4-point play: Instant analysis on Virginia-Syracuse

• Virginia topped Syracuse 75-56 to clinch the ACC regular-season title
• Sophomore Malcolm Brogdon had a game-high 19 points in the win
• Virginia earned their first title since clinching a share of the regular-season title in 2007

HOW THEY WON: Going into Saturday night's ACC showdown in Charlottesville, Va., Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim wasn't shy in admitting what scared him about the surging Virginia. "Everything," the Orange coach said.

Syracuse got a taste of Virginia's greatness on Saturday, as the Cavaliers clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship with a 75-56 win.

The cheers of "ACC" that echoed throughout John Paul Jones Arena sent a message to the Orange, now losers in three of their last four: The ACC title isn't going to some newcomer.

Virginia was sluggish at the start, making its first three-pointer near the end of the first half. But the Cavs found their comfort zone against Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone midway through the second half and took control of the game. The Orange could never find a rhythm with Tyler Ennis in foul trouble and 23% shooting from beyond the arc.

STAR WATCH: Sophomore Malcolm Brogdon came up big in the game's final 10 minutes — finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Senior forward Akil Mitchell (12 points, 9 rebounds) was extremely active and anchored the Cavaliers' offense. Joe Harris struggled (2-for-10) from the field for UVa. Tyler Ennis and C.J. Fair finished with 13 points apiece to pace Syracuse.

WHAT THIS MEANS IN A NUTSHELL: It means Virginia is better than a No. 4 seed and could be worthy of a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Cavaliers had some glaring blemishes on their résumé (a blowout loss to Tennessee, a loss to mid-major Green Bay) and a strength of schedule in the 40s, but this signature win should boost their credentials significantly. As for Syracuse, it means there's a strong chance it could lose its grip as a No. 1 seed and fall to a No. 2 seed.

AND-1: Brogdon is the only player in the ACC to score in double figures every conference game.

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Scott Gleeson, a national college basketball writer/digital producer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter@ScottMGleeson.