipate Bennett will put Akil Mitchell on him, and while I'm not sure if Akil has played against a guy like Sherman, he has consistently done well in just about every kind of matchup. Also, I'm not sure how often Sherman goes against a guy like Mitchell, either. Akil is one of the best post defenders in college basketball, and while I still expect Sherman to "get his," I do think Mitchell will frustrate him and prevent him from taking the game over.
The other main threat to the Cavs' chances comes from Eric Atkins. In his High School days, Atkins was a guy I really wanted to end up in Charlottesville, and he very nearly did. Ultimately, the coaching change caused him to switch from a UVA lock to an ND commit. Virginia certainly could have used him over the past few years, as he is a much more consistent offensive threat than Jontel Evans ever was, though obviously nowhere near the type of defender. I do think it ended up working out for both teams, though, as despite their faults, each had solid careers at their respective schools. This year, Atkins has had an up and down season. Statistically, he's very solid, racking up 14 pts and 5 assists per game. However, he's not as dominant or consistent as you would expect from a senior guard with his kind of talent. Overall, he's still one of the league's better guards who you can expect to make his mark on the game in some fashion. Offensively, it will be interesting to see how well London Perrantes does staying in front of him. Atkins is certainly quicker, but London's on ball defense has been vastly improved as of late. On the other end of the floor, I think Perrantes could have a field day. Atkins is a solid defender for the Irish, with active hands and fairly quick feet, but unless he can really get into London and frustrate him, Perrantes is going to have a lot of open lanes to both drive and dish. Watching ND on film, it's astonishing how many open lanes there are. With the way we play offense, London should be able to put up a bunch of assists, feeding guys like Joe Harris, Malcolm Brogdon, and Justin Anderson.
Other than Sherman and Atkins, ND doesn't have many consistent threats. Pat Connaughton is a guy who looks like an All ACC player one day, only to disappear the next. Usually, he tends to live and die by the three ball. He's a good shooter, but his shot selection is questionable on occasion. I think Virginia is well suited to prevent him from going off. I anticipate that Joe Harris will draw the matchup against him. Harris is one of the most underrated defenders in the league, if not the country. A lot of people (wrongly) assume that Joe's defense will prevent him from playing in the NBA. The tape says otherwise. It's obvious how much of an impact Bennett has had on his game, as he came in an average at best defender and has evolved into an extremely confident, aggressive, and fundamentally solid player on defense. Harris should not have much trouble staying with Connaughton and contesting his shots. Pat can still get hot and knock some down, but I think Virginia will use Harris, Anderson, and Brogdon to make sure his influence is minimal.
Notre Dame's most physically talented player is the freshman and former McDonald's All American, Demetrious Jackson. I LOVED his game in high school, but like Irish fans, have been pretty disappointed with his production this season. I still think he'll develop into a star, but he currently seems overwhelmed by the level of competition in this league. He's a bulldog of a guard, with an explosive first step and great strength. His biggest problem is understanding his role. For someone with his kind of talent, he can disappear far too often. In the past two games, he has only taken two shots. He still has the talent to make a difference in a game, but only if he can find a way to settle in and get comfortable. He'll be a step quicker on Brogdon, but I think Malcolm's size will frustrate him. Also, don't be surprised to see Anderson on him a bit. Justin can keep him in front of him and will almost surely frustrate him into making poor decisions.
The only other players of note for the Irish are Zach Auguste, Tom Knight, and Steve Vasturia. Auguste has a really nice build for a center at 6'10 242 lbs. However, he has failed to really establish his presence on the inside. He shows flashes of his potential, but ultimately lacks consistency on both ends of the floor. He will be given the task to try and stop Mike Tobey. I've been waiting for Tobey to put together a game like we all know he's capable of, like he did against NCST and Davidson. Maybe that happens tonight, as ND is a pretty poor defensive team on the interior. Knight is a pretty scrappy player who gives the Irish good minutes off the bench. He battles hard and uses his strength to fight for rebounds and easy buckets. Look for him to try and matchup up with Anthony Gill. Gill should be able to score and draw fouls against Knight, but he has to make sure to be disciplined on the glass and really earn his rebounds. Finally, Vasturia is a talented freshman who can really shoot the ball and has a really high basketball IQ. He's the kind of guy who would do very well at Virginia under Bennett. In a number of ways, he kind of reminds me of a mix between Paul Jesperson and Evan Nolte. I don't expect him to have a huge impact, but he'll certainly play.
As you can see, Notre Dame is not a deep team at all. They only have eight scholarship players, and just seven of those play significant minutes. They heavily rely on the production of their starting five, only getting around seven points off the bench. I think as long as Virginia keeps playing the way they have been the past month, they should leave South Bend with a victory. In order for ND to win, they will have to be uncharacteristically good on defense, give Sherman lots of touches close to the basket, and knock down shots from the outside. If they don't do all three of these things, they will lose. Ultimately, I think the Irish will really struggle trying to defend UVA, especially guys like Harris and Brogdon. Perrantes should be able to take advantage of ND's weaknesses on defense to get the ball to those to in a position to score.
Again, this is a game we certainly could lose. But given what I've come to learn about this team, I don't see that happening.
However, tonight is definitely a game Virginia could lose. For all of Notre Dame's struggles, they still have a talented starting five and a great, though criticized, coach. Even without Jerian Grant, the Irish are a team that poses a threat. Right now, they might pose an even bigger one, as they realize that they are a team that is on the ropes. They just finished a tough stretch, where they played four out of 5 on the road, only winning the one in South Bend against Virginia Tech. Now, they return to Purcell Pavilion understanding that if they don't get a win tonight, things will likely only get worse and worse the rest of the season.
