Statistically, freshman Solomon Tat’s contribution to Virginia’s 64-63 victory at then-No. 19 Clemson on Sunday was modest: five points, four rebounds and two assists. The most important number related to Tat in the box score, however, was 16.

That’s how many minutes the 6-5, 220-pound swingman from Jos Plateau, Nigeria, played against the Tigers.  His previous high was 12, against Arizona in the season opener.

After making his debut against Arizona, Tat missed the next 10 games with a groin injury.  He returned Jan. 3 for the Gonzaga game, but his role had been limited.  That had to change, Cavaliers coach Dave Leitao decided last week.

Tat is still getting his “sea legs” under him, Leitao said after the Clemson game, but “I tried not to take him out on a mistake or anything like that, just to get him a little more comfortable.”

In his previous game, at N.C. State, Tat had played only five minutes, during which he scored no points, grabbed no rebounds and committed three fouls.  After that game, Tat recalled, “I had a talk with [junior guard] Sean Singletary, and he kind of encouraged me about just going out there and playing more aggressively and forgetting about the mistakes that I’m going to make out on the court.  And he also told me I have to be ready all the time and stay focused on the game.”

The highlight for the chiseled Tat against Clemson was probably his three-point play in the first half, a sequence that showed his tremendous strength as he converted a layup while getting fouled.

“It helped me a lot,” said Tat, who speaks slowly but in flawless English.  “Sometimes I get a little bit scared that if I make a mistake, Coach will pull me out, but despite that the fact I made mistakes today, I was still out there.  He let me just play, to get comfortable and stuff, and that built up my confidence more.”

-- Jeff White