WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV - Through five games, Virginia basketball had yet to face a team that could match its physicality. The Cavaliers found a willing and able sparring partner in Butler on Sunday afternoon at the Skechers Greenbrier Tip-Off Classic.
The Bulldogs handed Ryan Odom his first loss as UVA’s head coach, winning 80-73. With the loss, Virginia now sits at 5-1 on the season.
“Not what we had hoped for coming in, but you have to give Butler a ton of credit,” Odom said. “Throughout the game, they answered every challenge that our guys gave them.”
Indeed, the Hoos spent most of the game trying to rein in leads that Butler created. The Bulldogs scored on a layup 12 seconds into the game and did not trail for the rest of the first half. With the score knotted at 13, Butler hit 3 consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 22-13. On the half, the Bulldogs connected on 5 of 7 outside shots.
Virginia answered with a run of its own, fueled by the offensive play of Malik Thomas. Just after the midway point of the first half, Thomas hit 2 shots from beyond the arc to bring UVA within 2 points at 28-26. However, Butler responded again over the next 3 minutes with a 13-4 run to build a 41-30 lead with 4:17 remaining in the half. It was the largest deficit the Cavaliers have faced this season.
Again, the Hoos fought back. Back-to-back 3’s from Thijs De Ridder and Jacari White started a 12-3 run that trimmed the deficit to 2 points. With Butler leading 44-42 at the break, Virginia trailed at halftime for the first time this season.
The second half featured a similar dynamic of the Cavaliers attempting to stem the tide of various Bulldog runs. UVA edged ahead briefly at the 16:46 mark of the second half, taking a 49-48 lead on a Thomas jumper. The advantage was short-lived, though, as Butler guard Finley Bizjack answered with a basket 23 seconds later. It was the last time the Hoos held a lead in the game.
Down the stretch, Virginia had opportunities to narrow the deficit but could not get shots or free throws to fall. On the night, UVA finished 7 for 15 (46.7%) at the charity stripe and shot 12-32 (37.5%) following the halftime break.
“We struggled scoring in the second half,” Odom said. “Probably missed some key free throws to stop some of our runs where we got fouled and made good plays and couldn’t make the key open shots that we had to make the game a little bit tighter.”
As Odom suggested, Butler deserves credit for causing some of the Cavaliers’ offensive struggles. Thad Matta’s squad stayed connected to Virginia’s 3-point shooters and avoided helping during one-on-one situations. While UVA was able to get some baskets in isolation and on drives, it kept Cavalier guards from finding space around the perimeter.
“We wanted to give as much support as we could, but we didn’t want to give open 3’s either,” Matta said. “We did a pretty decent job of guarding the 3-point line tonight.”
Though the Greenbrier Tip-Off did not follow a traditional tournament structure, this game served as a de facto championship after both schools won their games on Friday afternoon. Butler defeated South Carolina 79-72, while UVA outlasted Northwestern 83-78.
For the second straight matchup at the Greenbrier, the Cavaliers enjoyed a distinct home court advantage. Though Butler supporters showed out in greater numbers than Northwestern fans did on Friday night, the sold-out ballroom was once again filled with Virginia partisans.
This was only the second ever meeting between Virginia and Butler. The last time these schools faced off, it was in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. The Hoos won that matchup 77-69, thanks in large part to a hot shooting night from Malcolm Brogdon.
Virginia returns home where it will next face Queens University on Friday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena. Until then, here are three takeaways from UVA’s loss in White Sulphur Springs.
Hoos Struggle To Defend
Butler used a variety of offensive actions throughout the game to frustrate the Cavaliers’ defense. Using ball screens, backscreens, and flares, Bulldogs’ guards were frequently able to get the ball into the paint and create mismatches.
“I think we didn’t execute our coverages,” Thomas said. “They brought the fight to us with their screens, with their physicality, and just their aggression. It shocked us for the first four or five minutes of the game, and after we got acclimated to it, we adjusted, but we kind of dug ourselves a hole.”
In the first half, UVA made frequent use of drop coverage which hopes to prevent driving guards from getting all the way to the rim. Butler’s guards, particularly Finley Bizjack, used this extra space to create scoring opportunities. Bizjack led all scorers in the game with 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Butler made 15 of 28 shots from the field in the first half (53.5%), 5 of which came from Bizjack.
