Virginia Cavaliers
Overall record: 29-8, 13-5 in the ACC
Head coach: Tony Bennett
Tenure at Virginia: 8th season
Career coaching record: 234-105
Home court: John Paul Jones Arena
Starters: G London Perrantes, G Kyle Guy, G Marial Shayok, F Austin Nichols, F Isaiah Wilkins
Bench: G Devon Hall, F Mamadi Diakite, G Darius Thompson
Overview: Led by ACC Player of the Year and All-American guard Malcom Brogdon, the Cavaliers were a force in conference play and made a run to the Elite Eight last year before being upset by Syracuse. But after finishing in the top two of the regular-season ACC standings the last three seasons, Virginia will be tasked with replacing its ninth-leading scorer in program history.
The Cavaliers will turn to guard London Perrantes to step up and fill some of the holes that remain on both ends of the floor. The senior was a preseason first-team All-ACC selection and will bring the intangibles needed to keep his team near the top of the conference standings. Virginia will also be replacing forwards Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey, who were the team's second and fourth leading scorers last season.
The Cavaliers' biggest addition is Memphis forward Austin Nichols, who averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with the Tigers. Along with Nichols, Virginia also adds five-star recruit Kyle Guy and bring back experienced forwards Isaiah Wilkins and Marial Shayok. If either of the Cavalier returners can take a major step forward, Virginia should find itself competing for the regular-season conference title once again.
After Grayson Allen hit a controversial game-winner against the Cavaliers last year, Virginia will have a chance to get revenge when they face the Blue Devils at home in February.
One thing that needs to go right: Perrantes and Guy step up to replace Brogdon and the Cavaliers' pack-line defense continues to stifle opposing offenses.
One thing that could go wrong: The Cavaliers struggle to score enough points in games against the top half of the ACC and Bennett's new weapons are unable to gel on the court for much of the year.
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