“It’s a big-time performance on a big stage, something I’ve grown fond of watching him do over the years”, Bennett said of his senior point guard. Then again, aesthetics don’t win basketball games.
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Bennett felt his breathing relax. During the final 28 minutes, the Hoos allowed just two points off turnovers. “Only 20 teams were able to score – most teams scored under 60 points”, Keatts said. After making six of 12 tries from behind the arc in the first half, the Seahawks finished 10-for-26 shooting beyond the arc.
No. 5 seed Virginia (22-10) vs. Every time the Seahawks had crept close to the Cavaliers, Perrantes had made a play. “The way we were down and fought back … we kept steady”. Virginia closed the half on a 19-3 run to take a 30-29 lead into halftime. And not by having to be the one to help carry the Cavaliers.
“I teased our guys, I’m glad we worked on our five-guard lineup all week in practice”, Bennett said with a smile. “He’s just such a tough kid”.
The Cyclones are also red hot coming off their Big 12 Tournament title, and I think that momentum carries over – but Nevada has the talent to pull a stunner, as unlikely as I think it is. “He doesn’t ever want to come out”.
“I didn’t have my best game”, Bryce said. “Maybe [the elbow] was still bothering him”. They controlled tempo, were seemingly first to every loose ball and looked like they would become the latest No. 12 seed to win in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
‘Twas merely a stinger, and 32 seconds later Perrantes re-entered the game. They’re an excellent offensive team with size and versatile wings, and have four players who average over 14 points per game. I thought we made those guys adjust to us.
Virginia fans hope to see more of that Shayok, and this one. “We had them and we had some major ups, too”.
“I’m done for this weekend”, Wilkins said, nodding to a virus that’s limited his play for three weeks. I was proud of their effort. Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey all graduated from that team, leaving Perrantes to lead a young team – not a John Calipari-Mike Krzyzewski young team filled with National Basketball Association lottery picks, but a young team filled with players trying to learn Bennett’s pack-line defense.
This is the lowest Virginia has been seeded in the last four years, which isn’t really a surprise.
Trailing 26-11 midway through the first half, the Cavaliers turned to Shayok to chip away at their early deficit. That’s when he made a snap decision. They might not play as good of defense as Virginia, but they both play similar styles.
“I knew we were going to have to play four guards at times, especially with Isaiah an unknown”, Bennett said. All of a sudden, UNCW’s shots were being contested. “He can create. He can manufacture his own shot, and we needed it all”.
Indeed, on Virginia’s first possession of the second half, Perrantes assisted on a Shayok layup off of a two-man game. “They had one early. That was the only shot I could get off, and I’m glad it went in”. UNC Wilmington scoring 42 points in the second half was not in the playbook.
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Perrantes’ family is here from California, and Saturday he’ll lead Virginia against Florida in a second-round game.
