Virginia Cavaliers Basketball: A look at their 3 toughest non-conference opponents

Virginia Cavaliers Basketball: 3 toughest non-conference opponents for 2018-19

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 71-63 during the championship game of the 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images /

Dec. 9 vs. VCU

In-state programs will collide once again when the VCU Rams and Virginia Cavaliers face off on Dec. 9. The Rams are a squad that has undergone quite the coaching carousel since the emergence of head coach Shaka Smart. Since Smart left for the same position at Texas in 2014-15, the team has seen head coach Will Wade leave for LSU after just two seasons as head coach.

Head coach Mike Rhoades is entering his second season after posting an 18-15 record in his first season in 2017-18. The Cavaliers handed them their first loss of the season last year, 76-67, behind 29 points from Kyle Guy. Guy went 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from behind the arc in the victory.

The team will feel the departures of Justin Tillman and Johnathan Williams. Tillman put up 18.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per contest. Williams led the team last season in assists per game with 5.7 per contest.

The Rams will rely heavily on De’Riante Jenkins in 2018-19, which should pose a challenge for the Cavaliers. Jenkins averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game in 33 appearances for VCU last season.

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