Franklin’s bounce back keys Virginia to 66-46 win over Albany

By Kenneth Cross
JerryRatcliffe.com Correspondent

Virginia guard Armaan Franklin has a deft touch and when he perfects that in any game, it serves as another part of the Cavaliers’ offense that causes matchup problems for opponents.

The Albany Great Danes had no answers for Franklin on Tuesday evening as he made 7 of 13 field goals in leading the Cavaliers with 20 points in their 66-46 win over Albany.

“I challenged Armaan after the Miami game and he came back and practiced really tough and hard-nosed,” said Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett, “I thought he brought that into the game.”

Franklin had a tough night in Virginia’s 66-64 loss last Tuesday at Miami, as he was 0 for 7 from the field, and three of those misses were triples.

“Coach said to just be aggressive on the right time to take a shot, and if you miss shots, just keep being aggressive, keep being on attack on shots,” said Franklin. “Just go out there and have fun and that was the message today, ‘just go have fun.’”

Tuesday evening, he spread his points throughout the game, and he and Jayden Gardner carried the Cavaliers’ offense through a tough start as they trailed the Great Danes, 24-22, with 5:15 remaining in the first half.

Franklin gave Virginia the lead for good at 27-24 when he scored on dribble penetration to the left side and netted the subsequent free throw. The play underlined his solid shot selection that also correlated with his solid defensive effort.

“I always tell our guys that very few can play flawless and perfect,” explained Bennett. “You’re going to make some mistakes. Can you play through and beyond and get to the next play and not let it affect other parts of your game? I thought that was what he did.”

That play followed Kadin Shedrick’s dunk, which started the decisive 18-0 run that carried over into the second half. Franklin canned a triple off the left baseline to give Virginia a 38-24 lead with 18:04 remaining.

“He had some pull-ups, he had some transition threes, and some good drives, and he just locked in defensively,” said Bennett. “I think a good shot is what you’re always after. If it’s early and is a good shot by the right guy.”

Bennett instills confidence in his players to find their shots as he wants them to be confident in their shot selections, and each player should be free to let it go and not overthink whether or not it’s going in. 

“I thought every shot he took with one maybe in the lane and they knocked it away and he just kept on plugging,” noted Bennett. “We need that, because our shooting is better, I think, this year. Armaan is a guy that if it’s open, then he usually shoots it.”

Bennett’s philosophy encourages good shots with rhythm, and if it’s a miss, a player needs to totally think about the next shot. 

“I think you push hard, but there has to be a balance of encouragement,” explained Bennett. “But when you see them miss a shot and you see them drop their heads — don’t even do that. Take the shot, a great shot.”