NC State vs. UVA: Quick Hits

NC State @ #3 Virginia
7pm | ESPN2 | Charlottesville, Va

An opportunity and challenge awaits the Pack this Wednesday as they travel north to face the Cavaliers in John Paul Jones Arena. Tony Bennett’s squad is unbeaten on the season and ranked 3rd in the AP Top 25. The Cavs are ranked 2nd nationally in points allowed, at a stingy 50.8 points per contest. There are many qualities that Coach Bennett instills into his players. You can always expect his teams to be disciplined both offensively and defensively. There are few teams as sound defensively as the Wahoos. When Bennett arrived on campus he began to build a powerhouse defensively and has used this to rebuild Virginia into a Nationally Ranked team. Each and every season Bennett has increased his wins total, this is an astonishing feat!

Much like his teams of the past, this years team is constructed in a similar fashion. The most dynamic player for the Cavs is Justin Anderson. Standing at 6-6 230 pounds Anderson is a daunting presence on the perimeter. Not only does Anderson lead the Cavaliers in points (15.1) but he is shooting an outrageous 56% from the field and an ever more absurd 58% from three. The only reason UVA escaped Coral Gables with a win is because Anderson made three straight free throws and a difficult three-pointer as time was ticking down. He forced the game into overtime and the Cavs were able to outlast Miami.

Flanking Anderson are a multitude of role players who play within themselves. In my opinion this is what sets UVA apart from many other teams in college. You will not see many ill advised shots or players trying to do too much. They play their roles beautifully and when their number is called they respond.

Against Miami London Perrantes scored a game high 26 points despite only averaging 5.1 points on the season. Throughout the game his teammates kept feeding his hot hand without delay. Malcolm Brogdon joins Perrantes in the backcourt. At 6-5 the Junior is steady with his ball handling and a mismatch as he will play point at times. Mike Tobey and Anthony Gill control the paint for the Wahoos. Standing 7 feet tall Tobey is skilled and smart. He does a great job at altering shots and has a silky touch around the basket. Tobey is a finesse player; however, Gill is a physical forward using his girth to out muscle opponents. Gill is averaging 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds thus far.

Outside of Anderson not one player will wow you in any particular category. Bennett likes for his teams to be well rounded. Think of the Cavs as a swiss army knife capable of playing a multitude of styles, yet they thrive in a half-court battle. They love being able to set up their half-court defense and out execute their opponents on offense.

NC State must push the tempo and not allow UVA the opportunity to set up defensively. State’s best chance at escaping Charlottesville with a win is to turn the game into a track meet! If we can push the tempo and have the game played in the high 70s and low 80s I like our chances. Miami did a great job at imposing their pace on UVA this past Saturday. Miami wasn’t able to come away with a win but they pushed the Cavs to the brink of defeat. Look for Gottfried to push the pace and use a smaller line up to create mismatches for the Wahoos.

Will State come away with a big time win this Wednesday? You can check out the action on ESPN2 at 7PM.