The No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers’ Defense Dictates Game in Win Over the Miami Hurricanes

Virginia is ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 1982, when 7-3 Naismith Hall of Fame center Ralph Sampson was in school.

The Cavaliers (24-2, 13-1) got 30 first place votes from the writers, despite losing to rival Virginia Tech, 61-60, in overtime Saturday night at Charlottesville, Va.

The bulk of the media seemed willing to overlook that because they have been so blown away by the Virginia defense. It is hard to remember the last time an Atlantic Coast Conference team played this kind of suffocating defense. Maybe Tony Bennett’s 2015 Virginia team with Malcom Brogdon, Anthony Gill and Darion Atkins.

Maybe.

But this year’s Virginia team that leads the country in scoring defense with allowing just 52.7 points and is third in field goal defense (37.7), has the lowest adjusted numbers of any Atlantic Coast Conference team since Ken Pomeroy began keeping defensive efficiency statistics 17 years ago.

When Virginia defeated Miami, 59-50, in Coral Gables Tuesday night, the Cavaliers limited a team to 50 or less points for the 12th time this season and under 60 for the 20th time. Virginia’s “Pack Line” defense completely shut down the Hurricanes (18-7, 7-6), limiting them to 38 percent shooting and 6 for 21 from the three point line. It was the 25th time this season the Cavaliers have held an opponent to under 50 percent shooting.

Miami sophomore center Dewan Huell, the team’s leading scorer, took only one shot and was shut down. Explosive freshman guard Lonnie Walker scored just six points.

Virginia used a mixture of man to man and zone, forcing the Hurricanes to settle for long range shots. “We did a good job making team earn,” Bennett said. “They didn’t get a lot of clean looks.”

The Hurricanes threw up four air balls and another shot clanked off the underside of the rim. Virginia also shut down the Hurricanes’ transition game, and they managed only four fast break points.

Freshman guard Chris Lykes led Miami with 19 points, but he said scoring against the Cavaliers wasn’t easy. “They’re real disciplined,” he said. “They help each other well. Help defense is a big part of their team.”

Miami missed 10 consecutive shots during a 13-0 by the Cavaliers when they took a 26-12 lead. Miami head coach Jim Larranaga said his team was too eager early playing the No. 1 team and missed out on scoring chances. “I’m not talking about difficult plays,” Larranaga said. “I’m talking about plays that were right there for the taking. They weren’t things Virginia did to make us miss those shots. We missed them out of anxiousness.”

At halftime, Miami was only shooting 21 percent and had fallen behind 27-16. The Canes closed the gap to 29-27 before Virginia went on another 11-2 spurt to take a 49-36 lead and put the low scoring game away.

Forward De’Andre Hunter from Philadelphia Friends Central led Virginia Cavaliers with 22 points.  Guard Kyle Guy scored 13 points for the Cavaliers, who shot 46 percent. Guard Ty Jerome had seven assists – one more than the Hurricanes.

The Cavaliers should remain at the top of the polls for at least one more week. They are off for a week before they play Georgia Tech at home.