Virginia Basketball: 5 Bold Predictions for Cavaliers' 2014-15 Season

The Virginia Cavaliers raised the bar in 2013-14. The Cavaliers won 30 games, the ACC regular-season title, the ACC tournament and secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

What's next?

Virginia must now prove to everyone it is here to stay and not a one-year wonder that benefited from teams like Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse not playing up to their typical high standards.

Can the Cavaliers repeat last season's success, or was it an anomaly?

Here are five bold predictions for Virginia in the 2014-15 season, which happens to tip off next week. 

Malcolm Brogdon Will Be ACC Player of the Year

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Malcolm Brogdon

This is certainly a bold prediction for a number of reasons. Virginia head coach Tony Bennett's offense isn't generally a high-scoring one. Instead, UVA is build around strong defense and a ball-control offense.

For that reason, junior guard Malcolm Brogdon isn't likely to post sexy numbers. But it would be difficult to find any player in the ACC who is more well-rounded than Brogdon.

He shoots well, he gets to the free-throw line, he's a good ball-handler, he rebounds well and he can defend two positions. That's pretty much everything you look for in a player.

A player like UNC's Marcus Paige or Duke's Jahlil Okafor may put up more points, but Brogdon is equally as important to his team. 

Anthony Gill Will Lead Virginia in Scoring

USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Gill

The junior transfer from South Carolina was solid in his first season for Virginia last year. And as the season wore on, Bennett relied more and more on Gill, especially on the offensive end. 

Gill is a very skilled offensive player. He is strong around the basket, can step out and hit a 17-foot jumper and he gets to the free-throw line. Gill led Virginia in free-throw attempts per 40 minutes played last season, averaging more than eight attempts per game from the charity stripe, per Sports Reference. 

Brogdon was second on the team, averaging 5 attempts per 40 minutes.

Gill, along with Brogdon, is a prime candidate to lead the Cavaliers in scoring. 

London Perrantes Becomes the Best Pure Point Guard in the ACC

USA TODAY Sports

London Perrantes

A preseason foot injury could keep sophomore London Perrantes out of UVA's season-opener next week. Regardless, it isn't an injury that will keep him out long.

Yes, UNC's Marcus Paige is arguably the top returning player in the conference and plays the point, but he is more of a scoring guard than a true point guard. While Paige is a fantastic talent, does he make his teammates better?

Perrantes does.

As a freshman starter last season, Perrantes had 140 assists versus only 40 turnovers. He is the type of player opposing fans love to hate. It's not because he's a bad guy, but because he is a terrific point guard who does everything right. 

UVA will compete for another ACC title because it has several good players. But, more importantly, the Cavs have an outstanding point guard who is on his way to becoming one of the best in the country this season.

Darion Atkins Will Be UVA's New Defensive Stopper

USA TODAY Sports

Darion Atkins blocking a shot vs. Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament

Senior Darion Atkins isn't known as a strong offensive player. However, he is the ideal Tony Bennett guy.

At 6'8" with long arms and good athleticism, Atkins is an excellent defender. In limited playing time during his career, Atkins was first on the team in blocks as a freshman, second on the team as a sophomore and fifth on the squad last season. 

Last season, per every 40 minutes, Atkins averaged two blocks and nine rebounds per game. 

With Akil Mitchell gone, there is a void up front. Yes, Gill will start, but he won't replace Mitchell's defense. Neither will center Mike Tobey. Atkins' defense will get him more playing time, and he'll emerge as a key player for Virginia during his senior season. 

In a league full of talented big men, Atkins' defensive play will help the Cavaliers in their quest for a second consecutive conference title. 

Virginia Will Win Another ACC Title

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Tony Bennett

This Virginia team has a strong mix of veterans and youth. Outside of Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell, the core of last year's championship team returns. And the Cavaliers have only one scholarship senior, Atkins, who isn't likely to be one of UVA's top scorers.

Duke and UNC are loaded with McDonald's All-Americans. Virginia is loaded, too, just not with a group of high-school All-Americans.

The Cavaliers have a strong roster full of talented, versatile players who buy into Bennett's team-first philosophy built on strong defense. 

Virginia is a cohesive group—not a roster full of one-and-done hopefuls. That's why the Hoos will repeat as ACC champs.