Too bad UVA, the press and Richardson did you in

[BigDaddyHokie]

Richardson is a phenom, like Buddy Hield of Oklahoma.

Me thinks Brogdon, Gill and Tobey will be sorely missed next year and the team's heart will leave with them.

 

[Hoos19NC]

Tough loss for sure. Great season again for Hoos.....we will miss the seniors for sure, be interesting to see who steps for them next year. Good incoming class and the Memphis transfer can play.

 

[mrjolly01]

I've been looking at your team tying to figure out who besides Perrantes will provide the offense next season. Its kind of hard to tell with such prominent seniors. What's your thoughts Hoo19? Tonight the Thompson kid looked like one who could step forward next season. You'll need some experienced players to take on new offensive roles next season while waiting for your new players to mature.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

I do not like either team, but Bennett got out coached. Syracuse forced Boo hoos to play an up tempo game, which hoos do not like. Now hopefully when I get my newspaper every morning I will not see a photo of Anthony Gill and his ISIS beard and hair-do.

 

[mrjolly01]

If you can cause UVA to turn the ball over that's they key to beating Bennett's system. That, and then finishing your opportunities off those empty possessions. It disrupts their entire flow. Syracuse was causing turnovers for a lot of the game but they weren't finishing off them in the first half. In the second half when they went to their press they also started finishing instead of turning the ball over themselves.

We were able to harass UVA into 16 turnovers when we beat them in Blacksburg.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

We beat Ohio State in football and they won NC.
We beat UVA in baseball and they won NC.
We beat UVA in basketball.........and I was worried............

 

[Hoos19NC]

I've been looking at your team tying to figure out who besides Perrantes will provide the offense next season. Its kind of hard to tell with such prominent seniors. What's your thoughts Hoo19? Tonight the Thompson kid looked like one who could step forward next season. You'll need some experienced players to take on new offensive roles next season while waiting for your new players to mature.

We will expect a lot from Nichols inside, he's the Memphis transfer. Thompson shows potential, has to be consistent. Shayok can shoot but like Thompson has to show this each game. Devon has to look more for his shot, seems to hesitate to much. Wilkins is more of a rebounder put pretty good from 10 feet in. The wildcard will be the redshirt guys and can a first year guy step up like our McDonalds AA Kyle Guy. I believe they will struggle early until they find their identity. I could see us 5th or 6th in ACC and a 6 seed in NCAA.

 

[mrjolly01]

Nichols play is important for sure, just like Allen and LeDay were for us this year. I think the wildcard will be how fast all the new guys mature as a team and how much your experienced guys like Thompson step into their new roles early. Counting too much on freshmen can be a trying experience. It worked out okay for us this year but without LeDay or Allen where would we have been? Which is why Nichols is so important. Bennett will have his work cut out for him next season but he's a solid coach, so he might get you back with that high of a seed. I wouldn't want to make any predictions with all the new pieces you have going into next year though. You could be a little slower getting out of the gate in your non-conference games. Only time will tell. At least you don't have to restock all your talent like we did this year.

 

[Hoos19NC]

Nichols play is important for sure, just like Allen and LeDay were for us this year. I think the wildcard will be how fast all the new guys mature as a team and how much your experienced guys like Thompson step into their new roles early. Counting too much on freshmen can be a trying experience. It worked out okay for us this year but without LeDay or Allen where would we have been? Which is why Nichols is so important. Bennett will have his work cut out for him next season but he's a solid coach, so he might get you back with that high of a seed. I wouldn't want to make any predictions with all the new pieces you have going into next year though. You could be a little slower getting out of the gate in your non-conference games. Only time will tell. At least you don't have to restock all your talent like we did this year.

I agree Jolly, the non conference games could be tough on a new group of kids. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. I definitely expect VT to be much better next year. Have they announced your out of conference schedule yet? Hoping VT steps it up in their OOC schedule, that will be a big piece when it comes time for the NCAA tournament.

 

[BigLickMountee]

I was hoping UVA would have won. Great team and great coach. Shows how hard it is to win the tourney.

 

[hokiemtc]

I saw a graphic somewhere recently that showed the difference between football and basketball champions over the past 20 years. The football champs almost always pack a top 10 defense whereas the basketball champs almost always pack a top 20 offense (more Div I teams in basketball).

In football, it often comes down to which team can make a tough stop. In basketball, it often comes down to which team can sink a tough shot.

UVa's defense is usually fun to watch, but the story of their last 3 tournies has been the inability to find some offense when they need it most. What they really need more than anything is a go-to scorer who can take over a game late and win it. If they had that, they would be damn tough.

 

[mrjolly01]

Have they announced your out of conference schedule yet? Hoping VT steps it up in their OOC schedule, that will be a big piece when it comes time for the NCAA tournament.

The only thing I've seen so far for next year is that we will be in the Wooden Legacy tournament which features UCLA, Texas A&M, Dayton, Nebraska and New Mexico along with some other mid to low major early round teams. Also I expect we will get a better opponent than Northwestern in the Big 10 challenge. I'm sure we'll improve the rest of our OOC but it may be more subtle than a noticeable increase in name teams. Our big problem this year was 5 games against teams with 300-350 RPIs. That's a killer. I read a good article on this recently. The short of it is if those had even been 250-300 RPIs we would have been in the discussion this season. I think what you'll see next year is an attempt (you have to predict RPI range by studying the teams) to avoid the 300+ RPI club again and replace it with maybe three in the 200-300 RPI range and a couple of teams in the 100-150 RPI. Win those and we should have the RPI and SOS to get into the dance with another 10-8 ACC season. Personally, barring more off season injuries, I think Buzz will continue to improve and push our league wins up to at least 12. So if I had to guess I think we are looking at a solid NCAA team next season and get in with about a 5-7 seed. We completed the growing up process this year, now comes fine tuning for this team.

 

[TAHoo]

Several years ago people were saying UVA will miss Mike Scott, then it was Joe Harris, then it was Darion Atkins and Justin Anderson, now it is Brogdon and Gill. I don't know BigDaddy, maybe you're right, but "me" thinks Bennett just reloaded with one of the nation's best recruiting classes and with Nichols coming out of a redshirt, I believe this team will have more offensive balance than any Bennett team at UVA thus far. And we know the defense will be there.

The Hokies look to have a great team next year too!! Should be a lot of fun to watch how it all works out. Puke has a great incoming class as does the Cuse. UNC will be down and possibly L'ville too. I'm glad Buzz is hanging around, he's bringing some energy to the league and to your program.

 

[leeanderthal]

The only thing UVA lacked to me was being able to cope with a very fast paced and effective offense. Somehow I still feel they just wren't ready when they played the Q's. I thought they would win it all.