By Kenneth Cross
CHARLOTTESVILLE – No.7 Virginia staved off another upset on Saturday with a 57-55 win over Notre Dame just before Virginia Tech stopped Pitt, 79-72. The Cavaliers took a one-game lead on the Panthers and Miami with Saturday’s outcomes.
Cavs point guard Kihei Clark became Virginia’s all-time assist leader three days after Virginia staved off improving Louisville, 61-58, in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.
“The coaching staff, all week, was telling us to stay aggressive, get downhill, and just play for others,” said Clark. “I felt like I was just creating shots coming into the paint, so we just continue to do that.”
At the outset of the second half, Clark’s feed to Jayden Gardner broke the record after the Cavaliers had fallen behind Notre Dame, 31-29, over the first two minutes.
Clark recorded his 684th assist to pass former Virginia guard John Crotty, who had a solid NBA career and has been the color analyst on Miami Heat radio broadcasts since 2015.
“We kind of preached the little things in practice and it kind of shows up in the games,” explained Clark. “I feel like we just continue to work on those little things.”
Virginia guards scored 38 of 57 points on Saturday after they scored 39 of 61 vs. the Cardinals on Wednesday evening. The Cavaliers made only 36 percent of their shots on the day and this feels like a picture of a team that will go as far as the guards can carry it.
“We missed a lot of bunnies and some were point blank,” expressed Virginia head coach Tony Bennett. “The quality of looks appeared to be Okay. We made a timely shot here or there.”
Clark’s Assertion to the Virginia Attack
Clark carried the Virginia attack as he netted a Cavs’ game-high of 15 points while making 7-of-8 free throws in his 32 minutes.
Armaan Franklin and Reece Beekman netted 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Cavaliers once again featured the consistency of wing players at guard beside of Clark.
“Kihei has been a competitor for our program,” said Bennett, who noted playing against Crotty as they were both in the NBA at the same time.
Cavaliers Stave Off Late Irish Opportunity
Notre Dame had a golden opportunity to pull out the win, Trey Wertz was at the line with nine seconds remaining, and the Fighting Irish trailing, 57-54.
Wertz made the first free throw while missing the second and pulling down the board. He passed it to Irish shooter Dane Goodwin, who was open on the left wing from three-point range. Goodwin could have been more open than at any time on Saturday, but he hoisted the three at the buzzer and missed.
“Notre Dame has played almost everyone very close,” explained Bennett. “They’re right there and they are a dangerous team. It was at home and credit to them. I think we did not play our best basketball, start to finish.”
Jayden Gardner was a key for the Cavaliers as he scored eight points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
He fed Ben Vander Plas for a three off the right wing that gave Virginia a 53-45 margin with 6:09 left.
At that point, Notre Dame went on a 9-2 run which cut it’s deficit to 55-54 with 24 seconds remaining. Marcus Hammond made a pull-up jumper and then two free throws on a couple of possessions that gave the Fighting Irish an opportunity.
For Virginia, Clark had hit a layup off dribble penetration on the right side of the floor and then he hit a pair of free throws to preserve the game.
“Hopefully this is the last time I say it, but I really don’t want to see him anymore,” laughed Irish coach Mike Brey. “He’s the ultimate winner, Man. I said, ‘You are a big-time winner.’”
Brey’s Departure at Season’s End Acknowledged by Cavaliers
Notre Dame will have a major chore in replacing head basketball coach Mike Brey as he stepped down from the Fighting Irish on Jan. 19. However, he noted that he is not quitting as a college basketball coach.
Not only is Brey a stellar coach, but he is also an even better person. Brey has been on my “Marching to Madness” college basketball podcast on several occasions to talk about the game and his Fighting Irish.
On Saturday, Virginia head coach Tony Bennett wanted the Cavaliers to acknowledge Brey before the game, but Brey declined.
“I’m good; we don’t need to do that,” Brey said, “I’m really close with Tony and have the utmost respect for him.”
Bennett talked about his respect for Brey and how The Fighting Irish coach had proliferated many positive projects inside the game.
“I really appreciate Coach Brey and whatever his future holds,” said Bennett. “He’s really a good man and I want to acknowledge that because it’s hard to last in this game. It is and he has done that.”
It’s been a tough year for Notre Dame after the Irish defeated Rutgers and Alabama to get to the Final 32 last season where they lost a 58-53 decision to Texas Tech. Currently the Irish are 10-17 overall with a 2-14 record in the ACC.
This season does nothing to put a blemish on Brey’s Notre Dame tenure. He is currently 482-276 as the Irish leader throughout his 23 seasons and he has a 581-328 overall record in his 27 seasons which started at Delaware where he put up three consecutive 20-win years.
His Irish were in the Elite Eight in both 2015 and 2016 and he has added 19 seasons where he collected at least 20 wins.
Virginia paid it’s respect to Brey as a successful and fortuitous opposing coach by giving him a bottle of Irish whiskey as a gift for the success he has had in becoming the winningest coach in Fighting Irish history.
“I will divulge that tonight,” noted Brey. “Tony and his program are the model for college basketball. Like a lot of people in this league, we haven’t had much luck against them.”