ESPN’s latest Way-Too-Early Top 25 pegs Virginia at #21, with the ‘Hoos one of three ACC teams in the rankings, which were offered by staff writer Jeff Borzello.
“The highest-ranked team on our list that didn’t make the NCAA tournament last season, Virginia’s ranking reflects a combination of much-improved depth and versatility on the Cavaliers’ roster and the idea that back-to-back down years seem unlikely to happen to Tony Bennett,” Borzello wrote of the Cavaliers, who finished 21-14 this past season, and made it to the quarterfinals of the postseason NIT.
Virginia returns its five starters from 2021-2022, and adds scoring punch in Ohio grad transfer Ben Vander Plas.
Bennett also brings in maybe his second-best prep recruiting class ever, headlined by a pair of Isaacs – 6’4” guard Isaac McKneely and 6’10” forward Isacc Traudt.
North Carolina was ranked #1 by Borzello, and Duke was at #9.
Story by Chris Graham
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