Huge Win 3: The Return of Sammy Z

After bouncing back with a win against BC earlier in the week, UVA's basketball team went down to Raleigh this weekend and escaped with a hugely important win. Despite having the lead for the majority of the game, there can't be anyone who was confident in the team pulling it off until the final horn. NC State swarmed the paint all game, dominating the glass on both ends and out-rebounding the Hoos 42-25. The Pack's athleticism really highlighted the disadvantage Virginia faces now that they're down to eight available scholarship players. Without their 7-footer, the Hoos big men were left winded and in foul trouble, allowing the Pack to run a tip drill every time they missed a shot inside. That all being said, we won. So how'd the guys pull it off?

Mike Scott donates his swag to the less fortunate. (Photo: AP/J.Bounds)

Shooting. That's right, our offense won the game for us. The Hoos shot a cool 44% from the floor for the game, but more importantly, a staggering 46.7% from beyond the arc. After the display the team put on against VPI (and a couple other recent games for that matter), 46.7% ON THE ROAD is nothing short of remarkable. Such is basketball though, droughts come and go. But if this team looked to make the Big Dance in the first time in forever, it needed the drought to end quickly. And boy, did it end convincingly. Zeglinski got back to form, after a stretch of 5-6 games where he couldn't throw the ball in the ocean, Sammy started the game off right by burying a three on the first possession. He finished 4/5 from downtown, while Joe Harris chipped in a couple. With teams focusing on Mike Scott all game, it's absolutely critical that the Hoos score regularly from outside and as we saw against State, outside shooting success can win games. This isn't to say that the team blew it on defense (they held the pack to 13.3% from downtown), but without their sharpshooting, the Hoos go home losers.

No ACC road victory is unimportant, but this one was particularly critical. While the team's record is impressive, the resume is not. After losing to the lowliest-of-lowly Hokies (AT HOME) in what can only be described as "The Worst Display of Anything Remotely Resembling Organized Sports in the History of Things with Long Titles," the Wahoos needed to steal a win away from home against a quality opponent. Recent shellacking by UNC aside, State is a quality team. In fact, if they shot near their usual FT % on Saturday, the Pack would have won. But the Hoos were due a payback poor-shooting game, so it's all a wash to me. By the way, I want to root for the Wolfpack to do well, I generally like their fans and support anyone giving Duke and UNC trouble, but man am I unimpressed with Mark Gottfried. Not that he's a bad coach, but he's teetering towards "unrootable" status as a competitor.

A little too much whining and posturing. (Photo: AP/J.Bounds)

So where does this all leave us? I think Kendall is spot-on in his prediction: if the Wahoos go 6-4 down the stretch, they're definitely in. I'd bet on 5-5 working out for us, but it'd be really stressful up until Selection Sunday. The next step is taking care of business at home tomorrow against Clemson. Unless we steal a game from FSU or UNC, things are going to be really tight down the stretch. Should be fun.