Massive. Incredible. Electrifying. All of these adjectives would do a good job of describing Virginia’s 61-56 home win against fifth-ranked Florida State. I prefer to go with a much simpler word: Wow. Wow wow wow. The Hoos impressed with their three-point shooting, the Noles impressed with their ability to make impossible shots over the outstretched arms of UVA defenders. It was an all-around fantastic game. And while Virginia has been in a few of those this year, they finally walked out of the biggest one yet with a win. And it started with Tony Bennett’s trademark defense.
In their last four games, Florida State has been under 56 points twice, and above 83 twice. If you have to guess which team the former two were against you haven’t been watching enough Virginia basketball. Virginia held FSU to 38.9% shooting from the field, well below their season average. Doing that to a team being heralded as a potential one seed is no mean feat. This was Virginia defense at its finest, clean and simple.
Something that hasn’t been simple for Virginia this season is scoring very many points of their own. And while they still haven’t surpassed the 65-point mark this year, it may have been the best offensive performance thus far. Save for the turnovers–which Hoo fans may have to simply accept at this point–the Hoos did as much as one could expect of them this year. They shot it well, shooting 41% from three and 43% from the field. Even more importantly, they converted their opportunities from the charity stripe, shooting 87%, a part of basketball they’ve been truly terrible at as of late. It wasn’t just great shooting though, there was some really great individual play tonight.
Mamadi Diakite had the game of his season, no question, with 19 points. The senior also went 4 of 4 on free throws, 3 of 3 on threes, and pulled down 9 rebounds. This is the Mamadi Diakite that was named to the preseason All-ACC first team. This is the Mamadi that needs to show up to every game for Virginia. The same must be true for Braxton Key. Going for 13 points with 9 rebounds, and a questionable ripped jersey, Braxton had perhaps his best game of the season.
On paper, Kihei Clark does not join his teammates in having season-best games. But Kihei was incredible. Yes, he missed all of his 4 three-point attempts and only made 4 out of his 12 field goals. Yes, he had four turnovers. But it’s not always about numbers and figures typed onto a stat sheet. Sometimes, it’s about heart and belief in yourself to get the job done. Tonight was one of those nights for Kihei Clark.
On very few Virginia possessions in the final five minutes did somebody without the number 0 on their backs make a move towards the basket. It was all Kihei. After being mauled by a 7-footer with seven minutes to go, the 5′ 9″ guard got up, dusted himself off, made two free throws, and promptly took over the game. He’s received so much criticism this year, a good chunk of it fairly. But at the end of the day, Kihei believed in himself, and that’s what matters.
It wasn’t just him that believed, and worked their tails off to win the game. Virginia as a team won the rebounding battle by 13. For added context, Florida State is the tallest team in Division 1 college basketball, and the Hoos just out-rebounded them by 13. That speaks to their mental state of mind. It was determination, and the will to win above all else that helped Virginia tonight. One could see it when Jay Huff was noticeably frustrated about a missed and-one call, or when Braxton Key ripped his jersey in emotion.
In the end, the difference between the fifth-ranked team in the nation and the defending national champs was not shooting, defending, or assists. It was the will to win, and the belief that they could do so, that added an important tick to the Hoos’ win column.