Virginia Basketball: Cavaliers poised to move past March woes in 2019

3) The best-equipped defense for March

You didn’t think we were going to get through an article about Virginia without mentioning their defense, did you?

BUT, before you simply breeze past this section, this isn’t just about the fact that they’re good on defense. That’s essentially a given for any Tony Bennett him.

Instead, it’s about their new personnel and some tweaks Bennett has made that has them primed for a long run in March.

As the game continues to become more perimeter-oriented, Virginia has adjusted their pack-line defense to run opponents off the arc rather than inviting those lower percentage shots from long-range. Their three-point defense has gradually improved each of the last five seasons and has reached a point where opponents are shooting just 24.8 percent from deep against them.

For a lot of the other top teams in the country, taking away the three-point shot is taking away their biggest weapon. But Hunter, Key, and freshman guard Kihei Clark have made this big jump possible.

Hunter’s length, strength, and quickness have made him one of the country’s best defenders and he would’ve made a world of difference against UMBC. Though Key isn’t a great defender, his length and athleticism allow him to challenge three-pointers.

Then there’s Clark, who’s a small, speedy guard who gives them some needed athleticism in the backcourt. For as good as Guy and Jerome are, they have routinely gotten exploited by athletic guards in the past (again, UMBC’s Jairus Lyles being the biggest example). Clark has added a new dimension by being able to keep pace with opposing guards, pressuring them all over the court without getting beat.

He’s often the head of the defense, tasked with making it difficult for opponents to get into their offense and keeping the lead guard from getting easy looks. And it’s a role he has thrived in.

All of the jokes made at Virginia’s expense have been warranted – but make sure to get them out now. With improvements in these areas, this team won’t be one to joke around with come March.