In a handshake line done the right way on Wednesday night, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski paused when he got to Virginia’s Kihei Clark and told him just how good the Cavaliers’ point guard was.

Intense rivals during ACC battles, Virginia’s Tony Bennett and visiting Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski shared a special moment before Wednesday night’s game at John Paul Jones Arena.

Maybe the NET rankings and other analytics don’t believe Virginia deserves a bid to next month’s NCAA Tournament, but the all-time winningest coach in the game said the Cavaliers belong.

John Paul Jones Arena was loud, electric and decked out in orange for the nationally-broadcast rematch that once again lived up to the hype, but Duke freshman A.J. Griffin spoiled the party.

This is the one you’ve all been waiting for, Virginia vs. Duke, the rematch, the “orange out,” the game that will likely make or break the Cavaliers’ season.

“The Jerry Ratcliffe Show” welcomes Chris Graham to help break down the key matchups ahead of Wednesday’s Virginia-Duke ACC hoops rematch.

“Ralph’s House.” What started as a simple, after-dinner chat about how to leave their mark on their college days 40 years ago, evolved into an everlasting phrase in Virginia basketball lore for a small group of UVA students.

Virginia’s chances to make the NCAA Tournament go directly through Duke, and that makes Wednesday night’s home game against the Blue Devils the biggest game of the year for the Cavaliers.

Virginia, desperately trying to add to its postseason resume, had been prodded by Tony Bennett at halftime to “leave everything on the floor,” and his players got the message.

Virginia erased a double-digit deficit in the second half and held on late to complete the season sweep at Miami Saturday, 74-71.

With Virginia’s loss at Virginia Tech on Big Monday, the Cavaliers’ path to the NCAA Tournament narrowed considerably.

Seth Greenberg, who has had stops at Virginia and Virginia Tech along his coaching career and is now among the best basketball analysts in the land, made a good point during halftime of Monday night’s clash between the two rivals.