A leaky roof may have postponed the game on Thursday at Georgia Tech, but the Virginia Cavaliers were making it rain on Sunday, as they drowned the N.C. State Wolfpack 78-60.
The Cavaliers achieved the victory with an astounding defensive effort in the first half. They finally looked like the team Virginia coach Dave Leitao had envisioned when he came to Charlottesville three years ago. Singletary absolutely mobbed his counterpart, freshman guard Javier Gonzales, and he nabbed six steals in the first half alone. In the first half alone, the Cavaliers forced the Wolfpack into 17 turnovers, which is the same amount of rebounds NC State pulled down in that period. They also were able to do it with committing only three personal fouls, and the halftime score was 38-18 in favor of Virginia.
“At the very least for this year, if not for the previous two, for the first 20 minutes that was as good a defensive display against very talented players as we’ve had,” Leitao said. “To give up 18 points and to get that many steals and turnovers was pleasing.”
These opportunities led to fast breaks for Virginia and a much more dynamic offense. Eight different Cavaliers scored in the first half and Jerome Meyinsse was the only one who played to not record a point. Singletary led the way as usual with a blistering 21 points, with Calvin Baker not too far behind with 15. His points came when Virginia needed them most. Despite a 50-23 lead, the Wolfpack were able to slowly work their way back into the game. At one critical juncture, the Wolfpack were at the line down 56-42 with a chance to cut more into the lead. Trevor Johnson missed the front end of the one-and-one, a mistake for which the Cavaliers made him pay. Moments later, Singletary drove to the rim and kicked out to Baker for an open three. The sophomore hesitated a moment, but when he took the shot it was nothing but nylon. The shot extended the lead some more and gave Baker some extra confidence down the stretch.
“I don’t know if that was a turning point because they were coming back at us,” Leitao said. “More than anything, Calvin had gotten tentative – and we had a pretty one-way conversation about it. He might have passed that shot up, but Sean made a heck of a pass to him off of penetration, and as Calvin has done for most of the year, he put the ball in the basket. It gave us a little bit of a cushion, and it made the game a little more manageable.”
Virginia certainly managed J.J. Hickson. The freshman phenom has been carving up most ACC teams, but the Cavaliers were able to hold him in check. Hickson was a complete non-factor in the first half mainly because State could never hold on to the ball long enough to give it to him. Hickson finished with 7 points, but did not score until there was 6:06 left in the game.
“I think, along with Tyler Hansbrough, he presents as big of a challenge on the block as anybody that this league has,” Leitao said. “To be able to keep him off balance - especially in that first half - was a credit to not just the post players that were playing, but the team defense.”
Much of that credit must again go to the return of Lars Mikalauskas. The Cavaliers have now played three solid performances in a row since the return of the “Pride of Lithuania.” After a 13-point performance against Boston College, the junior forward came down to earth a bit. His 2 points and 2 rebounds are not exactly gaudy numbers, but once again the energy he exudes seemed to keep players in the right frame of mind.
“It’s my job on the team,” Mikalauskas said. “Usually Sean does it but he can’t do it by himself. We have a bunch of people who can score. I just have to bring the emotional energy out there on the court.”
It also helps to keep the fans involved. Despite a less than filled JPJA, Mikalauskas was able to bring Cavalier Nation to their feet more than a few times. His ability to take a charge and pass the ball out to open shooters has made Virginia’s an offense that can compete in the ACC.
“I took two shots today and missed them both,” Mikalauskas said. “It’s better for me to help my teammates with assists and get them involved. That is what I tried to do, get people involved.”
That involvement does not just relate to the players but the fans as well.
“I hear them,” Mikalauskas said. “It helps me, my teammates and everybody.”
Someone who is finally getting used to the notion of competing in the ACC is Jeff Jones. The freshman guard played hard and finished with 9 points, his highest total since he scored 8 against Hartford back on December 30. Although many look to Mikalauskas for the Cavaliers recent turnaround, Jones has also been a critical piece to the puzzle. His ability to get to the basket has helped open up others. With more games under his belt, Jones can see his role increase exponentially.
“Eventually that’s going to come, all coaches say it too,” Jones said. “I just have to put all my focus on defense and really play.”
The win gives Virginia its first conference winning streak of 2008. The Cavaliers have proven that they can handle some of the bigger, more physical teams of the ACC. The Wolfpack had a season-high 25 turnovers against the Cavaliers, and Virginia’s 16 steals will make anyone staring at the box score give a second glance. The question remains, has Virginia truly thawed from its January of discontent? Miami will prove quite the different test. Jack McClinton is one of the few guards in the country that can match Singletary in terms of skills and confidence. The sophomore single-handedly brought Miami victory at home against the Cavaliers last year. Virginia will need to approach that game with just as much as energy if they want this winning to become a trend.
“Everybody really wants to win,” Singletary said. “I know that a lot of people on the outside say that our players are not playing that hard, but there is a learning curve. I think that our guys are getting it, and we are sticking together.”
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