Hoo’s Got Tenacious D?

If you get the sense Virginia has built its recent success on surpassingly good defense, there’s a persuasive reason you’ve gotten that impression. It’s true.

Last season was the fifth straight in which Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers led the ACC in scoring defense. The 2016 Cavs held opponents to 60.1 points per game. While that was the worst scoring suppression by UVa in the last five years, and a noticeable dropoff from the NCAA-leading levels of 2014 and 2015, it was still best in the league.

It almost goes without saying that scoring defense is a function of tempo.

Keep the pace deliberate on offense but shoot efficiently – Virginia led the ACC in 2016 in field goal accuracy at 49.0 percent. Minimize turnovers that create open court situations for your opponents – Virginia was second to Louisville in turnover margin at +2.27.

And, voila, you’re well on your way to causing low scoring and enjoying a hefty scoring margin (+10.9, third in the ACC in 2016).

Expect a similar statistical profile from the experienced Cavs this year, as they challenge the ACC record for most consecutive seasons leading in scoring defense. The current run already is second-best in league history, and only the third streak of more than two straight times leading in scoring defense after Maryland at the ACC’s outset and UVa at the start of Terry Holland’s tenure.

By the way, while Virginia also led the conference in field goal percentage defense in 2014 and 2015, it finished fifth in that category in 2016 at .420.