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Don't expect this to be down to the wire, unless the team's competitive juices raise their level of play significantly and UVA is relatively flat. Hopefully, a less active crowd at John Paul Jones with students gone.

UVA plays at South Carolina Wednesday night, so, we do have more time to prepare and recharge. I hope Tony can take some strategy away from his old PG and UMBC HC, Ryan Odom, but think that was a one time opportunity.

UVA dropped to #2 this week in the NCAA's new NET ranking, behind Michigan, though, they are lower in major Top 10 rankings.

One help for us is that their surprise freshman PG, Kihei Clarke, should not play due to a hairline wrist fracture suffered. His quickness would have been a major problem for us on both ends, as if we don't have enough problems with the rest of their veteran lineup. At least, though, they will be thin in the backcourt and vulnerable, if Guy and Jerome get into foul trouble, or our depth can somehow get into their legs.

This will be a major test for Nathan's ability to stay on the court and out of foul trouble. Without him, we WILL get overwhelmed inside. I fear Nathan will continue the foul pattern, unless the officials let them play. They just have two many big bodies to throw at him, otherwise. Would love to see him finally have a monster game on a bigger stage. His play does raise or lower to the level of competition.

We must, also, return to, or approach, past levels of 3 pt shooting or the packline defense will stifle us.

For those of us in VA who can't be there, expect the ACC Network Extra broadcast to be blacked out in VA, as is usually the case, unfortunately.

Wish this team was further along in their development by now, but c'est la vie. We will find out how they react to getting hit much harder in the mouth than they have been, to this point. Not going to be competitive unless we totally surprise everyone with our defense, and not turning the ball over.

Only way to beat UVA is to force them to play your game for 40 minutes, which is very difficult with them, and virtually impossible for a team still searching for it's own identity.

Go Tribe!

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UVA will be playing defense. This is a golden opportunity for players to come out, introduce themselves, do their job etc. Let’s see what happens.

UVA handled a depleted and not very good South Carolina tonight in Columbia, 69-52. Hunter had his second straight well below par game. Doubt we can count on three in a row. Gamecocks were 3 for 18 from behind the arc. Maybe Justin will return to shooting form, and Paul and Matt will simultaneously join the party. At least UVA will still be working on being undefeated.

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The key will, obviously, be how well we shoot the three. Are we hitting the open looks or are we missing even the open looks, like vs. Marshall or ODU.

The Pack Line D is a man-to-man scheme, with zone tendencies. It is going to give you the open three, at least, until you prove that you can make them regularly. They want you to shoot low percentage shots and then box you out.
It is configured not give up the dribble penetration or entry pass into the paint (both moves almost always cause a turnover, when the dribbler or pass recipient is surrounded immediately by three defenders). The defense also cuts off the back door cuts, as only the on-ball defender is actually closely guarding his man (everyone else is on the Pack Line - help defense). When the ball is passed, the next defender picks up his man and the previous defender drops back into the Pack Line, thus preventing the cutter an open run to the basket. You always have one defender out and four in.

If we are on from three, and they have to guard the perimeter more closely, then that opens up penetration in the lane and the back door cuts.

(Disclaimer: I actually think we were better configured to upset UVA last season, more so than this year. More deadeye shooters last season, and more veteran leadership)

If we can come out early and play confidently, limit turnovers and hit some shots, we will have a punchers chance, if not, it could get ugly early.

I noticed the little 5'8" point guard, Clark, played a few minutes against USC. They are definitely better with him (more offensive movement), but they do okay without him. The closest thing we have seen to them is ODU's defense, except with more skill and better players.

Our problem in this game will be the inability to keep UVA from scoring and us giving too many fouls. If we run the offense properly and take advantage of running in transition we may be able to make a game of it, but I worry about scores like 75-48.

Playing at undefeated and Top Five UVa in less than 48 hours.

Not sure how many times over the past 40 years a Tribe men's hoops team has played a Top Five opponent.

A nice opportunity for the team to make some noise.

UNC, Rutgers, and UCLA certainly come to mind. I can't remember if the other UNC teams we played (with James Worthy) or any of the UVA teams with Sampson were top five, but definitely top 20.

The UVA team we lost in OT to at the hall in the mid 90s was in the top 10 at the time.

We actually get a shot at about 1 ranked team per season. In the last 15 seasons, ESPN shows the following:

This year: #5 UVA
17-18: #15 TCU
16-17: #12 Louisville, #6 Duke
15-16: #10 UVA
14-15: #7 Florida, #19 UNC-CHeat
13-14: #16 Wichita State
12-13: None
11-12: #10 Mizzou
10-11: #10 Suckacuse
09-10: #12 UConn
08-09: None
07-08: #5 Georgetown, #21 NC State
06-07: None
05-06: None
04-05: #8 Kentucky, #4 UNC-CHeat

We didn’t manage to pull any of them out (average score is 81-58), but we’re getting consistent opportunities to see how we stack up with the top-25.

I remember those Syracuse and UConn games went down to the wire

Yep. Especially Suckacuse (63-60). UConn was a 9 point loss (75-66).

(12-20-2018 10:15 PM)nj alum Wrote: [ -> ]Playing at undefeated and Top Five UVa in less than 48 hours.

Not sure how many times over the past 40 years a Tribe men's hoops team has played a Top Five opponent.

A nice opportunity for the team to make some noise.

We are excited to go tomorrow. I hope the noise we hear is not the clanging of brick 3 pointers by the Tribe or thunder slams on the defensive end. I pretty much agree with BillyMac's assessment. Once the 3 point shot became such a big part of college basketball, it theoretically gives all those who can shoot it a chance. At least I know we will see some defense played on Saturday. Expecting a 30 point loss and even my 11 yr old daughter is predicting 83-50, but the Tribe was very competitive at UVA in its last basketball trip to Charlottesville. Have to hope UVA cannot make shots and for Nathan to find some way to avoid the fouls I expect the refs to call on him in the first 5 minutes Saturday. Looking for effort and energy after the exam sessions. Maybe Saturday is a day where things all come together for the Tribe.

I'm excited to be planning to be there tomorrow. I scored a couple of tickets in Section 113 from a UVA friend who'd rather watch from home...

(12-21-2018 02:14 PM)LeadBolt Wrote: [ -> ]I'm excited to be planning to be there tomorrow. I scored a couple of tickets in Section 113 from a UVA friend who'd rather watch from home...

Nice deal there. I am in the nosebleeds, but there are not a lot of bad seats in that arena. Hoping we get a decent number of Tribe fans and a fair number of UVA fans stay away thanks to the holidays.

I know we still haven't made the Tournament, but...

https://imgur.com/cjyqjzH

Jerome will start at the point, as the Cavs will start big against us, with Diakite in the starting lineup, instead of Clark.

Starting lineup

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8-0 run. Not a great time to go a little cold. (2 for 7 start)

We started well but our O has stalled a little and UVA making everything

Good first 3 mins. Rough next 3 mins. Gotta have movement on offense.