So, despite the fact that tonight a contest Virginia could lose, it's one that they really have no business doing so. I don't think I'd be going out on a limb if I said that fewer than 5 teams in the country have been more impressive than UVA since the start of conference play. Yesterday, ESPN posted this little nugget, providing evidence in support of Virginia's hot streak. And while you can question the validity of BPI all you want, I think it does a good job of showing how strong a team is at a given moment. So with this in mind, the way Tony Bennett's squad is playing, they should expect to beat the Irish.
Notre Dame is a team that isn't really going to surprise you. They score the ball pretty well (2nd in the ACC in PPG), they pass the ball well (2nd in the ACC in APG), they're average on the glass (9th in the conference in rebound rate), and they're terrible defensively (2nd to last only to BC in just about every defensive category). They heavily rely on their starting five, only going seven maybe eight deep with the losses of Jerian Grant and Austin Burgett. They like to run a four out, one in style of offense with Sherman on the block. They tend to either give him touches when he's in a good position or let their guards slash from the wings to free up shooters. Occasionally they'll make it all the way to the basket, but against the Pack Line, I don't see that happening all that often. Overall, their offense is not extremely complicated, but they have talented players that know how to play to their strengths.
Garrick Sherman is really crafty and poses a real threat to Virginia's bigs. It's becoming cliche to say this, but Garrick's a "throwback" kind of player that you rarely ever see anymore. I anticipate Bennett will put Akil Mitchell on him, and while I'm not sure if Akil has played against a guy like Sherman, he has consistently done well in just about every kind of matchup. Also, I'm not sure how often Sherman goes against a guy like Mitchell, either. Akil is one of the best post defenders in college basketball, and while I still expect Sherman to "get his," I do think Mitchell will frustrate him and prevent him from taking the game over.
The other main threat to the Cavs' chances comes from Eric Atkins. In his High School days, Atkins was a guy I really wanted to end up in Charlottesville, and he very nearly did. Ultimately, the coaching change caused him to switch from a UVA lock to an ND commit. Virginia certainly could have used him over the past few years, as he is a much more consistent offensive threat than Jontel Evans ever was, though obviously nowhere near the type of defender. I do think it ended up working out for both teams, though, as despite their faults, each had solid careers at their respective schools. This year, Atkins has had an up and down season. Statistically, he's very solid, racking up 14 pts and 5 assists per game. However, he's not as dominant or consistent as you would expect from a senior guard with his kind of talent. Overall, he's still one of the league's better guards who you can expect to make his mark on the game in some fashion. Offensively, it will be interesting to see how well London Perrantes does staying in front of him. Atkins is certainly quicker, but London's on ball defense has been vastly improved as of late. On the other end of the floor, I think Perrantes could have a field day. Atkins is a solid defender for the Irish, with active hands and fairly quick feet, but unless he can really get into London and frustrate him, Perrantes is going to have a lot of open lanes to both drive and dish. Watching ND on film, it's astonishing how many open lanes there are. With the way we play offense, London should be able to put up a bunch of assists, feeding guys like Joe Harris, Malcolm Brogdon, and Justin Anderson.
Other than Sherman and Atkins, ND doesn't have many consistent threats. Pat Connaughton is a guy who looks like an All ACC player one day, only to disappear the next. Usually, he tends to live and die by the three ball. He's a good shooter, but his shot selection is questionable on occasion. I think Virginia is well suited to prevent him from going off. I anticipate that Joe Harris will draw the matchup against him. Harris is one of the most underrated defenders in the league, if not the country. A lot of people (wrongly) assume that Joe's defense will prevent him from playing in the NBA. The tape says otherwise. It's obvious how much of an impact Bennett has had on his game, as he came in an average at best defender and has evolved into an extremely confident, aggressive, and fundamentally solid player on defense. Harris should not have much trouble staying with Connaughton and contesting his shots. Pat can still get hot and knock some down, but I think Virginia will use Harris, Anderson, and Brogdon to make sure his influence is minimal.
Notre Dame's most physically talented player is the freshman and former McDonald's All American, Demetrious Jackson. I LOVED his game in high school, but like Irish fans, have been pretty disappointed with his production this season. I still think he'll develop into a star, but he currently seems overwhelmed by the level of competition in this league. He's a bulldog of a guard, with an explosive first step and great strength. His biggest problem is understanding his role. For someone with his kind of talent, he can disappear far too often. In the past two games, he has only taken two shots. He still has the talent to make a difference in a game, but only if he can find a way to settle in and get comfortable. He'll be a step quicker on Brogdon, but I think Malcolm's size will frustrate him. Also, don't be surprised to see Anderson on him a bit. Justin can keep him in front of him and will almost surely frustrate him into making poor decisions.
