Virginia plunges into the morass

We begin, today, with a meditation on the state of a fanbase.

The good people of Facebook, perhaps rightfully, slammed The Packline last week for posting an article under the words: “Does Virginia suck?” 

The good people of Facebook hated that. They called it clickbait, railed against spoiled Wahoo fans, lambasted The Packline for its stupidity. But, after narrow wins over feckless Notre Dame and rudderless Louisville, it was an honest question. 

On Wednesday we got an answer. Need I spell it out? 

Virginia scored 48 points. Boston College scored 63. A loss. To a team that sits at 14-15 and 8-10 in the ACC. Right after a 3-point win over 4-24 Louisville (2-15 ACC) and a 2-point win over 10-17 Notre Dame (2-14 ACC).

Inconceivable. Especially for a team that ascended the rankings after thunderous early wins. The run of horrible form has produced one indelible question. 

What the hell happened?

In short, nothing. Nothing happened from last season to this one. It’s the same team. The same team that puttered through the season and meandered into the NIT.

The difference, early in this season, was that Virginia had already gelled. The Hoos returned a full team, all the puzzle pieces already in their places. Other teams still had to unbox those pieces, lay out the corners, fit the pieces together. Virginia had an ephemeral advantage over those unassembled teams. 

Virginia entered the season as one of the most experienced teams in the nation, so it made sense that the Hoos would be good early on. They just haven’t progressed.

Need another metaphor?

Virginia summited its mountain early, at a time when most teams had hardly climbed a foot up theirs. And when the rest of the country began its trek apace, Virginia realized its mountain had been a hill all along.

There are other issues, of course, more transient ones. 

Virginia shot horribly on Wednesday, going 19-51 from the field (32%) and 4-21 from three-point range (19%). The free-throw plague has tightened its slimy fingers around Virginia’s throat. Reece Beekman, heralded as the one to rescue a lagging team, has faded, has lost his assertiveness and his lifelong ability to finish simple layups. Kadin Shedrick has gone MIA, scarcely playing for a coach who has embraced a small lineup with innumerable flaws. 

The list goes on.

Virginia’s KenPom ranking has, in the last week, tumbled from 17 to 23 to 32. It was as high as 4 early in the season. Now it’s in freefall. 

If this all sounds a bit doomy and gloomy, that’s for a reason. Virginia has recently appeared equivalent to three teams destined to miss the NCAA Tournament and, yes, the NIT, too. There’s time for improvement, time for a turnaround.

But it’s been bad. Really bad. 

Image – Virginia Athletics