Virginia Basketball looks to stifle Jason Preston and Ohio

By Karl Heiser | Mar 20, 2021

Mar 11, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett talks to his team during a timeout as his team plays the Syracuse Orange during the second half in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. The Virginia Cavaliers won 72-69. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /

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Florida State Seminoles M.J. Walker Virginia Cavaliers Casey Morsell Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Defend the Three

The Pack Line defense often has issues with teams who are willing to chuck up shots from deep. As a defensive system designed to force the outside shot and limit paint penetration, that’s a natural weakness. This season, UVA is 1-3 against teams who are in the nation’s top 100 for three-point percentage. Ohio is a top-100 three-point shooting team.

This might be a game where Virginia has to adapt and defend the three a little more than they may be accustomed to. They will have the freedom to do so because Ohio doesn’t really have any players who will be able to body up Hauser or Huff in the paint.

The Ohio Bobcats are willing and able to take outside shots. Other than Preston, they have a number of capable shooters on the wings, including Ben Vander Plas and Ben Roderick. They also really like to move the ball around to get open shots on the perimeter. If the Bobcats shoot with the efficiency they are capable of, Virginia will have to capitalize on their own offensive possessions to avoid upset.

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The Virginia Cavaliers are capable of making a run in the tournament if they remain efficient on offense and maximize Tony Bennett’s defensive system. They look to avoid an upset against the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, March 20 at 7:15 PM on truTV.

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