The only other players of note for the Irish are Zach Auguste, Tom Knight, and Steve Vasturia. Auguste has a really nice build for a center at 6'10 242 lbs. However, he has failed to really establish his presence on the inside. He shows flashes of his potential, but ultimately lacks consistency on both ends of the floor. He will be given the task to try and stop Mike Tobey. I've been waiting for Tobey to put together a game like we all know he's capable of, like he did against NCST and Davidson. Maybe that happens tonight, as ND is a pretty poor defensive team on the interior. Knight is a pretty scrappy player who gives the Irish good minutes off the bench. He battles hard and uses his strength to fight for rebounds and easy buckets. Look for him to try and matchup up with Anthony Gill. Gill should be able to score and draw fouls against Knight, but he has to make sure to be disciplined on the glass and really earn his rebounds. Finally, Vasturia is a talented freshman who can really shoot the ball and has a really high basketball IQ. He's the kind of guy who would do very well at Virginia under Bennett. In a number of ways, he kind of reminds me of a mix between Paul Jesperson and Evan Nolte. I don't expect him to have a huge impact, but he'll certainly play.
As you can see, Notre Dame is not a deep team at all. They only have eight scholarship players, and just seven of those play significant minutes. They heavily rely on the production of their starting five, only getting around seven points off the bench. I think as long as Virginia keeps playing the way they have been the past month, they should leave South Bend with a victory. In order for ND to win, they will have to be uncharacteristically good on defense, give Sherman lots of touches close to the basket, and knock down shots from the outside. If they don't do all three of these things, they will lose. Ultimately, I think the Irish will really struggle trying to defend UVA, especially guys like Harris and Brogdon. Perrantes should be able to take advantage of ND's weaknesses on defense to get the ball to those to in a position to score.
Again, this is a game we certainly could lose. But given what I've come to learn about this team, I don't see that happening.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Wisconsin Preview
Wisconsin Starters:
PG: Traevon Jackson 6'2 208lbs Junior
Steady, lead guard who is physical and likes to get to the rim if possible. Not the quickest or most athletic guy out there, but he's smart and can find weaknesses in the defense. When he does, he attacks, either creating a shot for himself or getting a teammate open. Has become much more of a threat to score himself this season. He isn't likely a guy who can win a game by himself, like a Nic Moore of SMU, but that doesn't mean he can't make you pay. He has a bit of a quirky shot, but he's a good shooter with a nice release. I've been impressed with his ability to knock shots down even with a hand in his face. I think he could potentially be vulnerable on defense if UVA had an assertive, attacking PG, but I don't thinks it's worth trying to ask Perrantes to force the issue. That said, Jackson isn't that quick laterally on defense, so maybe that will at least allow London to get a few open looks. Even if London doesn't look to score, if Jackson is a step behind, he can still cut or drive and force another Badger defender to come off his man and help. It'll also be interesting to see if Brogdon sees time at point, as Malcolm does have the ability to exploit some of Jackson's weaknesses. Because of the way Wisconsin plays, it might make sense to give Brogdon some run with the ball in his hands. Overall, though he's improved a lot from last year and is certainly a solid player, I don't see Jackson as a guy who will really swing this game one way or another (unless he absolutely catches fire or does something like turn it over 7-8 times).
SG: Ben Brust 6'1 196lbs Senior
I think most fans pretty much know about Brust by now so I won't say too much. I feel like the best way to describe his game is that it's cliché. This is meant completely as a compliment. What I'm referring to is that Brust has the type of game that commentators feel the need to use a variety clichés to describe. Obviously, he's a shooter, but he's also just so much more than that. Basically, he just has about as complete of a skill-set as you'll see from a 6'1 guard. He shoots, he rebounds (extremely well for his size), he creates chances for his teammates, he defends, he hustles, he makes good decisions, etc. I can go on but you get the point. The biggest key for Virginia is to make sure he doesn't get hot from outside. He's gonna get his 8-10 points. UVA should be happy if his final tally is at that number or below. What they need to make sure, however, is that he doesn't go off. It'll be interesting to see what Bennett does matchup wise. Both Brogdon and Harris will be able to use their size and strength against a smaller guard like Brust. Maybe you go with Harris for his experience, to prevent mental lapses or breakdowns. But with the way Brust moves with and without the ball, drawing that assignment might hurt Joe's production on the other end. Anyways, Virginia has plenty of options, but has to make sure not to lose Brust, or it will be a long night. You give him too many easy ones and it's over.
SG: Josh Gasser 6'3 190lbs RS Junior
Unlike Brust, most Virginia fans are probably a bit unfamiliar with Gasser, as he redshirted last year with an ACL tear. Gasser is more of your typical shooting guard, both in terms of build and skill-set. First and foremost, like just about everyone on this Wisconsin team, he's a good shooter from range. If he gets his feet set and shoots it in rhythm, as Coach Bennett likes to say, chances are it's going in. He's good as finding shots within the flow of UW's offense. He knows where he and his teammates are on the floor and thinks ahead to set himself up for an open look. Like Brust, whoever guards Gasser will have to be very disciplined. If you leave him for even a second, it'll cost you. He also likes to use his ability as a shooter to create opportunities driving and cutting to the basket. He's very good with his shot fake at getting defenders up in the air to he can drive and finish or dish. You also have to be careful about overplaying him as he'll go backdoor and cut to the hoop. So basically, he's just a good shooting guard. While UW doesn't really have a "lockdown" defender per se, Gasser is probably their best guy on the ball. He's got better size than Brust and better quickness than Jackson or Dekker, so look to see him on Joe, though we may see a bit of Dekker on him as well. I don't think Gasser is a good enough defender to shut Joe down himself, but he will make him earn his points.
