No. 11 Virginia at Syracuse, 9 p.m. ACC Network
We just turned back our clocks, daily temperatures are struggling to reach the 60s, and Jay Bilas is all over ESPN talking about Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State.
It must be college basketball season. And your Virginia Cavaliers are defending champions. Those teams aren't.
Like last season, UVa fans aren't welcoming the distraction from football, as the gridiron 'Hoos have experienced success and have several important games left as they try to reach a good bowl game, win the Coastal Division, and beat Virginia Tech.
And let's face it, Virginia basketball fans are probably feeling a little placated right now. This is going to be a season unlike any other. The Wahoos reached the mountaintop, and everyone is enjoying the view. It's time to get to work, but no matter what happens this year, we can always look back on last season with fondness. It's going to be a fun year -- perhaps perplexing and frustrating at times as Virginia integrates new pieces and we get used to the new normal -- watching this team grow and
develop with the pressure off now that the program has broken through and won its first championship.
For a look back at some of the major storylines going into this season, check out my post from June. If you read it, here are a few notes to keep in mind. It was announced in August that forward Francesco Badocchi was going to leave the program for personal reasons. He's still attending UVa. Additionally, redshirt freshman center Francisco Caffaro is out for the first game at Syracuse with an injury, and true freshman center Kadin Shedrick is expected to redshirt.
Like usual, I'll have a game-by-game season prediction as well, later this week, hopefully before the Sunday home opener vs. James Madison.
Game prediction: As for tonight's opener at Syracuse, I am calling for a close loss by Virginia, which would be its first to open a season since the 2012-13 campaign (George Mason).
OK, now on to my annual look at this season via a player breakdown:
Losses
You've heard of the Big Three, right? And the Big Kiwi Jack Salt?
Thought so. De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy left an indelible mark on Virginia basketball. A lot of what they brought to last season's team can't be immediately replaced.
In 2018-19, Hunter averaged 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2 assists and shot 52 percent from the field, 43.8 percent beyond the arc, and 78.3 percent from the line. He was a terrific defender and superior athlete that could do a little bit of everything, and most of it very well. Hunter led the team with 27 points in the championship game against Texas Tech. He ended up being the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft, selected by the Atlanta Hawks. Having an NBA athlete on the floor helps any team, and Virginia had three, with Hunter being the most coveted among front office executives.
Jerome averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 assists (led the ACC), 4.2 rebounds, and shot 39.9 percent on 3s. He was the consummate floor general for the Wahoos, and I ended up naming him my season MVP. He made it all go on the offensive end of the floor and was deceptive with his athleticism and ability to get into the lane. His vision when passing was underrated as well. Jerome threw a dart to Hunter that led to a Hunter 3 that tied up the title game with seconds to go. The New Yorker was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers but through a series of trades, he ended up with the Phoenix Suns.
Guy led the team by putting up 15.4 ppg, and he added 4.5 rpg and 2.1 apg. He shot 42.6 percent from beyond the arc and made 83.3 percent of his free throws. He made the ones that counted most, sinking all three at the line against Auburn in the Final Four as the Cavaliers edged the Tigers by one. Guy was named the Final Four's most outstanding player. He was selected with the 55th pick in the draft by the New York Knicks but was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
Salt averaged 3.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. As the season wore on, he played less and less, but he was always a team-first guy and set some of the most monstrous picks you will ever see. Notably, he randomly exploded for a career-high 18 points against N.C. State in the ACC tournament and also played 34 minutes against Purdue in the Elite Eight, scoring five points. Salt is getting the chance to play professionally in the Polish Basketball League.
Guard Marco Anthony decided to transfer and landed at Utah State. In 2018-19, he averaged 1.2 points.
Gains
In this group, we have three true freshmen, a redshirt freshman, and a junior college transfer.
The gem of the true freshman class is guard Casey Morsell. We've been talking about him forever it seems, and now the consensus top-75 recruit is finally is set to make his debut as a Cavalier. Expect him to start at Syracuse. Morsell is listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, stout for a true freshman, and can handle the ball some, shoot 3s, drive, and play defense. He's the entire package, and I can't wait to see him play.
