Virginia Basketball: Complete Roster, Season Preview for 2014-15 Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers open the 2014-15 college basketball season on Friday when they travel down the road to play the James Madison Dukes.
The defending ACC champions are coming off one of the greatest seasons in school history. The Hoos won 30 games, the ACC regular-season title, the ACC tournament and received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. It was truly a magical season for head coach Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers.
Is Virginia ready to build off last season, or will the losses of Joe Harris and Akil Mitchell prove too much to overcome?
Here's a comprehensive preview introducing the newest Hoos, the top newcomers and plenty more for the 2014-15 Cavaliers.
Key Newcomers
1 of 6
B.J. Stith (Guard)
The son of former UVA legend Bryant Stith, B.J. Stith comes to Charlottesville with much acclaim. The 6'5", 205-pound shooting guard is a skilled offensive player with terrific range and can help the Hoos on the offensive end immediately.
Of the newcomers, Stith is the most likely to help replace some of Harris' scoring.
Marial Shayok (Guard/Forward)
Shayok, a former Marquette recruit, came to Virginia once former coach Buzz Williams left the Golden Eagles to take over at Virginia Tech.
Although Shayok and Stith are similar in size, they have different games. Shayok is a very strong defender and can defend multiple positions. He's not as skilled offensively as Stith, but his defense will get him early playing time.
Jack Salt (Center)
It wouldn't be a surprise if the 6'11", 235-pound center from New Zealand redshirts this season. That, of course, is no guarantee, but Bennett likes to redshirt players he feels aren't quite ready to contribute immediately.
The one thing in Salt's favor is he's the only other true center on the roster behind Mike Tobey.
Isaiah Wilkins (Forward)
Wilkins, the stepson of NBA legend Dominique Wilkins, won't remind you of his stepfather. That's not to say he isn't skilled. He's just not a highlight-reel player at this stage.
He is still developing as a player and is surprisingly strong in the low post and is a good rebounder. He possesses perhaps the highest upside of any Virginia freshman.
Wilkins will likely be a very good player for Virginia in the future, just not this year.
Key Returnees
2 of 6
Malcolm Brogdon (Guard)
Virginia's top returning player, Brogdon was a first-team All-ACC selection last year. The 6'5", 215-pound guard is one of the most versatile players in the country. He can play the point, is a terrific shooter and a strong defender. He is Virginia's go-to guy.
Justin Anderson (Guard/Forward)
One of the most physically gifted players in the country, the 6'6" junior is ready for an expanded role in 2014-15. The ACC's top sixth man last season, Anderson may start this year.
For as athletic as Anderson is, his energy matches his athleticism. He is a top-notch defender who is unafraid to take—and make—the big shot.
Anthony Gill (Forward)
Gill, a transfer from South Carolina last season, was UVA's best low-post player in 2013-14. He steadily improved throughout the year and became one of the club's most important players by tournament time. He needs to improve on defense, but there is no doubt about Gill's ability on the offensive end.
London Perrantes (Guard)
Perrantes was hurt at the beginning of practice this fall, but the injury shouldn't affect him moving forward. It was just announced, per Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, that Perrantes and junior forward Evan Nolte will be suspended for the season opener.
Perrantes quietly had a tremendous freshman season. He had 140 assists versus only 40 turnovers and is poised to improve this season. If Perrantes takes the next step, UVA will be in the national title discussion.
Roster and Projected Rotation
3 of 6
Virginia will be much deeper than in past years. Let's take a look at Virginia's roster, projected starters and key bench players.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: London Perrantes
SG: Malcolm Brogdon
SF: Justin Anderson
PF: Anthony Gill
C: Mike Tobey
Key Bench Players
Darion Atkins (Forward), Evan Nolte (Forward), Devon Hall (Guard), B.J. Stith (Guard), Marial Shayok (Guard/Forward)
Roster Assessment
Most of UVA's starting lineup should be set. Perrantes, Brogdon and Gill are most likely in. Anderson should be, but Bennett likes his energy off the bench.
Tobey, a 7-footer, possesses tremendous talent but is often a liability on the defensive end. Bennett didn't like to go long stretches with Tobey and Gill on the floor at the same time last season due to their struggles on the defensive end.
Senior Darion Atkins could find his way into the starting lineup for his defense. He is nowhere near the offensive player Gill or Tobey is, but he is a strong defender and solid rebounder.
Devon Hall figures to be the team's backup point guard and should be in line to start for the Hoos on Friday in place of Perrantes, per Whitey Reid of The Daily Progress.
The combination of Stith, Nolte and Anderson should replace the majority of Joe Harris' points. Nolte is a terrific shooter and can play both forward spots.
.png?w=256 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
Biggest X-Factors
4 of 6
Mike Tobey
The 7'0", 253-pound junior is a highly skilled offensive player. Tobey can score with either hand around the basket, has several low-post moves and can step out and hit jump shots.
Tobey's biggest problem is he often gets physically dominated and doesn't assert himself. He has added some strength this offseason in hopes of staying out of foul trouble on the defensive end.
Tobey needs to have a take-charge attitude on offense, and he could be a very good college player.
Who Will Replace Akil Mitchell's Defense?
Mitchell, a two-time All-ACC defensive selection, leaves almost as big of a void as Joe Harris. However, Mitchell's contributions didn't come from scoring points. He often defended the opponent's top frontcourt player and was a rebounding force on both ends.
Atkins is the most apparent replacement, but he won't likely play the minutes Mitchell did. His defense could keep him on the court when it matters most, though. If Atkins proves to be reliable and capable, he'll play a lot in 2014-15.
Brogdon's Health
Brogdon, who missed the entire season two years ago, was healthy all of last season and became UVA's top player. If Brogdon goes down at any point in the 2014-15 season, the Hoos will be in major trouble.
Not only is he a great scorer, he is the calming influence on a young team that may struggle at times early in the season.
Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios
5 of 6
Best-Case Scenario
If Virginia's frontcourt rotation becomes clear early in the season, the Hoos will be strong. That means Tobey becomes more assertive, averaging close to double figures, and Gill is first or second on the team in scoring. If Atkins is in the starting lineup, it will weaken UVA on the offensive end.
If Gill and Tobey both improved defensively, Virginia will be a much better team, as the Hoos need both players on the floor. The Cavs also need contributions from Atkins and Nolte—Atkins as the defensive stopper and Nolte as Virginia's sharpshooter off the bench.
Worst-Case Scenario
Virginia can't replace Harris' leadership and clutch shooting and Mitchell's defense and rebounding.
On paper, Virginia should be able to replace both Harris and Mitchell. But, as we all know, the game is not played on paper. If a combination of Virginia's wing players can't successfully replace Harris at some point this season, it will derail UVA's chances of winning the ACC again.
If Tobey continues to be a liability defensively, it will have a negative impact on UVA's season. The Cavaliers need his scoring, and outside of him, the Hoos aren't necessarily a big team.
2014-15 Prediction
6 of 6
The ACC wasn't weak last season; Virginia just happened to be very good.
But make no mistake about it, Duke and North Carolina reloaded and will be back among the nation's top teams. Add in Louisville, and this could be the strongest the ACC has ever been.
The Cavaliers have a tricky December. They travel to Maryland and VCU before hosting Harvard. All three teams will provide a challenge before ACC play begins in January.
Virginia won't be 16-2 in ACC play again in 2014-15. However, the Hoos will once again be strong and remain a fringe top-10 team throughout the season.
Expect Duke to win the ACC regular-season title with Virginia right behind, just ahead of UNC and Louisville.
.png?w=480 "NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
