Virginia (4-2) emerged victorious on Tuesday night at John Paul Jones Arena, defeating Manhattan (3-3) by a score of 74-65. This win marked a significant moment for the Cavaliers as they looked to bounce back from recent losses. Let's delve into the details of this game and the key takeaways.

Virginia's Comeback Victory and Key Performances

New Starting Lineup and Rohde's Impact

On Tuesday night, Virginia made a strategic change by starting Andrew Rohde in place of TJ Power. Rohde has been in excellent form recently, especially with his resurgent outside shot. In this game, he showcased his skills, finishing with a season-high 14 points, along with two assists, two rebounds, and four steals. His ability to find the right spots on the court and make smart plays was evident. However, Power initially responded well to being benched, hitting a corner three and making a steal. But he ended up playing only six minutes, raising concerns about his role.The former St. Thomas transfer's performance gives hope for a big season if he can maintain this level of play and continue to contribute with his three-point shot.

Defensive Struggles and Open Shots

One of the main reasons the game remained close in the second half was Virginia's defense. The Cavaliers frequently gave up open shots to Manhattan, especially from the perimeter. The Jaspers shot 11/26 (42.3%) from beyond the arc, with seven different players making a three. While some of these triples were well-contested, the majority were wide-open. This shows that Virginia's defense, with its new faces, still has room for improvement. It's a concern that needs to be addressed to ensure better defensive performance in future games.

Offensive Improvements and Team Play

Virginia's offense showed some signs of improvement against Manhattan compared to their performances in The Bahamas. Five different Cavaliers scored in double figures, with Isaac McKneely leading the way with 18 points, hitting three of his four three-point attempts. Dai Dai Ames scored 10 points and had five assists, but unfortunately fouled out. Blake Buchanan made his first four shots and finished with 11 points and five boards. Cofie also contributed with 10 points and five boards. The team had 15 assists on 29 made baskets and turned the ball over only eight times, a significant improvement over their turnover issues in The Bahamas.Virginia also outscored Manhattan 42-22 in the paint, although this was somewhat expected due to their size advantage. However, Manhattan managed to grab 10 offensive rebounds and score 11 second-chance points, highlighting the need for better rebounding and physicality.

Upcoming Game and Continued Progress

Virginia remains at home for another tune-up game against Holy Cross on Friday at 4pm at John Paul Jones Arena. This provides an opportunity for the team to build on their recent performance and continue to work on areas that need improvement. The Cavaliers will need to maintain their offensive momentum while addressing their defensive lapses to be successful in the upcoming games.Virginia vs. Manhattan Live Updates | NCAA Men’s BasketballUVA Basketball: Ten Things We Learned About Virginia in The BahamasVirginia Basketball Falls to St. John’s 80-55 | Key Takeaways