The Plus/Minus: Virginia Stumbles Late Against Clemson
Virginia erased a 10-point fourth quarter deficit and temporarily took the lead, but stumbled down the stretch and ultimately suffered a 75-69 loss to Clemson on Sunday evening at John Paul Jones Arena. Val's back with the Plus/Minus to break down the game.
Minus
It was a weekend double header against Clemson. The men survived a nailbiter at Littlejohn while the women failed to hold serve at the JPJ. Virginia squandered a career night from Sam Brunelle, some timely shooting from Cady Pauley, another strong outing from Kymora Johnson, and failed to take advantage of a Clemson team that had been winless on the road.
Plus
There is some life left in the legs of Sam Brunelle. Brunelle had easily her best game of the season as she played a season-high 37 minutes. Brunelle was lethal from deep (6/11) as she scored 24 points, the most she’s scored since her freshman year, and she had four blocks on the defensive end. As Brunelle has battled with injuries all season, her minutes and her production have been wildly erratic, but on this night she looked like the McDonald’s All American that she once was.
Plus
Kymora Johnson picked up her second foul late in the first quarter. Coach Agugua-Hamilton, a pretty firm believer in the two-fouls-before-halftime-sits-you-on-the-bench rule, started Johnson in the second quarter. Mo did pick up her third foul late in the second frame, but for the most part, she rewarded Coach Mox’s faith in her as she avoided that fourth foul. Johnson scored 24 points (the fourth time in five games she’s gone over 22 points.) Johnson pulled down five rebounds and had eight assists. Camryn Taylor has missed the last two games due to injury, but it is fair to say that this is Kymora Johnson’s team now.
Minus
This team needs Cam Taylor to come back. Edessa Noyan is picking up some valuable minutes and she’s an effective post player, but she’s not there yet.
London Clarkson is better at coming off the bench than as a starter. Virginia, the best rebounding team in the ACC when Taylor is healthy, was punished on the boards – a 30-41 deficit and only 8 second chance points – and in the paint – 24 points to Clemson’s 28 points.
Yonta Vaughn is now on her fifth missed game in a row since entering concussion protocols. That must have been one helluva knock.
Minus
Virginia had no answer for Clemson’s Dayshanette Harris who was in a higher gear than maybe anyone we’ve seen all year. Harris did most of her damage in the first quarter as she displayed a blazing first step, as well as a propensity to go to her right.
Harris blitzed everyone in the first half, but in the second half, Coach Mox put Paris Clark on her. (I’m not sure why it took so long, Clark is UVA's best perimeter defender.) In the fourth quarter though, Clark repeatedly dared Harris to go to the right (maybe Clark was expecting help) and she did, getting to the line at will. Harris had a lot of referee assistance on the night. She drew an astronomical 15 fouls and I would say that half of them were extremely generous. She had a poor night at the line, 11/16, or the score could have been even worse.
Plus
Cady Pauley finally had the shooting night that Cavalier Nation has hoped she would. Pauley drained back-back threes (the second in perfect transition) to give the Cavaliers their first lead since the game was 10-9 in the first. Pauley has the stroke and Coach Mox plays everyone. The team needs more of this going forward.
Note, this is a superlative fast break. Clark is wide left, Pauley finds her spot on the right and Noyan is filling the center lane. Johnson has lots of options on this break.
More: Matt's game report and reaction from Mox and the players.
Minus
Virginia had a reasonable night shooting from three: 10/26. This team is rounding into form from beyond the arc, and three-point shooting is vital in the 21st Century. But ultimately this game was lost at the charity stripe. Virginia took just 9 free throws to Clemson’s 28. Yeah, the refs were kind to Clemson, but Harris took the ball to the paint. On a night when refs were sending every touch to the line, Virginia could have been a little more aggressive.
And this, of course, is what makes basketball such a challenge, and makes commentators like yours truly look foolish. Many is the time this season that I’ve been critical of Cavaliers putting the ball on the deck and charging into set defenders, and now here I am advocating they take the ball to the rim. One a night they shot 38% from deep no less. There are no hard and fast rules and the most effective strategy can change from quarter to quarter. This is a young team. Hopefully they can learn from this one.
Next Up: Virginia travels to Boston College on Thursday, February 8th. Game time is 6pm and the game is on the ACC Network.
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