Thanks to a two-game Virginia Cavaliers losing streak, things were beginning to look wide open for the likes of Miami and Louisville to keep pace with the perceived top of the ACC. But, as we’ve come to know about Tony Bennett teams, things would not prove to be so simple.
Bennett and company reminded the conference of that with a 66-58 win over the visiting Hurricanes on Tuesday night, getting a big night from their big three of Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, and London Perrantes–the three combined for 48 points with 20 of them coming from the first team All-American, Brogdon.
The Cavaliers used an 11-2 run in the second half to turn the tide and regain the lead over UM, never surrendering it over the final seven minutes, but were once again unable to put a team away.
Angel Rodriguez turned in 17 points for the Hurricanes, who had won seven straight games coming into the night. Sheldon McClellan contributed 13 points as well, but it simply wasn’t enough. Miami shot just 27.3-percent from deep and missed seven of their 17 free throws, keeping them just far enough out of reach to stifle their late rallies.
Virginia pulled back within two games of conference leaders North Carolina, Pitt, and Duke, and are looking at a six game stretch until they finally have to meet with any of the three, a February 6 date at the Panthers. While they do travel to Louisville in that span, their upcoming schedule presents as good of an opportunity as any to right their ship and shope up any leaks before the meat of the ACC approaches. Along with North Carolina and Duke, UVA was considered an ACC frontrunner coming into the season but have yet to display the kind of consistency needed to keep those beliefs alive for most outside of their locker room and fan base.
