Virginia Basketball: 3 takeaways from commanding win over No. 12 Clemson

3. It only took until now, but the Cavaliers finally looked like the team with national title hopes

To say this has been a frustrating season for the Cavaliers is a bit of an understatement.  Virginia entered the year ranked fourth nationally, and were selected as the preseason favorite in the ACC, earning 2214 total votes and 97 first-place – ahead of Duke’s 2146 and 34.

But after Virginia’s romping of Towson in their season-opener, things went up and down – first, they lost to San Francisco in Bubbleville, were taken to overtime at home by Kent State, and were decimated by Gonzaga all within a month’s span.  Those games were surrounded by substantial blowouts of Saint Francis and William & Mary – neither win particularly noteworthy.

It was not until the Cavaliers began ACC play to finally look the part of a team that could compete in the conference, opening the stretch with wins over Notre Dame twice, Wake Forest, and Boston College.  Again, none of those wins are spectacular – those are the three weakest teams in the ACC.  That is not a knock against Virginia, considering the conference schedule was set up for them – but it, understandably so, caused reservations about Virginia’s chances heading into this game with Clemson.

But those concerns have subsided with Virginia’s win over Clemson.  Virginia’s offensive stats now resemble those of the 2019 title team, ranking in the top 30 in 3P%, 2P%, and FT%, as well as climbing from 33rd to 11th in offensive efficiency.  Defensively, the Cavaliers have also climbed from 14th to ninth.

It might be too early to tell – and there might be some reservations considering Clemson was coming off an extensive break – but this is the most optimistic a Virginia fan has probably felt all season, and it is completely reasonable why.  Virginia’s following games will provide even better examples for the Cavaliers’ postseason aspirations – but this one bodes well for those expectations.

Without a doubt, this was Virginia’s best performance of the year – and the flourishment of Woldetensae and Beekman, among others, could be the start of a resurgence for a squad that entered the year with national championship expectations.