No. 4 Virginia beats No. 25 Wisconsin to win Atlantis title
AP
Nov 24, 2018
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) Fourth-ranked Virginia Cavaliers got another test like coach Tony Bennett wanted, and fittingly it came from a team with a style that looked awfully familiar.
Perhaps that's why the Cavaliers handled everything that came their way - from fighting through their off-target shooting to tussling with a preseason All-American - well enough to win the Battle 4 Atlantis championship.
Virginia beat No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers 53-46 on Friday to claim the tournament title in a game that featured tough defense and plenty of clock-melting stretches that reduced the number of possessions, leading to a grind-it-out fight to the final horn.
That was just fine with Bennett, who has plenty of experienced players but deflected questions about his team's experience before the tournament by focusing on the fact he's only starting to blend in a few new additions.
Virginia (6-0) wasn't tested much in its first three home games. Now Bennett has an answer about how his players will respond in a close game: well enough to claim a Thanksgiving holiday tournament championship for sixth straight year.
''It was a test of our system and it really was a test individually of what our guys had in their minds and in their heart,'' Bennett said. ''We talked about refusing to yield, just trying to be that way. It's kind of coach talk, but it's true when you get in those spots. I kept trying to say, `I love being in this spot. Keep fighting, let's see what we can do.'''
There was plenty for Bennett to feel good about this week, starting with tournament MVP De'Andre Hunter. The 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore was dominant for much of the three games in the Bahamas, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds against the Badgers.
Beyond that, the Cavaliers followed their tough semifinal win against Dayton with a strong first half against Wisconsin (5-1) to build a 33-18 halftime lead. Then they were tough enough to hold off the Badgers despite shooting just 26 percent in the second half.
That included going just 2 for 16 out of the locker room, a stat that drew a chuckle from junior guard Ty Jerome.
''I guess it's funny now because we won,'' Jerome said, ''but like (Bennett) said, it's a testament to our defense, our fight and where we are right now in a season. I think we understood who we have to be today.''
That included finding ways to frustrate preseason Associated Press All-American Ethan Happ.
The 6-10 senior had a nice stat line with 22 points, 15 rebounds and six assists for Wisconsin, which shot 52 percent after halftime to cut into the deficit. But he also had six of the Badgers' 13 turnovers, sometimes from Virginia guards helping inside to poke the ball away.
And that was just too many considering Wisconsin got just 59 possessions. The Badgers got as close as five four separate times in the second half, but could never overtake the Cavaliers.
''Tony's got a good team, there's no doubt,'' Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. ''That's an experienced, very well-prepared, very sound team that's a great test for us early in the year.''
OKLAHOMA 65, DAYTON 54
Christian James scored 21 points to make the five-man all-tournament team as Oklahoma won the third-place game.
Oklahoma (5-1) led 9-0 and 26-12 in this one, only to fall behind 41-34 when the Flyers opened the second half on a 13-0 run. But Oklahoma regrouped, and James hit a pair of big 3-pointers and a layup during one key sequence.
''Sometimes you've got a team where you know which guys every night are going to be consistent producers,'' Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. ''This is going to be a group that's different guys on different nights. ... Still, I like the pieces.''
Jalen Crutcher scored 14 points for Dayton (4-2), which shot just 32 percent.
STANFORD 67, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 54
KZ Okpala scored 22 points to help Stanford (3-3) win the seventh-place game.
Thursday's loss to Florida had left coach Jerod Haase saying he needed to ''deliver the message more effectively'' in getting more out of his players offensively. His team responded by shooting 48 percent after halftime and leading by 18.
''There were times when we were as ugly as could be on the offensive end and at times struggled defensively,'' Haase said of the tournament. ''But I thought our guys competed pretty consistently.''
Antonio Green scored 21 points to lead the Blue Raiders (3-4), who shot 36 percent and had 22 turnovers.
BUTLER 61, FLORIDA 54
Kamar Baldwin scored 19 points, including his 1,000th career point, as Butler won the fifth-place game.
The Bulldogs (5-1) shot 50 percent after halftime and hit some key free throws late to stay in control.
''It wasn't perfect,'' Butler coach LaVall Jordan said. ''I can't even say it was pretty. We just had to find a way to get the job done.''
It was another bumpy offensive showing for the Gators (3-3). After making 7 of 15 3-pointers in the first half to lead 32-27 at the break, the Gators shot 29 percent after halftime and made just 1 of 12 3s.
''Defensively I thought they put on a clinic,'' Florida coach Mike White said.