F: Sam Dekker 6'7 220lbs Sophomore
Dekker is probably one of Bo Ryan's most highly touted recruits in his tenure and was sort of a HS legend in the state of Wisconsin. They were really excited when he arrived on campus, and while he certainly didn't have a disappointing first year in Madison, I think it's safe to say that most Badger fans expected him to really breakout this season. So far, he's pretty much done just that. As far as position goes, it's kind of complicated to accurately label Dekker. He's probably between 6'7 and 6'8, but he's not a "power forward," but at the same time, he's a good rebounder and can use his length to hold his own against some post players. Maybe it's better to call him a "wing," but then again, you watch him play and some of this things he does are reminiscent of what a guard would do. All we really knew is that he's talented, versatile, and pretty much a matchup nightmare for most. He's a great shooter from outside (shocking, I know), he can slash and get to the hoop, he can use his dribble to get by or lose his defender, he moves efficiently without the ball and sets himself up for a catch and shoot or a quick drive, etc. All that said, while a player of his caliber will always be of concern, I think Virginia has a few guys that can match up with him. Now I'm sure Wisconsin fans probably hear opposing fans say that all the time, and most of the time it's BS, but hear me out. I really don't think many teams out there have guys like Justin Anderson, Akil Mitchell, or Darion Atkins. Most teams probably have to guard Dekker with an undersized wing or an oversized (slower) forward. With these three, we don't really sacrifice size or quickness. I'll throw Harris into the mix as well, though I'm not sure how much we'll see that matchup. For the most part, I think we'll either see Anderson when we go smaller, or Mitchell/Atkins when we go big. I think Bennett really likes the idea of the latter matchup because we could Virginia could use size to its advantage and take advantage of Dekker inside, while still being able to hang with him defensively. I'm not trying to say these options will definitely work. Dekker's a future pro and if he's feeling it, there's not much we can do. That said, I think we might present one of if not the toughest tests for him all year.
C: Frank Kaminsky 7'0 234lbs Junior
Here I must man up and say that going into this year, I felt pretty confident about beating Wisconsin. We beat them in Madison last year, in a game where we started Teven Jones at point and led almost the entire game. We absolutely dominated on the glass and in the paint, and their forwards and center were not coming back this year. Given the outlook of Virginia's frontcourt, I thought it was just a huge mismatch inside and Virginia would once again dominate on both ends. Well, thanks to the play of Kaminsky thus far, I'm much less cocky. Bo Ryan needed him to step up, and Frank has in a BIG way. He's just a talented, experienced player, who has really found a nice fit in this Wisconsin offense. It's clear that even though he might not have played a ton before this year, he has been using to past few years to learn how he can be successful in this system. He's a great shooter and really knows how to find the right shots for himself. He's not really your typical back to the basket post players, but he can still make some things happen inside. Like the rest of the team, most of his points come from his awareness of spacing and reading the defense. He finds an open space, spots up, and knocks down the shot. Whoever guards him must be EXTREMELY disciplined. While Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey are certainly more talented offensively, Akil Mitchell and Darion Atkins might be better answers for a guy like Kaminsky. They have more experience staying with guys on the perimeter. Gill and Tobey have the tendency to sag inside and leave their man open for the shot. This simply cannot happen against Wisconsin. On defense, Kaminsky is very good fundamentally. Obviously, he's tall, so it won't be a case where Tobey can just dump hook-shots over top of him, like he has with some of the lesser competition. If he's guarding Mike, Frank will be ready for that. Mike must know this and prepare for it. I do think Virginia will have some chances to score with guys like Mitchell, Gill, and Atkins, though. With Mitchell and Atkins, they're just more active and athletic. With Gill, he'll have a significant strength advantage and can either get easy looks or force Kaminsky into foul trouble (which would obviously be bad news for the Badgers).
Bench:
PF: Duje Dukan 6'9 220lbs Junior
Really only gets spot minutes unless there's foul trouble. They might need him to do a bit more against Virginia's size, though. A guy with experience and a bit of talent, but overall, nobody to worry too much about.
PF: Nigel Hayes 6'7 250lbs Freshman
Probably their most important bench player, at least as far as this game is concerned. Has looked good in games thus far, but the Badgers play a bit differently when he's on the floor. Again, as with Dukan, they may need to play him more than usual. Nothing against Hayes as a player (as this is to be expected with a Freshman), but the Badgers are just much less in sync and are just a different team when he's in. Maybe Ryan will feel the need to play differently to adjust to Virginia's size, and thus play Hayes alongside Kaminsky, but that would be a retreat from what they have done most of this year. That said, Hayes is a physical player who plays with more maturity than a lot of guys his age.
PG: Bronson Koenig 6'3 190lbs Freshman
Tony Bennett recruit who was someone I really wanted when he was in HS. I really like his game and think he would have been a good fit at UVA. We ended up with Perrantes so I'm not too disappointed, but Koenig will be a very good player for the Badgers, if not this year, then later in his career. Will come in to give the team a lift in certain scenarios. Good shooter and passer and typically makes good decisions.
(Not sure about G: George Marshall's status)
Virginia Starters:
PG: London Perrantes 6'2 189lbs Freshman
UVA will need more of the same from the rookie PG. Obviously, we'd love an offensive performance like the one vs. SMU, but we can still win even without that. He just has to make sure he keeps protecting the ball, making smart decisions, and putting his teammates in good positions to score. Defensively, he has to make sure to prevent UW's guards from driving into the lane and breaking down the defense. I think the experience of going up against a guard like Nic Moore will really help a young player like London. Hopefully, he does a bit better job of staying in front of Jackson so not to foul.
