Kyle Guy Has Three-Point Marks in Sight

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Kyle Guy doesn’t get caught up in all the numbers, although it would be understandable if he did.

Virginia’s junior guard continued to steadily move up several of the Cavaliers’ all-time scoring lists after his eye-popping, 8-for-10 performance from the 3-point line in a blowout at Syracuse earlier this week. As far as Guy is concerned, there’s plenty of time after the season to catch up to his statistics.

Heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against visiting Louisville, Guy stands fourth on UVA’s all-time 3-point field goals made list with 226, which is 11 behind Harold Deane (237). Lurking in the distance is Joe Harris (263), and Curtis Staples (413).

In terms of most 3-pointers made in a season by a Wahoo, Staples is the record holder with 130. He’s also in second place with 103. Oh, and he’s also in third at 98, but not for long. Guy is at 92 and still hasn’t finished his junior year.

Percentage-wise for a career, Guy will likely break Keith Friel’s UVA record of .421. Friel, who played for Pete Gillen after transferring from Notre Dame, was 107-254, but that was only from 2000-2001. Guy is already at .434 for his career, and again, not finished.

Don’t ask the former “Mr. Basketball” for the state of Indiana where he stands. He doesn’t know.

“I see it on my Twitter timeline, but I don’t even know what place I’m in or anything,” Guy said recently.

He does, however, have his eyes set on one 3-point record: Tony Bennett’s career 3-point field goal percentage. Bennett set the NCAA Division I record in the late 1980s to 1991-92 when he made 49.7 percent of his 3-point attempts while playing for his father, Dick Bennett, at Green Bay. Tony’s best season was his next-to-last, ‘90-’91, when he made 53.3 percent of his shots from behind the arc, although the 3-point line was a foot closer in those days.

“I’m really far behind but trying to break Coach’s percentage record,” Guy smiled. “That’s the only one I want.”

Bennett’s mark is going to be difficult to attain, unless Guy experiences some more performances like Monday night’s 80 percent shooting at Syracuse.

However, if one compares Guy’s and Bennett’s junior campaigns, they’re very close.

Bennett, in 30 games at Green Bay, was 95-for-188 (51.1). Guy, in 29 games thus far, is 94-for-206 (45.6). Again, today’s 3-point arc is a foot longer than in Bennett’s day.

Guy could finish strong as the Cavaliers head into postseason with a chip on their shoulder.

“We got the greatest lesson learned every last year,” he said in reference to No. 1 UVA’s upset loss to 16-seed UMBC, the first of its kind in NCAA Tournament history.

With blowouts in the last three games against Georgia Tech, Pitt, and Syracuse _ the Cavaliers won those by a combined 80 points _ the Cavaliers are gearing up for postseason, perhaps peaking at the right time.

Guy has already pointed out his goals for the team.

“For me, I do this umbrella goal thing,” he said. “Win the ACC regular season, win the ACC Tournament, win the NCAA. If we take care of our business, everything will be fine. We’re absolutely hunting for three championships this year.”

With those blowouts came a little more rest for the starters, which could pay dividends next week in the ACC Tournament. Guy said that he kind of broke down about this time of the season last year, but has been taking better care of himself in all facets, including diet.

Whatever is necessary, that’s what he and his UVA teammates will do.

“Coach said we’re in 40-minute territory this time of year … all 40 minutes, just lay it on the line,” Guy said. “That’s something [Bennett] always makes a point of emphasis.”

Forty minutes of Guy bombing the nets would be a fun thing to watch, even if he never catches his coach. Don’t bet on it.