Virginia Men’s Basketball Loses Play-in Game 67-42 in Offensive Catastrophe

The Impractical Jokers ad that aired halfway through the second half of Tuesday’s First Four matchup was very emblematic of the UVA men’s basketball team’s performance: laughable. The 10 seed play-in game pitted the Colorado State Rams (24-10, 10-8 MWC) against the Cavaliers (23-10, 13-7 ACC). Playing for an opportunity to face off against the 7-seeded Texas Longhorns in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday, the Rams controlled the entirety of what proved to be an evening of misery for Cavalier fans and general viewers alike in what ended as a 67-42 rout.

The game got off to an incredibly slow start for both teams—the first possession of the game ended in a shot clock violation—and only three baskets were made by both teams combined in the first five minutes. After a series of back-and-forth action, Isaac McKneely nailed a three-pointer with 10:30 remaining in the half to cut the Hoos’ deficit to two. Although it wasn’t known at the time, that was the last field goal that Virginia would make in the next fourteen minutes of play. Throughout the rest of the half (and the first nearly three-and-a-half minutes of the second half), on a stretch that included 19 straight missed field goals, the Cavalier offense went beyond ice cold. Absolute zero-type cold. The only points scored in the entire stretch for the Hoos were a pair of free throws by Reece Beekman. Meanwhile, Colorado State attacked the Virginia defense with consistency and great efficiency, shooting 55% from the floor. By the time the cold spell was said and done, Virginia trailed by 21, a deficit all but insurmountable. Colorado State closed out the game without faltering, playing a well-rounded and complete game on both ends of the ball, ultimately pulling off a statement 25-point victory that should build momentum and confidence as they prepare to keep their tournament hopes alive as they advance to the next round. UVA’s offensive woes were primarily self-inflicted, but credit must be given to the CSU defense for stepping up to prevent any of Virginia’s playmakers from finding their rhythm.

Senior forward Joel Scott led the Rams with 23 points and tacked on 11 rebounds to complete the double-double. Nique Clifford and Patrick Cartier each fell in line with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Reece Beekman’s farewell performance statline included 15 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. No other UVA player scored double digits. The team collectively shot 14-for-56 (25%) from the floor and 3-for-17 (18%) from beyond the 3-point arc. Colorado State proved to have success despite the turnover margin: they had 13 giveaways compared to Virginia’s 4; however, this was compensated by their success off the glass, tallying 43 rebounds versus UVA’s 24. 

In the midst of the scoring drought, fans from across the college basketball world flocked to social media to express their contempt toward the selection committee’s decision to offer Virginia an at-large bid into the tournament in lieu of the likes of teams such as Indiana State, Oklahoma, and St. John’s, each of which had comparable resumes and arguably better “statement” victories throughout the season. Comparing the performance to that of a middle school basketball team and comparing spectating the slow-paced game to watching paint dry, the program has become a bit of a laughingstock online. While criticism has never seemed to affect coach Tony Bennett before, he will have to deal with a lot of outside noise as criticism spills in after such a disappointing team performance on a national stage.

The untimely curtain call for Beekman, Jordan Minor, Jake Groves, and Tristan How will leave the coaching staff spiraling to fill some important gaps in the team. In addition, the potential departure of Ryan Dunn—projected as an early second-rounder in many prominent NBA mock drafts—would only add to the offseason woes. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a successful group of incoming freshmen and transfers is crucial to maintaining the program’s relevance in the rapidly changing dynamics of the sport. In a program that is built on developing players, current challenges make such development significantly more difficult. Next year’s performance will be a major indicator of which direction the team is trending and whether the brand of basketball can survive in an era of transferring and NIL deals.