Virginia has learned this season that there's not much you can accomplish without making shots.
It's a lesson that even extends to the big boys.
No. 1 Duke fell to Florida State 66-61 on Wednesday night after hitting just 4 of its 17 3-pointers in the first half. That means when the Cavaliers face Duke today at Cameron Indoor Stadium, U.Va. will be the last team to face a top-ranked Blue Devils squad before Duke drops in next week's poll.
What does Duke's loss mean for the Wahoos (10-6, 1-1 ACC)? Probably nothing good, as they would have been heavy underdogs even without the Blue Devils (15-1, 2-1) using the extra motivation of their first loss.
The hill hasn't been climbed since 1995, the last time U.Va. won in Durham. The teams played twice last year, with the Cavs coming close in the ACC tournament and losing more decisively at John Paul Jones Arena.
Coach Tony Bennett isn't going to worry too much about his offense, which has been plagued by injuries. Instead, he's going to work on getting the Blue Devils into another shooting funk by improving his defense.
"Right now, it has to [be better], because it's hard for us to manufacture offense, with injuries and things like that," Bennett said of his defense. "We're trying to improve things on the other end, and they're making strides in that direction. They've bought into that."
Guard Jontel Evans saw that as the difference in the two halves last Saturday against North Carolina, a 62-56 loss.
In the first, he said, "we made them work, made them take good shots," and U.Va. shot out to a lead. But he said a lack of energy in the second half ultimately undid them.
After the setback Wednesday, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said that it exposed his team as far from perfect.
"We have not been in a game like that," he said. "They knocked us back. You just learn from the experience. We have a long way to go."
That journey becomes easier, and much tougher to defend, when his team is hitting its 3-pointers.
mphillips@timesdispatch.com
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