Home UVA Basketball ready to begin defense of national title
Sports News

UVA Basketball ready to begin defense of national title

Scott German

uva basketballUVA Basketball is just one week away from opening as the defending national champs.

The Cavaliers don’t have the luxury of a warm-up contest as they hit the ground running with an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at Syracuse.

Last April, the Cavaliers were cutting down the nets in Minneapolis, winning the program’s first national championship in men’s basketball. But this will be a much different looking squad that takes the floor in the Carrier Dome next Wednesday evening.

Gone are De’Andre Hunter, now with the Atlanta Hawks, Final Four MVP Kyle Guy, now a Sacramento King, Ty Jerome with the Phoenix Suns, and rugged warrior Jack Salt, playing professionally in New Zealand.

Much of loss for UVA will be in the backcourt, which puts pressure right out of the gate on sophomore Kihei Clark and highly-touted freshman Casey Morsell. Clark, now a virtual veteran on this young squad, will shoulder the ball handling duties from his point guard position.

Clark has also assumed the role of mentor as he has guided his “student” Morsell during the offseason and preseason in adapting to the rigors of NCAA Division 1 basketball.

Morsell, a highly sought out player form the ultra-competitive Washington D.C. area and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, said playing with, and against, Clark is challenging.

“He gets the best out of you on both ends of the floor, he pushes you, he gets the best out of you,” said Morsell.

Clark said Morsell is “sponge-like.”

“He’s always wanting more, wanting to learn and improve,” noted Clark.

Bennett spoke about the extended three-point shot arc (going to 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches), adjusting to playing a taller lineup at times, and briefly offered an overview of his first-year players.

The following is Bennett’s breakdown of those individuals.

Justin McCoy, 6’8” Forward. “He’s had some good moments in practice, he plays aggressively and is not afraid of any contact,” noted Bennett.

Casey Morsell, 6’3” Guard. Bennett’s highly-touted early signee. “I think he’s going to be at good two-way player, he can guard the ball well,” said Bennett. Bennett said the tough WCAC play prepared Morsell well. “That’s a highly competitive, intense league, “noted Bennett. “He’s not afraid to step up and take the shot, he’s going to be good.”

Tomas Woldentensae, 6’6’’ Guard. “Being a junior-college transfer, from overseas (Indian Hills Community College, Bologna, Italy) he’s got a great feel for the game. He was injured earlier (wrist) but healthy now. I think he’s going to be a good deep shooter. Like the other new guys he’s getting adjusted.”

Kadin Shedrick, 6’11’ Center. Bennett was practically raving about his newest tall-timber player. “He’s rangy, a shot-blocker, very mobile, a wingspan of nearly 7’5”.  Kadin is just scratching the surface of his ability,” praised Bennett. With an abundance of frontcourt players, a redshirt year may be in Shedrick’s future. “We will look at that soon, as always it’s a player and his family’s decision,” added Bennett.

Story by Scott German

Scott German

Scott German

Scott German covers UVA Athletics for AFP, and is the co-host of “Street Knowledge” podcasts focusing on UVA Athletics with AFP editor Chris Graham. Scott has been around the ‘Hoos his whole life. As a reporter, he was on site for UVA basketball’s Final Fours, in 1981 and 1984, and has covered UVA football in bowl games dating back to its first, the 1984 Peach Bowl.

Latest News

elon musk donald trump
Politics, U.S. & World News

Democratic AGs win injunction blocking Trump/Musk raid of federal Treasury

economy
Local News

Shenandoah County: Plastics manufacturer investing $25.7 million, bringing 45 new jobs

An Italian plastic packaging manufacturer announced on Friday that it will invest $25.7 million in a project to locate a manufacturing operation in an existing facility in Shenandoah County.

drug trafficking arrest
Virginia News

Charlotte man gets 25 years after fentanyl discovered in Jeep in I-95 crash

A North Carolina man who crashed on Interstate 95 in Virginia with more than 4,500 baggies of fentanyl in his Jeep will spend 25 years in prison. Jaron James Starkey, 35, of Charlotte, was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Caroline County on Sept. 17, 2023, according to court documents. Multiple drivers had reported his...

ben cline congress
Politics, U.S. & World News

Feckless Ben Cline is trying to cosplay as a MAGA drug-fighting warrior

higher education
Politics, U.S. & World News

Democratic lawmakers stand up for students at U.S. Department of Education

Local News

Dr. Garett Smith announces retirement from Staunton Schools

Local News

Waynesboro School Board welcomes WHS graduate Nigel Stewart