The Virginia Cavaliers are nearing the start of their season after a coaching retirement and a possible starting guard opted out.
Legendary coach Tony Bennett announced that he would retire just 20 days before the start of the basketball season for the Cavaliers. If the retirement was not bad enough, his decision opened a 30 day transfer portal for the players on the team. Guard Jalen Warley opted to enter the transfer portal and redshirt, choosing to play next season instead.
On the court, the result has not been much better for the Virginia Cavaliers, with two exhibition games delivering little offense. The Cavaliers have recorded 104 points and shot 6-of-43 from long range through both games.
Ahead of the season, coach Bennett had promised to deliver a modernized, revamped offense this year. The Cavaliers scored 62.9 points per game last season while shooting 42.8% from the floor, leaving many fans doubtful of a real change. With the retirement of Bennett and the promotion of coach Ron Sanchez, the offense might be even more archaic than it was a year ago.
Sanchez was previously the Head Coach for the Charlotte basketball team before resigning in 2023 from his role. Sanchez rejoined Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers staff after serving as a longtime assistant on the staff. The now interim coach also learned from Dick Bennett, the father of Tony Bennett, while serving as an assistant for Washington State.
With Sanchez at the helm, the offense could look worse than it did a year ago against more dynamic and modernized offenses.
Virginia Cavaliers Offense in Serious Question Ahead of 2024 Season
While they are only exhibition games, the struggles with shooting the basketball seems prevalent once against for the Cavaliers.
The Virginia Cavaliers shot 35.8% from long range as a team last season, nailing 6.5 three-pointers per game. The Cavaliers shooting stats are not terrible from afar, but when viewing their defensive statistics from last season, the offense was not effective as it needed to be.
The Cavaliers allowed opponents to shoot 40.6% from the floor and 30.5% from three-point range. Opponents made 6.4 three-pointers per game, while attempting nearly 100 more than the Cavaliers offense did. Virginia also had serious issues at the free-throw line, shooting just 63.7% at the line as a team during the 2023 season.
While the Virginia Cavaliers showcasing an improved offense this year is not completely out of the question, it also does not seem like a sure-thing. Many fans and analysts alike already doubted that Bennett would “revamp” the offense like he claimed. Now, with Sanchez holding the interim role, the offense seems doomed to follow in the same footsteps as last season.
Perhaps the biggest questions on offense moving forward are going to be remaining transfers Dai Dai Ames and TJ Power. Jalen Warley also transferred into the program, but reportedly struggled during the exhibitions and now will redshirt this season. Ames and Power have also been quiet, but the offense in total seems to be struggling to find the right shot on the court.
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