Virginia defeated in state ACC rival Virginia Tech, 81-59, before a sellout crowd at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville to remain one of the two undefeated teams in the country, along with Michigan.
The Cavaliers, who are ranked first in the USA Today Coaches Poll and fourth in the AP poll, are 16-0 and 4-0 in the ACC heading into Saturday’s big conference showdown against AP top-ranked Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The talented 6-7 sophomore forward De’Andre Hunter from Philadelphia’s Friends’ Central, scored 21 points for Virginia. Forward Kyle Guy added 15 and guard Ty Jerome had 14 and a career high 12 assists for the Cavaliers, who made 10 of their first 14 three-point attempts against the AP ninth ranked Hokies (14-2, 3-1) in the first meeting ever between the programs when both were ranked in the AP Top 20.
Virginia has always been known for its suffocating defense. That hasn’t changed. But this is Tony Bennett’s best offensive team since he arrived from Washington State in 2009. Bennett has never had this many weapons or a pro prospect like Hunter. The Cavaliers, who have only averaged over 70 points once, in the 2-16 Elite Eight season, are averaging 74 points.
Virginia shot 68 percent in the first half, and put the game away, cruising to a 44-22 lead and erasing the nightmare of Tech’s 61-60 victory last year in Charlottesville. The Cavs finished 13 for 23 from 3-point range and shot 58 percent overall.
Sophomore guard Nickeil Alexander Walker, a potential NBA lottery pick from Toronto, led Virginia Tech with 19 points, but the Hokies, who had been shooting 41 percent from the three, made just 7 of 21 from beyond the arc against the Cavaliers.
