RALEIGH, N.C. – Virginia coach Tony Bennett had seen enough out of Andrew Chrabascz. Butler’s 6-foot-7 forward was schooling whoever Bennett trotted out to defend him.
Isaiah Wilkins? Chrabascz maneuvered in the lane and scored on inside, scoring 12 points by halftime.
Mike Tobey? Chrabascz made him look even sillier, as the 7-foot Tobey was no match when Chrabascz floated out to the perimeter and drilled 3-pointers. He drilled four of them to be exact, which set a new personal best for Chrabascz, who is a career 34-percent shooter from behind the arc.
Chrabascz is generally Butler's fourth option and averaged just 10.2 points per game, but when he scored 12 straight points to open the second half Bennett made a move that arguably saved the season.
Bennett placed guard Malcolm Brogdon, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, on Chrabascz with 16:18 left in the game.
Chrabascz had carried the offense with 24 points on 9 of 10 shooting and had not missed any of his 3-point attempts. Butler didn’t have any other scorers in double figures at that point, and its leading scorers -- Kellen Dunham and Kelan Martin -- had combined for just four points.
Brogdon didn’t allow Chrabascz to score another basket. Chrabascz attempted to post Brogdon up and use two-inch and 20-pound size advantage.
It was a different kind of matchup for Brodgon, who never gave up so much in height and weight before. He had been used on Duke’s Brandon Ingram, but Ingram only had a height advantage on Brogdon.
The size differential didn’t matter to Brogdon, who fought Chrabascz enough on the blocks to keep from being pinned down too low. Butler players were weary enough of Brogdon defending Chrabascz that he only took three shots the rest of the game.
Brogdon did get some help. On a couple of occasions, Virginia brought Anthony Gill over to double-team Chrabascz on the post, but for the most part Brogdon was left alone to defend Chrabascz.
Chrabascz finished with 25 points, as a lone free throw was the most he could muster against Brogdon.
The Cavaliers advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons with their 77-69 win.
Malcolm Brogdon's shut-down defense helps Virginia move past Butler
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