The year of firsts continues for the UVA Basketball team.
Saturday’s lifeless loss at home, 74-59, to Notre Dame gave the Irish their first-ever win in JPJ.
Louisville collected its first-ever win in JPJ earlier this month against the Cavaliers.
For those of you who fret over such things (like me), the remaining schedule does not present any such “first-ever” opportunities.
ICYMI
- UVA Basketball: ‘Hoos show shocking lack of toughness in ugly home loss to Notre Dame
- UVA Basketball: ‘Hoos lay egg, blown out at home by Notre Dame, 74-59
The final five opponents visiting John Paul Jones Arena already have at least one win in the building.
So, we all take a collective sigh of relief and move on to the next thing to fret over.
Until recently, I thought it was as simple as who the program would select to move beyond the post-Tony Bennett era.
Now, I think I have something else to fret over.
Thanks to the perceived diminished quality of the ACC, the coaching search now takes on a different twist: who will the Cavaliers battle for top coaching candidates?
The loss to ND leaves Virginia at 2-7 in the ACC and 9-11 overall, so any speculation about interim coach Ron Sanchez remaining as coach has officially ended.
Even in the ACC, Miami will be searching for a new coach, and life in South Beach is probably pretty nice.
A handful or more coaching searches will undoubtedly occur after the season in other power conference programs.
Could the value of the ACC play a critical component in coaches ready to leap into a major conference?
Or does it simply boil down to which school can write the biggest check?
Maybe it’s a bit of both.
If so, then this could work against Virginia.
Does the SEC or Big Ten, with its football cash cow, have a considerable advantage over the ACC? Or how about the emerging Big East, which can devote most of its resources to basketball?
How about travel? Does that play into the decision-making when a coaching candidate looks at offers?
UCLA’s Mick Cronin recently went on the ramp when asked by a media member if travel played a role in his team’s recent struggles.
Cronin’s short answer: yes. He then elaborated on how his team has seen the Empire State Building twice and the US Capitol once this season.
The ACC and Big Ten are now coast-to-coast leagues, while the SEC is a bit more compact, stretching from the Southeast to Texas and Missouri.
The transfer portal and NIL will also factor heavily into the coaching search.
In the ACC, Miami has demonstrated the willingness to put both feet into the portal and NIL.
Despite that, Miami coach Jim Larranaga stepped down about a month ago, apparently accepting that the new world of college sports wasn’t for him.
ICYMI
Virginia, Miami and likely Indiana will start the ball rolling in the search for new head coaches, but some sleepers will also appear.
Cronin at UCLA appears to be looking for his suitcase, and back in the ACC, there is speculation that Clemson’s Brad Brownell may look for greener pastures despite a recent contract extension.
What may be a calming thought for Virginia fans is what a source inside the coaching industry told me about what potential coaches look for in a new school.
Indeed, money plays a big part, but fit is the most essential factor.
Does the potential coach believe his values and goals align with the school?
If not, the money won’t matter.
Bennett and his staff elevated Virginia’s basketball program to the highest level of success, with the national championship in 2019.
However, the following Virginia coach must bring his style and values to the program.
Finding the next coach will be challenging, as Bennett has elevated the program and its fan base to high expectations.
And with that, Virginia is in an extraordinary situation.
UVA can search for the best in the mid-major coaching room, like Ryan Odom at VCU or Bob Richey from Furman.
And Virginia has the resume to go big game hunting, like Marquette’s Shaka Smart.
Virginia’s accomplishments on the hardwood in the last 15 years have landed the program in a great position.
Now it comes down to finding the right coach, which is more about the fit than the name.