Virginia’s defense smothers Coppin, 62-45

By Jerry Ratcliffe

The head coach may have changed and some of the personnel are different, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed in Virginia basketball: defense.

UVA’s Pack-Line was ever present in Monday night’s 62-45 blowout of an offensively-challenged Coppin State team, and that aspect of the Cavaliers’ second win in as many outings pleased interim head coach Ron Sanchez.

“Where we are right now, I actually think we have the potential to be a pretty good defensive team, I really do,” Sanchez said postgame. “I think we have enough size, I think we have some decent length, I think we have some decent quickness on the perimeter, and if we continue to journey and value the little things, I think that this team has a chance to be really good defensively, and that’s really exciting for me.”

Virginia gave Sanchez plenty of reasons for his defensive joy. The Cavaliers held 0-4 Coppin State to 28-percent shooting for the game (14 of 50) and shut down the visitors’ perimeter game (4 for 19 from beyond the arc). UVA also had 15 points off 7 Coppin turnovers, had 7 steals and 11 blocked shots.

“Our issue is that we just can’t throw the ball in the ocean right now,” said Coppin coach Larry Stewart. “So you’re not going to beat anybody. I told the guys in the locker room, you’re not going to beat a high school team shooting the ball like we’re shooting it right now.”

Conversely, Virginia’s shooting was steady as the Cavaliers (2-0) made 40.4 percent from the field (21 for 52), 33 percent from the perimeter (9 for 27) and 92 percent from the free-throw line (11 for 12).

Four Wahoos finished in double figures, led by Elijah Saunders’ 15 points, Isaac McKneely 14, Dai Dai Ames 13 and Jacob Cofie 11. All but McKneely are transfers.

McKneely, who was 4 for 8 from the arc, did most of his damage in the first half while it was still somewhat of a game. UVA led 20-14 when the Cavaliers finished the half with a flurry of points.

Ames drilled a 3-pointer, opening up the floodgates for McKneely, who lit up Coppin’s matchup zone defense with three consecutive 3-balls and a 32-16 halftime lead.

“I thought we slipped up a little bit in that first half when [McKneely] hit those three threes back to back,” Coppin’s Stewart said. “We fell asleep there, but we did a good job on him in the second half.”

Didn’t matter. The damage had been done.

Sanchez was delighted with McKneely’s bombs, but thought his shooting star passed up too many early looks.

A 17-2 run midway through the second half saw the Cavaliers steadily pull away, leading 57-29, UVA’s largest lead of the night (28 points) with a little over six minutes to play.

Ames was impressive at the point, starting for Rohde, who suffered a back injury and did not play. The Kansas State sophomore transfer was quicker with the ball and seemed at ease running the offense, in addition to adding another scorer to the lineup. In last week’s opening win over Campbell, Rohde was solid in most aspects of the game, but did not score.

“He’s very aggressive at the point guard position,” said teammate Saunders of Ames. “Him and Rohde are kind of different at that role. Rohde is more of a pass-first guy looking to get others involved. Dai Dai’s aggressiveness, especially getting downhill, after we lost Jaylen (Warley, who transferred eight days before the season opener), we need guys who can get to the rim, attack the rim, and [Ames] does a good job of being aggressive.”

Sanchez said that Virginia’s lineup, a really young lineup, missed Rohde’s experience and calming effect, which was apparent at times.

Saunders was solid on a 5-of-9 night from the field, including a 3-pointer and 4 of 4 free throws, 5 rebounds and a blocked shot. Freshman Jacob Cofie, who dazzled the John Paul Jones Arena crowd last week, told everyone that the real Saunders hadn’t been revealed at that point. The 13,294 on hand Monday night got a better idea of what Saunders, a transfer from San Diego State, is all about.

Saunders and Cofie played together at times, which gave Virginia a sizable front line along with Blake Buchanan, going 6-8, 6-10, 6-11.

“So, [Saunders and Cofie] have kind of that West Coast connection to begin with,” Sanchez said. “They go against each other in practice a lot and I think that’s something that’s definitely helping Jacob, but I think it’s also helping Elijah to go up against somebody who is that quick, that strong.”

The Cavaliers will have to raise their level of play for their next outing, a battle in Baltimore against Villanova in a 5 p.m. start on Friday.

Jon Golden Photo Gallery

Team Notes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• Virginia improved to 2-0 with the non-conference win
• UVA improved to 100-10 in non-conference action at John Paul Jones Arena since 2009-10
• UVA blocked 11 shots in the win
• Virginia is 248-56 (.816), including a 2-0 mark in 2024-25, in 19 seasons at John Paul Jones Arena
• UVA is 32-3 in its last 35 home contests
• UVA out-rebounded Coppin State 39-3
• UVA led 32-16 at the half, drilling 7 of 16 3-pointers
• UVA is 116-2 when limiting foes to fewer then 50 points since 2009-10
• UVA is 23-0 all-time vs. current Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes

Series Notes

• Virginia is 4-0 all-time against Coppin State in the series that dates back to 1993-94

Player Notes

• Double Figure Scorers: Elijah Saunders (15), Isaac McKneely (14), Dai Dai Ames (13), Jacob Cofie (11)
• Cofie added 11 rebounds for his first career double-double
• Cofie has reached double figures in both games this season
• McKneely scored 12 of his points in the first half (4 of 6 3-pointers)
• McKneely reached double figures for the second time (28th career)
• McKneely tied a career high with six rebounds
• Saunders reached double figures for the second time (8th career)
• Ames made his first start at Virginia (17th career)
• Ames reached double figures for the first time (9th career)
• Cofie had team highs in blocked shots (3) and steals (4)
• Andrew Rohde missed the game due to a back injury
• Anthony Robinson scored two points in his collegiate debut
• Bryce Walker made his season debut
• Desmond Roberts made his collegiate debut after redshirting last season