Hauser joins program that could be poised for another Final Four
Virginia
Coach: Tony Bennett (346-129 in 14 seasons overall, 277-96 in 11 seasons at U.Va.).
Last season: 23-7 overall, 15-5 ACC (finished tied for second in ACC regular season).
Three players to watch
Sam Hauser After sitting out last season per NCAAtransfer rules, the 6-foot-8 redshirt senior forward is looking to pick up where he left off at Marquette, where he averaged 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game two seasons ago. An accomplished shooter (40.2% from 3-point range in 2018-19), Hauser is already in the ACC Player of the Year conversation, and will be an even stronger candidate if he latches on to Bennett’s defensive concepts.
Kihei Clark Nobody gets more from fewer physical gifts in the ACC than Clark, a 5-9 junior who averaged 10.8 points and is U.Va.’s leading returning scorer. He added 4.2 rebounds and a team-best 5.9 assists per game last season. He’s as durable as they come in the ACC, leading the conference last season in minutes per game (37.1), and he should get a few more breathers this season, given Virginia’s backcourt depth.
JayHuffHedipped his toes into the NBAdraft evaluation waters during the offseason, but the 7-1 forward decided to come back for his redshirt senior year once it became apparent there would be a college basketball season. Huff, whoaveraged 8.5 points per game last season, can score from long range (35.8% on 3-point shots), and his offensive game is developing closer to the rim, where he’ll need to be an even better rebounder (6.2 per game last season). He’ll be expected to continue to be the Cavaliers’ primary rim protector after averaging a team-high two blocks per game last season.
Most promising newcomer
Reece Beekman A 6-3 freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beekman should be able to spell Clark from time to time at point guard. Beekmanearned “Mr. Basketball” honors last season in Louisiana and was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 19.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 2.7 blocks and 2.2 steals per game in his senior season.
Strengths
Senior Tomas Woldetensae (6.6 ppg last season, 36.1% from 3-point range), sophomore Casey Morsell, junior Kody Stattmann and freshmen Jabri Abdur-Rahim, Carson McCorkle and Beekman provide superior depth in the backcourt. And a Rice transfer, junior Trey Murphy, could join them if he gains an immediate-eligibility waiver from the NCAA. As long as Bennett is in Charlottesville, no team will stifle opponents more than Virginia, which was first in the nation last season for the third time in the last four seasons in adjusted defensive efficiency (gave up 83.3 points per opponents’ 100 possessions), according to stats guru Ken Pomeroy.
Weaknesses
Losing forwards Mamadi Diakite (team-high 13.7 ppg last season) and Braxton Key (9.9 ppg, team-high 7.4 rpg) leaves glaring defensive holes in the frontcourt, and Diakite’s mid-range and high- and low-post offensive game will be missed. With those guys gone, forwards Kadin Shedrick, a redshirt freshman, and Justin McKoy, a sophomore, will need to step up a bit.
Prediction
Ending last season’s abbreviated campaign on an eight-game winning streak, U.Va. has enough key pieces returning and exciting new components to make a 21- to 23-win season in a 27-game slate (if there’s a 27-game slate), along with the potential for a Final Four run in the NCAA tournament (if there’s such a thing), realistic. Reminder ... U.Va. was the last team to win the championship, in 2019.