Virginia’s late-game strategy open to question
Events of the past week have only served to reinforce an opinion I’ve held for many years.
While games against opponents like North Carolina and Duke bring out the fans and increase media attention, just as important for the Virginias of the men’s basketball world are match-ups with the likes of Wake Forest, Clemson and Georgia Tech, particularly on the road.
UVa (20-10, 10-7 ACC) put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy this week when it dropped road games to Boston College 53-52 and Florida State 53-51. The Cavaliers earlier had beaten both of those teams in Charlottesville, by 14 and 20 points, respectively.
At the beginning of the week, there was a four-way tie for eighth place in the ACC between Clemson, Boston College, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. Know what else those teams had in common? All of them owned home-floor victories over Virginia.
What has to be so maddening for UVa fans is that virtually all of the losses have gone down to the wire. In its last three road games, Virginia has gone into the last 10 seconds of the game either tied or with the lead and the Cavaliers have come out 0-3.
Moreover, none of the games has gone to overtime. Miami hit the go-ahead basket with 5.9 seconds left in a 54-50 victory in Coral Gables, Fla., Boston College went ahead on a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left and Florida State scored with 4.4 seconds left.
On top of that, Virginia didn’t get off a shot at the end of any of those three games. Paul Jesperson threw away an inbounds pass at Miami, Jontel Evans dribbled out of bounds at Boston College and Joe Harris lost control of the ball while headed upcourt Thursday.
FOR THE SECOND GAME in a row, UVa coach Tony Bennett conceded Thursday night that maybe he could have called a late-game timeout.
Actually, he did call a timeout following a Michael Snaer free throw with 4.4 seconds left Thursday, but where the Cavaliers really needed a timeout was on the next-to-last possession.
UVa, leading 51-50, had rebounded a Michael Snaer miss with 59 seconds but all it had to show for the ensuing possession was an off-balance lay-up attempt by Akil Mitchell, forced to improvise when the original play fell apart.
Senior point guard Jontel Evans had the ball out front, as he usually does, with the plan to get the ball to leading scorer Joe Harris. It was pretty easy to figure out that the Cavaliers wanted to get the ball to Harris, or at least the Seminoles figured it out.
Bennett had enough timeouts remaining that, when the original play broke down, he could have called a timeout with 35-40 seconds remaining and set up another play.
There was a similar situation on a late possession in the Boston College game, when Evans was obliged to throw up a desperation shot at the end of the shot clock, only to dive to the floor, grab the ball and call a timeout before the Eagles could tie him up.
ALL SEASON LONG, at least that part of the season since Evans’ permanent return from foot surgery, he has been the go-to guy at the end of the shot clock.
When 10 seconds remain, the Cavaliers spread the floor and Evans drives into the lane, either drawing a defender and passing to a teammate, passing to the wing for a 3-pointer or taking the shot himself.
Sometimes the shots have fallen but the slightest bit of attention from a taller post player reduces the chance for success. Nobody plays harder than Evans and nobody cares more, but when he’s the No. 1 option at the end of the shot clock, that’s risky.
Opponents show such disregard for Evans’ offense in the halfcourt that he can be standing 1-2 steps inside the 3-point line and his defender will have his heels to the lane. There were numerous occasions Thursday night when the Seminoles seemed to be playing 5-on-4.
VIRGINIA DOESN’T HAVE many options at point guard and Evans’ defense and ball-handling make him practically indispensable. But having the offense go through him in these late-game situations doesn’t seem like the best strategy.
Going into Sunday’s regular-season finale against visiting Maryland, the Cavaliers are 1-6 in games that have been decided by four points or fewer and are 2-8 in games decided by six points or fewer.
Given those numbers, it’s a wonder UVa is in the NCAA conversation at all.
March 8, 2013 - 7:53 PM
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I don’t want to throw Tony Bennett under the bus, but our next to last posession against Fla. State I found myself almost screaming at the tv, for a timeout. I think it was a mistake not calling one, but Bennett in my opinion is an outstanding coach and recruiter, at least we are in the conversation at tournament time. Time will tell but he could end up being the best coach we’ve had.