Justin McKoy is a 6-8, 221-pound true freshman forward that decommitted from Penn State and
then signed with Virginia over North Carolina in April. I am eager to watch him play, too, to see the style he brings to the court. He will probably back up the 3 or 4 spot. I think his style will look sort of like Braxton Key or Hunter.
As stated above, freshman center Kadin Shedrick, listed at a svelte 6-11, 214 pounds, is expected to redshirt. He's more of a traditional big man, and I'm a little surprised he is redshirting because he was a four-star prospect. But like Jay Huff, I'm sure the year sitting out will be used molding his body and getting him ready for collegiate-level basketball. Also, like Huff, just because Shedrick may sit out this year, that in no way means the team isn't expecting big things from him down the line.
Redshirt freshman center Francisco Caffaro, who is out against the Orange, didn't play last season, getting his own development year. He's a 7-foot, 244-pound banger, more of a traditional big man who is going to roam the paint. I'm interested to see if his nasty side comes out, as it has in international competition. He could end up being an enforcer for the Cavaliers.
Lastly, there's junior college guard transfer Tomas Woldetensae, who is listed at 6-5, 195 pounds. He has two years of eligibility remaining. He can handle the ball and shoot 3-pointers. His experience, even though it is at the juco level, will come in handy and is very valuable for 'Hoos, who are a bit thin in the backcourt.
Also, senior forward Sam Hauser is on the team after transferring from Marquette, but he has to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Who's back
This group includes two seniors, a junior, and two sophomores.
Senior forward Mamadi Diakite is back after flirting with turning pro at the end of last season. Diakite, 6-9 and 224 pounds, is an athletic big man who turned in some of his best performances down the stretch last season, notably being the first player to snap the 'Hoos out of their daze when they got knocked back on their heels at the beginning of the NCAA tournament first-round game against Gardner-Webb. For the year, he averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Expect him to make a jump in production, and he's got a good shot at being named to an all-ACC team. In the Blue-White scrimmage Oct. 12, he was consistently hitting 3s. Long-range shooting and overall consistency are two things that, if developed, will turn Diakite into a nightmare for opponents in his final season in Charlottesville as he looks to leave his own mark on the program and impress the NBA.
Senior forward Braxton Key is poised to take on a bigger role after being an excellent sixth man in 2018-19. The 6-8, 230-pound one-time Alabama player and a nephew of Ralph Sampson was a big-time defender and rebounder for the 'Hoos last season. One of his biggest moments came in the championship game when he blocked a shot attempt by Jarrett Culver at the end of regulation with the score tied, potentially the game-winner. Key also notched 10 boards in the contest. Key is at his best skying for rebounds and cleaning up around the rim for garbage points. He averaged 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds (led the team). He shot just 30.5 percent from beyond the arc, but of course, he wasn't really needed back there. Hopefully he can increase that number by a couple of percentage points. We know what we will get out of Key in terms of effort, defense, and rebounding, and now we
are just hoping he can take a step offensively to replace some of the production lost with the departure of the Big Three.
The time is now for 7-1, 243-pound redshirt junior forward Jay Huff. It's time to put it all together. He's dazzled UVa fans for two years in spurts. Hopefully, he's given ample playing time to show he can be a consistent threat, offensively and defensively. Last season, he averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game. He made 45.2 percent of his 3s. No one will be surprised if he makes a huge jump in production this season, both in terms of playing time and scoring. His offensive skills are a known quantity. What will probably keep him on the court for longer periods will be improvements in rebounding and defense.
Sophomore point guard Kihei Clark, 5-9 and 163 pounds, already has had a memorable career. He started 20 games, taking on a larger role than was expected going into the season. He was the first half of the one of the biggest plays in UVa basketball history, "The Play," when his hustle saved the day for Virginia against Purdue. Clark's beeline pass to Diakite will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of Wahoos. Clark struggled at various times throughout the season, not surprising given the fact he was a true freshman and because of his size, but all was forgiven in that instant in the Elite Eight. On the season, Clark averaged 4.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He was a constant pest on defense, with the strength to hold his own, the small stature to get right up under his opponents, and the speed to stick with them.
