Virginia Cavaliers' Tuesday Night Triumph Over Manhattan Jaspers

UVA's Potential and Areas for Improvement

The Virginia Cavaliers' performance against the Manhattan Jaspers revealed both their strengths and areas that need refinement. While they managed to secure a win, there were aspects that didn't go as smoothly as expected. The Jaspers, who had lost by a narrow margin to Fairleigh Dickinson, showed that they could give UVA a tough fight. Manhattan's success from deep, making 11 triples at a 42.3% clip, exposed some vulnerabilities in UVA's defense. The 'Hoos seemed slow in their rotations, and without the elite athleticism of recent seasons, their packline defense was more susceptible to hot shooting. Additionally, the Jaspers' 11 second chance points on 10 offensive rebounds highlighted a need for UVA to be more effective in locking down the defensive boards. Despite the challenges, a win is a win, and UVA now has the opportunity to build on this and improve in future games.

Friday night's game against Holy Cross presents an excellent chance for Virginia to showcase their improved play and secure a more convincing victory. It will be crucial for the team to address the issues they faced against Manhattan and demonstrate their ability to play at a higher level.

Virginia's Lineup Adjustments

In this game, Virginia made a significant lineup change by replacing TJ Power at the three with Andrew Rohde. This move projected a noticeable shift away from their big lineups and towards a more guard-oriented approach. By playing three guards more frequently, UVA found it easier to generate offense with players capable of creating off the dribble. On the defensive end, it provided the team with more mobility and quickness, especially against a smaller and quicker opponent like Manhattan. Late in the game, the Cavaliers even went to a super-small four guard lineup with Saunders at the five alongside Ames, McKneely, Rohde, and Taine Murray. While this lineup didn't go as smoothly as hoped, it shows that interim head coach Ron Sanchez is willing to experiment with different lineups to find the best combination for the team.

These lineup adjustments highlight the team's adaptability and willingness to try new strategies, which will be crucial as they face different opponents in the coming games.

TJ Power's Reduced Role

TJ Power found himself on the sidelines more than usual on Tuesday. He played only six minutes and scored three points on 1 - for - 2 shooting, with only one other registered stat being a steal. This was the first game this season where he played less than 15 minutes. Part of the reason for his reduced role was likely due to Manhattan being a smaller opponent that tested his lateral quickness. However, Power has also struggled when on the court, with his shooting averages this season at 27.8% from the three - point line and 27.2% from the field.

It's still early in Power's time at Virginia, but his current performance has led to a decrease in his playing time. Buchanan, Saunders, and Cofie have dominated the minutes in the frontcourt, and Power will need to step up his game if he wants to regain a more significant role on the team.

Andrew Rohde's Impressive Season So Far

Andrew Rohde has been a standout for Virginia this season. Against the Manhattan Jaspers, he and McKneely carried the Wahoo offense in the second half, combining for 23 points. The junior is playing at a whole new level, averaging 11.8 points per game, shooting 46.7% from three, 62.5% from two - point range, and registering an impressive 23.9% assist rate.

Rohde has shown great improvement in creating offense for himself off the dribble and via ball screens. His ability to lock in from behind the arc and with a soft floater reminiscent of Ty Jerome is very encouraging. Despite turning the ball over too often at times, he ended Tuesday's win with two assists to one turnover and nabbed four steals, disrupting the Jaspers' passing lanes with his length and quickness. His performance has been a major boost to the team and gives hope for the rest of the season.

Virginia's Improved Turnover Control

Tuesday night's win was a significant milestone for Virginia as it was the first time this season that they coughed the ball up fewer than 12 times, finishing with just eight against Manhattan. The combined efforts of point guards Rohde and Ames, who had only three turnovers combined, were a major factor in this improvement.

Limiting turnovers will be crucial for UVA's offense to be more efficient and score consistently against ACC - caliber teams. While Manhattan is a less challenging opponent, this improvement shows that the team is making progress in this area. It will be essential for them to maintain this level of control as they face tougher competition in the future.