Virginia could afford to take a breath on Tuesday night, and it showed from the opening tip. Coming off a 91-72 win over then-No. 12 Arkansas and with Maryland waiting Friday night, the sixth-ranked Cavaliers still came out sharp, ripping off the first 11 points and never letting Bucknell into the game in a 95-61 victory.
The win gave Virginia its fourth straight to start the season, and the numbers behind it were just as lopsided as the final score. The Cavaliers shot 37 for 73 from the field, their second game this season above 50 percent, and piled up 30 assists, with seven from Eljah Gertrude.
That total matched the second-highest single-game mark in school history. Four players finished in double figures, and 12 different Cavaliers scored.
Virginia’s perimeter shooting was the one area that looked merely solid instead of overwhelming. The Cavaliers hit 12 of 35 from 3-point range, a 34 percent clip, even while getting clean looks throughout the night.
Against Bucknell, it didn’t matter. Against better competition, those open shots will have to fall.
What stood out most was how disruptive Virginia looked on defense. Chance Mallory had three steals to push his nation-leading total to 13, while Thijs De Ridder added four. The Cavaliers also swatted 11 shots, including four from freshman Favour Ibe, and held Bucknell to 35 percent shooting.
That aggressive style comes with a tradeoff. When Virginia doesn’t force a turnover or get back in time, the defense can be exposed in transition.
Arkansas found that lane for several fast-break dunks on Sunday, and Bucknell managed 11 3-pointers, the most by an opponent so far this season. It didn’t change the outcome here, but it’s the kind of opening a stronger team could punish.
The Cavaliers also controlled the glass in a big way, grabbing 23 offensive rebounds compared with Bucknell’s 18 defensive rebounds. Thirteen Virginia players collected at least one rebound, a strong sign of the team’s size and its ability to create extra possessions.
The early cushion let Ryan Odom empty the bench and manage minutes through a demanding stretch. No Cavalier played more than 21 minutes, a mark shared by De Ridder, Mallory and Johann Grunloh. That gave the starters a needed breather before the trip to Maryland and also opened the door for Odom to mix and match lineups while giving young players like Ibe and Martin Carrere meaningful run.
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For Virginia, it is another chance to measure itself away from home against a conference foe that knows exactly what the Cavaliers want to do. For Maryland, it is a chance to reset in front of a charged-up crowd and see where it stands against one of the leagues steadier teams, with the coaches and key players on both sides adding another layer to a rivalry that still burns. [Read more 🡒]
Elijah Gertrudes Patience Is Finally Paying Off For Virginia
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Now in his fourth season, Gertrude has become a meaningful part of Ryan Odoms rotation and is giving Virginia real production off the bench. His breakout has been one of the more encouraging developments for a team still sorting out its identity under a new coach, because the Cavaliers are getting a player whose patience through all the upheaval is starting to pay off in a tangible way. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia May Be Getting Help Just When It Desperately Needs It
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The return of help on one side of the ball could matter in a game where depth has been tested, but Virginia is still not all the way out of the woods. Linebacker Maddox Marcellus and backup safety Corey Costner remain doubtful, leaving the Cavaliers with a few lingering questions even as the roster begins to stabilize. [Read more 🡒]