Lastly, 6-7, 200-pound sophomore guard Kody Stattmann will look to make more of an impact this
season. In 2018-19, he averaged just 4.1 minutes and 1.7 points. He came into the program with a reputation as a good 3-point shooter, but he struggled with the chances he did receive. His defense is also a huge question mark. Despite these issues, playing time will be available for him if he can seize the opportunity.
You don't lose three players the caliber of Guy, Jerome, and Hunter and not feel the effects. Over the past two seasons, Virginia fans have seen their Wahoos go 66-6. Let that sink in for a moment. That is truly an incredible accomplishment. For wide swaths of the past two seasons, we barely knew what it was like to lose. And I don't know about you, but I was able to shake off the losses -- except for UMBC, of course -- because each defeat was not a life-or-death situation for the program. Losing to a top-five Duke program is frustrating, but it didn't really affect UVa's ranking, and the team moves on and blasts Wake Forest or whichever team happens to be next. There was this comfort in the fact that the Cavaliers were really good, and any losses would be few and far between, in the regular-season at least. We were just biding out time until the NCAA tournament.
This season could be different in that we may see some things we aren't used to seeing. There will be scratch-your-head moments, especially early on. There are bound to be more than three losses. There might even be seven, one whole loss more than 2017-19! But there's also a great chance to truly enjoy the season in a different way and watch another great crop of young men come together and represent what Virginia basketball is all about. By the time late February and March roll around, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the 'Hoos are playing their best and in contention for an ACC regular-season title.
Bennett is hungry for another title, and this edition of the team didn't win anything last year. These players want to prove themselves worthy of being a contender, too. You can ease up on the expectations a little this season, breathe easy, and try to relax. Your 'Hoos are champions. But don't forget to get intense when the moment calls for it, because the 2019-20 Wahoos are coming for the crown, too.
We just turned back our clocks, daily temperatures are struggling to reach the 60s, and Jay Bilas is all over ESPN talking about Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State.
It must be college basketball season. And your Virginia Cavaliers are defending champions. Those teams aren't.
Like last season, UVa fans aren't welcoming the distraction from football, as the gridiron 'Hoos have experienced success and have several important games left as they try to reach a good bowl game, win the Coastal Division, and beat Virginia Tech.
And let's face it, Virginia basketball fans are probably feeling a little placated right now. This is going to be a season unlike any other. The Wahoos reached the mountaintop, and everyone is enjoying the view. It's time to get to work, but no matter what happens this year, we can always look back on last season with fondness. It's going to be a fun year -- perhaps perplexing and frustrating at times as Virginia integrates new pieces and we get used to the new normal -- watching this team grow and
 |
| Mamadi Diakite takes center stage in 2019-20 after three years of being in the supporting cast. |
For a look back at some of the major storylines going into this season, check out my post from June. If you read it, here are a few notes to keep in mind. It was announced in August that forward Francesco Badocchi was going to leave the program for personal reasons. He's still attending UVa. Additionally, redshirt freshman center Francisco Caffaro is out for the first game at Syracuse with an injury, and true freshman center Kadin Shedrick is expected to redshirt.
I also encourage you to check out the preview content that has been coming out from me and my colleagues at HoosPlace.com. I promise you, just about everything you'd want to know about this new Virginia basketball team is covered in some form or fashion. You won't be able to get through it all. Other ACC teams get plenty of coverage, too, if you would like to scout the opponents.UVa will be without Francisco Caffaro tomorrow night, and Kadin Shedrick is expected to redshirt this season, according to notes in a UVa press release.— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) November 5, 2019
Neither of those tidbits are surprising given what we heard from Tony Bennett last week.
Like usual, I'll have a game-by-game season prediction as well, later this week, hopefully before the Sunday home opener vs. James Madison.
Game prediction: As for tonight's opener at Syracuse, I am calling for a close loss by Virginia, which would be its first to open a season since the 2012-13 campaign (George Mason).
