by ldh2013 » Sat Jun 18, 2016 8:09 am
GREENSBORO, N. .C. -- Virginia coach Tony Bennett keeps pushing his sixth-ranked Cavaliers for more in what is already the programs best season in more than three decades. Next up is the chance to do something that even Ralph Sampson couldnt do: Win an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. Anthony Gill hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left to help Virginia hold off Pittsburgh 51-48 in Saturdays semifinals, sending the Cavaliers to their first championship game in 20 years. Virginia arrived in Greensboro with its first outright regular-season title since 1981 and only its second No. 1 seed. The Cavs have just one title: the 1976 championship led by tournament most valuable player Wally Walker. "It would be great to put another banner and have that to share with them," Bennett said. "Wally sent me a text: We want some company." The Cavaliers (27-6) didnt have an easy time putting themselves in position for it, letting an eight-point lead slip all the way to one in the final seconds. But Gill, who was shooting 63 per cent from the line, calmly made both free throws after James Robinsons hanging layup that had made it 49-48. Pitt had a chance to tie with 4 seconds left, but Justin Anderson tipped Robinsons 3-pointer to Gill with 0.5 seconds left. Joe Harris scored 12 points to lead the Cavaliers, who shot 47 per cent against the fifth-seeded Panthers (25-9) to earn their first trip to the final since losing to North Carolina in Charlotte in 1994. "Theres no better feeling, of course, but well celebrate later," Anderson said. "Were to a point where we have a chance to make a run, not just in the ACC but the NCAA tournament, and we have to ... continue to be humble. This team cherishes that and this team understands that and well be fine." Virginia, which has its best win total in 31 years, will face the North Carolina State-Duke winner Sunday. Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna each scored 15 points to lead Pitt, which was in its first ACC tournament. The Panthers, who were going for their first appearance in a league tournament championship game since winning the Big East title in 2008, shot just 37 per cent. The teams met only once this year, when Malcom Brogdon hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in a 48-45 road win on Feb. 2. This one came down to another tight finish, though the Cavaliers kept the Panthers at arms distance for most of the final minutes and maintained a fragile hold on the game. After trailing by eight, Pitt closed to within 47-44 and got a good look for the tie on Josh Newkirks 3-point attempt with 1:45 left, but never could level the game. "Neither team really made that many mistakes," Robinson said. "Every mistake that we did make, they capitalized on." Pitt got as close as 49-48 when Robinson stripped Brogdon and drove for a hanging layup over Akil Mitchell -- hitting it through contact from Mitchell but with no whistle --with 10 seconds left to set up Gills big free throws. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon thought Robinson shouldve been going to the line to tie it, too. "What can you do?" Dixon said. "We just watched it. Everybody saw it. I cant comment on anything else besides that. I cant state the obvious." Mitchell didnt put up much of an argument, saying he was a little surprised there was no whistle. "I wanted to contest it as best as I could," he said. "I definitely didnt want to foul. But, you know, they let it go." Virginia led 26-24 at the break and used a strong shooting start to the second half to finally build a working margin. The Cavaliers took their biggest lead on Gills hook shot to make it 45-37 with 9:30 left. But the Cavaliers suddenly went cold, going 6 minutes without a point while the Panthers started inching back into the game. Pitt opened its first ACC tournament with a 29-point romp against Wake Forest in Thursdays first round. The Panthers then dominated No. 15 North Carolina for much of Fridays quarterfinals, building a 20-point lead before having to hold off a frantic comeback attempt to reach the semifinals. Pitt lasted the longest of the three new league members. Notre Dame was eliminated in the tournaments first-round opener Wednesday, while N.C. State upset No. 11 Syracuse in Friday nights quarterfinals. . No such luck. Wiggins owned the end of Parkers impressive homecoming. The Kansas star scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, outplaying Parker down the stretch and helping the fifth-ranked Jayhawks knock off No. . "You know what? I think its a conspiracy," Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report with a large, sarcastic grin in the bowels of the Canadian Tire Centre. "I think the guys counting the shots, theyre doubling up on it. . - Nick Bjugstad took a deep breath before his second attempt in the longest shootout in NHL history.The Toronto Maple Leafs were feeling good about a season-best six-game winning streak, but that ended with back-to-back losses against Carolina and Philadelphia this week. The task doesnt get any easier with a visit to Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks tonight. What we need to realize in that streak where we were winning, we were working for the full 60 minutes, said center Peter Holland, who scored after having an assist in each of his previous two games. It wasnt just happening by fluke. The Leafs now prepare to hit the road, where theyve lost three of four. Were not far removed from playing some really good hockey, Holland said. We dropped two games in a row, thats going to happen over the course of a season. We just need to make sure that were ready to respond and play solid road games. Holland scored the winner 2:21 into the third period of a 3-2 home victory over Chicago on Nov. 1. Toronto has won the last two meetings after dropping eight in a row. James Reimer made 45 saves against the Blackhawks last month, and he could be in net again after coming on Saturday for 10-plus minutes in relief of Jonathan Bernier, who has started the last three games. Corey Crawford returned Saturday with 17 saves after missing Chicagos previous eight with an ankle injury suffered when he fell at a concert. Crawford stopped 24 shots in the first meeting with Toronto, and Quenneville could elect to start his No. 1 goaltender on back-to-back nightts due to the amount of time hes had off. . Antti Raanta has won his last four starts with a 2.00 goals-against average and would get the nod if Crawford doesnt start. Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks have come a long way since their early struggles, putting together a hot stretch that has lasted over a month. Chicago seeks its eighth consecutive home victory Sunday night against a Toronto club that has lost two straight heading into a seven-game trip. The Blackhawks (22-9-2) werent pleased with their 6-5-1 start as they struggled to find their scoring touch with each defeat coming by a single goal. Theyve bounced back nicely and ran off a season-best eight straight victories while winning 10 of 11 before falling 3-2 in a shootout at Columbus on Saturday. Chicago dominated a good portion of that contest, though, and outshot the Blue Jackets 41-19. I thought we did everything but win that game, coach Joel Quenneville said. We played well in all areas of the game and did a lot of good things. Toews called the loss unfortunate, but wasnt upset with the effort - something he couldnt always say early on. Only two of their defeats have come by more than one goal. We believe were a good team (and) we should be in every game, Toews said. Its the sign of a mature team, something we didnt do enough of early in the year. We know we have some firepower and when its a close game, more often than not we can find a way to win. ' ' '
