Virginia Explodes Past Notre Dame

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Akil Mitchell didn’t miss a shot and scored 15 points. ~ Michael Ingalls

Trailing on the second-half scoreboard again and fighting some sluggishness, the Virginia men’s basketball team didn’t want a soldout crowd at the John Paul Jones Arena to leave dejected on Saturday. The Hoos didn’t disappoint. UVa erupted over the final 14 minutes and annihilated Notre Dame 70-49 in the process.

As a result, the Cavaliers won their school-record 14th ACC game of the season and extended their current winning streak to 11 games, their longest ACC win streak since 1981-82. UVa also climbed to 18 games over .500 for the first time since 1982-83 and captured its 16th consecutive home ACC game. That ties the longest streak in school history (16 straight home ACC wins from 1980-1982).

Virginia is currently No. 1 in the ACC standings.

“That’s something that you have to earn the right for. I told them before the game that they’ve earned the right to have this opportunity in front of you this game,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “I asked them if they were going to waste it or take advantage of it, not meaning win it or lose it, but closing out with high hands, making the most of every possession and worrying about the process and being faithful to that. We use the step analogy, and the next one is the biggest in front of us.”

Notre Dame took a 41-38 lead with 13:54 remaining when Pat Connaughton completed a traditional three-point play. The rest of the way belonged to Virginia, though. The Cavaliers responded with a 32-8 run to end the game, which included a 25-0 outburst over 8:05 that sent the arena into a frenzy and left the Irish reeling. At one point during the run, the Wahoos made 10 straight shots and scored on 12 of 13 possessions (in the second half, there was a stretch where the hosts scored on 15 straight and 18 of 19 possessions). That resulted in a lopsided outcome and a truly remarkable 76.2% shooting number in the second half when UVa made 16 of 21 shots. That included 13 of 15 field goal attempts inside the arc.

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UVa’s Anthony Gill recorded 15 points and 3 assists. ~ Michael Ingalls

The Hoos got that game-ending surge going by looking to the inside first. The offense fed either Anthony Gill or Akil Mitchell on the seven possessions following ND’s basket to make it 41-38. Gill delivered 7 points (3 of 4 free throws) and 2 assists (a Joe Harris 3-pointer and a Darion Atkins lay-up) in that stretch, while Mitchell hit a baseline hook on his touch.

Those two players finished 12 of 13 from the floor for 30 points in the game. Mitchell recorded 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Gill had 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

“That is an example of how fragile a game can be. For thirty minutes, I really liked what we were doing,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. “Virginia is really good – they are really, really good. I think they are the best team in the league and they put it on us twice. Their big guys hurt us tonight. Their two big guys were fabulous. The whole team is so explosive.”

One of Gill’s baskets came on the end of another Justin Anderson spark-plug play. With Virginia leading 48-43 and still on the front end of the closing burst, Notre Dame moved the ball and UVa’s defense around when a final block-to-block, post-to-post pass appeared to set up a dunk for Zach Auguste. But as Auguste rose toward the rim, Anderson flew in from across the lane and blocked the ball away. With the crowd already thumping, the Hoos pushed the other way in transition where Malcolm Brogdon found Gill – who got the defensive rebound – sprinting to the rim.

Gill delivered a high-rising transition dunk, the arena roared, and the Hoos cruised from there.

“That’s the Pack-Line defense. You help each other. That’s what we do,” Anderson said. “I saw their big fella go up to try to throw it under and I timed it up right. I’m surprised I didn’t get a foul called, but they said I didn’t get his hand. But it was a great play and a great finish by Anthony Gill in transition.”

“It feels like we’ve had a few of those over the last three games. It’s interesting that three games ago Justin got a block and Joe hit a three against Maryland, then this game Justin gets a block and Anthony gets a nice breakaway dunk. Against Virginia Tech, Justin dove on a loose ball and got the momentum going. Each game there has been something that started the momentum,” Bennett said. “It was a good way to finish, because Notre Dame is hard to guard.”

While Virginia knocked down shot after shot down the stretch, Notre Dame simply could not put the ball in the basket. The Irish missed 10 straight shots and the front end of two 1-and-1 free throw opportunities over 8:53. In fact, the visitors made just 9 of 29 shots after intermission (31.0%) and came up empty from 3-point range with an 0-7 half. As a result, ND shot just 38.9% for the game after making 12 of 25 shots in the first half (48.0%).

Ratcheting up the defensive execution is what led to the celebratory ending according to Virginia’s players. It’s also what has led to this remarkable run over the past two months. After Tennessee made 27 of 54 shots (50%) and 11 of 18 3-pointers (61.1%) in a 87-52 win on Dec. 30, the Cavaliers did some soul searching and went back to their roots. That meant grinding it out and fighting for everything – the crumbs the team calls it – on every possession.

On Saturday, Notre Dame became the 15th straight opponent and 31st straight ACC foe to shoot less than 50% against UVa. That’s every game so far in 2014.

“One thing this team has done really well is buy into our system and we’re trusting each other with whatever we do,” Anderson said. “There’s never a time when you hear a guy get on another guy in the huddle for something. The only thing we’re trying to say is to boost the energy. Let’s go, pick it up. We’re never getting down on each other. We’re just buying into our system and we just let it come.”

Final Stats

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