Even five days after Turkey Day, it is always a good thing to give thanks.  For the Virginia basketball team, there is clearly something they should be very thankful for: the three-point line.

The Cavaliers have a cadre of long-distance shooters.  Their talents came in handy against the Arizona Wildcats, when Jeff Jones’s five threes helped propel Virginia to its biggest win of the young season.  Against Seton Hall, however, they struggled mightily, as Virginia only could muster 60 points.  So, does it seem that, as the three-pointers go, Virginia goes?

Never fear, though. Last night against Northwestern, in the friendly confines of John Paul Jones Arena, five different players combined for eight three-pointers in the first ten minutes en route to a 94-52 beat-down.

“It’s tough for anybody to play a good team that shoots the ball that well,” senior guard Sean Singletary said. “Chances are the shooting team’s going to come out on top.”

Mamadi Diane led the way with a career-high six three pointers, and finished with 22 points.  Diane’s jump shot has come along way since he entered as an inconsistent freshman from Potomac, Md., but then again, so has this entire team.  The philosophy of the Cavaliers continues to shift from a team that does not want to live or die by the three, to one that realizes when you have talent, you should utilize it. 

“If I wanted to sell out to [shooting the] three we’d attempt more,” Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. “We shot 32 today because that’s the number that presented itself.  We’re not afraid to take them because we can make them.”

The Cavaliers shot 16-32 from behind the arc, just two off of the team-record of 18 made threes set just last year against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.  While 50 percent is good, 100 percent is even better; that is exactly what William and Mary transfer Calvin Baker shot last night. Virginia’s pleasant surprise of the season, the sophomore guard made all six of his shots (including four tripes) to post 16 points, second behind only Diane. 

Watching Baker tonight was watching an apprentice of Sean Singletary.  His speed to the basket, his ability to find open players and his knack for knocking down timely three pointers shows that he, too, may have some memorable moments by the time this season is over.

“[Baker] did a wonderful job for us,” Leitao said. “He got back to playing his role today. He has learned that he doesn’t have to seek [shots] out.  His opportunities will continue to come.”

Opportunities seem to come in bunches for Virginia this season.  When one player lights it up, it is normally just a matter of time before others join in on the fun. 

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Leitao said. “If Calvin Baker, who is a pretty good shooter, is around good shooters he becomes an even better one, because he’s around them everyday.  They work at it.”

One man who knows a lot about work is Will Harris.  The sophomore bulked this off-season to try to help Virginia overcome its biggest weakness: lack of inside presence.  Harris has been hampered by injuries to start the year, but played a season-high 17 minutes against Northwestern.  Harris showed great defense and hustle, the two qualities that made Virginia fans so optimistic about his future.  He still struggled offensively, throwing up an air ball in the first half and finishing with zero points.  Nevertheless, players like Harris show how depth will continue to be one of the biggest attributes in Leitao’s arsenal this season.

“I’m less worried about [sorting out the lineup]. G ames and practices will dictate that,” Leitao said. “I planned on using Jamil [Tucker] and he got two quick fouls so I had to use Will [Harris].  That is the advantage of being able to use your depth and having guys be able to step up and contribute.”

One player who continually contributes, even in limited action, is freshman forward Mike Scott.  The Hargrave Military Academy product has shown a great deal of potential in the early going.  Last night he recorded eight points in just 13 minutes with several key rebounds as well.  As he continues to recover from an ankle injury, Virginia fans will continue to hope that maybe Scott can fill the huge void left in the middle.

“I said in the beginning that Mike was someone I thought that, when it was all said and done, could leave Virginia as a slightly better version of Jason Cain,” Leitao said.  “He still doesn’t have that explosion.  At 100 percent, he is the best athlete on our team, and he is not that right now.”

The victory leaves Virginia fans with a 6-1 record, and helps out their conference in the ACC/Big Ten challenge.  But, perhaps the lasting thought from this game will be, why was Virginia even playing Northwestern in the first place?  The concept of the ACC/Big Ten challenge is supposed to pit teams that finished similarly the previous season.  The Cavaliers finished as regular season ACC co-champions with North Carolina, while the Wildcats finished near the cellar of the Big Ten.  The Cavaliers season ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament, while Northwestern finished five games under .500.  In other words, these two teams were not evenly matched and it showed. 

Still, no one on Virginia is going to use the old cliché about a lack of respect.  Next week, the Cavaliers will face their biggest test of the season thus far and their biggest non-conference opponent in over a year when the Syracuse Orange come to Charlottesville.  With a victory over a Big East power, Virginia will have more respect than they know what to do with.

---