Virginia Basketball: 3 takeaways from close win at Notre Dame

3. In what has not been a prevalent problem since the Gonzaga game, the Cavaliers have developed a bad habit of sending teams to the charity stripe – and it needs to end

Entering tonight’s game, the Cavaliers ranked among Div. I’s best in opponents’ FT and FTA.  They allow opposing teams just 11.7 attempts per game – the 4th-best mark in college basketball, and those teams drain just 8.8 freebies per game, which ranks 15th in the nation.

The Cavaliers do not get to the line much themselves, taking just 15.7 attempts (283rd) and draining 12.7 free throws (197th) – but that has not been an issue for them.  With the exception of their season-opener against Towson, the Cavaliers have outscored their following four opponents from the line – and have gotten to the line more times in three of those four games.

Some of the differentials have been staggering – against San Francisco, they went 15-18 to the Dons’ 2-4 mark, and in the overtime win over Kent State, the Cavaliers were 22-30 to Kent State’s 5-6.  But against Gonzaga and especially Notre Dame, the free throw line has turned detrimental.

In Gonzaga’s win over UVA, the Zags got to the free-throw line 23 times, knocking down 18 freebies – while Virginia went 13-16.  That really is not much of a significant difference, especially considering how wide of a margin Gonzaga won by – but it indicated a potential issue that Notre Dame eventually exposed in getting to the hoop and forcing Virginia to foul.  Against the Fighting Irish, Virginia went 4-8 from the free-throw line – but allowed Notre Dame to go 16-21.

Notre Dame was just so much more aggressive offensively – something that Gonzaga also did – and that ailed Virginia’s stellar defense.  With Virginia’s offensive woes, this could be the kryptonite to Virginia’s defense – and what could ultimately shut them down on both ends.  If the Cavaliers hope to be taken seriously as an ACC – and national – contender, then they will need to clean up their defense around the basket and stop allowing teams free shots.

Virginia will have an opportunity to pick up an even better win over the weekend, hosting a nationally-ranked Virginia Tech squad on Saturday.  A friendly reminder, the Cavaliers shut down the Hokies last year at home in early January, 65-39.  With the Hokies even better this season, Virginia must answer the call if they hope to assert themselves as a real threat in the ACC – and on the national level.