Coach Tony Bennett has many fans excited about the future.

The Virginia men’s basketball team opens ACC Tournament play on Thursday at noon. The game matches eighth-seeded UVa and ninth-seeded Miami. It’s far from a glamorous position and neither team is heading to the NCAA Tournament unless it wins four games in four days. Yet, optimism is palpable among Cavalier fans.

The reason, in its simplest form, is obvious. Hoos believe better days are ahead. That’s right, good old fashioned hope. It’s not uncommon, of course, in the early stages of a new coach’s tenure for that to be the case. The honeymoon period has that fresh feeling to it for everyone from the players to the fans so there is a renewed sense of possibility.

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