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.
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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
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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.
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The Plus/Minus: Virginia Basketball Lights Up Villanova
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We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
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About the Author
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Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)
HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.
The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.
Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.
“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”
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Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.
“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”
The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.
“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”
Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.
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“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.
“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”
She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.
“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”
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United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.
“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.
The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.
The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.
Reid said the goal is clear.
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“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”
