Connect with us

Virginia

Five Takeaways From Virginia’s 64-62 Loss to Memphis

Published

on

Five Takeaways From Virginia’s 64-62 Loss to Memphis


On Wednesday Night, the Virginia Cavaliers (6-5) fell 64-62 to the No. 21 Memphis Tigers (9-2) at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Cavaliers posted a strong first twenty minutes backed by an uncharacteristically poor half from three for Memphis (2/14 3PT FG), but newfound intensity from Memphis in the second half on both ends of the floor quickly erased the deficit, and ultimately the Tigers’ defensive pressure, streaky offense, and a strong performance from star guard PJ Haggerty (27 points) proved just too much for the Hoos to overcome in the narrow loss.

Read below for five takeaways from tonight’s game:

In a game where Virginia’s regular contributors lagged behind offensively, veteran Taine Murray gave a team-best performance off the bench. Murray finished with an efficient 14 points, matching a career high on 5/9 shooting and maintained an impressive level of intensity on both ends of the floor throughout his 26 minutes of action. Coach Sanchez mentioned post-game how proud he was of the fourth year for his gritty performance.

Despite the loss, the Virginia defense deserves credit for building a nine-point halftime lead Wednesday night. Memphis came into the night as the second-best three-point shooting team in the nation, and a disciplined Cavalier defense held the Tigers to just 2/14 from three in the first half, and a season-low 21 points through the first 20 minutes of action. The Memphis offense found more rhythm in the second half, backed by a return to their normal rate of free-throw line trips (18 free throw attempts in the second half), but the Cavalier defense maintained an admirable level of intensity as they fought for a ranked win on their home floor.

Advertisement

After their lowest-scoring half of the entire season in the first 20 minutes of their visit to JPJ, the Tigers came out of the halftime locker room with an impressive level of intensity, and one that proved too high for the Cavaliers to meet. The Hoos struggled to battle the Memphis full-court press and increased half-court pressure throughout the development of the second half, and particularly right out of the break. Dai Dai Ames’ return to the lineup was a welcomed presence, but the second-half pressure from the Memphis guards proved a challenge for him in his return to action as he finished with eight points on just 2/11 shooting.

The frenzy of the Memphis second-half pressure sent Virginia spiraling into foul and turnover trouble early, with four team fouls in the first two minutes of second half action, and Memphis in the bonus by the 10-minute mark of the half. The Memphis pressure carried over to the offensive end, where they attacked the rim and got to the free-throw line. After just two first-half free throws, the Tigers finished the contest with 17 free throws on 21 attempts.

Virginia has struggled with turnovers throughout the first ten games of the ’24 campaign, and for the first time tonight came out and won the early turnover battle. The Hoos entered the halftime locker-room with 14 points off of seven Memphis turnovers, compared to just three points off of four Virginia turnovers.

Unfortunately, that story flipped in the second half. Memphis’ pressure forced a slew of lackluster decisions from the UVA offense, who looked quite unprepared to battle the full-court press and half-court pressure with no alternatives to Dai Dai Ames as a primary ball-handler. The points-off-turnover gap rapidly closed with four UVA turnovers in the first four minutes of second-half action.

Some fans may not believe in moral victories, but if they do exist, tonight’s loss against Memphis was certainly just that. In the words of Head Coach Ron Sanchez in his post-game presser, Virginia “battled for all 40 minutes” Wednesday night while competing against an AP Top 25, high-level Memphis team, something that hasn’t happened when the Cavaliers have faced good teams this season. It is crucial this narrow loss serves as a source of confidence, and motivation, for this group as they turn to ACC play soon.

Advertisement

Up next, Virginia hosts American on Sunday at 2pm at John Paul Jones Arena before taking more than a week off until the full ACC portion of the schedule arrives.

