Virginia Basketball: 2018-19 keys for Cavaliers to win at UNC

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 05: Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers smiles as he comes off the court beside De'Andre Hunter #12 and Kihei Clark #0 in the second half during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at John Paul Jones Arena on January 5, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 05: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives past M.J. Walker #23 of the Florida State Seminoles in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on January 5, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

1. Get Kyle Guy Going Early

Junior guard Kyle Guy did not play well in the first half against Duke and often looked hesitant to shoot until later in the game when the team was more desperate to make a comeback. This can not happen again against the Tar Heels.

Guy is the leading scorer for Virginia at 14.6 points per game and needs to play a complete game against elite competition, otherwise, the team will risk needing to fight back from a deficit. He should never hesitate to shoot, and he should always be looking to attack. He has a great ability to drive the ball, and it can sometimes go forgotten due to his elite three-point shooting.

His scoring in the second half against Duke came in many different forms, from difficult drives to seemingly un-open threes, he kept his team within striking distance. He needs to not be afraid to take those same guarded shots in the first half as he is better when guarded than many are when open.

As one of the best shooters in the country, he needs to adjust his idea of an open shot, because it won’t be often a good team loses track of him. He should look to NBA guard JJ Redick for the proper shooting mentality. Redick said after a recent game, “I never have space. Did you see some of the shots I made tonight?” Guarded threes are the new open threes for Kyle Guy.

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