While the NCAA Tournament rolls on, most of the country’s teams have entered offseason mode. That means a lot of portal talk and the coaching carousel, of course, but it also means fans dive into conversations on how to improve their teams. Virginia fans have spent a lot of time in that space after a First Four loss to Colorado State.
The Cavaliers lifted the National Championship trophy 5 years ago, but have since lost three opening NCAA Tournament games. The last two have come in frustrating fashion with the 2023 game ending on a tough turnover and opponent shot and the 2024 game sputtering to a blowout loss.
Here as some highlighted threads for what’s on the minds of UVA fans as the offseason begins to pick up steam:
- IMac just needs us to get some inside scoring to free him. ~ RRCAV
- Is it easier to get good players from high school or from the portal? ~ Hoos in da house
- What is our sales pitch to get good offensive players besides offering more playing time? ~ Rumble
- I want a Braxton, not a Groves/BVP 4. ~ Fair Weather Hoo
- Last year I was worried about transfers within, now I’m waiting for them. ~ HoosInRVA
- Virginia needs a JUNKYARD DOG. ~ rudyzen
- Over emphasizing defense is not worth it. ~ HooUnited
- UVA’s won 13 NCAAT games under TB. In 12 of the 13 wins, UVA scored 60+
points and in 10 of the 13, UVA scored 70+. ~ hawkb - 1/10 trips to NCAAT did UVA meet expectations (data) and thoughts. ~ NJHoo05
- Question about our defense. This year we had 2 of the country’s best
defenders … yet our defense this year was up and down. What happened? ~ Wahoo1186 - ACC considering 18 game conference schedule. Basically a single robin! ~ HooWorldOrder
Fan(s) Of The Week
Wahoowa!
Student Fan(s) Of The Week
On the hill, Go Hoos!
Feature Photo Of The Week
Isaac McKneely finished second in the ACC by shooting 44.5% from 3-point range.
If McKneely had not missed a key free throw against NC State in the ACC tournament, the Wolfpack most likely would not be in the Final Four, Duke would not have choked against an in-state school in North Carolina, and NCAA history would have been altered. Is that the “butterfly effect?” Perhaps.
Tony needs to find a couple of capable “bigs,” reconsider the continuation of the pack-line defense, enhance the team’s offensive potential-perhaps by adding an assistant coach from a proven offensive program, consider full-court pressure like Georgetown in the John Thompson years, and getting transfers who are tough players (aren’t there still a lot of budding stars in Europe, Canada, South America, and Africa?). He’s built a successful program, but the end-of-year and post-season results have not been good since 2019.
Agree with all your comments. Tony needs to reevaluate the program and make changes. The game has changed but he hasn’t!