Opinion
3 min read

Virginia Cavaliers Set to Clash with Colorado State Rams: A Battle of Wits and Willpower

As the Virginia Cavaliers gear up for their next challenge against the Colorado State Rams, fans are eager to see if UVA can bring their A-game to UD Arena. The Cavaliers have been a team of resilience and strategy, but recent games have shown that there's room for improvement, especially when it comes to converting opportunities into points.


Jan 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Virginia Cavaliers guard Armaan Franklin (4) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on March 16 against North Carolina State's Wolfpack, the Cavaliers fell short in overtime with a final score of 65-73. Despite an impressive 19 assists reflecting strong teamwork and ball movement, UVA struggled from the free-throw line with only 54 percent accuracy. Additionally, they shot just 38 percent from the field compared to NCST's more efficient 48 percent.


The game was a nail-biter with ten ties and nine lead changes indicating how evenly matched these teams were. However, Virginia couldn't capitalize on second-chance points where they led by eight over NCST or leverage their nine three-pointers effectively enough to secure a win.


Looking at another recent performance against Boston College Eagles on March 15, UVA managed a narrow victory in overtime with a scoreline of 66-60. This time around, they improved their two-point field goal percentage to 46 percent but still lagged behind in free throws at just 44 percent accuracy. Their defense stepped up though; six steals and four blocks helped keep BC at bay while also contributing ten fast break points.


The upcoming game against CSU will demand that Virginia tighten up its shooting efficiency both from the line and within play if they want to dominate. The Rams are not an opponent that can be taken lightly; as seen in past performances where opponents like North Carolina State exploited every small mistake made by UVA.


Fans should expect UVA's defense to be aggressive right out of the gate as this has been one area where they've consistently performed well throughout the season. With an assist-turnover ratio better than CSU’s in previous games (2.38 vs NCST), maintaining possession will be crucial for Virginia as turnovers could prove costly against an opportunistic Colorado State team.


The Cavaliers must also focus on improving their three-point shooting which stood at only 32 percent during both mentioned games – below what is needed for success at this level of competition.


As we look forward towards March Madness excitement building up around UD Arena on March 19th at precisely 9:10 PM EDT - fans can catch all action live truTV network broadcasting event nationwide!

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