Perhaps Bennett should confer with Mike London on game ending time out strategies.
Frankly, it’s a wonder that Virginia hasn’t hired Doug to coach both football and basketball. He seems to have all of the answers. I am sure Virginia still regrets not retaining Danny Wilmer. So in the instance of the FSU game, had Virginia scored on its next to last possession, is there even really a story here?
Also would like to know why Evans who is not a shooter has the ball when shot clock is winding down under 10 seconds. Ball should be in the hands of Harris or Anderson who both have pull up jumpers or can drive and get fouled. This is a mystery to me and others who watch the Hoos. Also, it looks like Anderson has lost his aggressive play from earlier in the season.
I don’t get the consistent refusal to go 2-for-1 in end-of-half or end-of-game situations. With 59 secs left @ Fla State, we could have gotten at least as good of a shot as we ended up getting with over 40 seconds left. Fla State could not have held for a last shot then.
We never seem to execute a set play at end of half either. Sort of confusing that we don’t substitiute offense (Barnette/Jones) for defense (Evans) on dead balls at the end of half or game.
But, as The Chief told me many times previously concerning a different sporting circumstance – I am not a pilot…
10-4
I love Coach Bennett, but how many times does Jontel Evans have to prove that having the ball in the hands of your worst offensie player in the final seconds is a recipe for disaster? If your play is have somebody make something happen give it to Justin Anderson. He will get a shot off, and he’s a great passer.
I am doing something I haven’t done in 40 years. Go Hokies beat the Wolfpack!
End of game play to go into overtime after Bennett timeout against Maryland was to Tobey, fantastic catch and finish. The freshmen have grown up; they need to be allowed to play offense without fear, especially Tobey and Anderson who are both capable and Nolte can contribute as can Teven to spell Jontel. Hope the Hoos are up to their next game as it likely will be a road game in Carolina against the Pack.
I think Tony Bennett is an excellent coach and recruiter and I think AD Craig Littlepage made an excellent long-term hire.
Virginia did exceed all preseason expectations and still just might squeeze into the NCAA Big Dance on Sunday, but, the glaring weakness for this team is a point guard.
I like Jontel Evans and he is one helluva “defensive” player, but, I agree with an earlier post, that there were a few games that UVA “should” have won that were close………Evans made some late-game bad decisions in a lot of those games, but, the most glaring was at the end of the Fla State game…..Evans chose, for some reason, to dribble right into a 3-man trap, and worst of all, he drove right to the baseline where he had nowhere else to go?????
With the talent returning next year, and with the new recruits, especially point guard Devon Hall from Virginia, the Cavaliers should be even better!!!
Go Hoos!!!
Doug, you should not have grown the beard. It makes you look older, at least 45.
I agree with Doug. Evans always seem to be the go-to guy when the shot and game clock is running out. He almost always drives and misses a wild shot instead of looking to set up a better shooter. He is also a terrible free throw shooter so fouling him is a good option. Do not dismiss Jesperson as a major concern. He continually misses key wide open 3-pointers and his defense is suspect. Put Tobey in as starter with Anderson, Harris, Mitchell, and Evans. Stop making Evans the go-to guy with the shot clock running out. If he could only shoot the 3-ball what a different team UVA would be.
I think Jontel would have had a much better career if he had chose football!!…..I watched him play at Bethel H.S. in Hampton in the tough Peninsula District and he was one of the best running backs in the Eastern Region………
At least he will have a degree from the University of Virginia – he still will be successful!…….But, oh, the “what if”!!!???
Doug you are so irritating. We’re in the conversation because we finished 4th in the ACC were 21-11 beat Duke UNC NCSU Wisc, MD twice. Why are you such a jackass towards Virginia? Didnt you go there? Just cover tech sports if you dont like us. Get someone new to write about virginia, or even better just dont do it at all because yall show such blatant bias
I don’t think I ever said that Virginia didn’t belong in the conversation.