The Virginia basketball team sits at 8-1 on the season, but the Hoos haven’t played a game in over a week as the University works through exams. That break is almost over as the Cavaliers will finally return to action against Davidson on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Before the game at the John Paul Jones Arena, however, there’s still time to study some of the storylines from the first nine games of the season. Earlier this week, the Double Bonus discussed Devon Hall’s fast start, execution of go-to plays at West Virginia, and some long-term trends for popular statistics. This edition takes a peek at a vulnerability on defense, the transition play of Nigel Johnson, and Jay Huff.

Without further ado, The Double Bonus is back!

Defending Middle Ball Screens

One of the chief identities for the Virginia basketball program, of course, is the Pack-Line defense. Year after year, the Hoos make scoring life miserable for many opponents. They’re off to a good start again this year overall, boasting the nation’s No. 5 defensive efficiency rating at .834 points per possession allowed. UNC Greensboro, Austin Peay, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin all came up short of 50 points in UVA wins.

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