The Virginia Cavaliers have fallen on hard times, as they have lost four straight and are now 2-6 in their last eight games after falling to Miami at home on Monday.
Under Tony Bennett, defense has always been excellent, leading the nation in points allowed for several years and doing it again this season as well. But what has been different this season that has allowed Virginia to fall to 18-9 this season and on their recent skid?
You have to look at the offense and the struggles they have faced this season. Virginia ranks 303rd in the nation, averaging 67 points per game this season but in their six losses recently, the Cavaliers have averaged 57 points (48 points per game in their last three).
The one main factor for the Cavaliers this season is the lack of players that can create and score on their own. Last year, Malcolm Brogdon was that dude, along with Anthony Gill providing the threat down low. This year, the one name that may come to mind is London Perrantes but after that, there aren’t too many options after him that can create for themselves right now. Keying on Perrantes though has been tough, as he is shooting 41 percent from the floor and only 36.7 percent from three (compared to 49 percent last year).
But overall as a team, they aren’t getting the job done. Virginia doesn’t have the size to attack the boards (32.9 rebounds per game this season, which ranks them 308th in the nation), providing them second chance points. And as a team, the Cavaliers are shooting 47 percent on the year and 37 percent from three (49 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three, while averaging 71 points per game).
The fact is is that Virginia lacks players that can create and take over a game, with only one player averaging double-figures this season and something they have had in the past. Virginia still has young talent that can produce and develop but Tony Bennett and company are in need of a play-maker or what looked to be a successful season could end quite early.
Editor's Note
A graph I tweeted last night showing how Virginia's eFG% has particularly fallen off
To say that Virginia's eFG% has plummeted the last few games is an understatement pic.twitter.com/66lGhXiYiP
— Jon Pence (@scacchoops) February 21, 2017
