UNC Greensboro at Virginia, 7 p.m. today ESPN3.com
I'm always looking forward to basketball season, but this year -- hooray! -- it doesn't have to serve as a distraction from the football team since the gridiron 'Hoos are playing tough and are bowl eligible.
The hardwood 'Hoos come into this season with the lowest outside expectations since 2012-13. They aren't ranked in the AP's preseason top 25 for the first time since that year but are just on the outside looking in receiving votes as what would be the 27th-ranked team. Starting with last year and going back to 2013-14, here have been the preseason rankings for UVa: 8th, 6th, 9th, 24th. So the last time UVa was ranked around 27th to begin the season was 2013-14, which ended up being the magical run to the Sweet 16 by Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell, Justin Anderson, Darion Atkins, etc. (London Perrantes' freshman year). The media covering the ACC picked the Cavaliers to finish sixth in the conference. An underestimated Tony Bennett team is usually pretty dangerous, so we shall see.
For now, let's get on to who's gone, who's new, and who's back. I'll do my annual game-by-game predictions soon, probably after the opener against UNCG.
Losses
The floor general from the past four seasons, London Perrantes, has graduated, leaving a void at starting point guard and also from a leadership standpoint. Last season, he averaged 12.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 3 rebounds and shot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. He struggled a bit to lead the team on offense as a dominant scorer after Austin Nichols was booted off the team. Perrantes was always more of a facilitator and shined the most when distributing the ball, but certainly, his offensive skill set is something that needs to be replaced, and he shot nearly 41 percent from 3 for his UVa career, though his senior year was his third-worst shooting year from there. Perrantes wasn't selected in the NBA draft, but then first signed with the San Antonio Spurs but is now a part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' organization. He's with their G-League team, the Canton Charge.
Perrantes' would've been the only departure, but guards Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson and forward Jarred Reuter decided to transfer. Reuter won't be a big loss, as he only averaged 3.8 points and 2.2. rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game and was probably set to be passed over in the post rotation by Jay Huff. He moved on to George Mason, where he will sit out this season and probably be a pretty solid contributor for two years.
Shayok and Thompson are bigger losses. Both would've been seniors, which would've added to the team's veteran leadership. Shayok had a real chance to be the leading scorer this year. He averaged 8.9 points, second on the team last season behind Perrantes, and shot 32.8 percent from beyond the arc, though he was at 37.6 percent for his career. His minutes were a little inconsistent, and he had a tendency to wander in some games but then show up big in others. But he averaged 14.6, 15, and then 20.6 minutes, respectively, his three years in Charlottesville. He had some slashing ability that UVa could've used this season in addition to his shooting and overall experience in the system. I think the assumption is that both he and Thompson wanted to be in faster-paced offensive systems, and Shayok will get that at Iowa State, where he will have to sit out a year before having one season of eligibility. Thompson was probably also seeking more playing time, because he would've likely been behind Ty Jerome at point guard. Thompson is on his second transfer, as he originally joined UVa after leaving Tennessee. He was a Cavalier for two seasons and graduated, meaning he can play right away for Western Kentucky, where he landed, for one year. Thompson averaged 6.2 points in 20.8 minutes per game and was a surprisingly good shooter from 3, making 35.1 percent last season, slightly below his two-year average at UVa (36.5) but way above his only year at Tennessee (19.5). UVa will miss his defensive ability -- third on the team with 28 steals last season -- and knowledge of the offense. He was good in the open court, but didn't get many fast-break opportunities obviously in UVa's system and seemed to clam up at times on the offensive end.
Gains
The additions include two redshirts from last season, a transfer, and two true freshmen, at least one of whom won't play.
First, the two redshirt freshmen.
Guard DeAndre Hunter, 6-foot-7, 222 pounds, should see good time off the bench right away. The book on him is the same as it has been since he arrived. He has a bounce to his step, is comfortable shooting the 3, and can drive to the rim as well. His versatility on the offensive end is something UVa can really use.
Forward Jay Huff, now up to 7-1, 230 pounds, is an intriguing prospect but isn't expected to take
major minutes, at least right away. He can shoot the 3-pointer well, which obviously could be a nightmare for defenders given his length. In the Blue-White Scrimmage in October, he also put the ball on the floor and drove to the rim some. He's going to need to get more physical in how he uses his body down low on on both offense and defense, but his length gives him advantages. His offensive abilities, if they are advanced, could be a real boost for UVa and will definitely earn him some playing time.
