Virginia's true point guard made his presence known in the team's home ACC opener against UNC Saturday. And his name was not Majestic Mapp.
This is Keith Jenifer's team now. Virginia only can go as far as Keith can take them, and that is great news for Cavalier fans.
Jenifer is certainly an ACC-caliber point guard, and he has potential to be the league's top point guard by the time he graduates. He is playing tremendous basketball, and the Virginia offense cannot run without him on the floor.
Against the Heels, after Mapp returned to the bench, Jenifer re-entered the game with 5:11 left in the first half and sparked a 19-2 run. In the second half, Jenifer got his third foul with 17 minutes left. UNC scored two quick baskets, and Virginia coach Pete Gillen had to put his floor general back in. Jenifer promptly got the Cavaliers going, hitting a jumper in a quick 8-0 run.
Jenifer finished with 10 points, 6 assists, two steals and only two turnovers, outplaying UNC's highly-touted freshman point guard Raymond Felton. Meanwhile, Jenifer forced Felton into five turnovers, and Felton never looked comfortable on offense.
"He's getting better," Gillen said. "He's improving. He played against [Raymond] Felton, who is a high-profile great point guard, and he didn't back down. He wasn't outplayed desperately or embarrassed. I thought he was terrific, and he's getting better."
Jenifer looked confident shooting the basketball, made a key steal on Felton for an easy two, and hit a runner as the shot clock expired, all plays Virginia needs him to make.
"I've been working really hard on my game," Jenifer said. "I think I am starting to get more confidence and that's what is helping me play better. I knew I had to get my confidence."
It has not been an easy climb for Jenifer, who has been far from a model citizen on the court. He certainly wasn't last year when he got in the middle of the Maryland huddle or earlier this year when he took a sucker punch at Indiana guard Tom Coverdale's crotch in the Maui Invitational. Virginia fans even booed him at two home games earlier this year.
Jenifer struggled last year at times, starting at point guard in 15 of Virginia's last 18 games but often running out-of-control and looking lost. His assist -- to-turnover ratio was a paltry 1.25 and he made only 2-of-18 three pointers, but this season has been a different story.
The lightning-quick guard has excelled on both ends of the floor as the team's best ballhandler and perimeter defender.
He leads the team in minutes, playing almost 34 minutes per game. The pass-first Jenifer last season struggled shooting the ball, but UNC marked the seventh straight game in which he connected on a three-pointer. His shot is improving, which means more confidence for Jenifer and more problems for his opponents.
In the team's most impressive win, a 75-61 victory over Kentucky, Jenifer scored a career-high 13 points. He is averaging seven points, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.95. Most importantly, he is making defenses respect his shot, shooting 50 percent from behind the arc. This allows him to utilize his quickness to penetrate and find open teammates.
Jenifer is the key to Virginia's success. In Virginia's 10 wins, he has shot 42 percent from the floor and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.15. In the three losses, he only has shot 20 percent with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.46.
In a team that has struggled rebounding at times, the wiry 6-foot-3 point guard has helped pick up the slack. He had a career-high nine rebounds against Rutgers when senior forward Travis Watson, the team's leading rebounder, was sidelined with an ankle sprain.
Defensively, he has continued to shine when he stays out of foul trouble. He kept Coverdale from making a field goal. If Jenifer gets into foul trouble and has to sit, then opponents are able to penetrate and create open shots.
"If I continue to work hard, I can keep this kind of play up," Jenifer said. "I am trying really hard to keep my confidence and work on my game."
For Virginia to beat Duke tonight, Jenifer will have to play at this same high level of basketball. In last year's home win over Duke, Jenifer had 10 points and six assists. In the road loss, he did not commit a turnover, an incredible feat for a freshman point guard's first visit to Cameron.
Jenifer needs to stay out of foul trouble -- he has fouled out in two of Virginia's three losses. With an aggressive Jenifer, Virginia can beat Duke, even at Duke. If Jenifer reverts back to his old self or gets in foul trouble, Virginia is in trouble.
But this is Keith's team now.
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