Many college basketball fans wondered if Virginia was still top 5 material after blowing a late lead to Duke on Saturday and suffering their first loss of the season.
Some of that speculation will be put to rest after the Cavaliers blew into Chapel Hill and dismantled the North Carolina Tar Heels 75-64 on Monday.
After heading to lockerroom trailing 33-32, due in part to some hot Tar Heels shooting, Virginia came out on fire over the last 20 minutes and put up 43 points to just 31 for UNC.
The Hoos vaunted Pack Line defense took control in the second frame and held the Heels to just 38% shooting. Malcolm Brogdon scored 17 points to pace the Cavaliers while Justin Anderson and London Perrantes contributed 16 and 15 of their own, respectively.
Monday’s game was very important for each team, as both were coming in after losing conference games on Saturday in heartbreaking fashion. North Carolina blew an 18-point second half lead against Louisville before bowing out in overtime. Virginia, meanwhile, led a late lead slip against Duke and lost its first game of the season.
Virginia responded on Monday, effectively upping their NCAA Tournament resume, while an injury-riddled Tar Heels squad was left reeling and wondering what is next.
Marcus Paige, who is nursing an ankle injury, led the Heels with 15 points, but was unable to get loose offensively against the hoos defense, especially the lockdown D of Brogdon. Brice Johnson chipped in 14 points in the losing effort. J.P. Tokoto managed just one point on the night to ultimately doom the Heels’ chances.
The win keeps the Cavaliers in first place in the ACC with an 8-1 record (20-1 overall), holding off upstart Notre Dame which comes in at 8-2 in conference play. The Tar Heels drop to 7-3 in the ACC (17-6) and hold on to the 4th spot in the standings, just ahead of rival Duke.
Virginia hosts Louisville this weekend in another huge test. North Carolina gets what they hope will be a breather on Saturday against Boston College who has won just one ACC game.