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No. 13 Virginia Claws Clemson, 104-76
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Jan. 27, 2001
By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer
CLEMSON, S.C. – Virginia coach Pete Gillen says his players have heardtoo much about how they can’t defend and can’t win on the road.
After defeating Clemson 104-76 Saturday and holding the Atlantic CoastConference’s top scorer to a season low in scoring, maybe the 13th-rankedCavaliers won’t have to hear such talk any more.
“That was our best defensive effort of the season,” Gillen said.
All you had to do was watch the face of Clemson star Will Solomon to knowthat. Shots that have fallen all year spun in and out. He often ran down thecourt with his face crinkled up in wonder.
“When those shots didn’t go in, I guess I got down on myself,” saidSolomon, who finished with just 10 points on 2-of-14 shooting. “I let myemotions take over.”
Virginia’s defense had something to do with that.
The team was stung, Adam Hall said, after North Carolina’s Joseph Fortescored 33 points – 19 in the second half – in an 88-81 loss at North Carolinathis past Wednesday.
“He basically beat us all by himself,” said Hall, who had 17 points and 12rebounds and prime responsibility for guarding Solomon. “We didn’t want thatto happen again.”
Chris Williams had 22 points and Donald Hand 20 to lead the Cavaliers (14-4,3-4).
Williams had 12 points in the opening half as the Cavaliers (14-4, 3-4 ACC)ran out to a 24-point lead in the first 15 minutes. He had consecutive3-pointers to start a 34-10 run and carry Virginia to its third win its lastfive games.
The Cavaliers made sure to pay extra attention to Solomon, who set hiscareer high of 43 against them here last season and scored 41 for the Tigers(10-10, 1-6) in their loss to Georgia Tech this past Wednesday.
“We know Will can beat us, we wanted other guys to beat us,” Gillen said.
Solomon missed his first six shots and was 1-for-10 for the first half. Hescored 10 points – 13 fewer than his average – to barely continue his 49-gamestreak of double-figure scoring.
Freshman Chris Hobbs led Clemson with 28 points and nine rebounds.
Virginia made a season-best 12 3-pointers, eclipsing its previous mark of 11set against Florida State in an 89-71 victory Jan. 16.
Travis Watson had 18 points for Virginia.
Things don’t get easier for the Cavaliers, with home games againstnationally ranked Maryland and Wake Forest next week.
But Hand thinks the Clemson performance can carry over to those games.
“We have no problem scoring, we just can’t get stops,” said Hand. “Wehave to do a better job buckling down in our halfcourt defense. Tonight we tooka big step in the right direction.”
The Cavaliers’ fifth victory over Clemson in their past six meetings becamea laugher early on.
After Tony Stockman’s 3-pointer drew the Tigers to 21-12, they went almostseven minutes without a point.
Williams had a three-point play that increased the lead to 26-12. His insidebucket gave the Cavs a 38-16 lead and his two foul shots with 17 seconds to gomade it 47-28 at halftime.
Virginia “played like a hungry team today,” Clemson coach Larry Shyattsaid. “We were outplayed from start to finish and we simply did not have theintensity we needed.”
Nor the usual scoring from Solomon, who leaves the Tigers in a big hole whenhe can’t connect. Only one other player, freshman Tony Stockman at 12.4 points,averages in double figures.
The Cavaliers “did a great job rotating players on me,” said Solomon, whohad six of Clemson’s 10 turnovers. “Especially, if I beat one, they would havetwo guys waiting for me in the paint.”
Clarke Bynum, the former Clemson player who last month helped saved ahijacked jetliner from peril, was honored at halftime. He received acommendation from university president Jim Barker.