I usually don’t go searching for moral victories when my team suffers a loss, as No. Virginia did last night. All that really counts at the end of the day is the score. So, undoubtedly I was as disappointed as the rest of the University when the Blue Devils mounted an improbable comeback at JPJ to hand the Cavaliers their first loss of the season.
However, this was one of those rare times when something so great happened that it made me feel alright about losing. I didn’t go searching for some excuse or dig up a vague stat that would support a “we should’ve won” theory.
Nope, all it took was this video to dull the post-loss sting.
This happened with just under six minutes to play in the game, right at the beginning of Duke’s comeback bid. The Cavaliers 11-point lead had been whittled to five and shots weren’t falling quite as well for Virginia. JPJ was still raucous, only the energy was fueled more by nervous hope than by confident exuberance as had been the case just 10 minutes prior.
So with momentum starting to shift and frustration building, Duke’s star freshman Justise Winslow decides to try to push Justin Anderson over the edge. Lying on the ground he literally seizes his chance and bear hugs Anderson’s leg as hes attempting to change direction and accelerate to join the offense.
Not much tops that in terms of dangerous and dumb plays. I’m not sure a flagrant-1 was enough for what Winslow did. It was absolutely ridiculous. I would’ve tossed him from the game, but I guess I’m a tad bit biased.
Justin, on the other hand, was the epitome of cool. Sure, when he first turns around to try to break the tackle (never thought I’d write that in a basketball article)—he looks pretty angry. Obviously; who wouldn’t be? Both players could have been seriously injured all because Winslow was kind of annoyed for a second that he missed a layup.
But keep watching that Vine loop. Winslow throws his hands up as if he’s done nothing wrong, and maybe even was trying to protect his face because he knows what he did warranted a shove at the very least. Anderson doesn’t bite, though. Rather than take the swing he probably wanted to take, he reaches for Winslow’s outstretched arms, and tries to help him up.
That is something I have never seen before at any level. Players in the NBA don’t have that level of composure. Hell, three weeks ago Kevin Garnett—a potential Hall of Famer—threw the ball at and headbutted Dwight Howard after nothing more than a slight one arm shrug. Justin Anderson showed more poise last night than two of the NBA’s best.
That’s something to be proud of for Virginia fans—knowing that our athletes conduct themselves in such a high, respectable manner. It’s not just Anderson either; I’m 100% sure every single one of our players would have reacted the exact same way.
The stats back this up—Virginia hasn’t been called for a technical foul in more than a year. The last time the Cavaliers were T’ed up was January 25th, 2014 against Virginia Tech when Teven Jones hung on the rim a bit too long after a breakaway dunk. That’s not quite on the same level as holding onto someone’s leg.
So, yeah, Virginia lost and its undefeated season was spoiled, and that’s frustrating. But, hey, the Cavaliers are still ranked No. 2 in the country, they’re 19-1, and they are first in the ACC. And they’ve accomplished all that the right way: with class and integrity.
Thank you to Justin Anderson for showing the college basketball world what Virginia is all about and for showing me the final score isn’t all that matters.
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