Virginia Basketball Fends Off Virginia Tech: 3 Takeaways

Virginia basketball defeated Virginia Tech 73-70 in Blacksburg on Saturday, the Cavs’ fourth win in five games and their first win in Cassell Coliseum since Feb. 26, 2020.

It’s the first time the Cavaliers have won three straight games since the first three games of the season and the first time Virginia has been above .500 since falling to 8-9 after a loss to SMU on Jan. 15. Here are three takeaways from the game.

Takeaway #1: Tobi Lawal doesn’t get much help

Junior forward Tobi Lawal leads the Hokies in scoring (12.9) and rebounding (6.9). Against the Cavaliers, his performance kept Virginia Tech in the game. The British big man scored 19 points in the first half, singlehandedly preventing the Cavs from pulling away.

However, the rest of the Hokies struggled. The only other Hokie to finish in double figures was freshman guard Ben Hammond, who averages just five points per game. Senior forward Mylyjael Poteat scored just four points and sophomore guard Jaden Schutt – who scored 18 points and hit four threes in the first game between these rivals – had just three points.

The Cavaliers did a solid job in the first half of limiting the others and forcing Lawal to beat them. However, they didn’t do as good a job in the second half, and while Lawal struggled in the final 20 minutes, the Hokies were able to claw back into it. If Virginia Tech had gotten a more complete performance, it probably wins and sweeps the Commonwealth Clash.

Takeaway #2: Anthony Robinson has arrived

For all of nonconference play and the beginning of ACC play, redshirt freshman forward Anthony Robinson was stuck at the end of the bench, despite some flashes of potential. Interim head coach Ron Sanchez seemed committed to playing sophomore forward T.J. Power over Robinson, even as Power struggled mightily on both ends of the court.

But as Virginia has steadied the ship over the past two-plus weeks, the big man from Peachtree City, Georgia has taken on a larger role. Part of it has been because of outside forces, as junior forward Elijah Saunders missed multiple games due to injury and Power – who hasn’t played since the first Virginia Tech game on Feb. 1 – has been disappointing. But it’s also because what Robinson was showing, particularly with his size and strength, became impossible to ignore.

Against the Hokies, Robinson scored double-digits for the first time, scoring 15 off the bench, including going 7-8 from the free throw line. With just over a minute left, he set a ball screen for junior guard Andrew Rohde and rolled to the basket. Rohde found him for an alley-oop dunk, increasing UVa’s lead to three. Robinson also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

With some big, physical teams on the horizon, Robinson’s play will be crucial.

Takeaway #3: The road gets harder from here

UVa’s victory Saturday moved the Cavaliers into a four-way tie for ninth place in the ACC. Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Pitt all sit at 6-8. Staying as the ninth seed is crucial, as the teams seeded 10-15 have to play in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.

While it’s great to see the Cavs fight their way back into the mix for that opening-round bye, this stretch has been against weaker opponents. Miami is atrocious, Pitt has collapsed after a strong start and Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are both sub-.500. Virginia has merely just been winning the games it needed to win.

Over the next two weeks, though, the road gets much more difficult. The Cavaliers welcome No. 3 Duke to Charlottesville, go on the road to North Carolina and Wake Forest and host No. 23 Clemson. If the Cavaliers want to keep the good vibes going and avoid having to play in the opening round in Charlotte, they need to at least tread water over the next four games.

Up next for Virginia basketball (13-12, 6-8): vs. Duke (22-3, 14-1) – Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. EST

Up next for Virginia Tech basketball (11-14, 6-8): vs. Boston College (10-15, 2-12) – Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. EST.