The Virginia Cavaliers were left off the preseason AP Top 25, and didn’t receive a single vote. They were also ranked 11th in the ACC and 78th best team in the country by Ken Pomeroy.
Last season, the Hoos finished 68th in the country and 3rd in the ACC. They had the 200th ranked offense, and 7th ranked defense. They are projected to have the 110th ranked offense and 42nd ranked defense this season.
Are these projected numbers accurate? Yes and no. The Hoos have not finished below sixth place in the ACC in over a decade, so putting them at 11th is a little drastic. They also received some quality transfers and freshmen this season, so they are stacked with talent.
As for team offense and defense, defense is their calling card. It’s most likely they will have a top 10 defense in the NCAA, as they usually do. Their offense has also reportedly greatly improved, as Coach Tony Bennett is allowing his players to transition quicker to offense and pick up the pace, as well as adding some unpredictability to their game.
However, until they play a real game and show how they really play, it’s all words and projections. But don’t be surprised if this team becomes a top ACC team, and becomes a top 25 team by the end of the season.
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