SG: Malcolm Brogdon 6'5 217lbs RS Sophomore
Whomever he's matched up against, Malcolm will have a pretty nice size advantage. He must exploit this and get into the lane. Hopefully, he continues to shoot the ball well, as that will keep Wisconsin's defenders honest. It'd be gravy he can force UW's guards into foul trouble. Now that I think about it, Malcolm might be this game's X-factor. When he and Joe are on the floor together, one of them will have a significantly smaller guy guarding them. Brust has had matchups like this many times in his career, but still, this is an opportunity for Malcolm to use his size and style of play to get UW in some trouble.
SF: Joe Harris 6'6 225lbs Senior
Again, Harris will likely have a few inches on his man, assuming it's Gasser. Hopefully that makes a difference in allowing Joe to have a bit more space to get shots off. Still, Gasser's aware of this and will work to make sure that's not the case. It'll certainly be a tough task, though, especially with the way Joe has been playing the past few games.
PF: Akil Mitchell 6'8 235lbs Senior
This would be a great game for Akil to break out and return to last year's form. It would be wrong to say Mitchell has played poorly this year. Rather, it's just that the frontcourt is so deep, everyone has to share both time and space on the floor. Wisconsin didn't really have an answer for Akil last year. He was just too active on both ends of the floor. Even if he doesn't go for 15 points, he can still dominate by grabbing every rebound and shutting down Dekker and Kaminsky.
C: Mike Tobey 6'11 253lbs Sophomore
I have a sneaky feeling this might be a quiet game for Mike. I could be wrong, especially if Kaminsky gets in foul trouble, but with the way the matchups are looking and the way Mitchell and Atkins played in Madison last year, I might rather go athletic rather than big. Still, Tobey is probably our most talented overall player, so he's always a threat, especially against a smaller team like Wisconsin.
Bench:
SF: Justin Anderson 6'6 227lbs Sophomore
He was essentially a non-factor last year. I don't expect that to be the case Wednesday night. If Justin's hitting shots like he has recently, few people in the country can match up with him. UVA already has a big size advantage in the backcourt, and a guy like Anderson just further widens the gap. If we go small and play him at the 4, matching up with Dekker, then he'll make his mark defensively. Still, I'd be surprised if he didn't play a big role in this game.
PF: Anthony Gill 6'8 230lbs RS Sophomore
While AG has been great offensively, he need to improve on the defensive end. For this reason, it wouldn't surprise me to see Tony go a different direction with his bigs. That said, it very well may be the case where Gill is just so valuable scoring the ball that we have no other choice but to give him a chance on the other end. He's not really a liability defensively, it's just that he's prone to a few bad breakdowns per game. He'll really need to find some consistency in this game.
PF: Darion Atkins 6'8 234lbs Junior
Other than Joe Harris, Darion might have been UVA's MVP in the win in Madison last year. The Badgers just had no one to match his activity. Thus far, while he has had a really solid season, making an impact in almost every game, he hasn't been relied on as much as I had expected. I think that might change here. I still don't think UW has an answer for him, especially on the glass, and since rebounding will be key, he might see starter's minutes. Also, like Mitchell, he can guard both Dekker and Kaminsky. For that reason alone, he'll see significant time.
SF: Evan Nolte 6'8 227lbs Sophomore
Without Nolte's timely three's last year, we probably don't leave Kohl with a win. He's had an up and down start this year, but seems to be getting more comfortable. I have no idea what type of minutes he'll see, but chances are we'll need him to hit another big shot or two. Hopefully his SMU performance will boost his confidence going forward. Defensively, there's not a great matchup for him, so look for him to try and be efficient.
PG: Teven Jones 6'0 182lbs Sophomore
Many fans forget that Teven started against Wisconsin last year. While Jontel did end up playing in that game, without Tev's play, no shot UVA wins that game. I'm not exactly sure why, but he has seen his role significantly diminish. I don't expect that to change in this game, but I had to mention him given his game last year.
Final Word:
I think this game really comes down to two things. First will be about how UVA executes defensively. Wisconsin's offense is so simple, yet so tough to defend. They have 5 guys who are legitimate threats to beat you on any given possession. They like to spread the floor out as much as possible with their 4 out 1 in lineup. Unsurprisingly, their offense revolves around constant motion, both with and without the ball. You have to be really disciplined defensively, or else they will eventually get quality looks which they will knock down. If UW gets especially hot, it'll be a long night for the Hoos. However, given Virginia's size, athleticism, and defense, they have as good a shot as any of slowing the Badgers down.
The second key is how big of a factor will Virginia's size advantage be. This is probably the best thing UVA has going for itself. If they can really take advantage of this and utilize this strength, it could be the difference. We know about the size of the frontcourt, but the size advantage of guys like Brogdon, Harris, and Anderson could be the real key to Virginia's success.
I don't like to make predictions, but as a UVA fan I feel much better about this game than I did going into VCU. I think we're much more prepared for this game than we were for the Rams. Don't get me wrong, Wisconsin is a better team than VCU, but I just think this is a better overall matchup for this team. Ultimately, I think Virginia realizes that this is a game it needs to win (at least much more than Wisconsin needs to) and should be able to get the job done.