OK, now on to my annual look at this season via a player breakdown:
Losses
You've heard of the Big Three, right? And the Big Kiwi Jack Salt?
Thought so. De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy left an indelible mark on Virginia basketball. A lot of what they brought to last season's team can't be immediately replaced.
In 2018-19, Hunter averaged 15.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2 assists and shot 52 percent from the field, 43.8 percent beyond the arc, and 78.3 percent from the line. He was a terrific defender and superior athlete that could do a little bit of everything, and most of it very well. Hunter led the team with 27 points in the championship game against Texas Tech. He ended up being the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft, selected by the Atlanta Hawks. Having an NBA athlete on the floor helps any team, and Virginia had three, with Hunter being the most coveted among front office executives.
Jerome averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 assists (led the ACC), 4.2 rebounds, and shot 39.9 percent on 3s. He was the consummate floor general for the Wahoos, and I ended up naming him my season MVP. He made it all go on the offensive end of the floor and was deceptive with his athleticism and ability to get into the lane. His vision when passing was underrated as well. Jerome threw a dart to Hunter that led to a Hunter 3 that tied up the title game with seconds to go. The New Yorker was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers but through a series of trades, he ended up with the Phoenix Suns.
Guy led the team by putting up 15.4 ppg, and he added 4.5 rpg and 2.1 apg. He shot 42.6 percent from beyond the arc and made 83.3 percent of his free throws. He made the ones that counted most, sinking all three at the line against Auburn in the Final Four as the Cavaliers edged the Tigers by one. Guy was named the Final Four's most outstanding player. He was selected with the 55th pick in the draft by the New York Knicks but was traded to the Sacramento Kings.
Salt averaged 3.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. As the season wore on, he played less and less, but he was always a team-first guy and set some of the most monstrous picks you will ever see. Notably, he randomly exploded for a career-high 18 points against N.C. State in the ACC tournament and also played 34 minutes against Purdue in the Elite Eight, scoring five points. Salt is getting the chance to play professionally in the Polish Basketball League.
Guard Marco Anthony decided to transfer and landed at Utah State. In 2018-19, he averaged 1.2 points.
Gains
In this group, we have three true freshmen, a redshirt freshman, and a junior college transfer.
The gem of the true freshman class is guard Casey Morsell. We've been talking about him forever it seems, and now the consensus top-75 recruit is finally is set to make his debut as a Cavalier. Expect him to start at Syracuse. Morsell is listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, stout for a true freshman, and can handle the ball some, shoot 3s, drive, and play defense. He's the entire package, and I can't wait to see him play.
Justin McKoy is a 6-8, 221-pound true freshman forward that decommitted from Penn State and
 |
| The wait is over, and Casey Morsell is set to make his much-anticipated debut. |
As stated above, freshman center Kadin Shedrick, listed at a svelte 6-11, 214 pounds, is expected to redshirt. He's more of a traditional big man, and I'm a little surprised he is redshirting because he was a four-star prospect. But like Jay Huff, I'm sure the year sitting out will be used molding his body and getting him ready for collegiate-level basketball. Also, like Huff, just because Shedrick may sit out this year, that in no way means the team isn't expecting big things from him down the line.
Redshirt freshman center Francisco Caffaro, who is out against the Orange, didn't play last season, getting his own development year. He's a 7-foot, 244-pound banger, more of a traditional big man who is going to roam the paint. I'm interested to see if his nasty side comes out, as it has in international competition. He could end up being an enforcer for the Cavaliers.
Lastly, there's junior college guard transfer Tomas Woldetensae, who is listed at 6-5, 195 pounds. He has two years of eligibility remaining. He can handle the ball and shoot 3-pointers. His experience, even though it is at the juco level, will come in handy and is very valuable for 'Hoos, who are a bit thin in the backcourt.
Also, senior forward Sam Hauser is on the team after transferring from Marquette, but he has to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Who's back
This group includes two seniors, a junior, and two sophomores.
