Virginia

UVA Basketball Report Card: Evaluating Virginia Through Three Games

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2024

UVA Basketball Report Card: Evaluating Virginia Through Three Games

While Villanova has looked like a shell of its former self in the post-Jay Wright era, Virginia’s 70-60 win showcased a promising performance from multiple Cavaliers and also revealed the allocation of player minutes we ought to see as the year progresses. Metrics don’t necessarily matter, but Coach Ron Sanchez’s ‘Hoos (3-0) currently sit at 76th overall in KenPom’s rankings — 135th in offensive efficiency and 48th in defensive efficiency. Let’s look past the small sample size and distribute some grades to Virginia’s new-look roster and head coach thus far.

Thanks to junior guard Isaac McKneely’s three-point shooting barrage Friday night, this grade has been bumped up from where it was after a close-ish win against Campbell and a runaway defeat of Coppin State. Virginia’s shining star is McKneely; however, a surprise three-point resurgence from Andrew Rohde against Villanova and a 45.5% clip so far from freshman forward Jacob Cofie suggests that there are more weapons than previously anticipated. Sophomore forward TJ Power — lauded as a terrific stretch-shooter — hasn’t quite gotten into his groove yet, and freshman three-point specialist Ishan Sharma is waiting in the wings.

Five players on Virginia are averaging over 40% from three, albeit, once again, a small-ish sample size. Where the offense has often sputtered is in its frontcourt production, i.e. sophomore center Blake Buchanan’s interior play. A returning starter, Buchanan has shown signs of improvement, but he might end up playing second-fiddle to junior forward Elijah Saunders in terms of post-ups and one-on-one matchups capitalized upon against forwards/less-physical centers. Virginia really needs an efficient year from their sophomore to round out what is still a much-improved scoring frontcourt.

The “Embrace the Pace” mantra has notably stayed true even in the wake of Coach Tony Bennett’s departure, with Virginia currently ranked 362nd out of 363 Division-1 teams in terms of adjusted tempo. However, Sanchez has used more creative actions to get Isaac McKneely open looks off of high ball-screens, and expect Buchanan to linger around the high post and force defenders to follow him out.

I don’t think the ‘Hoos did a terrific job against Campbell in game one, although it’s relevant to point out that the Pack Line often requires plenty of time to gel. However, some worrisome lapses in recovery from Rohde and Cofie allowed the Camels to chase high-percentage opportunities from three and under the basket. Now, the Villanova matchup witnessed a tightening-up of the defensive play, as Virginia’s frontcourt keyed into the ‘Cats’ fifth-year forward Eric Dixon and held him to six points inside the three-point line (he finished with 20, a season-low). Even with a hobbled Saunders, the bigs looked capable of stymying more physical frontcourt players — the likes of which they’ll see against Tennessee and Baylor/St. John’s next week.

Cofie could take the reins from Ryan Dunn as the next great defensive disruptor to come out of Charlottesville. The ‘Hoos’ current leader in rebounds, blocks, and steals, the freshman from Washington recorded a jaw-dropping seven stocks (combined blocks and steals) against Coppin State and looked comfortable defending higher-quality talent on Friday night. Cofie’s length and athleticism will benefit Virginia’s bigger lineups, in particular, as he’ll overwhelm opposing teams’ fours when playing alongside Buchanan.

We’ll have a better idea as to how this team will fare defensively come Friday night against the Volunteers. The performance on that side of the ball isn’t yet on par with a Bennett-coached roster, but the erasure of Villanova’s offense (28.9% 3PT) was encouraging.

Sanchez has passed the eye test thus far. I’ve been impressed by his willingness to get creative with the rotations, whether it be plugging Rohde in at the three alongside Ames at the one or giving a freshman — Cofie — 25+ minutes a game. As mentioned previously, he has made a concerted effort to get the rock to McKneely, which has the effect of both unlocking the junior’s long-range flamethrower and forcing defenses to slide away from other threats such as Cofie, Ames, and Saunders. Kyle Guy’s emergence on the coaching staff also cannot be understated enough. Multiple Cavaliers have cited Guy’s active role as a practice participant and as a three-point shooting mentor, which has clearly rubbed off on the junior from West Virginia.

The Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Lights Up Villanova

While early, there’s evidence building for Sanchez’s case to remain in Charlottesville beyond this year. His attitude in pressers showcases that of a confident leader, and his calm demeanor on the sidelines harkens back to memories of Bennett patrolling his court at John Paul Jones Arena. If Sanchez can secure just one win over Tennessee or Baylor/St. John’s, he’ll have this Virginia team far ahead of schedule considering what a turbulent offseason it’s been.

Three-point shooting is the obvious answer. A 14/25 finish against Villanova — good for 56% — allowed the ‘Hoos to go up by as much as 18 in the second half. It reminded me of the ‘Hoos early-season victory over Baylor two years prior, in which Bennett’s crew ran the Bears off of the floor while shooting 64.3% from behind the arc. It seems as if every contributor outside of Buchanan is more than capable of converting open looks, and high-impact additions in Power and Sharma haven’t even hit their stride. Their minutes will be primarily determined by their ability to shoot from distance.

Having a budding all-conference player in McKneely is also a strength, and Sanchez will hope to maximize his contributions to a youth-laden Virginia team throughout games against tougher competition. If McKneely can create his own shot off of the dribble, a new dimension will be added to this offense.

The interior play of Virginia’s frontcourt may plague the ‘Hoos, however. I’m sure that Saunders will see some of those high-percentage shots fall around the basket, and I’m hopeful that Buchanan will look a bit more polished. Those two players will take some of the burden off of the ‘Hoos’ perimeter threats. Moreover, an improved offensive attack from Rohde — as evidenced by his 13-point outing against Villanova — would allow Sanchez to play both he and Ames as distributors and slashers without having to sacrifice much size.

Virginia will return to action Friday against No. 11 Tennessee, who now features a former ‘Hoo in forward Igor Milicic. The junior forward — a two-year player under Sanchez at Charlotte — is averaging 11.0 points per game and will likely see plenty of Cofie and Saunders as his defensive assignments. Any inside track to cracking Rick Barnes’ well-oiled Volunteer team will be helpful as Sanchez continues his quest for the full-time coaching position.

The Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Lights Up Villanova

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Virginia

Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant

Colorado is expected to hire former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve as its next linebackers coach, according to CBS Sports. Marve served as the Hokies DC from 2022-2024.

Marve has previous experience on defensive staffs at Vanderbilt, his alma mater, Mississippi State, Florida State and Virginia Tech. He’s been in the coaching industry since 2014 when he was brought on as a defensive assistant with the Commodores.

By the time he left his alma mater in 2018, he had worked his way up to inside linebackers coach. He was brought on at Mississippi State in 2019 as the Bulldogs’ defensive run game coordinator and linebackers coach. His run there lasted one year before moving on to coach at Florida State for two seasons as the Seminoles’ linebackers coach.

ACC foe Virginia Tech would poach him away ahead of the 2022 season, where he stayed until he was fired following the 2024 season. He spent the 2025 season away from college football, and will now get another shot by joining Deion Sanders’ staff in 2026.

His playing days spanned from 2007-2011, where he has a three-time All-SEC linebacker for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Marve also earned Freshman All-American honors in 2008.

He’ll join a Buffaloes program that finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record, which included a 1-8 record vs. conference opponents. This came in the fallout of their 9-win season led by current Cleveland Browns QB Sheduer Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Colorado wide receiver Dre’lon Miller plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Colorado wide receiver Dre’lon Miller plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos. He caught 20 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown this past season.

His 2024 season was a bit better. Miller caught 32 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns prior. He’s shown he can get the job done when there’s some solid quarterback play on offense.

Miller played high school football at Silsbee (Silsbee, TX), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 141 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that complies all major recruiting media services.

