ESPN published the first version of this immediately after the national title game. They note "Since then, a couple of things have changed -- like more than 1,600 players entering the transfer portal and more than 250 submitting their name to the NBA draft's early-entry process." UVA moved up from "next in line" (#25-30) to #21 . Others in the ACC - UNC #1, Duke #7, Miami #22. (link: ESPN's Way Too Early Top 25)
Tony Bennett's team landed just outside the top 25 in early April. Then Kihei Clark and Jayden Gardner announced they were returning to Charlottesville for another year, and Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas committed to the Cavaliers. That means all five starters and the top six scorers from this past season will be back for Virginia, along with three ESPN 100 transfers and an all-conference transfer in Vander Plas. After seemingly not having enough offensive weapons in 2021-22, Bennett should be able to attack teams in a number of ways at that end of the floor. We also should expect Virginia to return to form defensively after ranking in the middle of the pack in the ACC last season. The Cavaliers never quite found their groove, but they did beat Duke and Miami (twice) in a two-week span in February, so the ceiling was there.
Projected starting lineup:
Kihei Clark (10.0 PPG)
Reece Beekman (8.2 PPG)
Armaan Franklin (11.1 PPG)
Jayden Gardner (15.3 PPG)
Kadin Shedrick (6.9 PPG)
21. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous: Next in lineTony Bennett's team landed just outside the top 25 in early April. Then Kihei Clark and Jayden Gardner announced they were returning to Charlottesville for another year, and Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas committed to the Cavaliers. That means all five starters and the top six scorers from this past season will be back for Virginia, along with three ESPN 100 transfers and an all-conference transfer in Vander Plas. After seemingly not having enough offensive weapons in 2021-22, Bennett should be able to attack teams in a number of ways at that end of the floor. We also should expect Virginia to return to form defensively after ranking in the middle of the pack in the ACC last season. The Cavaliers never quite found their groove, but they did beat Duke and Miami (twice) in a two-week span in February, so the ceiling was there.
Projected starting lineup:
Kihei Clark (10.0 PPG)
Reece Beekman (8.2 PPG)
Armaan Franklin (11.1 PPG)
Jayden Gardner (15.3 PPG)
Kadin Shedrick (6.9 PPG)
