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of his better games and Brogdon having fouled out, Atkins had a game-high 12 rebounds and played excellent defense in crunch time. "I thought Darion gave us a big lift," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said afterward. "I thought Darion's minutes, free throws, baskets he made and then his defensive activity — a couple times we broke down and he either both- ered or blocked a shot — were very important in that game. "I feel like he's back to where he was before he got upended in the Maryland game … he provides that anchor in different ways, defen- sively, that we're looking for." Atkins' performance launched him back into the starting lineup for the 61-51 win over North Carolina State Jan. 7. Bennett, not entirely pleased with his team's defensive play against Davidson and Miami, wanted more of a pres- ence on that end of the floor to start games. That presence was felt quite firmly by Notre Dame when Virginia traveled to South Bend Jan. 10. Atkins was the best player on the court for UVa in its 62-56 win over the 13th-ranked Irish. Atkins had a team-high 14 points, eight re- bounds and two blocks. "I was just more comfortable; I was confi- dent," Atkins said following the game. "Maybe it was the atmosphere — I was on." Atkins nearly attended Notre Dame coming out of high school. He said Notre Dame players Pat Connaughton and Jerian Grant tried hard to recruit him to South Bend. After the win over the Irish, Atkins chatted with Grant. "He was like, 'Man, when did your offen- sive game develop? When did you get a jump hook?'" Atkins said. "I was like, 'Man, I've had that stuff, but you just [hadn't] seen it yet.'" Atkins, Virginia's lone fourth-year, has had a roller-coaster college career. As a rookie, he was stuck behind upperclass- men, including Mike Scott and Assane Sene, and hardly played. As a second-year, Atkins got off to a fantastic start, which included a 14-point, seven-rebound effort in Virginia's win at Wisconsin that had Badgers head coach Bo Ryan gushing. However, Atkins' minutes and production dwindled after a shin injury a few games later. He didn't play in nine of the Cavaliers' final 19 games. In the games in which he did see ac- tion, he had to wear a cumbersome device that looked like a soccer shin guard. "I felt like I couldn't really do much to help my team," Atkins recalled. "I felt like I if I had been healthy, I could have helped us win the couple of games that we needed to get into the [NCAA] Tournament. … "It was an experience that I never want to go through again." But last season was, in some respects, even tougher on Atkins — who, even though he was healthy again, couldn't crack a consistent spot in Bennett's rotation. The graduation of Akil Mitchell, though, has given Atkins a chance to shine this season. Atkins has provided a lot of the things Mitchell did. "I think all of us in the league were hoping that there would be more of a void than it has been," Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey said. Bennett is glad to see Atkins peaking in his final year. "We've seen these flashes," he said, "but I think we're seeing it more consistently [now], and I think a lot of it has to do with getting more consistent minutes. And he had a very good offseason on his strength and condition- ing — and certainly his working on his game." Added Brogdon: "I think Darion can be as good as he wants. He's made strides and has been really good for us this year. I think he's been the X-factor." ◆