Time will tell where he ends up next. There will certainly be plenty of interest in his services when the time comes.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

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Virginia Democratic operative arrested on child pornography charges

Published

20 hours ago

December 20, 2025

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Virginia Democratic operative arrested on child pornography charges

WARNING: This story contains material some readers may find disturbing due to its graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia Democratic operative is accused of distributing child pornography.

Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 30, allegedly engaged in conversations with an undercover FBI agent in May of this year through the Jack’d app under the name “Randy.”

The 9-page affidavit states that Sprinkle asked the agent to move their conversation to Telegram, where he allegedly wrote “mostly into young, rape, incest – you?”

The arrest has prompted swift condemnation from elected officals who worked with Sprinkle in various capacities.

Richmond City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan said Sprinkle served as her 2024 campaign treasurer, handling campaign forms, events and financial reporting.

“What has been alleged is disgusting and abhorrent,” Jordan said in a statement. “I’m shocked and sickened.”

1st District Council member Andrew Breton also used Sprinkle’s services for campaign finance reports and event logistics.

“The allegations are shocking and disturbing. I am grateful that law enforcement is involved, and that justice is taking its course,” Breton said.

Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, who has appeared in several photos with Sprinkle that he posted on X, also responded through spokesman Jared Leopold.

“Congresswoman McClellan is shocked by these appalling accusations which should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Leopold stated.

Sprinkle previously served as a leader in the Young Democrats of Virginia and held a financial director position with the Democratic Part of Virginia.

He has also been photographed with Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Spanberger’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.

The FBI affidavit confirms that 68 files were extracted during a forensic sweep of Sprinkle’s electronic devices, some with disturbing titles. Legal expert Ed Riley said the investigation may have uncovered evidence of distribution through peer-to-peer networks where individuals exchange illegal video files and images.

If convicted on the single charge of distribution of child pornography, Sprinkle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, with potential sentencing up to 20 years.

“If they find the images and they can connect you to the images, you’re not dealing with the merits of the case anymore. You’re dealing with the resolution that it’s going to be,” Riley said.

Sprinkle is currently being held at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

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Penn State transfer opens the door for a James Franklin reunion at Virginia Tech

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Penn State transfer opens the door for a James Franklin reunion at Virginia Tech

Things are beginning to slow down for James Franklin since being hired at Virginia Tech in November. Sure, you can say that it never really slows down for a college football coach, but since signing his contract in Blacksburg, he has made major strides in recruiting, bringing the Hokies from near the bottom of the FBS to a Top 25 class with the Class of 2026.

Franklin has also been building his first staff at Virginia Tech. In both cases, recruiting and coaching additions, he has gone back to his Penn State roots to pluck both recruits and coaches. Heck, he is even reportedly bringing back former Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry, who was fired in September to open the door for Franklin to come to Tech, as his defensive coordinator.

The transfer portal opens up next month, and there are going to be several needs that Franklin and his staff are going to have to address. There are going to be several portal targets, and one of them announced he was leaving Penn State and made it clear that he was thankful for Franklin for his time in State College. Is it a sign of things to come when he enters the portal?

Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman opens door for reunion with James Franklin

It was reported by Hayes Fawcett of Rivals and On3 that five-star Penn State edge Chaz Coleman was entering the transfer portal. Coleman quoted the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and made it a point to thank Franklin and his staff for believing in him.

“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal this coming January to pursue other opportunities. I’d like thank James Franklin and his staff for believing in me and teaching me what it means to believe in myself,” Coleman wrote.

Coleman becomes one of the most coveted players when the portal opens, and the Warren, Ohio native will have no shortage of suitors. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound edge rusher played well as a freshman for the Nittany Lions with eight tackles in five games. Several of the top programs are going to be in on him. Don’t be surprised if Ohio State makes a major push for him.

As far as Virginia Tech goes, does Franklin get in the mix? That remains to be seen, but stranger things have happened. He would be a tremendous get for the Hokies, who need help along the defensive side of the ball along the line. Did he call out Franklin by coincidence, or is there an underlying message there? Most likely the first one, but we’ll see.

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