The Virginia men's basketball team opened up a season of great expectations yesterday with a dominating 75-38 win over South Carolina State at John Paul Jones Arena.
Head coach Tony Bennett begins his third year with his program more firmly in place. Another strong freshman class brings in Malcolm Brogdon, Darion Atkins, and Paul Jesperson; Jesperson is expected to redshirt. Redshirt freshman James Johnson is ready to contribute after sitting out last season. Fifth-year senior Mike Scott is back and healthy, ready for a fifth season. Sophomores Joe Harris, KT Harrell, and Akil Mitchell showed flashes last year and are prepared to play a bigger role for the Cavaliers this year. Lots of fans are hoping this is the year Bennett leads UVa back to the NCAA tournament. Virginia plays in its second game of the season Tuesday night at home against Winthrop. Here is my game-by-game prediction.
vs. South Carolina State - W 75-38
vs. Winthrop - W
vs. TCU in Paradise Jam - W
vs. Drexel or Norfolk State in Paradise Jam - W
vs. TBA in Paradise Jam - (would probably be Marquette if UVa beats TCU and Drexel/Norfolk State) - L
vs. TBA in Paradise Jam - W
vs. Green Bay - W
vs. Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge) - L
vs. Longwood - W
vs. George Mason - W
at Oregon - L
at Seattle - W
vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore - W
vs. Towson - W
at LSU - W
vs. Miami - W
at Duke - L
at Georgia Tech - W
vs. Virginia Tech - W
vs. Boston College - W
at N.C. State - W
vs. Clemson - W
at Florida State - L
vs. Wake Forest - W
at North Carolina - L
at Clemson - L
vs. Maryland - W
at Virginia Tech - L
vs. North Carolina - L
vs. Florida State - W
at Maryland - W
Prediction: 22-9 (10-6 ACC)
Comments: I think the Wahoos will be firmly planted on the bubble and sweating it out come Selection Sunday in March. A record like the one above in the ACC has put that team on the bubble and probably out of the tournament in recent years. If UVa could just get one more win somewhere in that schedule, whether it be win every game in the Paradise Jam (which would probably mean a win over top 25-ranked Marquette, which is from the Big East), or winning at Oregon (an improving team and a tough place to play), or Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge or even just one win in the three games against UNC and Duke, Virginia could very well go dancing. It will also depend on how well Virginia fares in the ACC tournament. The Cavaliers haven't reached the semifinals since 1995 and this year would be a great time to end that streak.
I hope fans aren't disheartened if we don't make the dance. A 22-win season would be spectacular and shows significant progress under Tony Bennett, who won 15 games in his first season and 16 games last year. His recruits are still very young and I would not panic if we don't make it. Expectations are high but I just hope they aren't unfair.
Head coach Tony Bennett begins his third year with his program more firmly in place. Another strong freshman class brings in Malcolm Brogdon, Darion Atkins, and Paul Jesperson; Jesperson is expected to redshirt. Redshirt freshman James Johnson is ready to contribute after sitting out last season. Fifth-year senior Mike Scott is back and healthy, ready for a fifth season. Sophomores Joe Harris, KT Harrell, and Akil Mitchell showed flashes last year and are prepared to play a bigger role for the Cavaliers this year. Lots of fans are hoping this is the year Bennett leads UVa back to the NCAA tournament. Virginia plays in its second game of the season Tuesday night at home against Winthrop. Here is my game-by-game prediction.
vs. South Carolina State - W 75-38
vs. Winthrop - W
vs. TCU in Paradise Jam - W
vs. Drexel or Norfolk State in Paradise Jam - W
vs. TBA in Paradise Jam - (would probably be Marquette if UVa beats TCU and Drexel/Norfolk State) - L
vs. TBA in Paradise Jam - W
vs. Green Bay - W
vs. Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge) - L
vs. Longwood - W
vs. George Mason - W
at Oregon - L
at Seattle - W
vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore - W
vs. Towson - W
at LSU - W
vs. Miami - W
at Duke - L
at Georgia Tech - W
vs. Virginia Tech - W
vs. Boston College - W
at N.C. State - W
vs. Clemson - W
at Florida State - L
vs. Wake Forest - W
at North Carolina - L
at Clemson - L
vs. Maryland - W
at Virginia Tech - L
vs. North Carolina - L
vs. Florida State - W
at Maryland - W
Prediction: 22-9 (10-6 ACC)
Comments: I think the Wahoos will be firmly planted on the bubble and sweating it out come Selection Sunday in March. A record like the one above in the ACC has put that team on the bubble and probably out of the tournament in recent years. If UVa could just get one more win somewhere in that schedule, whether it be win every game in the Paradise Jam (which would probably mean a win over top 25-ranked Marquette, which is from the Big East), or winning at Oregon (an improving team and a tough place to play), or Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge or even just one win in the three games against UNC and Duke, Virginia could very well go dancing. It will also depend on how well Virginia fares in the ACC tournament. The Cavaliers haven't reached the semifinals since 1995 and this year would be a great time to end that streak.
I hope fans aren't disheartened if we don't make the dance. A 22-win season would be spectacular and shows significant progress under Tony Bennett, who won 15 games in his first season and 16 games last year. His recruits are still very young and I would not panic if we don't make it. Expectations are high but I just hope they aren't unfair.
One more win, eh? I could see us sweeping VaTech (hell, we did last year) before us beating Marquette or Michigan, or taking one from UNC or Duke (though we always give them a fight, so you never know). Sweeping FSU is also a possibility. But overall I think your forecast is pretty spot on with what I'd expect. Hopefully we won't pull a Seattle again this year, cause it would really cost us.
ReplyDeleteyeah, another win in the ACC is a possibility. idk about winning at FSU though. they are supposed to be pretty strong, we never win in Florida, and i think we will be lucky to beat them at home.
ReplyDeleteid say sweeping VT or Clemson is more likely. they key is to get thru the non ACC slate with two or less losses. i have us with 3, though i kinda threw the Oregon one in there because I can just see that being a game we lose, being out on the West coast for the first time just seems like a game we'll be going through the motions for.
but if we can just have two or less losses then go at least 10-6 in the ACC, we should be right there in the conversation.