Three takeaways from Virginia’s monster win over Baylor

What a win. What a gutsy win.

In five months, when they tell the story of this season, they’ll return to this night. A Friday night. In Las Vegas. Against a college hoops heavyweight bursting with talent. The horrific shadow of a nightmarish week still looming.

It was a three-point game at halftime, and Virginia was pleased just to be in it. 

Then Virginia exploded, a dog suddenly turned free to run giddily after his lost bone. The Hoos looked liberated. The three-point storm of the first couple games swirled unchecked. Virginia surged, going on a 24-2 run that included a 17-0 run.

It was like when your neighbor’s sweet kid dons the terrifying ghoul costume for Halloween. The Hoos were unrecognizable. 

Then they stumbled, allowing Baylor to regain a foothold. The Bears got as close as 79-73, but the Hoos played spotlessly down the stretch to weather the storm and escape victorious. 

It was the type of win that serves as the foundation for success. 

Here are three takeaways.

A man named Armaan, and a hail of threes

After a desolate trek through the desert, Armaan Franklin’s three-pointer has reached the promised land.

Franklin arrived at Virginia a heralded three-point shooter. He drilled 42% of his threes in his second year at Indiana, and he appeared poised for immediate UVA stardom as the latest in a long line of clinical three-point shooters.

Then he failed to eclipse the 30% mark in his first year in Charlottesville. 

This year’s Franklin is, um, improved. 

He connected on 3-6 threes against Baylor and scored 26 points, and he’s shooting 53% from deep on the season (9-17). The startling leap in three-point production has no concrete explanation, except, of course, that Franklin is simply a better shooter, with a smoother stroke, more confidence, and the feel of someone who undoubtedly accumulated hours upon hours of gym time this summer.

Last year, Franklin was the designated three-point shooter, the only player expected to take a high volume of threes. This year is different. Virginia is shooting 52% from three on the season—and no, that’s not a typo. Last year? 32%. Quite a shift, even if it’s been just three games.

Most of the players who step on the floor for Virginia are proficient from deep. Only the two big men, Francisco Caffaro and Kadin Shedrick, and Jayden Gardner are not threats from deep.

The threes are the clearest thing spurring Virginia’s early-season resurgence.

A well-oiled, well-drilled defense

Baylor has wizened leaders—LJ Cryer, Adam Flagler, Flo Thamba—and a sparkling freshman—Keyonte George. KenPom ranks the Bears the second-most efficient offense in the nation.

And in an 11-minute stretch, from the end of the first half to midway through the second, Baylor scored 5 points. Just 5. On a jumper, a layup and a free throw.

Virginia’s defense stifled the Bears. And sure, Baylor recovered to drop 46 points in the second half, mounting a furious comeback. But the bulk of those came with Virginia sitting atop a 20ish-point buffer. Baylor had nothing to lose. 

Defense was a surprising vulnerability last season. Not anymore.

So, how much does this mean?

I always preach cautious optimism after early-season triumphs, no matter how stirring. Every team has its Achilles’ heel, and it takes more than three games to manifest. Virginia certainly will suffer setbacks this season.

Still, this is promising. Virginia’s start to the season has been the most convincing among ACC teams, the Hoos are coalescing nicely, and national attention is coming.

Sunday will unveil new truths about this Virginia team.

Virginia is back in action on Sunday against No. 19 Illinois. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET and air on ESPN.

Image – Virginia Athletics