Virginia Basketball: Keys to Cavaliers' 2012 NCAA Tournament Run

A late skid couldn't stop Virginia from claiming a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers lost five of their last nine games, but an earlier 12-game winning streak, which included a victory over Big Ten power Michigan, was enough for them to secure a berth.

It's the first appearance for Virginia in the Big Dance since 2007. That year, the Cavaliers defeated Albany in Round 1 before suffering a narrow loss to Tennessee in the Round of 32. They haven't advanced beyond the second round since 1995.

They will be looking to buck that trend this season. Luckily, the pressure should be manageable since there aren't any sky-high expectations. That should allow them to thrive.

Superstars Who Must Shine

Mike Scott

Scott, a fifth-year senior forward, took his game to another level this season. He really took his leadership role by the horns and used it to motivate himself to have his best year to date. The Virginia native averaged 18 points and eight rebounds.

The main reason for his improvement was a huge jump in efficiency. He made 57 percent of his field-goal attempts, a nine-point increase from last season. As long as he keeps playing at such a high level, Virginia will be a threat to pull of an upset.

Joe Harris

Harris' struggles played a major role in Virginia's lackluster results near season's end. He broke the double-digit scoring barrier just once over the final six regular season games. That simply isn't good enough for a team's second option on offense.

If he's unable to provide some relief to Scott, teams will start clamping down on the star forward. It would be paralyzing to the Cavaliers if that happened, so Harris must get his game back on track before the madness gets underway.

Role Player Who Must Emerge

Akil Mitchell only averaged four points and four rebounds in relatively limited minutes during the regular season. He did make 13 starts down the stretch after Assane Sene went down, but he didn't make a major impact.

That will have to change for Virginia to have tournament success. While the Cavaliers have plenty of guard depth, Scott has really served as the team's only interior presence. Mitchell will need to provide an alternative option in the post that opposing defenses must respect.

He doesn't suddenly have to become a double-double machine or anything like that. As long as he provides some semblance of meaningful contributions, the Cavaliers' perimeter depth and Scott will be able to do the rest.

Offensive Strategy to Watch

Virginia's offensive approach isn't exactly groundbreaking. In half-court sets, they will try to force the ball to Scott in the post as much as possible. That's especially true in the early going so he can find a rhythm and potentially work the opponent's big men into foul trouble.

Once Scott establishes himself down low and defenses begin to collapse, he'll starting kicking it out to open shooters for long-range looks. Harris and Sammy Zeglinski are combining to make nearly four three-point shots per game.

Jontel Evans rounds out the main offensive options nicely. The junior guard likes to drive to the basket in an attempt to get some easy points. If everybody is doing their respective job effectively, the Cavaliers offense works like a well-oiled machine.

Defensive Strategy to Watch

What really makes Virginia a dangerous team to play is its strong defense. The Cavaliers lead the nation in defensive efficiency, just ahead of powerhouses from Wisconsin, Ohio State and Kentucky. That's quite an impressive feat.

It proves that a team doesn't need a dominant shot-blocker to have a good defense. Nobody on Virginia is even averaging one block, but the team's strong on-ball defense makes them a nightmare to go up against—certainly one that top seeds will want to avoid.

The other thing teams will need to look out for when facing Virginia is active hands. They make a concerted effort to get steals and quick layups at the other end. If a squad doesn't protect the ball, the Cavaliers will make them pay in a big way.

Biggest NCAA Tournament Hurdle

Should Virginia survive its first-round game against Florida, the team's reward will be a clash with the Missouri Tigers. The Tigers are coming off a Big 12 tournament victory and possess a gaudy 30-4 overall record.

The two sides are polar opposites. Virginia relies on its sound defense and timely shooting, while Missouri likes to play an up-tempo offense to wear down its opponents. The Tigers have five players averaging at least 10 points.

Should the matchup materialize, the Cavaliers will need to do everything within their power to keep Missouri from getting a lot of easy fast-break points. They would have to slow the pace down and hope their defense steps up in the half court.

Last-Second NCAA Tournament Prediction

Even though they are underdogs, I like the Cavaliers' chances against Florida in the opening round. The Gators rely heavily on long jump shots, which Virginia should be able to slow down. An upset is definitely in the making.

Beating Missouri is a completely different story, however. Since the Tigers have so many weapons that excel in different areas of the game, it will take more than a good defensive game plan to beat them.

Virginia would give them a better game than most people will likely expect, but when the dust settles, Missouri will be the team advancing to the Sweet 16.

Prediction: Eliminated in Round of 32