Virginia Basketball: 3 takeaways from a disappointing home loss to North Carolina

2. Elijah Gertrude's increased role

For the first time all year, freshman guard Elijah Gertrude got meaningful minutes on the floor, as he played for 19 minutes during Saturday's game. While his statline (1-7 from the floor and 4-8 from the free throw line) are far from ideal, Gertrude brought a new dynamic to the lineup on both ends of the ball.

On the offensive end, he added plenty of speed and athleticism and proved to be solid at driving to the rim, drawing fouls, and getting to the free throw line. His eight free throw attempts were more than the rest of the team had combined throughout the entire night. While he still looks a little raw (to be expected for most first-year players), he also proved that he belongs in the rotation every game, and perhaps in the starting lineup. Should Gertrude improve his FG and FT percentages moving forward, he will be a vital piece of the Cavs' offense both this year and in the coming years.

Gertrude's presence also showed on defense, as he played a key role in not only containing North Carolina guard RJ Davis - who shot just 1-14 from the field, but containing the Tar Heels offense as a whole. On top of this, Gertrude had two steals, tied with Dante Harris for the most of anyone on the team and also was able to grab three rebounds, including one offensive board.

While it may have only been one game, there is a lot to be excited about with Gertrude, and don't be surprised to see him have a significant role moving forward.