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1st Half
WISC
Badgers
18
UVA
Cavaliers
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Wisconsin
19:53
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
19:51
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
19:11
De'Andre Hunter missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:09
Defensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
18:55
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
18:53
Offensive rebound by Ethan Happ
18:42
D'Mitrik Trice missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:40
Defensive rebound by Virginia
18:19
Jack Salt missed layup, blocked by Ethan Happ
18:17
Offensive rebound by Jack Salt
18:15
+2
Jack Salt made layup
0-2
17:47
+2
Khalil Iverson made layup, assist by Ethan Happ
2-2
17:24
Jack Salt missed layup
17:22
Offensive rebound by Virginia
17:23
Shooting foul on Ethan Happ
17:23
+1
De'Andre Hunter made 1st of 2 free throws
2-3
17:23
+1
De'Andre Hunter made 2nd of 2 free throws
2-4
17:02
+2
Nate Reuvers made hook shot, assist by Ethan Happ
4-4
16:48
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
16:46
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
16:33
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
16:31
Defensive rebound by Kyle Guy
16:24
+3
Kyle Guy made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ty Jerome
4-7
16:02
Brad Davison missed jump shot
16:00
Defensive rebound by Ty Jerome
15:35
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
15:33
Defensive rebound by D'Mitrik Trice
15:23
D'Mitrik Trice missed jump shot
15:21
Defensive rebound by Kihei Clark
15:00
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup
4-9
14:43
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Happ, stolen by Ty Jerome
14:38
+2
Ty Jerome made layup
4-11
14:20
Personal foul on Kyle Guy
14:04
Brad Davison missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:02
Defensive rebound by Kihei Clark
13:40
+2
Ty Jerome made jump shot, assist by Kihei Clark
4-13
13:08
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Brevin Pritzl
6-13
12:46
Kihei Clark missed jump shot
12:44
Offensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
12:40
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup
6-15
12:13
Brevin Pritzl missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:11
Defensive rebound by Kihei Clark
11:45
Ty Jerome missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:43
Defensive rebound by Wisconsin
11:32
D'Mitrik Trice missed jump shot
11:30
Offensive rebound by Brad Davison
11:11
Brad Davison missed layup
11:09
Defensive rebound by Mamadi Diakite
10:44
Braxton Key missed layup
10:42
Defensive rebound by Brevin Pritzl
10:26
Traveling violation turnover on Kobe King
10:14
Bad pass turnover on Kyle Guy, stolen by Kobe King
10:03
+2
D'Mitrik Trice made jump shot
8-15
9:40
Kyle Guy missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:38
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
9:26
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Khalil Iverson
10-15
9:04
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
9:02
Defensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
8:53
Personal foul on Braxton Key
8:46
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
8:44
Defensive rebound by Kyle Guy
8:29
Braxton Key missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:27
Defensive rebound by Wisconsin
8:14
+2
D'Mitrik Trice made jump shot
12-15
7:54
+2
Mamadi Diakite made layup, assist by Kyle Guy
12-17
7:41
Bad pass turnover on D'Mitrik Trice, stolen by Braxton Key
7:36
Braxton Key missed layup, blocked by Ethan Happ
7:34
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
7:26
Personal foul on Jack Salt
7:14
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
7:12
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
6:50
+2
De'Andre Hunter made jump shot
12-19
6:28
+2
Ethan Happ made layup
14-19
6:08
+2
De'Andre Hunter made jump shot, assist by Kyle Guy
14-21
5:49
Personal foul on Jack Salt
5:32
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Nate Reuvers
16-21
5:12
Bad pass turnover on Kyle Guy
5:03
D'Mitrik Trice missed jump shot
5:01
Defensive rebound by Virginia
5:01
Personal foul on Ethan Happ
4:40
+3
Kyle Guy made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ty Jerome
16-24
4:20
Aleem Ford missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:18
Defensive rebound by Mamadi Diakite
3:54
De'Andre Hunter missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:52
Defensive rebound by Brad Davison
3:33
Nate Reuvers missed layup
3:31
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
3:16
+3
Ty Jerome made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kihei Clark
16-27
2:48
Lost ball turnover on Nate Reuvers, stolen by Mamadi Diakite
2:34
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup, assist by Ty Jerome
16-29
2:01
Shot clock violation turnover on Wisconsin
1:42
Lost ball turnover on Mamadi Diakite, stolen by Brad Davison
1:32
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Happ, stolen by Kihei Clark
1:14
Shooting foul on Brad Davison
1:14
+1
Kihei Clark made 1st of 2 free throws
16-30
1:14
+1
Kihei Clark made 2nd of 2 free throws
16-31
58.0
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by D'Mitrik Trice
18-31
36.0
De'Andre Hunter missed jump shot
34.0
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
20.0
Brad Davison missed 3-pt. jump shot
18.0
Defensive rebound by Ty Jerome
1.0
+2
Ty Jerome made jump shot
18-33
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
WISC
Badgers
28
UVA
Cavaliers
20
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
Kyle Guy missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:49
Offensive rebound by Jack Salt
19:30
De'Andre Hunter missed jump shot
