No. 2 Virginia Defeats Louisville, Clinches ACC Regular-Season Title

By Scott Ratcliffe

This one was for Jack. With an ACC regular-season title on the line, No. 2 Virginia erased a second-half deficit and held off Louisville, 73-68, in the conference finale Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers (28-2, 16-2 ACC) wrapped up their fourth regular-season championship in the last six years and ninth overall as junior guard Ty Jerome led the way with 24 points on a day that was more about sending lone senior Jack Salt out on a high note than clinching the top spot, as he explained.

“More important [to send Salt off with a win],” Jerome said. “We talked about that before the game. We didn’t talk about the title. We talked about sending him off the right way because of all that he has done for this program, all he has done for each of us and who he is as a person.”

Down by four with seven minutes to play, UVA went on a crucial 13-3 scoring run over the next five minutes, and Braxton Key sank four important free throws over the final 1:11 to seal the victory, which turned into an on-court, net-cutting celebration in front of the Cavalier faithful.

“It was amazing to be a part of this team,” said Salt in the postgame press conference. “I’ve been here for five years. I’ve been here awhile. The bond I have shared with the players and the coaches is something I will never forget.”

The Cardinals (19-12, 10-8) used a 9-2 run early in the second half to build their largest lead, 47-40, with just over 16 minutes to play.

Kyle Guy answered with a huge 3-pointer and then Jerome scored off a De’Andre Hunter steal before Mamadi Diakite flushed one home after another UL turnover, and just like that the game was knotted up again.

Louisville scored eight of the next 10, however, to lead by six, 55-49, with 10:43 remaining, but the Wahoos saved their best for last when it mattered most over the stretch run.

Jay Huff got things started with a huge 3 from the top of the key, which marked the first Cavalier basket in over three minutes, and then Guy scored on a putback off a UVA block on the other end, and JPJ was rocking.

Jordan Nwora scored on a drive to give the visitors a 59-55 edge with 7:23 showing, but the ‘Hoos dug deep and gave it everything they had the rest of the way, picking up the intensity on both ends of the floor.

“I thought our guys battled, battled their tails off,” said UL coach Chris Mack. “We put ourselves in a position to win the game. I thought their composure versus our composure in the last three-four minutes probably decided the game.”

Guy drilled a 3 from the corner, and then Key — after a Huff steal — sank his own from the same spot to put the ‘Hoos in front, 61-59, with 6:20 to go.

Louisville senior point guard Christen Cunningham scored on a three-point play on the ensuing possession, and that would be the Cardinals’ final lead of the day.

After a pair of Jerome free throws, Huff buried another straightaway triple to push the lead to four, and then Jerome sank a free-throw line jumper with 3:29 left to make it a 6-point lead.

Nwora’s baseline jumper trimmed it to 68-64 at the 2-minute mark before a Jerome steal forced Louisville to start fouling. Key made 4 of his 6 attempts from the charity stripe to finish things off.

“It was for Jack,” Guy said. “He’s done so much for this program and everyone in it. Also, we have had a great season. It’s not easy to win four regular season titles. It was just joy.”

Nwora led the Cards with 19 points, Malik Williams finished with a dozen, and Dwayne Sutton and Cunningham each added 10. Louisville, which will be the 7-seed next week in Charlotte, shot 41 percent (23 for 56 FG) on the day, 36 percent (9 for 25) from deep.

Jerome notched his sixth career 20-point performance (fourth this season) and is now eighth in school history on the single-season assist list with 154 after dishing out a team-high 6 dimes.

Guy was the only other Wahoo in double figures with 13 points (3 3-pointers) to go with his 6 rebounds. Hunter, Key and Huff each scored 9 as collectively the ‘Hoos shot 23 for 57 (40 percent) from the floor and 12 of 28 (43 percent) from long range.

“I thought Ty Jerome was terrific, Kyle Guy, what Jay Huff did coming off the bench with those threes, and then Braxton Key making the big three and grabbing some rebounds,” said UVA coach Tony Bennett. “We needed all those things. We needed different guys at different times in those settings in a physical game. When we’re playing for a regular season conference championship, to be in that spot and to get it is even better, but, hopefully there’s some confidence.”

Salt missed his only two shot attempts in 11:50 of action, but assisted on the game’s first basket and came away with a block and a steal after starting for the 103rd time as a Cavalier.

He was the last Wahoo to climb the ladder and cut down the net, a fitting end to a memorable ride in Charlottesville.

“I was very happy to have all of my family here,” Salt admitted afterwards. “This is the most family I have had to a game, and to walk on the floor with my mom, dad and sister, it meant a lot to me.

“I came here as a first-year and there were amazing players. There was Anthony Gill, Mike Tobey, Darion Atkins, Isaiah [Wilkins] was coming in with me. I was just amazed at the talent that was here and, like you said, I didn’t think I was going to play. But over the years, I just worked hard and just tried to listen to the coaches and learn from the players and I have loved my time here.”

Virginia gets the 1-seed in next week’s ACC Tournament in Charlotte, and will face either No. 8 NC State or No. 9 Clemson in the first quarterfinal Thursday at Noon. The Wolfpack and Tigers will square off Wednesday at 12 ET.