Virginia Basketball: Biggest Takeaways from Cavaliers' Postseason

The Virginia Cavaliers finished out the 2014-15 season on Sunday with a disappointing 60-54 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament. It was the second straight season in which Virginia had a 30-win season end at the hands of the Spartans. 

The loss was a devastating end to a wonderful season for head coach Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers. The Hoos won back-to-back ACC regular-season titles and were the first team in conference history to win 16 league games in consecutive years. 

That's probably why bowing out in the round of 32 hurts so much. This team was better than that, but picked a bad day to have their worst game. Who would've thought the ACC would be 11-1 in the NCAA tournament and have five teams alive in the Sweet 16, yet Virginia would be the conference's first team eliminated?

Virginia finished the season 30-4, but lost three of its final five games. While Justin Anderson's injury played a big part in Virginia's struggles down the stretch, it wasn't the sole reason why the Hoos shot just 29 percent from the field in the loss to Michigan State.

Here are four takeaways from Virginia's recently completed postseason. 

Tony Bennett Has Work to Do in the Postseason

Nell Redmond/Associated Press

Tony Bennett

Bennett is a phenomenal basketball coach, a legend in the making. That thought was reiterated on Monday when Bennett took home the USBWA's  Henry Iba Award for coach of the year for the second time in his young career, per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.

Bennett is just the ninth repeat winner of the award and only the second coach to win the award at two different schools. (Bennett won the award in 2006-07 at Washington State.)

Bennett was also named ACC Coach of the Year for the second straight year. His status as a defensive tactician has earned him national respect as have victories over Hall of Fame coaches like Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim and Larry Brown.

Such an impressive resume and the 45-year-old Bennett has been a head coach for just nine seasons. 

But a second straight early ouster in the NCAA tournament to another future Hall of Famer, Tom Izzo, proves Bennett still has some work to do. 

Izzo outcoached Bennett in both Michigan State victories. He found ways to confuse Virginia's offense and get the Hoos out of their comfort zone on defense. Despite losing to the Spartans last season, Bennett still failed to solve the problem of MSU one year later. 

In six years at Virginia, Bennett has led the Cavaliers to the NCAA tournament on three occasions. It's likely to be an annual event for the Hoos as long as Bennett's in charge, but even the great ones—like Bennett—still have things to improve upon. 

Darion Atkins Was Not Pleased with His Teammates

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Darion Atkins

After Virginia's loss to the Spartans on Sunday, senior forward Darion Atkins was less than pleased with his teammates' effort, per Scott Phillips of CollegeBasketballTalk. 

However, on Monday, Atkins had some time to think about what he said and apologized for his comments, per Norm Wood of the Daily Press:

"

I would like to apologize for my inappropriate comments to the media in Charlotte. I let my emotions get the best of me during the NCAA tournament and I did not intend to offend anyone. In hindsight, I wish I had used more appropriate words to express myself. I’ve met with my teammates and coaches to express my remorse for this unfortunate situation. I want everyone to know that I care so much about this program, and I hope this does not become a distraction from all that we were able to accomplish this year.

"

No one should've been upset with Atkins. He was the team's only senior and his college career just ended. Of course he was going to be upset. He did his part, scoring 10 points to go along 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. He played his customary strong defense and, as he had all season, played with emotion and passion. 

Perhaps next year's team could learn a thing or two from Atkins. 

Virginia Struggled from 3-Point Range

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Malcolm Brogdon

Virginia lost three of its final five games in the 2014-15 season. A big reason for Virginia's struggles was its inability to connect from three-point range. In the loss to MSU, Virginia hit just two of 17 from beyond the arc.

All-ACC guard Malcolm Brogdon struggled, hitting just one of his six attempts. His only three-point basket came with 22 seconds left and was largely inconsequential. Point guard London Perrantes and Justin Anderson combined for zero successful shots on eight attempts from three-point land.

In Virginia's four losses this season, the Cavaliers made just 18 of 66 shots from beyond the arc.

For Virginia to take the next step and win an NCAA title, the Cavaliers will have to shoot the ball better from downtown. Evan Nolte was supposed to provide that for the Hoos, but he hit just 27 percent of his attempts on the season.  

Justin Anderson Wasn't the Same Player

Nell Redmond/Associated Press

Virginia guard Justin Anderson after the loss to Michigan State

When Justin Anderson broke a finger on his shooting hand in early February, most viewed that as a death knell in Virginia's once-promising season. 

However, that wasn't the case. Virginia went on to win its first seven games without Anderson and clinched a second straight ACC regular-season crown. Just before Anderson was set to return in the season finale against Louisville, he underwent an appendectomy that forced him to miss that game and struggle in his two ACC tournament appearances.

Everything seemed fine, though, when Anderson scored 15 points against Belmont in Virginia's NCAA tournament opening-round win. Anderson went 4-of-6 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line against Belmont. He appeared fully healthy just in time for Virginia's rematch against Michigan State.

That wasn't the case as Anderson struggled offensively against the Spartans and even Izzo noticed, per Jerry Ratcliffe of The Daily Progress.

"Anderson, he’s not the same player he was,” Izzo said. “That kid in the middle of January, I think was one of the best players I saw play in America. Injuries are more difficult that people think to get over."

Izzo was right, Anderson was one of the country's best players through January. If he returns next season, Virginia could be in for another special run. 

But as many had presumed, Anderson's injury did eventually change Virginia's season.