Up next, the transfer, who has one season in Charlottesville.
Guard Nigel Johnson, 6-1, 182 pounds, brings backcourt depth and speed to the Cavaliers after beginning his career at Kansas State for two seasons and playing for Rutgers last season. He averaged 11.3 points last year and shot 35 percent from 3. In the last seven games of the year, he shot 57 percent from 3. If the Cavaliers are going to pick up the pace on offense somewhat, Johnson could be a major part of that. His speed was evident in the scrimmage last month, and he also finished at the rim and made some 3-pointers. He definitely seems to have more of an aggressive mindset on offense than Perrantes did, and maybe even Jerome, though whether or not that is true will become evident as games are played. Johnson could start the season opener, because Jerome had a foot injury that prevented him from playing in the scrimmage. Jerome will be able to play, but might not start. Given Johnson's potential, he might see plenty of time anyway.
And now, the two true freshmen.
Guard Marco Anthony, 6-4, 228 pounds, has the body of Malcolm Brogdon and was perhaps overlooked in recruiting, a bit like Brogdon. But he averaged 25.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as a senior in San Antonio, Texas, so it will be interesting to see if he works his way into the rotation this year. It sounds like he has a good all-around game, but it could be hard for him to get major minutes with the experience ahead of him, though the loss of Shayok and Thompson could necessitate him playing.
Forward Francesco Badocchi, 6-7, 185 pounds, will redshirt this season after having knee surgery following his senior year of high school in Kansas. Badocchi, who has an American mom and an Italian dad, is nicknamed "The Human Pogo Stick" for his springiness. He might end up fitting the mold of Isaiah Wilkins, Akil Mitchell, or even a Darion Atkins type player. We will have to wait and see.
They're back
And now for the returners, who include two seniors, a junior, and three sophomores.
I'll start with the seniors. Guard Devon Hall, 6-5, 211 pounds, is going into his fifth season at UVa and has truly worked his way up the ranks. He did not play as a true freshman and didn't play much his redshirt freshman season, averaging only 1.8 points, but he stuck with it. As a sophomore, he averaged 4.4 points and made 20 starts. And last year, he started all 34 games and averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He's become a solid if not spectacular all-around player. He's a good defender and rebounder, and has steadily improved on offense each season. He shot 33.3 percent from 3 his first two seasons and upped that number to 37.2 percent last season while shooting almost 41 percent overall from the field and 77.6 percent from the line. He's going to give maximum effort and is the type of heady five-year player who really shows the development possible under
Bennett.
Forward Isaiah Wilkins, 6-7, 227 pounds, is in some ways the heart and soul of this year's team. He brings an energy and enthusiasm similar to what Anderson brought to the 'Hoos. He came down with an illness at the end of last season, which really affected the team's offense, defense, toughness, and chemistry as UVa faltered down the stretch, though Wilkins contributed a lot to the team's gritty win over eventual national champion North Carolina on Feb. 27. Wilkins averaged 6.8 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 55.6 percent and 70.2 percent from the free throw line, both numbers that have increased each year. Though Wilkins has gotten better on offense, his biggest contribution is on defense and with his effort. He will throw his body around to get that loose ball, rebound, steal, or blocked shot (he had 43 last season to lead the team). The best version of Wilkins is a little bit of Mitchell and a little bit of Atkins, and given what those two turned into by their senior years, fans should be excited to watch Wilkins on the court this season.
Next up, the lone junior, 6-foot-10, 250-pound center Jack Salt. He stepped into the starting lineup last season with the quick departure of Nichols and started all 34 games, averaging 3.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while adding 22 blocks. He'll give maximum effort, as he dove on the floor with his huge body multiple times last season and has become a pretty good low post defender, when he can avoid fouls. He's worked hard on the offensive end in the low post and showed some improvement there last season, shooting almost 56 percent, but I doubt he blows us away this year on offense. Still, he is an important glue guy, and Bennett counts him critical to UVa's success.
