UVA comes in at number 9 in the 18 team league. Link: ACC basketball summer rankings — and the new and old names to know for 2024-25 season
Returning rotation players: Isaac McKneely(12.3 ppg); Andrew Rohde (4.3 ppg); Blake Buchanan (3.4 ppg); Taine Murray (3.3 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 87 Jacob Cofie
Top 100 transfers added: No. 89 TJ Power (Duke)
Why they’re here: With Virginia ranked this low, it’s fair to have the reaction: Is Tony Bennett not Virginia’s coach anymore? He is, and placing his team this low — considering the Cavaliers have finished top-three in the league eight times in the past 10 seasons — feels odd. But while UVa leaned into the transfer portal more fully this offseason, it still feels like the Cavaliers might be a player or two short.
McKneely, a top-50 shooter nationally last season, at least provides one guarantee, a potential all-league player with experience in Bennett’s system. Beyond that? Power is probably Virginia’s best hope for a second star, but how he’ll fare defensively is unclear. Elijah Saunders (San Diego State) and Jalen Warley (Florida State) come from defensive-minded programs, so they should make an immediate impact, but neither is an offensive dynamo. There’s a lot of projecting fit here, considering only Warley has played 2,000 career minutes, and only McKneely and Rohde — who looked out of his depth much of his first season in Charlottesville — have made 50 career 3s. Defense shouldn’t be the issue; offense, we’re in wait-and-see mode.
9. Virginia
Biggest losses: Reece Beekman (14.3 ppg, 6.2 apg); Ryan Dunn (8.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg); Jacob Groves (7.4 ppg); Jordan Minor (4.3 ppg)Returning rotation players: Isaac McKneely(12.3 ppg); Andrew Rohde (4.3 ppg); Blake Buchanan (3.4 ppg); Taine Murray (3.3 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 87 Jacob Cofie
Top 100 transfers added: No. 89 TJ Power (Duke)
Why they’re here: With Virginia ranked this low, it’s fair to have the reaction: Is Tony Bennett not Virginia’s coach anymore? He is, and placing his team this low — considering the Cavaliers have finished top-three in the league eight times in the past 10 seasons — feels odd. But while UVa leaned into the transfer portal more fully this offseason, it still feels like the Cavaliers might be a player or two short.
McKneely, a top-50 shooter nationally last season, at least provides one guarantee, a potential all-league player with experience in Bennett’s system. Beyond that? Power is probably Virginia’s best hope for a second star, but how he’ll fare defensively is unclear. Elijah Saunders (San Diego State) and Jalen Warley (Florida State) come from defensive-minded programs, so they should make an immediate impact, but neither is an offensive dynamo. There’s a lot of projecting fit here, considering only Warley has played 2,000 career minutes, and only McKneely and Rohde — who looked out of his depth much of his first season in Charlottesville — have made 50 career 3s. Defense shouldn’t be the issue; offense, we’re in wait-and-see mode.
