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Virginia’s London Perrantes starts calling his shots — and making them Virginia’s London Perrantes starts calling his shots — and making them
(about 2 hours later)
Like Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon before him, Monday’s game against Virginia Tech seemed to be London Perrantes’s turn to step up and carry the Virginia basketball team. Monday’s game against Virginia Tech seemed to be London Perrantes’s turn to step up and carry the Virginia basketball team, like Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon had done in previous games.
But Perrantes’s career-best seven three-pointers — six in the second half — and season-high 22 points couldn’t overcome the fourth-ranked Cavaliers’ 16 turnovers and faltering defense. Still, despite the 70-68 upset, Virginia’s first loss in 11 games, the junior exhibited the ability to make shots under pressure that Coach Tony Bennett has been keen to see since Perrantes became his starting point guard as a freshman.But Perrantes’s career-best seven three-pointers — six in the second half — and season-high 22 points couldn’t overcome the fourth-ranked Cavaliers’ 16 turnovers and faltering defense. Still, despite the 70-68 upset, Virginia’s first loss in 11 games, the junior exhibited the ability to make shots under pressure that Coach Tony Bennett has been keen to see since Perrantes became his starting point guard as a freshman.
In fact, as Virginia (12-2, 1-1 ACC) turns to face Georgia Tech (10-5, 0-2) in Atlanta on Saturday, Perrantes is the most efficient three-point shooter in the ACC at 59.2 percent for the season. (He would lead the nation, but his 29 three-point baskets in his first 12 games put him one short of the qualifying minimum of 2.5 per game.)In fact, as Virginia (12-2, 1-1 ACC) turns to face Georgia Tech (10-5, 0-2) in Atlanta on Saturday, Perrantes is the most efficient three-point shooter in the ACC at 59.2 percent for the season. (He would lead the nation, but his 29 three-point baskets in his first 12 games put him one short of the qualifying minimum of 2.5 per game.)
[Stone and family brace for hostile homecoming when Maryland plays Wisconsin][Stone and family brace for hostile homecoming when Maryland plays Wisconsin]
“He definitely has shown that, to look to take the shots that present themselves from the outside, but [there’s] just a general assertiveness in his game, really in all areas now that he is in his third year,” Bennett said. “Being assertive, that shows up in a lot of different ways: vocally, taking some outside shots, some drives, communicating with the players. . . .“He definitely has shown that, to look to take the shots that present themselves from the outside, but [there’s] just a general assertiveness in his game, really in all areas now that he is in his third year,” Bennett said. “Being assertive, that shows up in a lot of different ways: vocally, taking some outside shots, some drives, communicating with the players. . . .
“I think that’s an important piece rather than just saying, ‘Well, he needs to take five more shots this year, average three more points.’ I think it’s more than that. That’s what we’ll continue to encourage him to do and he’s certainly taken a nice step in that direction, and you can see it.”“I think that’s an important piece rather than just saying, ‘Well, he needs to take five more shots this year, average three more points.’ I think it’s more than that. That’s what we’ll continue to encourage him to do and he’s certainly taken a nice step in that direction, and you can see it.”
Perrantes often adheres to the pass-first role employed in his first two seasons. He leads the Cavaliers with 4.4 assists per game, and his 12 shots against the Hokies were more than in his previous two games combined. But he is looking for his shot more, averaging 7.6 per game, up from 5.9 last season. And after shooting 36.7 percent from the field over his first two years, he is making 50.5 percent of his shots this season. No wonder, then, that his scoring average is up nearly five points per game from last season, to 11.3, though he is averaging 2 1/2 fewer minutes. Perrantes often adheres to the pass-first role employed in his first two seasons. He leads the Cavaliers with 4.4 assists per game, and his 12 shots against the Hokies were more than in his previous two games combined. But he is looking for his shot more, averaging 7.6 per game, up from 5.9 last season. And after shooting 36.7 percent from the field over his first two years, he is making 50.5 percent of his shots this season. No wonder, then, that his scoring average is up nearly five points per game from last season, to 11.3, though he is averaging 2 1/2 fewer minutes.
And Perrantes showed flashes of his ability to score under pressure before Monday, having knocked down the game-winning three pointer in overtime against California on Dec. 22 and scoring 19 points in a victory against Villanova on Dec. 19. And Perrantes showed flashes of his ability to score under pressure before Monday, having knocked down the game-winning three pointer in overtime against California on Dec. 22 and having scored 19 points in a victory against Villanova on Dec. 19.
The guard’s production was always going to have to increase after Justin Anderson, entered the NBA draft, but it shows his ability to take another step next season, when the Gill and Brodgon, the team’s fifth-year senior leaders and top two scorers, are gone. The Virginia Tech game was the most vocal, and the feistiest, Perrantes has been all season. He called for the ball from Gill when the forward was down low, where Gill is most dangerous, before sinking a three-pointer early on in the second half, and turned to yell and shake his head at the crowd in Blacksburg after each bucket. The guard’s production was always going to have to increase after Justin Anderson entered the NBA draft, but it shows his ability to take another step next season, when the Gill and Brogdon, the team’s fifth-year senior leaders and top two scorers, are gone. The Virginia Tech game was the most vocal, and the feistiest, Perrantes has been all season. He called for the ball from Gill when the forward was down low, where Gill is most dangerous, before sinking a three-pointer early on in the second half, and turned to yell and shake his head at the crowd in Blacksburg after each bucket.
“I feel like we all stepped up at different times, there’s always somebody new stepping up for us,” Perrantes said after scoring nine points against Oakland on Dec. 30 in the Cavaliers’ final nonconference game. “It shows that we can do different things at different times and we can play with the best of them.”“I feel like we all stepped up at different times, there’s always somebody new stepping up for us,” Perrantes said after scoring nine points against Oakland on Dec. 30 in the Cavaliers’ final nonconference game. “It shows that we can do different things at different times and we can play with the best of them.”
This weekend, Perrantes will try and help Virginia regain some rhythm at Georgia Tech before facing No. 12 Miami in Charlottesville on Tuesday. Though Georgia natives Brogdon, Isaiah Wilkins, Evan Nolte and Justice Bartley will have a homecoming of sorts, the Cavaliers will play in another hostile environment at McCamish Pavilion.This weekend, Perrantes will try and help Virginia regain some rhythm at Georgia Tech before facing No. 12 Miami in Charlottesville on Tuesday. Though Georgia natives Brogdon, Isaiah Wilkins, Evan Nolte and Justice Bartley will have a homecoming of sorts, the Cavaliers will play in another hostile environment at McCamish Pavilion.
“Talk about testing our defense after not having a strong showing, it will test it in an environment where they’ve been competitive in two games [an eight-point loss at No. 7 North Carolina and a five-point loss at No. 24 Pittsburgh] and they come back home,” Bennett said. “You’re seeing it in college basketball, when you go on the road, you gotta fight to get them, you can’t take it for granted.”“Talk about testing our defense after not having a strong showing, it will test it in an environment where they’ve been competitive in two games [an eight-point loss at No. 7 North Carolina and a five-point loss at No. 24 Pittsburgh] and they come back home,” Bennett said. “You’re seeing it in college basketball, when you go on the road, you gotta fight to get them, you can’t take it for granted.”