The Double Bonus is back during the exam break to provide fans with some much-needed basketball reading. This edition looks back at Virginia’s rough week with Wisconsin and Green Bay as well as some things to monitor as conference play approaches.

Post Entry Passing

Watching the early portion of a preseason practice on Media Day, there were times where I thought UVa’s wing players seemed hesitant on passing into the post. I remember coach Tony Bennett stopping a drill to discuss a specific type of post entry technique too. After the Wisconsin game last week, that small piece of the puzzle remains a work in progress as Virginia tries to establish an inside-out offensive identity.

The Badgers used a half-denial stance throughout their 48-38 win, meaning the post defender would get half of his body in front of the offensive post player. The stance puts the defender’s chest perpendicular with the offensive player’s shoulder. Bo Ryan’s team utilized this strategy to the top side of the offense while trying to force the passers on the wings farther up the floor and away from the basket. Even when the ball made it near the paint, the comfort level on offense was disrupted for the Hoos.

“It did [frustrate the entry passes]. It was hard to get into our bigs. Their bigs were really downing and not letting us throw it in easily,” UVa guard Malcolm Brogdon said. “That was a struggle, but we probably should have gotten it in there a couple more times.”

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