Senior forward Mamadi Diakite is back after flirting with turning pro at the end of last season. Diakite, 6-9 and 224 pounds, is an athletic big man who turned in some of his best performances down the stretch last season, notably being the first player to snap the 'Hoos out of their daze when they got knocked back on their heels at the beginning of the NCAA tournament first-round game against Gardner-Webb. For the year, he averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Expect him to make a jump in production, and he's got a good shot at being named to an all-ACC team. In the Blue-White scrimmage Oct. 12, he was consistently hitting 3s. Long-range shooting and overall consistency are two things that, if developed, will turn Diakite into a nightmare for opponents in his final season in Charlottesville as he looks to leave his own mark on the program and impress the NBA.
Senior forward Braxton Key is poised to take on a bigger role after being an excellent sixth man in 2018-19. The 6-8, 230-pound one-time Alabama player and a nephew of Ralph Sampson was a big-time defender and rebounder for the 'Hoos last season. One of his biggest moments came in the championship game when he blocked a shot attempt by Jarrett Culver at the end of regulation with the score tied, potentially the game-winner. Key also notched 10 boards in the contest. Key is at his best skying for rebounds and cleaning up around the rim for garbage points. He averaged 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds (led the team). He shot just 30.5 percent from beyond the arc, but of course, he wasn't really needed back there. Hopefully he can increase that number by a couple of percentage points. We know what we will get out of Key in terms of effort, defense, and rebounding, and now we
 |
| Three words: Unleash the Huff. |
The time is now for 7-1, 243-pound redshirt junior forward Jay Huff. It's time to put it all together. He's dazzled UVa fans for two years in spurts. Hopefully, he's given ample playing time to show he can be a consistent threat, offensively and defensively. Last season, he averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game. He made 45.2 percent of his 3s. No one will be surprised if he makes a huge jump in production this season, both in terms of playing time and scoring. His offensive skills are a known quantity. What will probably keep him on the court for longer periods will be improvements in rebounding and defense.
Sophomore point guard Kihei Clark, 5-9 and 163 pounds, already has had a memorable career. He started 20 games, taking on a larger role than was expected going into the season. He was the first half of the one of the biggest plays in UVa basketball history, "The Play," when his hustle saved the day for Virginia against Purdue. Clark's beeline pass to Diakite will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of Wahoos. Clark struggled at various times throughout the season, not surprising given the fact he was a true freshman and because of his size, but all was forgiven in that instant in the Elite Eight. On the season, Clark averaged 4.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He was a constant pest on defense, with the strength to hold his own, the small stature to get right up under his opponents, and the speed to stick with them.
Lastly, 6-7, 200-pound sophomore guard Kody Stattmann will look to make more of an impact this
 |
| Is it just me, or does Kihei Clark seem like a grizzled veteran? |
You don't lose three players the caliber of Guy, Jerome, and Hunter and not feel the effects. Over the past two seasons, Virginia fans have seen their Wahoos go 66-6. Let that sink in for a moment. That is truly an incredible accomplishment. For wide swaths of the past two seasons, we barely knew what it was like to lose. And I don't know about you, but I was able to shake off the losses -- except for UMBC, of course -- because each defeat was not a life-or-death situation for the program. Losing to a top-five Duke program is frustrating, but it didn't really affect UVa's ranking, and the team moves on and blasts Wake Forest or whichever team happens to be next. There was this comfort in the fact that the Cavaliers were really good, and any losses would be few and far between, in the regular-season at least. We were just biding out time until the NCAA tournament.
This season could be different in that we may see some things we aren't used to seeing. There will be scratch-your-head moments, especially early on. There are bound to be more than three losses. There might even be seven, one whole loss more than 2017-19! But there's also a great chance to truly enjoy the season in a different way and watch another great crop of young men come together and represent what Virginia basketball is all about. By the time late February and March roll around, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the 'Hoos are playing their best and in contention for an ACC regular-season title.
Bennett is hungry for another title, and this edition of the team didn't win anything last year. These players want to prove themselves worthy of being a contender, too. You can ease up on the expectations a little this season, breathe easy, and try to relax. Your 'Hoos are champions. But don't forget to get intense when the moment calls for it, because the 2019-20 Wahoos are coming for the crown, too.
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