The Plus/Minus: Virginia Crashes and Burns in NCAA Tournament

Virginia’s foray into the NCAA Tournament ended before it started as Colorado State crushed the Hoos 67-42

The 2023-2024 Virginia men's basketball season came to a disastrous end on Tuesday night in Dayton, as the Cavaliers were crushed by Colorado State 67-42 in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. Val has the Plus/Minus to break down UVA's final game of the season. 

Minus

If I told you that Virginia took nine more shots than Colorado State, had more rebounds on the offensive glass, had a 13-4 turnover advantage, outscored the Rams at the free throw line, and held Isaiah Stevens to just five points, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Cavaliers won this game, or at the very least, were competitive. You would be wrong. Virginia was down 27-14 at the half, (and as my buddy Bruce texted me, “Somehow it’s only 27 – 14) and Colorado State proceeded to open the second frame on an 8-0 run.

Minus

Reece Beekman, who did score 15 points, and Isaac McKneely combined to shoot 6/29. That’s 21%. If I round up. Jacob Groves, who had given this team a spark off the bench as recently as Boston College in the ACC Tourney, went 1/8 and missed all four of his free throws. As a team, Virginia shot 25% from the floor and 17% from deep. Groves and McKneely each airballed threes, Beekman and Taine Murray airballed pull up jumpers, and Ryan Dunn airballed a free throw. It was a really ugly night.

Minus

For a team that has built its rise to prominence on the principles of the Pack Line, Virginia was out-defensed by Colorado State. Every Colorado State player was quicker than any Cavalier. Nique Clifford lost McKneely twice beyond the three-point line, and McKneely made him pay, but for the most part, Clifford won the battle by consistently running McKneely off the line. Murray never got open for a clean three and neither did Groves. Groves shot anyway because UVA was getting boat raced, but he wasn’t effective either.

Minus

Virginia’s almost 13-minute scoring drought was so embarrassing, that at one point, the CBS chyron timed the drought to real time. “Last Virginia Score: 9:48 PM ET.” Getting dissed by the CBS graphics guys is a new low.

Plus

Beekman was the lone bright spot, as he so often has been this season. Given his travails at the free-throw line against NC State, he had a great outing at the line, going 7/7. For the umpteenth time this season, he shut out the other team’s lead guard, this time shutting down Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens and holding him to just five points. But he just didn’t have any help. For the umpteenth time. Dunn, Minor and Buchanan, in a combined 57 minutes of game time accounted for just 14 points.

More: Matt’s got the game-report here.

Minus

CBS announcer Jim Spanarkel, summing it all up for Virginia at the half: “We knew about their [Virginia’s] offensive issues, but that was another level.” It was entirely fitting that Virginia ended their season with another 20+ point loss.

Minus

Colorado State’s Nique Clifford had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists (or as many as Virginia totaled for the game.) He’s a transfer. Joel Scott, who was the game-high scorer with 23 points and 11 rebounds, is a transfer. There’s talent to be mined in the transfer portal, but for the most part, Virginia’s transfers have been underwhelming this season. Andrew Rohde, Dante Harris, Minor and Groves have been middling at best this season and on this night, they pored in a collective 12 points. This is a major challenge for Tony Bennett going forward. It might not be in his skill set to recruit via the portal. Where he has succeeded, Bennett has identified talent early and built a relationship over time. Bennett’s most successful transfers, Braxton Key and Anthony Gill among them, were recruited by Bennett early on, and when they hit road bumps, came to Virginia. Rebuilding through the portal doesn’t allow for this long-term approach. Though this early exit will allow Bennett an early jump on transfer season.

Minus

It’s time for Bennett to nix the casual look. Peak Bennett era was defined by him wearing a coat and tie, which he did through three ACC regular season titles, two ACC tournament championships, and a pair of #1 seeds. He did drop the tie for the championship year and the COVID-aborted season, but since then he’s been donning coach casual wear. Bennett needs to shake something up, and since I don’t think he’ll let the team have orange uniforms, maybe it should start with him.

Next Up? Well, why not watch the women, who play on Thursday, hosting High Point at the JPJ. Game time is 7:00pm and, thankfully, you’ll find it on ESPN+. The women are a flawed team too, but they play harder than the men, have much better inside-out balance, are a force on the offensive boards, and they can actually shoot free throws. I guarantee you it will be a better game.

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