PG: Traevon Jackson 6'2 208lbs Junior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 31.6 | 3.0-7.9 | .381 | 1.1-2.5 | .450 | 4.4-6.0 | .729 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 11.5 |
Steady, lead guard who is physical and likes to get to the rim if possible. Not the quickest or most athletic guy out there, but he's smart and can find weaknesses in the defense. When he does, he attacks, either creating a shot for himself or getting a teammate open. Has become much more of a threat to score himself this season. He isn't likely a guy who can win a game by himself, like a Nic Moore of SMU, but that doesn't mean he can't make you pay. He has a bit of a quirky shot, but he's a good shooter with a nice release. I've been impressed with his ability to knock shots down even with a hand in his face. I think he could potentially be vulnerable on defense if UVA had an assertive, attacking PG, but I don't thinks it's worth trying to ask Perrantes to force the issue. That said, Jackson isn't that quick laterally on defense, so maybe that will at least allow London to get a few open looks. Even if London doesn't look to score, if Jackson is a step behind, he can still cut or drive and force another Badger defender to come off his man and help. It'll also be interesting to see if Brogdon sees time at point, as Malcolm does have the ability to exploit some of Jackson's weaknesses. Because of the way Wisconsin plays, it might make sense to give Brogdon some run with the ball in his hands. Overall, though he's improved a lot from last year and is certainly a solid player, I don't see Jackson as a guy who will really swing this game one way or another (unless he absolutely catches fire or does something like turn it over 7-8 times).
SG: Ben Brust 6'1 196lbs Senior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 34.8 | 3.4-9.4 | .360 | 2.5-5.8 | .435 | 2.4-2.5 | .950 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 11.6 |
I think most fans pretty much know about Brust by now so I won't say too much. I feel like the best way to describe his game is that it's cliché. This is meant completely as a compliment. What I'm referring to is that Brust has the type of game that commentators feel the need to use a variety clichés to describe. Obviously, he's a shooter, but he's also just so much more than that. Basically, he just has about as complete of a skill-set as you'll see from a 6'1 guard. He shoots, he rebounds (extremely well for his size), he creates chances for his teammates, he defends, he hustles, he makes good decisions, etc. I can go on but you get the point. The biggest key for Virginia is to make sure he doesn't get hot from outside. He's gonna get his 8-10 points. UVA should be happy if his final tally is at that number or below. What they need to make sure, however, is that he doesn't go off. It'll be interesting to see what Bennett does matchup wise. Both Brogdon and Harris will be able to use their size and strength against a smaller guard like Brust. Maybe you go with Harris for his experience, to prevent mental lapses or breakdowns. But with the way Brust moves with and without the ball, drawing that assignment might hurt Joe's production on the other end. Anyways, Virginia has plenty of options, but has to make sure not to lose Brust, or it will be a long night. You give him too many easy ones and it's over.
SG: Josh Gasser 6'3 190lbs RS Junior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 32.4 | 2.9-5.3 | .548 | 1.1-2.5 | .450 | 3.5-4.1 | .848 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 10.4 |
Unlike Brust, most Virginia fans are probably a bit unfamiliar with Gasser, as he redshirted last year with an ACL tear. Gasser is more of your typical shooting guard, both in terms of build and skill-set. First and foremost, like just about everyone on this Wisconsin team, he's a good shooter from range. If he gets his feet set and shoots it in rhythm, as Coach Bennett likes to say, chances are it's going in. He's good as finding shots within the flow of UW's offense. He knows where he and his teammates are on the floor and thinks ahead to set himself up for an open look. Like Brust, whoever guards Gasser will have to be very disciplined. If you leave him for even a second, it'll cost you. He also likes to use his ability as a shooter to create opportunities driving and cutting to the basket. He's very good with his shot fake at getting defenders up in the air to he can drive and finish or dish. You also have to be careful about overplaying him as he'll go backdoor and cut to the hoop. So basically, he's just a good shooting guard. While UW doesn't really have a "lockdown" defender per se, Gasser is probably their best guy on the ball. He's got better size than Brust and better quickness than Jackson or Dekker, so look to see him on Joe, though we may see a bit of Dekker on him as well. I don't think Gasser is a good enough defender to shut Joe down himself, but he will make him earn his points.
F: Sam Dekker 6'7 220lbs Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 29.9 | 5.6-11.3 | .500 | 1.4-3.6 | .379 | 2.0-3.4 | .593 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 14.6 |
Dekker is probably one of Bo Ryan's most highly touted recruits in his tenure and was sort of a HS legend in the state of Wisconsin. They were really excited when he arrived on campus, and while he certainly didn't have a disappointing first year in Madison, I think it's safe to say that most Badger fans expected him to really breakout this season. So far, he's pretty much done just that. As far as position goes, it's kind of complicated to accurately label Dekker. He's probably between 6'7 and 6'8, but he's not a "power forward," but at the same time, he's a good rebounder and can use his length to hold his own against some post players. Maybe it's better to call him a "wing," but then again, you watch him play and some of this things he does are reminiscent of what a guard would do. All we really knew is that he's talented, versatile, and pretty much a matchup nightmare for most. He's a great shooter from outside (shocking, I know), he can slash and get to the hoop, he can use his dribble to get by or lose his defender, he moves efficiently without the ball and sets himself up for a catch and shoot or a quick drive, etc. All that said, while a player of his caliber will always be of concern, I think Virginia has a few guys that can match up with him. Now I'm sure Wisconsin fans probably hear opposing fans say that all the time, and most of the time it's BS, but hear me out. I really don't think many teams out there have guys like Justin Anderson, Akil Mitchell, or Darion Atkins. Most teams probably have to guard Dekker with an undersized wing or an oversized (slower) forward. With these three, we don't really sacrifice size or quickness. I'll throw Harris into the mix as well, though I'm not sure how much we'll see that matchup. For the most part, I think we'll either see Anderson when we go smaller, or Mitchell/Atkins when we go big. I think Bennett really likes the idea of the latter matchup because we could Virginia could use size to its advantage and take advantage of Dekker inside, while still being able to hang with him defensively. I'm not trying to say these options will definitely work. Dekker's a future pro and if he's feeling it, there's not much we can do. That said, I think we might present one of if not the toughest tests for him all year.
