Virginia closed the first half on a 14-2 run, heading to the halftime locker room with an 11-point lead that they would never relinquish. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak, getting the Hoos back in the win column and keeping their ACC title hopes alive. Here are three takeaways from an essential, albeit unconvincing, win.

Virginia has struggled through a rough period, dropping three games in a row over the past couple weeks. They’re back in action against Miami after five days off, seeking an end to the losing streak that has tarnished what was previously a solid season. The Hoos and the Hurricanes will do battle at 6:00 in John Paul Jones Arena, both looking to break their longest losing stretches of the year.

Over the past half-decade or so, Virginia basketball has become known for its winning culture. But unlike one-and-done schools like Duke or Kentucky, Charlottesville has never really been thought of as a breeding ground for future NBA stars. That’s about to change. On opening day of the NBA season, there were 8 Hoos in the NBA, placing Virginia 11th amongst colleges. Guys like Malcolm Brogdon, Joe Harris, and De’Andre Hunter have established themselves as big-time players, while those like Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and Mamadi Diakite play smaller roles but are working their way up. The last few weeks have seen some exciting news pertaining to former UVA players. Let’s take a look at every Wahoo playing pro basketball in America and what they’re doing.

Virginia dropped their third straight game on Wednesday, falling 68-61 to NC State for their first home loss of the season. The Hoos came out flat, digging themselves into a 14-point first half hole that they were never able to climb out of. Read the story here:

Virginia will return to the cozy comforts of John Paul Jones Arena Wednesday night to host NC State after dropping two road games last week. The Hoos are in search of a win to right the ship after the pair of tough losses, and the Wolfpack will provide an ample opportunity to get one. The loss to Duke also means that Virginia has dropped off Florida State’s pace in the ACC title race. The Hoos will have to win their remaining three games and hope that the Seminoles drop one of their last four. A win against NC State would be the start of that streak, and it would help build momentum heading into the conference and national tournaments. Read the rest of the preview here.

Virginia concluded a two-game away stretch with a loss to Duke, falling in the closing seconds as Kihei Clark came up short on a desperation three. The lead seesawed throughout the game, neither team leading by more than six points. It was another close UVA-Duke game in what has become a fascinating annual battle between two of the ACC’s powers. Here are four takeaways from Virginia’s second consecutive loss.

After an embarrassing loss at Florida State on Monday, Virginia will travel to Durham for a matchup with Duke. The Hoos will look to put Monday’s blowout in the rearview mirror and bounce back against a Duke squad that has barely cleared .500 for the season. A win is essential, both for NCAA Tournament seeding and the ongoing ACC title race. Check out the preview ahead of another important game.

Monday’s loss to Florida State had bigger consequences than the embarrassment of being blown out on a national stage. It also got the Seminoles on level terms with Virginia in the ACC loss column, refueling a title race that a Wahoo win could have ended. Virginia now sits at 11-2 in the conference, closely followed by 8-2 Florida State. In a year in which conference champions will be calculated by win percentage, Virginia still controls their own destiny. But the Noles are hot on their heels, and one slip-up in the final four games could cause the regular-season championship banner to hang in Tallahassee for a second straight year. Read on for more on the ACC title race and other topics.

A furious start to the second half proved fruitless as Virginia was unable to recover from a 20-point halftime deficit at Florida State on Monday. The Hoos were absolutely pummeled in the loss, first by the Seminole big men and then by a barrage of threes that was capped off by seven-footer Balsa Koprivica hitting the first triple of his career. For Virginia, it was a squandered opportunity to finally pick up a quality win, something they have tried and failed to do multiple times throughout the season. Here’s what the loss says about the Hoos.