The 2024-2025 UVA Basketball season tips off on Wednesday with the ‘Hoos hosting Campbell, which has already played and won a game this season, over a non-D1 team.
The tip for the season opener for the Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m.
The game is being webcast on ACC Network Extra.
What to watch for
‘Hoo starts? We know Isaac McKneely (12.3 ppg in 2023-2024) will be out there at the tip, but other than that, yeah.
My money would be on Dai Dai Ames being the starter at point guard, Andrew Rohde (4.3 ppg in 2023-2024) at the two, McKneely at the third guard spot, then in the frontcourt, two more transfers – former five-star recruit TJ Power at four, and stretch five Elijah Saunders at the center spot.
Rotation guys: That would leave Blake Buchanan, who started six games last season, as the first big off the bench, with incoming freshman Jacob Cofie and redshirt freshman Anthony Robinson providing depth.
The rotation guys in the backcourt include redshirt freshman combo guard Christian Bliss, senior Taine Murray and incoming freshman Ishan Sharma.
Tempo and Xs and Os on offense: Tony Bennett, before he stepped down last month, had the coaching staff working on ways to push the pace a little – nothing outrageous.
This will be something to pay attention to – not just the willingness to fast break more, but also how the team approaches shots early in shot clocks.
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Chris Graham
