The three-seeded Virginia Cavaliers fell 79-72 to the six-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night. Following a five point deficit at halftime, Virginia sprung back into the picture. After a back-and-forth second half, Tennessee spent much of the final minute at the free-throw line – expanding Virginia’s final deficit.
Thijs De Ridder was Virginia’s MVP, leading the team with 22 points at 4-of-6 from three. He came alive in the second half – tying the game twice at the free-throw line and hitting a three to secure Virginia’s first lead of the half. De Ridder supplied and carried the team’s momentum, often hyping them up from the court between plays.
Dallin Hall was another change maker. While he had a modest seven points, he tallied seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block.
Tennessee played tight interior defense, with the ‘Hoos struggling to penetrate. The ‘Hoos hit only eight points in the paint in the first half, compared to Tennessee’s 18. Virginia, outsized in the post, lived behind the arc for most of this one.
The Cavaliers adjusted with more baseline cuts to the basket. But once down low, most of the guards shrunk under the mismatch and often faced a Tennessee double team, kicking it back out for the outside shots.
In fact, Virginia shot only 39% for the night, while Tennessee hit 47%.
Virginia suffered about a five-minute scoring drought in the first half, but Jacari White supplied some life off the bench for the ‘Hoos, hitting a three to give Virginia their first lead of the game 17-14. White kept Virginia in the game early with 12 points and two threes, but later went scoreless in the second half.
Tennessee executed a clean set offense in the first half. The Vols had a collective 20 assists on the night (compared to Virginia’s 12), often lobbing it down low to capitalize on their size in the post. The Tennessee offense thrived off their picks – setting off-ball screens for the open drive to the basket or on-ball screens to give the shooter some space.
Plus, Tennessee had several momentum-assuring blocks that continued to weigh on Virginia’s offensive confidence. By the end of the night, Tennessee served Virginia some of its own medicine with six blocks against the ‘Hoos.
Despite their offensive frustration, the ‘Hoos closed the half within five points, 36-31.
Virginia was a renewed team in the second half. They played with energy and emotion, their shots began to fall, and they limited turnovers.
Late in the second, Sam Lewis was called for a shove and dead-ball technical foul, his second of the NCAA tournament. But, after Tennessee missed one of the free throws, De Ridder responded with a three, followed by a strong drive by Hall. The ‘Hoos were fired up, and initiated their comeback.
The game was within reach for the ‘Hoos. It was a two-point game with five minutes left in regulation. Virginia’s defense stepped up with a full-court press and the sideline trap. Tennessee turned the ball over on the inbound play, giving Virginia the chance to take their first lead of the half 71-70 off of De Ridder’s three-pointer. Virginia then fouled, sending Tennessee to the line to make one-of-two.
The Volunteers led 72-71 with 90 seconds in regulation. On the next possession, Mallory missed a critical layup under the basket in a mismatch. Tennessee called their final timeout.
With time running out, Virginia’s momentum started to slip.
Mallory committed a foul on a loose-ball chase, sending Tennessee to the line with 46.8 seconds on the clock. After a close but ultimately unfavorable possession review for the ‘Hoos, the last half minute of regulation was a long series of missed Virginia opportunities and Tennessee free throws. Eventually, Virginia closed the game with a turnover straight into the hands of the Vols off the in-bound play.
Despite a hard-fought game – and an especially hard-fought second half – Virginia fell 79-72 to Tennessee. The six-point loss, however, doesn’t represent how close the comeback felt for Virginia.
While head coach Ryan Odom and the ‘Hoos close out a bounce back season for the program, Tennessee moves on to the Sweet 16, where they will play Iowa State on Friday