Virginia vs. Memphis Live Updates | NCAA Men’s Basketball

Sanchez Gives Injury Update on Dai Dai Ames on Coach’s Corner Radio Show

Report: UVA Basketball Set to Host Bosnian Sharpshooter for Visit

Point/Counterpoint: Injury Reports and Gambling in College Sports

Advertisement



Source link

Virginia

Five Key Takeaways From Virginia’s 80-72 Win Over Maryland

Published

on

Five Key Takeaways From Virginia’s 80-72 Win Over Maryland


Virginia picked up another key win on Saturday evening after a 56 point explosion in the second-half marked by stellar shooting from the perimeter. Virginia pulled away to a double-digit lead and hit its free throws late to put the game away. Let’s take a deeper look at some key takeaways in the victory for the Cavaliers.

Advertisement

1. Virginia shoots the lights out in the second half 

After struggling in the first half and only making nine of its 33 field goals, Virginia found its groove in the second half. The Cavaliers went 21-33 and were scorching hot from three-point range. The Hoos went 6-11 from beyond the arc, and their best perimeter shooter Jacari White went 3-3 from the three-point line in the second half. How was Virginia able to find its groove? They were sharing the basketball and continuing to find the open man. Virginia had 13 assists on 21 made field goals. Maryland had no answers for the Virginia offense and struggled to slow them down after an impressive showing in the first half. The Hoos had two players who scored double figures in the second half.

2. Chance Mallory gets it done on defense 

The young guard didn’t have a great game shooting the basketball, going just 2-9 from the field, but what makes him special is his ability to affect the game in other ways especially defensively. Mallory was a pest on the defensive side of the ball and came up with five steals in the game, which led the team. He also added a block on Saturday evening. To be a small guard, he guards the perimeter extremely well. In days like Saturday when your offense is not hitting on all cylinders and struggling to score, it is a luxury to have a defense you can lean on to get you going. The Hoos have a perimeter player who can lead the charge and help the offense get back in a rhythm. 

3. Dallin Hall Ignites 

Advertisement

Hall was a go-to player in the second half of the game for the Cavaliers. He finished with 20 points on 8-8 shooting. In the second half alone, he scored 18 points. Hall scored in multitude of ways by driving to the rim, hitting perimeter shots, catch and shoots, and creating offense for himself. He did a little bit of everything and was the main engine on offense for the Cavaliers, especially when their best players struggled to get it going. That is what makes Virginia so good; they have true depth on their roster, and anybody can get theirs. Tonight happened to be Hall’s night.  

4. Virginia defense is a problem 

As we mentioned earlier, a main part of the defensive effort was Mallory, but he didn’t do it alone. Virginia continued to apply ball pressure and make it tough for the Terrapins to bring the ball up the floor. That led to 19 turnovers by Maryland on Saturday evening. The Hoos turned those turnovers into 22 points. A stat that further brings home their performance is their 15 steals on the evening. Yes, you read that right: 15 steals. Virginia had three different players with at least three steals on Saturday. Mallory, Hall, and Jacari White. Their first-half defense was exceptionally good as they held Maryland to just five made field goals and 21% from the field. They also only made two threes and forced 10 turnovers. When Virginia is playing at that level defensively, they are tough to beat. 

Advertisement

5. Virginia is a scary basketball team 

They are ranked No.24 in the country for a reason, but the Cavaliers are one of the best teams in the country, and they continue to prove it each night on the floor. After a long break, the first half was rough for the Hoos, but they hung their hat on their defense, which came through in a major way. Then their offense came alive, and the game wasn’t even close. Virginia has one of the better offenses in the ACC, and they have hit 80+ points in 10 of the 11 games played this season. What makes that stat even better is that the scoring isn’t predicted on their best players like Thijs De Ridder, Johann Grunloh, or Chance Mallory. Anybody can be the leading scorer on any given night.  In their win over Maryland Eastern, Sam Lewis was the leading scorer with 15 points. Tonight it was Dallin Hall with 20 points on a perfect 8-8 shooting. When you have the depth, defense, scoring prowess, and unselfishness that Virginia has, it makes the team a tough one to play against and stop. Virginia continues to send warning signs to college basketball about how legit they are. Don’t just look at the 10-1 record, but what they are doing in each game and how they play basketball together. This team is legit. 

Advertisement

More Virginia Basketball News:

How to Watch Virginia Basketball vs Butler: Tipoff Time and TV Channel

Advertisement

Virginia Men’s Basketball Ascends In Latest KenPom Rankings After Win vs Northwestern

Will Virginia Land a Spot on the AP Top 25 After Win Over Northwestern?

