By: George Ahearn

The excitement from the ‘Hoos’ national title run in 2019 has worn off, yet fans in Charlottesville are eager for a Tony Bennett team to return to the illustrious Final Four, rightfully so. What truly satisfies college sports fans is not just one national title, but instead multiple titles – and quickly.

Fans will continue to feel that nervous energy as the question begs: can my team do it again? Or was that my pinnacle moment? And that feeling will persist until you – and every college hoops fan across the nation knows – that your team is a dynasty. 

Luckily for Cavalier fans, this eagerness may remain into the near future.

Tony Bennett has his best team since he won a title in 2019 with the likes of Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and De’Andre Hunter. Similarly to the 2019 squad, this year’s team excels where Bennett teams aren’t expected to: the offensive end of the floor. While they still rank in the middle of the pack in ACC in total scoring, what stands out when watching the ‘Hoos is their ability to move the ball.

They rank first in the ACC in total assists and assists per game, and swing the ball around the court effortlessly – largely due to their dynamic backcourt. 

Veteran guard Kihei Clark returned to Charlottesville for his final year as a ‘Hoo, and is running point for his best team since his freshman year. He’s matched by running mate Reece Beekman, who is putting all the tools together and producing his most efficient year – upping his three-point percentage from 33.8% to 44.7% since last season.

Clark and Beekman are one and two in the ACC in assist/turnover ratio, respectively, and their timely decisions have the Cavalier offense humming.

On top of their calculated offense and ever-stout defense, this U.Va. team can excel due to their maturity. After an underwhelming 2021-22 season where the Cavaliers found themselves in the NIT, they returned their entire starting lineup. The NIT is nowhere near the expectations of Tony Bennett teams, but, as always, with adversity comes growth.

Key starters Jayden Gardner, Kadin Shedrick, and Armaan Franklin returned to Charlottesville and formed a returning core coupled with Beekman and Clark. On top of this returning talent, they brought in transfer Ben Vander Plas from Ohio and are receiving immediate sparks from freshman Isaac McKneely and Ryan Dunn off the bench.

McKneely and Vander Plas spread the floor and added legitimate three-point threats to a team that desperately needed outside scoring. This roster may be as complete as Bennett has ever had. The fact I’m even daring to write that is unfathomable, and makes me feel this team has what it takes to make a deep run.

In ACC play, the ‘Hoos have only dropped two games – a two-point road loss to Miami and a three-point road loss to Pitt – both of which will likely be NCAA tournament teams. Following their road win yesterday at Syracuse, they’ve won seven straight in conference play and currently sit atop the ACC standings. 

This success is quenching fans’ thirst for another title run, as the ‘Hoos are buckling up for another exciting March.