By Kenneth Cross
No. 8 Virginia used its best defensive effort of the season in stifling No.22 NC State, 63-50, on Tuesday evening. The Cavaliers only allowed the Wolfpack to shoot 33 percent from the floor in making 19-of-57 shots. It was quite a feat because NC State shoots 44.7 percent from the field while netting 34.9 percent of it’s threes.
The ‘Pack was held to generally 29 points under their season average of 79.6 points per game as Virginia’s defense minimized North Carolina State’s inside-outside attack of guards Terquavion Smith, Jarkel Joiner, and Casey Morsell with the inside play of D.J. Burns.
Virginia primarily used the athletic presence of Reece Beekman in guarding Smith, who currently averages 18.5 points per game with 4.6 assists. Smith struggled from the floor Tuesday, but he still led NCSU with 19 points, only 7-of-20 field goals with three triples.
“He’s a really good basketball player,” said Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts. “You know we need really great production from him….I think tonight because Jarkel didn’t have a Jarkel Joiner night, I think there was a lot of pressure on Terquavion.”
“The message was just getting back to our ways and getting back to the Pack (Pack Line Defense) and kind of just do what we know we could do and know what we are capable of,” said Cavaliers guard Reece Beekman of how Bennett addressed the team after Virginia Tech shot 50.9 percent from the floor.
Virginia was able to hold Joiner to 2-of-14 from the field and only five points as the Cavaliers’ defense halted NCSU’s two leading scorers and didn’t allow them to be able to have any control in the game.
Playing the defensive-minded Cavaliers in Charlottesville was a tough assignment after the loss to the Hokies.
“Being tough and sound and two feet in commitment to defense because I don’t think we have been that way,” explained Bennett of the attitude that he wants from his Cavaliers. “If we want to be as good as we can, everyone has to stay committed and it won’t be perfect, but has to be a tougher, sounder mindset.”
Meanwhile, former Virginia guard Casey Morsell was the most efficient Wolfpack player as he finished with 18 points in making 6-of-11 field goals while he was 4-of-9 from the three-point line. He is Keatts’ third-leading scorer at 12.8 points as he shoots 44 percent from the three-point line.
Taking away the threat of 6-9, 275-pound D.J. Burns in the paint was impactful for the Cavaliers as well. Burns scored eight points in 21 minutes on 4-of-6 shooting.
The athleticism and length of Kaden Shedrick in the middle plus Virginia’s double-teaming Burns were impactful. Shedrick scored 10 points and had six rebounds as his defensive ability seemed to keep Burns out of a continual comfort zone.
“He came ready, his length was there and he fought,” said Bennett. “We thought if we were going to trap, Kadin’s length would be good.”
As the traps merged on Burns, he had to catch out of his comfort area which took away his scoring ability. He had made 30-of-53 field goals and averaged 23.3 points per game in the three games before Tuesday.
“D.J. never really got into a flow and I thought they did a good job of obviously taking him out of the game,” commented Keatts. “Obviously, when he is out of the game, we become a very perimeter team.”