“The Student Section Supports” highlights one game each weekend that is under the national radar and/or has high upset potential. This week we’re looking at one of the more surprising teams since 2010 started, Virginia, getting its chance to keep ahead of the pack in the ACC.
When: Saturday, noon ET.
WAKE FOREST (15-5): Wake defeated Virginia two weeks ago, 69-57. A team I consider similar to Georgia Tech, in that I’m not all that certain which group is going to show up on a given night. These guys gave Miami one of its two ACC wins, after all. If they were to win over the Cavs, they’d own the tiebreaker in the conference and improve to a 6-3 record.
Need to know: Al Farouq-Aminu and Ish Smith are this team. The Demon Deacons are led in six of the nine big statistical categories by those two men. Aminu leads all the ACC with 11.2 rebounds per game. Wake Forest has proved to be a much better rebounding team, in general, than Virginia. In fact, Wake’s 42.6 grabs per game is first in the conference; Virginia’s 35 is last.
Could win because … Not only does Wake have an advantage in rebounding, it also extends its defense well. Teams struggle greatly — shooting less than 30 percent — when it comes to the 3-point shot. Virginia has lived off the 3 this season; no team has shot better in the ACC than the Cavs. A rebounding edge and good 3-point defense sounds like the right mix to knock off the Cavs.
VIRGINIA (14-6): I think we’re all in a little bit of awe at what Tony Bennett has done in Charlottesville. Many thought his choice to leave for Virginia, of all places, was a dumb one. I think we can keep quiet for the time being. We still don’t know what this team’s ceiling is, though. Are they a good enough for Tournament run? Winning the grudge match at home would really, really help.
Need to know: Sylven Landesberg, the sophomore from Flushing, is the motor. Is he the best player on the floor? No way. But he’s got tangible abilities everywhere. Leader in minutes, points and assists and second in rebounds. He has turned the ball over more than anyone else, but it’s just barely two times per game. Not completely detrimental.
Could win because … In typical Bennett fashion, Virginia slows you down, allowing an ACC-best 60.9 PPG. When you’re slowed down, you have trouble building double-digit leads. Plus, UVA is shooting the ball well everywhere on the floor. Free throws, 3s, field goals — the Cavs are at or near the top in every category in the conference. Against quick-strike Wake, if the game is in the 40s with 10 minutes to go, Bennett will be in the spot he wants.
Lots of good under the radar games this week.
Temple goes to Richmond. A Spider win and a Dayton win over Xavier pulls Richmond a half game behind Xavier.
WVU is on upset alert at St Johns. The Johnnies have played pretty good at home and WVU’s reluctance to push the pace feeds right into what St. Johns wants to do.
Mississippi State and Florida playing a bubble game. Only time these teams play (unless SEC tourney) and that’s a huge head to head if it comes down to them for the tourney.
I’ll call it. Princeton beats Harvard tonight to end all this Ivy getting two bid nonsense. If that’s wrong I’ll pretend I didn’t say it. It’s what the experts do.
RS, just realized you’re a Big Lead commenter as well. Thanks for swinging here with some regularity.
I’ll have the Weekend Weave up at 3 p.m. to go through all the weekend. Seems like a down one, overall.
Like your Princeton pick, which means we’ll both be wrong.
You do a good job here. It’s nice to read someone that watches college basketball and not debate for the 9 millionth time about whether the Big 10 is better than the ACC or Duke sucks or doesn’t suck and whatnot.
Didn’t realize you write for The Dagger too. These are the only two college bball blogs I read with regularity. Besides Syracuse specific.
Now let’s watch Jeremy Lin drop 31 on Princeton tonight. Or to be more specific hear about it after it happens. Damn you Ivy league for not playing on TV.
That’s the last time I’ll say that.