On to the sophomores, starting first with guard Kyle Guy, 6-2, 175 pounds. The former five-star recruit averaged 7.5 points -- more than Malcolm Brogdon (6.7) and about the same as Justin Anderson (7.6) in their freshman campaigns -- and dazzled with his outside shooting, 49.5 percent from behind the arc, the best mark in school history, and added a 71.4 percent average from the charity stripe, a number you hope could go up for someone that shoots well from deep (Harris had the same issue). At times, he showed the ability to drive to the basket, and that is certainly something that the team hopes improves, as opponents will be able to key on his outside shooting and make that more difficult for him. He's gained more weight but is still slight and kind of short, which means he needs to work hard to get open. He got lost on the defensive end sometimes, and that held him back for a few games, but once he put more effort in on that end of the court and caught on, he became an even more valuable player. He would probably be my first pick as the leading scorer this season.
Next is point guard Ty Jerome, 6-5, 200 pounds. He backed up Perrantes and averaged 4.3 points in just 13.9 minutes per game. Perrantes averaged 5.5 points as a freshman but played more than twice as much as Jerome did at 29.9 minutes per game. Jerome made 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers and 47.3 percent of his shots overall, 77.8 percent at the line. He has a savvy about his game, both he and Guy do, that made them both seem older than freshmen. Jerome's big coming out party was against defending champ Villanova, when he scored 15 points and went one-on-one on a drive to the hoop to tie the game in the final seconds. He's a threat to pull up from anywhere to launch 3s and has a sneaky way of getting into the lane. His bigger frame for a point guard allows him to shield defenders at the rim somewhat, giving him an advantage. As long as he's healthy, Jerome is expected to start at point guard, and Johnson is expected to be the backup, even though Johnson did turn heads in the scrimmage.
Finally we have forward Mamadi Diakite, 6-9, 228 pounds. Speaking of human pogo sticks, he can certainly get up in the air and has terrific athleticism. It is about harnessing it for him, as he can sometimes look awkward on the court. Last year, he averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds and blocked 39 shots in just 14 minutes per game. If he gets the hang of things, watch out. Many still believe his ceiling to be very high.
The team is young, but the experience of Hall, a healthy Wilkins, the defense and effort of Salt, and the promise of Guy, Jerome, and maybe even Huff, Hunter, and Diakite make this team an interesting one to watch. And who knows what Johnson could provide. He could be a pleasant surprise. There is lots of room for improvement, and the potential for this team by the end of the year should make fans excited.
Enjoy the game tonight, and I'll have a schedule prediction sometime in the next couple days.
I'm always looking forward to basketball season, but this year -- hooray! -- it doesn't have to serve as a distraction from the football team since the gridiron 'Hoos are playing tough and are bowl eligible.
The hardwood 'Hoos come into this season with the lowest outside expectations since 2012-13. They aren't ranked in the AP's preseason top 25 for the first time since that year but are just on the outside looking in receiving votes as what would be the 27th-ranked team. Starting with last year and going back to 2013-14, here have been the preseason rankings for UVa: 8th, 6th, 9th, 24th. So the last time UVa was ranked around 27th to begin the season was 2013-14, which ended up being the magical run to the Sweet 16 by Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell, Justin Anderson, Darion Atkins, etc. (London Perrantes' freshman year). The media covering the ACC picked the Cavaliers to finish sixth in the conference. An underestimated Tony Bennett team is usually pretty dangerous, so we shall see.
For now, let's get on to who's gone, who's new, and who's back. I'll do my annual game-by-game predictions soon, probably after the opener against UNCG.
Losses
The floor general from the past four seasons, London Perrantes, has graduated, leaving a void at starting point guard and also from a leadership standpoint. Last season, he averaged 12.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 3 rebounds and shot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. He struggled a bit to lead the team on offense as a dominant scorer after Austin Nichols was booted off the team. Perrantes was always more of a facilitator and shined the most when distributing the ball, but certainly, his offensive skill set is something that needs to be replaced, and he shot nearly 41 percent from 3 for his UVa career, though his senior year was his third-worst shooting year from there. Perrantes wasn't selected in the NBA draft, but then first signed with the San Antonio Spurs but is now a part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' organization. He's with their G-League team, the Canton Charge.
Perrantes' would've been the only departure, but guards Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson and forward Jarred Reuter decided to transfer. Reuter won't be a big loss, as he only averaged 3.8 points and 2.2. rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game and was probably set to be passed over in the post rotation by Jay Huff. He moved on to George Mason, where he will sit out this season and probably be a pretty solid contributor for two years.
