Best Virginia is just two wins away from a million dollars. And to get there, they’ve got to go through one of the original entries of The Basketball Tournament.
Eberlein Drive has always been part of this event, dating back to the first Basketball Tournament in 2014. In that event, they finished last in the field, getting drilled by more than 40 points in their first game. They’ve come a long way since then.
Last year, Eberlein Drive made it to this round, losing to Forever Coogs 76-73. Once again, Eberlein Drive has mde defense its hallmark, as it hasn’t allowed any team to crack 80 points in this year’s tournament or last year’s. By the same token, neither has Best Virginia. The only team to break 70 on Best Virginia was Herd That, which happened in an 82-75 Best Virginia win in Round 2.
Read More: Best Virginia to Face Eberlein Drive
While Best Virginia has never been this far, Eberlein Drive is taking its third shot at the semifinals. In 2018, Eberlein Drive upset Jimmer Fredette’s team in this round before losing the title game to Overseas Elite.
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The biggest thing to worry about with Eberlein Drive is finding good shots. Against Kentucky alumni La Familia in the third round, Eberlein Drive won by holding La Familia to just 20 percent from behind the arc. A lot of this game will likely come down to whether James Reese V can find open looks. His scoring has been critical to Best Virginia’s chances, and if he’s not hitting, it’s going to be hard to advance.
Only Magic Show, which lost its first round game, has defended the arc better than Eberlein Drive. For the tournament, Eberlein Drive has held opponents to just 21.3 percent from the perimeter. The performance against La Familia was no fluke, and Best Virginia will have to get creative to find good looks.
Defense Has Carried Best Virginia
Best Virginia’s overall defense has been nothing short of outstanding in this tournament. Holding Shell Shock to 61 points last round showed just how strong the defense is, as it marked the third time that Best Virginia kept an opponent in the 60s.
For the tournament, Best Virginia has allowed opponents to shoot just 39.7% from the floor. If Ross Hodge can get his defense to play anything close to that this winter, he’d be a very happy man.
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Stopping Gabe York appears to be the biggest key to stopping Eberlein Drive. York scored 23 points in both the quarterfinal win over Sideline Cancer and the second round win over Tampa Pickup Basketball. He’s a 3-point shooter, and Best Virginia has to know where he is at all times.
Slowing down good 3-point shooters hasn’t been an issue for Best Virginia so far in this tournament. Against Shell Shock, Best Virginia held Ronald March to 1-for-6 and essentially took him out of the game.
With a win here, Best Virginia would advance to the championship game against either Aftershocks or We Are D3. If the matchup is against Aftershocks, it would be played in Wichita, Kan. If We Are D3 wins, Best Virginia would host.