C: Frank Kaminsky 7'0 234lbs Junior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 28.3 | 6.0-10.4 | .578 | 1.5-3.1 | .480 | 2.3-3.0 | .750 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 15.8 |
Here I must man up and say that going into this year, I felt pretty confident about beating Wisconsin. We beat them in Madison last year, in a game where we started Teven Jones at point and led almost the entire game. We absolutely dominated on the glass and in the paint, and their forwards and center were not coming back this year. Given the outlook of Virginia's frontcourt, I thought it was just a huge mismatch inside and Virginia would once again dominate on both ends. Well, thanks to the play of Kaminsky thus far, I'm much less cocky. Bo Ryan needed him to step up, and Frank has in a BIG way. He's just a talented, experienced player, who has really found a nice fit in this Wisconsin offense. It's clear that even though he might not have played a ton before this year, he has been using to past few years to learn how he can be successful in this system. He's a great shooter and really knows how to find the right shots for himself. He's not really your typical back to the basket post players, but he can still make some things happen inside. Like the rest of the team, most of his points come from his awareness of spacing and reading the defense. He finds an open space, spots up, and knocks down the shot. Whoever guards him must be EXTREMELY disciplined. While Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey are certainly more talented offensively, Akil Mitchell and Darion Atkins might be better answers for a guy like Kaminsky. They have more experience staying with guys on the perimeter. Gill and Tobey have the tendency to sag inside and leave their man open for the shot. This simply cannot happen against Wisconsin. On defense, Kaminsky is very good fundamentally. Obviously, he's tall, so it won't be a case where Tobey can just dump hook-shots over top of him, like he has with some of the lesser competition. If he's guarding Mike, Frank will be ready for that. Mike must know this and prepare for it. I do think Virginia will have some chances to score with guys like Mitchell, Gill, and Atkins, though. With Mitchell and Atkins, they're just more active and athletic. With Gill, he'll have a significant strength advantage and can either get easy looks or force Kaminsky into foul trouble (which would obviously be bad news for the Badgers).
Bench:
PF: Duje Dukan 6'9 220lbs Junior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 9.6 | 1.6-3.1 | .520 | 0.6-1.5 | .417 | 0.6-0.8 | .833 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 4.5 |
Really only gets spot minutes unless there's foul trouble. They might need him to do a bit more against Virginia's size, though. A guy with experience and a bit of talent, but overall, nobody to worry too much about.
PF: Nigel Hayes 6'7 250lbs Freshman
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 15.5 | 1.6-3.3 | .500 | 0.0-0.0 | .000 | 1.3-2.6 | .476 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 4.5 |
Probably their most important bench player, at least as far as this game is concerned. Has looked good in games thus far, but the Badgers play a bit differently when he's on the floor. Again, as with Dukan, they may need to play him more than usual. Nothing against Hayes as a player (as this is to be expected with a Freshman), but the Badgers are just much less in sync and are just a different team when he's in. Maybe Ryan will feel the need to play differently to adjust to Virginia's size, and thus play Hayes alongside Kaminsky, but that would be a retreat from what they have done most of this year. That said, Hayes is a physical player who plays with more maturity than a lot of guys his age.
PG: Bronson Koenig 6'3 190lbs Freshman
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | WIS | 15.4 | 1.6-2.6 | .611 | 0.7-1.3 | .556 | 0.0-0.0 | .000 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 3.9 |
Tony Bennett recruit who was someone I really wanted when he was in HS. I really like his game and think he would have been a good fit at UVA. We ended up with Perrantes so I'm not too disappointed, but Koenig will be a very good player for the Badgers, if not this year, then later in his career. Will come in to give the team a lift in certain scenarios. Good shooter and passer and typically makes good decisions.
(Not sure about G: George Marshall's status)
Virginia Starters:
PG: London Perrantes 6'2 189lbs Freshman
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 25.6 | 0.6-3.5 | .179 | 0.6-2.3 | .278 | 0.9-1.1 | .778 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
UVA will need more of the same from the rookie PG. Obviously, we'd love an offensive performance like the one vs. SMU, but we can still win even without that. He just has to make sure he keeps protecting the ball, making smart decisions, and putting his teammates in good positions to score. Defensively, he has to make sure to prevent UW's guards from driving into the lane and breaking down the defense. I think the experience of going up against a guard like Nic Moore will really help a young player like London. Hopefully, he does a bit better job of staying in front of Jackson so not to foul.
SG: Malcolm Brogdon 6'5 217lbs RS Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 26.8 | 3.8-7.4 | .508 | 1.3-2.9 | .435 | 2.0-2.3 | .889 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 10.8 |
Whomever he's matched up against, Malcolm will have a pretty nice size advantage. He must exploit this and get into the lane. Hopefully, he continues to shoot the ball well, as that will keep Wisconsin's defenders honest. It'd be gravy he can force UW's guards into foul trouble. Now that I think about it, Malcolm might be this game's X-factor. When he and Joe are on the floor together, one of them will have a significantly smaller guy guarding them. Brust has had matchups like this many times in his career, but still, this is an opportunity for Malcolm to use his size and style of play to get UW in some trouble.
