:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48759291/usa-today-9098416.0.jpg)
A week after handing Louisville an embarrassing loss at the KFC Yum! Center, the Hoos kept rolling. They weren't the only Cavaliers to pull in wins this week, however. Let's check it out.
Rapid Fire
-Congrats to former Men's Lacrosse captain Mikey Thompson (2010) for being named interim head coach at Christopher Newport University for 2016. Thompson has been the assistant coach for the Captains for the last four years after spending his first year coaching with Virginia as a grad assistant during their 2011 National Championship run. Congrats, Mikey! The 2016 lacrosse season starts Saturday at Klockner Stadium against Loyola at 1pm.
Former captain Mikey Thompson has been named Christopher Newport's interim HC for 2016 https://t.co/h2XY4NvLf9 pic.twitter.com/zMELWMvGPL
— Virginia Lacrosse (@UVAMensLacrosse) February 5, 2016
-No.18 Wrestling got their first ACC win of the season with a 22-12 win over Duke.
-Third year swimmer Leah Smith was named the ACC Swimmer of the Week for her performance in the dual meet with NC State and UNC in which she won three events.
-Top-ranked Men's Tennis kept the domination train rolling with 7-0 wins over Elon and Furman. The Hoos now have a record of 4-0, and have only dropped one set in the 2016 season. Next up, Virginia faces a challenge when the No.9 UCLA team comes to town.
HOO-mongous Wins
-I think it's safe to say that Men's Basketball is back. The Hoos, now up to No.7 in the latest polls, handled Boston College 61-47 on Wednesday, then traveled to the Petersen Events Center and Cavalanched Pitt in the second half to finish with a 64-50 victory. Virginia has now held three straight opponents (Louisville, BC, and Pitt) to 50 points or less, and the defense is looking more like the defense of years past.
Against BC, Malcolm Brogdon just couldn't miss, going 5-of-5 from three point land and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe en route to 27 points (17 in the first half!). Anthony Gill recorded a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double, despite being double and triple teamed frequently throughout the game. The Hoos shot 9-of-18 from three point, and Zay Wilkins had a ridiculous four steals. The best moment may have been Evan Nolte's corner three, however.
The biggest factor in my feeling comfortable to deem the Hoos "back" was their performance on the road at hostile Pitt. The Panther student section, or the "Oakland Zoo", was packed and rocking a 'blackout' for the game, but nothing slowed the Virginia offense or interrupted the Wahoo defense (except maybe a long jumper from Michael Young...he's nasty good). Brogdon had 21 points, making it five of the last six games that he's gone for 20 points or more (the one he missed he had 13 at Louisville).
In the last six games, Malcolm is averaging 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He is shooting 68.8% from the floor (42-of-61), 55.1% from three point (16-of-29), and 96.7% from the free throw line (30-of-31). On top of that, he's had impressive defensive performances against Damion Lee, Eli Carter, and James Robinson. *fire emoji*
London Perrantes added 14 points and had himself a day shooting 4-of-5 beyond the arc as the Hoos went 9-of-16 from three for the afternoon. Zay had a great game with a career high five assists, and Marial's eight points were well earned and well timed. Oh, and Nolte drilled a cold blooded three in the first half, so basically things are looking up.
Next up, Virginia hosts Virginia Tech with a chance to exact revenge for their earlier loss. Game is at 8pm on Tuesday and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.