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Virginia Basketball: Setting 2019 offseason priorities for the Cavaliers

By Lukas Harkins

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after his teams 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers cuts down the net after his teams 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Coach Bennett gestures. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Coach Bennett gestures. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Teach the system to newcomers.

With at least four new players joining the roster for this coming season, the coaching staff will have to act quickly with regards to catching them up on the system. Over the past few years, Virginia basketball has been consistently excellent due to their tremendous coaching with regards to system implementation and player development. With four* experienced members of the rotation leaving this offseason, the roster lacks the experience that has helped to carry them in the past.

In order to overcome this idea, the coaching staff needs to teach their system to the newcomers quickly and those players need to buy in immediately. Due to the fact that the UVA coaches recruit with their system and culture in mind, this should not be difficult but it also should not be taken for granted. The Cavaliers are coming off of their most successful season in program history and they could be back in the nation’s top-10 throughout next season if all goes according to plan.

They might be young, but this team is talented. Considering their national rankings and reputations, it seems likely that at least three of the four newcomers to the program will play meaningful roles within the rotation. Morsell (No. 53 recruit) and Woldetensae (JUCO) should both take on substantial minutes in the absence of Guy/Hunter/Jerome while Shedrick (No. 64 recruit) would take up some of the playing time deserted by Diakite*. The other member of the recruiting class, McKoy (No. 211 recruit), could also see time on the wing.

These players are extremely young and getting them up to speed quickly could play a major role in the success of the team next season.

* Assuming Diakite leaves.

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