SF: Joe Harris 6'6 225lbs Senior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 26.8 | 4.4-7.3 | .603 | 2.0-3.6 | .552 | 1.6-2.9 | .565 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 12.4 |
Again, Harris will likely have a few inches on his man, assuming it's Gasser. Hopefully that makes a difference in allowing Joe to have a bit more space to get shots off. Still, Gasser's aware of this and will work to make sure that's not the case. It'll certainly be a tough task, though, especially with the way Joe has been playing the past few games.
PF: Akil Mitchell 6'8 235lbs Senior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 22.5 | 2.1-4.6 | .459 | 0.0-0.1 | .000 | 1.8-3.5 | .500 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 6.0 |
This would be a great game for Akil to break out and return to last year's form. It would be wrong to say Mitchell has played poorly this year. Rather, it's just that the frontcourt is so deep, everyone has to share both time and space on the floor. Wisconsin didn't really have an answer for Akil last year. He was just too active on both ends of the floor. Even if he doesn't go for 15 points, he can still dominate by grabbing every rebound and shutting down Dekker and Kaminsky.
C: Mike Tobey 6'11 253lbs Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 17.3 | 3.5-6.8 | .519 | 0.0-0.1 | .000 | 1.6-2.4 | .684 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 8.6 |
I have a sneaky feeling this might be a quiet game for Mike. I could be wrong, especially if Kaminsky gets in foul trouble, but with the way the matchups are looking and the way Mitchell and Atkins played in Madison last year, I might rather go athletic rather than big. Still, Tobey is probably our most talented overall player, so he's always a threat, especially against a smaller team like Wisconsin.
Bench:
SF: Justin Anderson 6'6 227lbs Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 20.9 | 3.0-6.3 | .480 | 1.1-3.0 | .375 | 1.4-2.1 | .647 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 8.5 |
PF: Anthony Gill 6'8 230lbs RS Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 19.6 | 4.1-6.0 | .688 | 0.0-0.0 | .000 | 2.1-3.5 | .607 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 10.4 |
While AG has been great offensively, he need to improve on the defensive end. For this reason, it wouldn't surprise me to see Tony go a different direction with his bigs. That said, it very well may be the case where Gill is just so valuable scoring the ball that we have no other choice but to give him a chance on the other end. He's not really a liability defensively, it's just that he's prone to a few bad breakdowns per game. He'll really need to find some consistency in this game.
PF: Darion Atkins 6'8 234lbs Junior
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 16.9 | 2.0-4.6 | .432 | 0.0-0.0 | .000 | 0.6-1.6 | .385 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 4.6 |
Other than Joe Harris, Darion might have been UVA's MVP in the win in Madison last year. The Badgers just had no one to match his activity. Thus far, while he has had a really solid season, making an impact in almost every game, he hasn't been relied on as much as I had expected. I think that might change here. I still don't think UW has an answer for him, especially on the glass, and since rebounding will be key, he might see starter's minutes. Also, like Mitchell, he can guard both Dekker and Kaminsky. For that reason alone, he'll see significant time.
SF: Evan Nolte 6'8 227lbs Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 11.3 | 1.0-2.7 | .368 | 0.7-2.3 | .313 | 0.9-1.3 | .667 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 3.6 |
Without Nolte's timely three's last year, we probably don't leave Kohl with a win. He's had an up and down start this year, but seems to be getting more comfortable. I have no idea what type of minutes he'll see, but chances are we'll need him to hit another big shot or two. Hopefully his SMU performance will boost his confidence going forward. Defensively, there's not a great matchup for him, so look for him to try and be efficient.
PG: Teven Jones 6'0 182lbs Sophomore
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FGM-FGA | FG% | 3PM-3PA | 3P% | FTM-FTA | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | UVA | 5.3 | 0.0-1.1 | .000 | 0.0-0.5 | .000 | 0.3-0.6 | .400 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
Many fans forget that Teven started against Wisconsin last year. While Jontel did end up playing in that game, without Tev's play, no shot UVA wins that game. I'm not exactly sure why, but he has seen his role significantly diminish. I don't expect that to change in this game, but I had to mention him given his game last year.
Final Word:
I think this game really comes down to two things. First will be about how UVA executes defensively. Wisconsin's offense is so simple, yet so tough to defend. They have 5 guys who are legitimate threats to beat you on any given possession. They like to spread the floor out as much as possible with their 4 out 1 in lineup. Unsurprisingly, their offense revolves around constant motion, both with and without the ball. You have to be really disciplined defensively, or else they will eventually get quality looks which they will knock down. If UW gets especially hot, it'll be a long night for the Hoos. However, given Virginia's size, athleticism, and defense, they have as good a shot as any of slowing the Badgers down.
The second key is how big of a factor will Virginia's size advantage be. This is probably the best thing UVA has going for itself. If they can really take advantage of this and utilize this strength, it could be the difference. We know about the size of the frontcourt, but the size advantage of guys like Brogdon, Harris, and Anderson could be the real key to Virginia's success.
I don't like to make predictions, but as a UVA fan I feel much better about this game than I did going into VCU. I think we're much more prepared for this game than we were for the Rams. Don't get me wrong, Wisconsin is a better team than VCU, but I just think this is a better overall matchup for this team. Ultimately, I think Virginia realizes that this is a game it needs to win (at least much more than Wisconsin needs to) and should be able to get the job done.
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