Shayok and Thompson are bigger losses. Both would've been seniors, which would've added to the team's veteran leadership. Shayok had a real chance to be the leading scorer this year. He averaged 8.9 points, second on the team last season behind Perrantes, and shot 32.8 percent from beyond the arc, though he was at 37.6 percent for his career. His minutes were a little inconsistent, and he had a tendency to wander in some games but then show up big in others. But he averaged 14.6, 15, and then 20.6 minutes, respectively, his three years in Charlottesville. He had some slashing ability that UVa could've used this season in addition to his shooting and overall experience in the system. I think the assumption is that both he and Thompson wanted to be in faster-paced offensive systems, and Shayok will get that at Iowa State, where he will have to sit out a year before having one season of eligibility. Thompson was probably also seeking more playing time, because he would've likely been behind Ty Jerome at point guard. Thompson is on his second transfer, as he originally joined UVa after leaving Tennessee. He was a Cavalier for two seasons and graduated, meaning he can play right away for Western Kentucky, where he landed, for one year. Thompson averaged 6.2 points in 20.8 minutes per game and was a surprisingly good shooter from 3, making 35.1 percent last season, slightly below his two-year average at UVa (36.5) but way above his only year at Tennessee (19.5). UVa will miss his defensive ability -- third on the team with 28 steals last season -- and knowledge of the offense. He was good in the open court, but didn't get many fast-break opportunities obviously in UVa's system and seemed to clam up at times on the offensive end.
Gains
The additions include two redshirts from last season, a transfer, and two true freshmen, at least one of whom won't play.
First, the two redshirt freshmen.
Guard DeAndre Hunter, 6-foot-7, 222 pounds, should see good time off the bench right away. The book on him is the same as it has been since he arrived. He has a bounce to his step, is comfortable shooting the 3, and can drive to the rim as well. His versatility on the offensive end is something UVa can really use.
Forward Jay Huff, now up to 7-1, 230 pounds, is an intriguing prospect but isn't expected to take
 |
| Jay Huff, 7-1, prefers to shoot 3-pointers, which could be an asset for the Cavaliers. |
Up next, the transfer, who has one season in Charlottesville.
Guard Nigel Johnson, 6-1, 182 pounds, brings backcourt depth and speed to the Cavaliers after beginning his career at Kansas State for two seasons and playing for Rutgers last season. He averaged 11.3 points last year and shot 35 percent from 3. In the last seven games of the year, he shot 57 percent from 3. If the Cavaliers are going to pick up the pace on offense somewhat, Johnson could be a major part of that. His speed was evident in the scrimmage last month, and he also finished at the rim and made some 3-pointers. He definitely seems to have more of an aggressive mindset on offense than Perrantes did, and maybe even Jerome, though whether or not that is true will become evident as games are played. Johnson could start the season opener, because Jerome had a foot injury that prevented him from playing in the scrimmage. Jerome will be able to play, but might not start. Given Johnson's potential, he might see plenty of time anyway.
And now, the two true freshmen.
Guard Marco Anthony, 6-4, 228 pounds, has the body of Malcolm Brogdon and was perhaps overlooked in recruiting, a bit like Brogdon. But he averaged 25.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as a senior in San Antonio, Texas, so it will be interesting to see if he works his way into the rotation this year. It sounds like he has a good all-around game, but it could be hard for him to get major minutes with the experience ahead of him, though the loss of Shayok and Thompson could necessitate him playing.
Forward Francesco Badocchi, 6-7, 185 pounds, will redshirt this season after having knee surgery following his senior year of high school in Kansas. Badocchi, who has an American mom and an Italian dad, is nicknamed "The Human Pogo Stick" for his springiness. He might end up fitting the mold of Isaiah Wilkins, Akil Mitchell, or even a Darion Atkins type player. We will have to wait and see.
They're back
And now for the returners, who include two seniors, a junior, and three sophomores.
