Busting Brackets
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Virginia Basketball: Keys for Cavaliers to triumph at Louisville

By Neil Adler

BLACKSBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 18: University of Virginia Cavaliers bench celebrates during the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum on February 18, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 18: University of Virginia Cavaliers bench celebrates during the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum on February 18, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: The Virginia Cavaliers celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 10: The Virginia Cavaliers celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

3. Get contributions from supporting cast

I’m of the opinion that what separates the Cavaliers roster this year from other recent terms is that Virginia does have the ability to generate above-average scoring production. Yet the Cavaliers still hang their hat on a stifling defense.

If a few Louisville players get hot on offense, which is entirely possible, then UVA must ramp up its pace of developing points. Naturally, this begins with the Cavaliers’ triumvirate of star guards, juniors Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome, as well as sophomore De’Andre Hunter.

Guy, Jerome and Hunter are fantastic, and it won’t surprise me one iota to see them each suit up in the NBA in the future. However, they can’t shoulder Virginia’s scoring load in virtual totality. For instance, in the affair with Virginia Tech, those three studs accounted for 49 of the Cavaliers’ 64 points.

Multiple other options within UVA’s line-up are capable of achieving a half-dozen or more points per game, and an offensive attack that has better balance is exactly what the Cavaliers need to not only conquer the Cardinals, but also to make a deep journey through March that extends into early April.

Next. ACC Power Rankings. dark

It’s understandable that some folks don’t have a lot of confidence in Virginia given the historic upset of the Cavaliers by UMBC in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. That’s fine. Yet I, for one, think that UVA is poised for success this time. First, though, it’s imperative that the Cavaliers lock in on Louisville.

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