Jayden Gardner scored 26 points as the No. 5 Virginia Cavaliers moved to their sixth victory in a row with a 72-45 win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
Gardner was able to use his athleticism as he made 12 of 15 baskets, most in the paint, and he made three in the first four minutes of the game as Virginia grabbed a 10-2 lead and never trailed.
Gardner is one of four Cavaliers who average double figures including Armaan Franklin, Kadin Shedrick, and Reece Beckman. Gardner is also shooting 54.3 percent from the field.
Last season, he played in 35 games and started 19, scoring 15.3 points per game with 6.4 boards.
“I think that us being able to take a lot of pressure off of Jayden is really good,” said Shedrick, who plays beside Gardner in the post. “We are shooting the ball better although the numbers tonight may not have shown that.”
The Cavs shoot 49.1 percent (38th/CBB) from the floor, which includes a 55.6 percent effort in the win over Baylor where the Cavaliers also shot 9-of-14 from three.
Although Gardner was the Cavaliers’ leading scorer and rebounder last season, four starters had to play a lot as Gardner averaged 32.7 minutes per game, which was third on the team.
“It’s good for Jayden to have pressure and weight taken off his shoulders,” said Shedrick. “All of us come together in scoring so it can be anybody on any night and obviously, tonight was Jayden’s night.”
Gardner scored the last six points before halftime as he attacked the left side of the paint with a layup and a score off the left box with a jumper from the free throw line.
“It was about just slowing down and seeing who is coming and if nobody is coming, just go ahead and make my move over the opponent,” said Gardner.
Virginia likes the potential of its bench with Vander Plas as a key substitute and a playmaker at forward.
“I think it’s dangerous to know that anybody could have a really good night and I think it’s really hard to scout because who knows?” said Gardner. “Who knows who could have a really good night at Michigan?”
With the ACC-Big Ten Challenge set for this week, undefeated Virginia travels to Michigan on Tuesday night for a matchup with the 5-1 Wolverines.
The matchup in the middle with Wolverines 7-1 center Hunter Dickinson could be major in this game as Shedrick and Gardner could have the assignment against him with their athleticism being a prime factor for the Cavaliers.
“Every game will present different challenges,” said Bennett. “Now you will go into a hostile environment against a quality team with size and ability.”
The guard matchups will be interesting with the Cavaliers’ depth at guard as they matchup against a solid shooter in the Wolverines’ Jett Howard, who is the team’s second leading scorer in averaging 15.6 points per game.
“You watch some of the good teams and they’re bigger players and they are all relentless,” explained Bennett.