19:28
Defensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
19:13
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Nate Reuvers
20-33
18:53
Ty Jerome missed layup
18:51
Offensive rebound by Ty Jerome
18:48
Ty Jerome missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:46
Defensive rebound by Nate Reuvers
18:25
+3
Brad Davison made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ethan Happ
23-33
17:54
Kyle Guy missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:52
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
17:38
Nate Reuvers missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:36
Defensive rebound by Ty Jerome
17:23
Kihei Clark missed layup, blocked by Nate Reuvers
17:21
Defensive rebound by Nate Reuvers
17:13
Brad Davison missed jump shot
17:11
Defensive rebound by Kyle Guy
16:53
+3
Kihei Clark made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Guy
23-36
16:22
D'Mitrik Trice missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:20
Offensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
16:16
+2
Khalil Iverson made layup
25-36
15:58
Ty Jerome missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:56
Defensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
15:44
+2
Ethan Happ made hook shot
27-36
15:16
Kyle Guy missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:14
Defensive rebound by D'Mitrik Trice
14:59
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Happ, stolen by Ty Jerome
14:40
Personal foul on Brad Davison
14:36
Kyle Guy missed jump shot
14:34
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
14:21
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Nate Reuvers
29-36
14:00
Shooting foul on Nate Reuvers
14:00
+1
Mamadi Diakite made 1st of 2 free throws
29-37
14:00
+1
Mamadi Diakite made 2nd of 2 free throws
29-38
13:38
+2
Kobe King made jump shot, assist by Ethan Happ
31-38
13:10
De'Andre Hunter missed layup, blocked by Ethan Happ
13:08
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
13:03
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Happ, stolen by Ty Jerome
12:45
Ty Jerome missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:43
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
12:19
D'Mitrik Trice missed layup, blocked by De'Andre Hunter
12:17
Offensive rebound by Nate Reuvers
12:13
Ethan Happ missed hook shot
12:11
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
11:43
+2
Mamadi Diakite made jump shot, assist by Ty Jerome
31-40
11:28
Personal foul on Ty Jerome
11:20
Brad Davison missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:18
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
10:57
Kyle Guy missed jump shot
10:55
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
10:42
+3
Kobe King made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ethan Happ
34-40
10:14
Kicked ball violation on Wisconsin
10:14
Personal foul on Kobe King
10:08
Braxton Key missed layup
10:06
Defensive rebound by D'Mitrik Trice
9:51
Personal foul on Jack Salt
9:47
Shooting foul on Ty Jerome
9:46
+1
D'Mitrik Trice made 1st of 2 free throws
35-40
9:46
D'Mitrik Trice missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:46
Defensive rebound by Kihei Clark
9:38
Ty Jerome missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:36
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
9:16
Ethan Happ missed layup
9:14
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
8:51
Personal foul on Brad Davison
8:51
+2
Kyle Guy made jump shot, assist by Ty Jerome
35-42
8:30
D'Mitrik Trice missed jump shot
8:28
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
8:11
De'Andre Hunter missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:09
Defensive rebound by Khalil Iverson
8:00
Offensive foul on Ethan Happ
8:00
Turnover on Ethan Happ
7:41
Kyle Guy missed jump shot
7:39
Offensive rebound by Jack Salt
7:22
Shooting foul on Nate Reuvers
7:23
De'Andre Hunter missed 1st of 2 free throws
7:23
+1
De'Andre Hunter made 2nd of 2 free throws
35-43
7:08
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Happ, stolen by Jack Salt
6:52
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
6:50
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
6:42
Nate Reuvers missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:40
Defensive rebound by Kyle Guy
6:18
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup
35-45
6:03
Ethan Happ missed hook shot, blocked by Jack Salt
6:01
Defensive rebound by De'Andre Hunter
5:40
Jack Salt missed layup, blocked by Ethan Happ
5:38
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
5:32
+2
Khalil Iverson made layup, assist by Ethan Happ
37-45
5:32
Shooting foul on Ty Jerome
5:32
+1
Khalil Iverson made free throw
38-45
5:05
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
5:03
Defensive rebound by D'Mitrik Trice
4:53
Lost ball turnover on D'Mitrik Trice, stolen by Kihei Clark
4:34
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup
38-47
4:20
+2
Ethan Happ made layup
40-47
3:47
Lost ball turnover on Jack Salt, stolen by Brad Davison
3:31
+2
Brad Davison made jump shot
42-47
2:58
+2
Ty Jerome made layup
42-49
2:25
Kobe King missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:23
Defensive rebound by Kihei Clark
2:00
Jumpball received by Wisconsin
2:00
Lost ball turnover on De'Andre Hunter, stolen by Khalil Iverson
1:46
Personal foul on Jack Salt
1:34
+2
Ethan Happ made layup
44-49
1:22
+2
De'Andre Hunter made layup
44-51
1:11
+2
Ethan Happ made layup, assist by Khalil Iverson
46-51
32.0
Ty Jerome missed jump shot
30.0
Offensive rebound by Jack Salt
28.0
Personal foul on Brad Davison
28.0
+1
Kyle Guy made 1st of 2 free throws
46-52
28.0
Kyle Guy missed 2nd of 2 free throws
28.0
Defensive rebound by Ethan Happ
20.0
Lost ball turnover on D'Mitrik Trice, stolen by Kihei Clark