I'll start with the seniors. Guard Devon Hall, 6-5, 211 pounds, is going into his fifth season at UVa and has truly worked his way up the ranks. He did not play as a true freshman and didn't play much his redshirt freshman season, averaging only 1.8 points, but he stuck with it. As a sophomore, he averaged 4.4 points and made 20 starts. And last year, he started all 34 games and averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He's become a solid if not spectacular all-around player. He's a good defender and rebounder, and has steadily improved on offense each season. He shot 33.3 percent from 3 his first two seasons and upped that number to 37.2 percent last season while shooting almost 41 percent overall from the field and 77.6 percent from the line. He's going to give maximum effort and is the type of heady five-year player who really shows the development possible under
 |
| Devon Hall can do a little bit of everything for the 'Hoos and is one of the team's leaders. |
Forward Isaiah Wilkins, 6-7, 227 pounds, is in some ways the heart and soul of this year's team. He brings an energy and enthusiasm similar to what Anderson brought to the 'Hoos. He came down with an illness at the end of last season, which really affected the team's offense, defense, toughness, and chemistry as UVa faltered down the stretch, though Wilkins contributed a lot to the team's gritty win over eventual national champion North Carolina on Feb. 27. Wilkins averaged 6.8 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 55.6 percent and 70.2 percent from the free throw line, both numbers that have increased each year. Though Wilkins has gotten better on offense, his biggest contribution is on defense and with his effort. He will throw his body around to get that loose ball, rebound, steal, or blocked shot (he had 43 last season to lead the team). The best version of Wilkins is a little bit of Mitchell and a little bit of Atkins, and given what those two turned into by their senior years, fans should be excited to watch Wilkins on the court this season.
Next up, the lone junior, 6-foot-10, 250-pound center Jack Salt. He stepped into the starting lineup last season with the quick departure of Nichols and started all 34 games, averaging 3.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while adding 22 blocks. He'll give maximum effort, as he dove on the floor with his huge body multiple times last season and has become a pretty good low post defender, when he can avoid fouls. He's worked hard on the offensive end in the low post and showed some improvement there last season, shooting almost 56 percent, but I doubt he blows us away this year on offense. Still, he is an important glue guy, and Bennett counts him critical to UVa's success.
On to the sophomores, starting first with guard Kyle Guy, 6-2, 175 pounds. The former five-star recruit averaged 7.5 points -- more than Malcolm Brogdon (6.7) and about the same as Justin Anderson (7.6) in their freshman campaigns -- and dazzled with his outside shooting, 49.5 percent from behind the arc, the best mark in school history, and added a 71.4 percent average from the charity stripe, a number you hope could go up for someone that shoots well from deep (Harris had the same issue). At times, he showed the ability to drive to the basket, and that is certainly something that the team hopes improves, as opponents will be able to key on his outside shooting and make that more difficult for him. He's gained more weight but is still slight and kind of short, which means he needs to work hard to get open. He got lost on the defensive end sometimes, and that held him back for a few games, but once he put more effort in on that end of the court and caught on, he became an even more valuable player. He would probably be my first pick as the leading scorer this season.
Next is point guard Ty Jerome, 6-5, 200 pounds. He backed up Perrantes and averaged 4.3 points in just 13.9 minutes per game. Perrantes averaged 5.5 points as a freshman but played more than twice as much as Jerome did at 29.9 minutes per game. Jerome made 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers and 47.3 percent of his shots overall, 77.8 percent at the line. He has a savvy about his game, both he and Guy do, that made them both seem older than freshmen. Jerome's big coming out party was against defending champ Villanova, when he scored 15 points and went one-on-one on a drive to the hoop to tie the game in the final seconds. He's a threat to pull up from anywhere to launch 3s and has a sneaky way of getting into the lane. His bigger frame for a point guard allows him to shield defenders at the rim somewhat, giving him an advantage. As long as he's healthy, Jerome is expected to start at point guard, and Johnson is expected to be the backup, even though Johnson did turn heads in the scrimmage.
Finally we have forward Mamadi Diakite, 6-9, 228 pounds. Speaking of human pogo sticks, he can certainly get up in the air and has terrific athleticism. It is about harnessing it for him, as he can sometimes look awkward on the court. Last year, he averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds and blocked 39 shots in just 14 minutes per game. If he gets the hang of things, watch out. Many still believe his ceiling to be very high.
The team is young, but the experience of Hall, a healthy Wilkins, the defense and effort of Salt, and the promise of Guy, Jerome, and maybe even Huff, Hunter, and Diakite make this team an interesting one to watch. And who knows what Johnson could provide. He could be a pleasant surprise. There is lots of room for improvement, and the potential for this team by the end of the year should make fans excited.
Enjoy the game tonight, and I'll have a schedule prediction sometime in the next couple days.
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