The UVA Basketball season tips off on Monday, Nov. 3, and for fans, there’s a lot of catching up to do.
We’ve heard about Ryan Odom, his staff, the newcomers and a major shift in style of play. Names on paper are one thing; but how will everything translate to what we see on the court?
First, we’ll take a look at the team individually and then assess how these pieces fit into the larger puzzle.
Starters
- PG Dallin Hall 6’4”, 197, SR #30: An experienced combo guard who excels as a vocal leader and role player. He’s not spectacular at anything, but doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses.
- SG Sam Lewis 6’7”, 210 JR #5: A lights-out shooter who had a tough outing in the Villanova scrimmage, but better days are ahead. More of a catch-and-shoot guy than a shot creator.
- SF Malik Thomas 6’5”, 215, SR #1: This two-way stud might be UVA’s MVP. Brings strength, toughness, shot creation and will quietly stuff the stat sheet with efficiency a la Chris Williams (Big Smooth).
- PF Thijs De Ridder 6’9”, 248, FR #28: A modern Euro-big in a traditional PF’s body. An absolute rock who, as a 22-year-old with professional experience, won’t be easily fazed in tough road environments or in high pressure moments.
- C Johann Grunloh 7’0”, 238, FR #17: His skillset is perfect for the modern NBA as well as Ryan Odom’s system. As he adjusts to the physicality of the ACC, he’s likely to grow in leaps and bounds before UVA fans’ eyes.
Rotation
- SG Jacari White 6’3”, 180, SR #6: A fiery, athletic competitor who has the green light to shoot threes. Brings instant energy off the bench on both ends of the floor.
- SF/PF Devin Tillis 6’7”, 240, SR #11: A matchup nightmare offensively for bigger PFs on the perimeter, but could have trouble handling bigger PFs. He’ll play either SF or PF depending on the matchup and how the lineup materializes.
- C Ugonna Onyenso 7’0”, 245, SR #33: An athletic rim protector who can finish inside, hit the three and moves like a guard. What’s not to like? I’m not sure UVA has ever had a C this good coming off the bench.
- PG/SG Elijah Gertrude 6’4”, 173, SO #12: He’s back, and he fits even better in this up-tempo system. And most importantly, Gertrude looked athletic and fluid out there, like his old self.
- PG Chance Mallory 5’10 186 FR #2: Fans will likely draw comparisons to Kihei Clark due to his height. But UVA’s PG of the future is more capable offensively with the body of an NFL running back.
Reserves
- PF/C Silas Barksdale 6’9”, 223, FR #21
- SG/SF Martin Carrere 6’9”, 198, FR #7
- *PF/C Carter Lang 6’9” 251, SO #35
- *PG Owen Odom 6’1”, 171, FR #22
- *SG/SF Desmond Roberts 6’4”, 195, SO #13
*walk-on
Style of play
Here’s what we know so far. The overall pace is much faster than fans are accustomed to. With this comes an adjustment period – not only for the team, but for the fans.
Defensively, expect high-intensity halfcourt man-to-man defense with situational gambling for steals. Full-court pressure sets the tone and will force turnovers at times. But it’s man-to-man and closer to token pressure that wears down opposing teams (and can be particularly effective against teams who play their starters heavy minutes like Villanova).
UVA will stay fresh, cycling in players early and often – 10+ players will get minutes until Odom shortens his rotation later in the season.
Offensively, the difference between Bennett and Odom is even more jarring. UVA fans are very familiar with chewing the clock, protecting the ball and taking shots late in the shot clock. Odom’s system is essentially modern NBA Pace & Space with some elements of Morey Ball (an emphasis on threes and layups while avoiding low-efficiency mid-range shots).
Players are encouraged to push the ball immediately (after missed or made baskets) and look for early threes or drives to the rim. UVA will send three+ players to the offensive boards instead of focusing on preventing fast breaks. This forces opponents to decide between leaking out to start the fast break or committing to gang rebounding.
In the halfcourt, Odom’s five-out offense may, at times, look like a pick-and-roll with three players standing around. But it’s calculated spacing with the intention of putting help defenders in limbo. Every player on the roster is a threat from three-point land, which forces defenders to pick their poison.
Odom has already successfully installed his system at three other D1 schools. He’s proven to be an excellent talent evaluator; bringing in players who fit his style as well as a specific role. The plan is in place. The talent is here. It’s not a question of whether or not his system will work at UVA. It’s a matter of when.
This is an entirely new team of players who haven’t played together. It’s not going to look perfect right away. UVA fans might have to exercise some patience early on as adjustments are made. But at the end of the day, the pieces are all here. It’s only a matter of time until everything falls into place.
Support AFP
Share