Virginia tried varying its screen coverage in the second half, switching more frequently and occasionally trapping to get the ball out of Bizjack’s hands. However, the Cavaliers could not get enough stops to win the game. After the game, Odom lamented his team’s inconsistency in defending Butler’s screens.
“There were times where we executed it really well, and then there were times where we let ourselves down,” Odom said.
Virginia’s transition defense struggled as well. Despite Odom’s desire to find transition opportunities for his team, Butler was able to match the 16 fastbreak points that UVA scored in the game.
One bright spot for the Cavaliers’ defense was the play of Ugonna Onyenso. The senior center was put in charge of defending the rim on Butler’s downhill drives. He provided solid rim protection throughout the game, finishing the game with 8 blocks and 7 rebounds.
“Ugo is special,” Thomas said of his teammate. “He’s a talented shot blocker that provides a presence down there. Even if he doesn’t block the shot, he alters it in a lot of ways.”
Odom referred to Onyenso’s play as a “bright spot” on an otherwise disappointing defensive effort. Matta praised Onyenso’s play as well, joking that of the 29 shots his team missed, 27 of them were blocked by the Virginia big man.
Butler Matches UVA’s Physicality
This game featured two of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. Coming into the game, Virginia ranked second in offensive rebounding percentage (49.2%) while Butler ranked sixth (44.6%). UVA used these second-chance opportunities to propel its offensive output into the 80’s the first five games of the season.
While Virginia managed to get 18 points off offensive rebounds, it lost the overall rebounding battle to Butler, 43-39.
“When we are playing an elite offensive rebounding team like Butler, it’s imperative that you block out and come up with rebounds,” Odom said. “I think at times we did that really well, and then all of the sudden, we wouldn’t.”
Forward Michael Ajayi was one of the biggest contributors to Butler’s success on the glass. With 17 points and 14 rebounds, Ajayi compiled his sixth double-double of the season.
“He’s a very, very good player,” Odom said of Ajayi. “He’s the most athletic forward that we’ve played so far.”
Ajayi also did an admirable job guarding Virginia leading scorer, De Ridder. The Belgian forward was held to only 10 points on 4-10 shooting. De Ridder sustained an injury to his eye that seemed to bother him throughout the game and frequently had to be addressed by UVA’s training staff. Keeping Virginia’s bruising forward from impacting the game was a clear point of emphasis from the Butler coaching staff.
Jamie Kaiser Jr. was also active on the glass for the Bulldogs. The sophomore guard secured 10 rebounds, 5 on offense and 5 on defense, and was called the “MVP” of the game by his head coach.
Both teams were effective in the paint, with Virginia scoring 42 points and Butler countering with 36. As the Cavaliers get ready for conference play, they will need to learn how to play more effectively against teams that can match their size and athleticism. While UVA was successful in responding to that challenge against a tough Northwestern team, it fell short against the Bulldogs.
“I think the difference between today and Friday was we brought the fight to Northwestern and we were playing a little passive and on our heels against [Butler],” Thomas said.
Malik Thomas Keeps Virginia Close
Though Virginia’s offense struggled at times during the game, it was kept within striking distance thanks to the playmaking of Malik Thomas. The fifth-year guard led all UVA scorers with 24 points, including 16 points in the second half.
Thomas’ assertiveness fueled several Virginia runs, including the one that pushed the Hoos into their brief lead in the second half. He rattled off 7 straight points for his team on a turnaround jumper, a 3-pointer, and a pull-up shot. However, he finished 3 of 6 at the free throw line, missing an opportunity to put the Cavaliers on top. That included 2 misses with 3:16 to go in a 72-66 game at the time.
“He can score,” Odom said. “He’s really tough in transition. He’s really confident with his shot, and when he has space to work with, he’s really good.”
Despite his attempt to put the team on his back, Thomas did not get enough complementary scoring from his teammates to deliver a victory. Jacari White scored 14 points for the Hoos, connecting on 4 of 6 3-pointers. Chance Mallory, who played a game-high 34 minutes, scored 11 on 4-of-13 shooting. Mallory was called into action early after starting point guard Dallin Hall picked up 2 fouls before the first media timeout. After recording 8 rebounds against Northwestern, Mallory secured 6 boards in this contest.
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