On paper, it was hard to see a way that the Virginia Cavaliers could pull off a massive road upset over No. 7 Duke. The Blue Devils were double-digit favorites, boast a litany of five-star players on the roster and were coming off of a huge road win over rival North Carolina.
Virginia, meanwhile, got off to a slow start with losses to Navy and JMU early in the season, and are trying to claw back onto the tournament bubble. The Cavaliers were double-digit underdogs in Monday night’s matchup, with Tony Bennett needing to maximize performances from his squad for a chance at the upset.
The Cavaliers delivered. Virginia came out swinging at Cameron Indoor, building as much as a 12-point lead before taking a five point advantage into halftime. Duke clawed back into the game, staying within reach before retaking the lead with four minutes left.
Things were close down the stretch, but a couple turnovers by the Blue Devils and a handful of clutch plays by the Hoos set up this moment:
.@reece_beekman called: 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 pic.twitter.com/9uLfRlOvUo
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) February 8, 2022
Here are six stats that explain how the underdogs pulled off the upset.
