A hallmark of Virginia's run to the ACC regular-season basketball championship was its ability to run away from opponents in the second half of games.
When the Cavaliers failed to produce that late magic at Maryland last Sunday, losing 75-69 in overtime in the regular-season finale, it was the first time in 11 chances they'd dropped an ACC game they led at halftime.
But overall, coach Tony Bennett's team (25-6, 16-2) imposed its will often enough down the stretch that it won a school-record 12 league games by double digits.
That's one reason the Cavs enter today's noon ACC tournament quarterfinal against No. 9 seed Florida State confident as cold-eyed closers.
"Whether it's the shot clock or the game clock, our defense tightens up and gets stronger as the clock winds down," sophomore guard Malcolm Brogdon said before the Maryland game. "That's how we've been prepared and taught by coach Bennett."
Quality depth that encourages fresh legs factors in as well. The Cavs, who have beaten Florida State twice, each time by 12, are among four ACC teams that played only one man as many as 30 minutes a game: Brogdon, who averages 30.9.
Along with practice pacing that emphasizes consistent intensity, it's allowed U.Va. to keep the pedal down during those moments when outcomes are decided.
"Our practices, we don't do anything over an hour-and-a-half, really," senior guard Joe Harris said. "We work hard, but short duration, high intensity. We always go into games fresh."
Obviously, it has paid off.
The Cavaliers allow the fewest points per game in the country (55.4) and are seventh in field-goal percentage defense (38.4). Those numbers are amplified by U.Va.'s impressive second-half defensive stats in league play:
ACC opponents shot 35.6 percent against U.Va. in the second half - breaking 40 percent just five times. The Cavs were outscored in only four second halves, yet still won three of those games by double digits.
Maryland was the lone exception; the Terrapins outscored U.Va. 30-29 in regulation and 11-5 in overtime.
"We played hard, but we weren't hungry," Bennett said of that game. "It's great when you can learn lessons in victory, but sometimes, the best lessons come from a defeat like we just had."
That was a rare time since December that Bennett had to weigh his team's fire, considering some of its game-ending bursts.
At home, surging behind boisterous crowds, the Cavs swamped Syracuse 44-24 over the final 16 minutes and Notre Dame 32-8 over the last 14. But even on the road, U.Va. charged from 11 points behind in the last 14 minutes to win at Virginia Tech 57-53.
And in their January loss at Duke, trailing by 13 with eight minutes left, the Cavs outscored the Blue Devils 22-13 and led in the final 30 seconds.
"These guys have something in them to make those runs," Bennett said. "They keep their composure and they just keep playing.
"The guys understand how they have to play; that's really where runs occur for us. If you can keep your intensity and your execution at a certain level, perhaps a run occurs if another team gets tired or they're off a little bit."
Echoing Harris, Brogdon said the Cavs typically play as they practice because Bennett abides no one being "off a little bit" defensively.
"Coach Bennett can live with offensive errors, but defensive errors (are) non-negotiable," Brogdon said. "You don't run sprints; he just says, 'Someone get in there for him!'
"He'll talk about you. You'll get embarrassed. And next possession, you'll come in and get it right, because you don't want to get embarrassed again."
Now the heat is on U.Va. as the top seed in the ACC tournament for just the second time, needing to prove that motivation can reverse its dismal history in the event.
Virginia has won the championship once, in 1976, and reached the title game four other times - although not since 1994. But the Cavs haven't even appeared in a semifinal since 1995.
Four coaches since then have compiled a 4-18 tournament mark at U.Va.; Bennett's teams are 1-4 and have lost four in a row.
"Hopefully, we're more balanced and a better team and will be ready," Bennett said. "We're not going to change who we are. But you really want to play well."
Tom Robinson, 757-446-2518, tom.robinson@pilotonline.com
Twitter @RobinsonVP