Virginia Finishes Strong, Downs Northwestern

Three Key Takeaways from Virginia’s Tight 83-78 Win Over Northwestern

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Virginia

Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant

Published

on

Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant


Colorado is expected to hire former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve as its next linebackers coach, according to CBS Sports. Marve served as the Hokies DC from 2022-2024.

Marve has previous experience on defensive staffs at Vanderbilt, his alma mater, Mississippi State, Florida State and Virginia Tech. He’s been in the coaching industry since 2014 when he was brought on as a defensive assistant with the Commodores.

By the time he left his alma mater in 2018, he had worked his way up to inside linebackers coach. He was brought on at Mississippi State in 2019 as the Bulldogs’ defensive run game coordinator and linebackers coach. His run there lasted one year before moving on to coach at Florida State for two seasons as the Seminoles’ linebackers coach.

ACC foe Virginia Tech would poach him away ahead of the 2022 season, where he stayed until he was fired following the 2024 season. He spent the 2025 season away from college football, and will now get another shot by joining Deion Sanders’ staff in 2026.

Advertisement

His playing days spanned from 2007-2011, where he has a three-time All-SEC linebacker for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Marve also earned Freshman All-American honors in 2008.

He’ll join a Buffaloes program that finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record, which included a 1-8 record vs. conference opponents. This came in the fallout of their 9-win season led by current Cleveland Browns QB Sheduer Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Colorado wide receiver Dre’lon Miller plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Colorado wide receiver Dre’lon Miller plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos. He caught 20 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown this past season.

His 2024 season was a bit better. Miller caught 32 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns prior. He’s shown he can get the job done when there’s some solid quarterback play on offense.

Miller played high school football at Silsbee (Silsbee, TX), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 141 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that complies all major recruiting media services.

Advertisement

Time will tell where he ends up next. There will certainly be plenty of interest in his services when the time comes.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.





Source link

Continue Reading

Virginia

Virginia Democratic operative arrested on child pornography charges

Published

on

Virginia Democratic operative arrested on child pornography charges


WARNING: This story contains material some readers may find disturbing due to its graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia Democratic operative is accused of distributing child pornography.

Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 30, allegedly engaged in conversations with an undercover FBI agent in May of this year through the Jack’d app under the name “Randy.”

The 9-page affidavit states that Sprinkle asked the agent to move their conversation to Telegram, where he allegedly wrote “mostly into young, rape, incest – you?”

Advertisement

The arrest has prompted swift condemnation from elected officals who worked with Sprinkle in various capacities.

Richmond City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan said Sprinkle served as her 2024 campaign treasurer, handling campaign forms, events and financial reporting.

“What has been alleged is disgusting and abhorrent,” Jordan said in a statement. “I’m shocked and sickened.”

1st District Council member Andrew Breton also used Sprinkle’s services for campaign finance reports and event logistics.

“The allegations are shocking and disturbing. I am grateful that law enforcement is involved, and that justice is taking its course,” Breton said.

Advertisement

Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, who has appeared in several photos with Sprinkle that he posted on X, also responded through spokesman Jared Leopold.

“Congresswoman McClellan is shocked by these appalling accusations which should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Leopold stated.

Sprinkle previously served as a leader in the Young Democrats of Virginia and held a financial director position with the Democratic Part of Virginia.

He has also been photographed with Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Spanberger’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.

The FBI affidavit confirms that 68 files were extracted during a forensic sweep of Sprinkle’s electronic devices, some with disturbing titles. Legal expert Ed Riley said the investigation may have uncovered evidence of distribution through peer-to-peer networks where individuals exchange illegal video files and images.

Advertisement

If convicted on the single charge of distribution of child pornography, Sprinkle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, with potential sentencing up to 20 years.

“If they find the images and they can connect you to the images, you’re not dealing with the merits of the case anymore. You’re dealing with the resolution that it’s going to be,” Riley said.

Sprinkle is currently being held at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

📲: CONNECT WITH US

Advertisement

Blue Sky | Facebook | Instagram | X | Threads | TikTok | YouTube

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending