After the Virginia men’s basketball team started the season with preseason hype accompanied by a top 25 ranking and heightened expectations, the non-conference portion of the 2013-2014 schedule ended with a thud.
The Cavaliers have lost three of their last five games, which included a humbling 87-52 loss at Tennessee on Monday. The Volunteers lit up the scoreboard and stifled UVa on the defensive end in a game that they led by double figures just 6 minutes in and were never threatened the rest of the way.
“We got thoroughly outplayed really in every area,” UVa coach Tony Bennett said on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. “We knew they were very physical and they showed that. We had a hard time handling that. They haven’t shot the ball that well, but part of it was we would get hung on a screen or over-help and they had room and rhythm looks and they didn’t miss when they had [those] looks. We just couldn’t get stops and our inability to put the ball in the basket – we just looked real awkward out there. That was very humbling for sure … [and] they took it to us in every way.”
Things unraveled quickly for Virginia (9-4) thanks to some fiery 3-point shooting from Tennessee (8-4). The Vols entered the game making triples at a 31.4% clip, including just 26.8% from 3-point range over the three previous games. Those trends fell by the wayside Monday. UT made 11 of 18 treys in the contest, a scorching 61.1%. Josh Richardson led the way by making 4 of 4 from behind the line, while Jordan McRae and Antonio Barton each made 3 of 4.
Richardson and McRae were two of three players to finish with at least 20 points in the game for the hosts. McRae led the way with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Richardson added 20 points and 1 assist. Jarnell Stokes added 20 points and converted 12 of 14 free throws. That helped the Vols outperformed their season average at the free throw line too as they made 88% (22 of 25) after entering the game as 66.9% shooters.
Tennessee’s strong night offensively broke down a Cavalier defense that had allowed just 54.2 points per game and 37% shooting on the season. UVa allowed a trio of 20-point scorers for the first time since Nov. 25, 2008 against Liberty. The visitors also gave up season highs in points and 3-point percentage.
“I don’t know if we could have beaten Tennessee how they played, but we really did a poor job in every area,” Bennett said on the Virginia Sports Radio Network. “Again, whether it was keeping them off the glass, not letting them duck us in. Their two inside kids were way too physical. We couldn’t get position on them. We were slow to trap. … Ball screen defense. All the things we knew we’d have to do were non-existent.”
While the defensive breakdowns proved problematic, the offense caused plenty of issues too. The Hoos again had more turnovers than assists (12 turnovers, 8 assists) and they struggled to make shots. UVa made just 18 of 55 attempts (32.7%) in the game, including 2 of 12 triples (16.7%).
Seniors Akil Mitchell and Joe Harris had as much trouble as anyone. Mitchell had 4 points on 2-of-7 shooting, though he did pull down 9 rebounds. Harris, meanwhile, had 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting; he made just 1 of 4 3-pointers.
Justin Anderson led the Cavaliers for the third straight game with 11 points and 2 assists, while Mike Tobey joined him in double figures with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony Gill chipped in 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting.
“We just got out-toughed, outplayed all around, outworked – I mean out-everythinged,” Harris said to reporters. “It was just really embarrassing. We know we’re a lot better than what we showed and that’s why it stings. It’s very disheartening and overall just very embarrassing that we came out here and played the way we did, but a lot of credit to Tennessee. They’re a very solid team and that’s what talented teams do to you when you don’t show up to play.”
