ACC Basketball: 5 biggest storylines of 2020 offseason

By Brian Rauf | May 2, 2020

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 28: Head coach Tony Bennett of the the Virginia Cavaliers (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

2) Will Virginia return to the top of the ACC?

Speaking of being under a brighter-than-normal spotlight, a relatively new group of Cavaliers struggled in their role of “defending national champions” for the better part of three months.

Then something clicked and Virginia finished the season by winning 11 of their last 12 games, including eight in a row before the ACC and NCAA Tournaments were canceled. That, plus the fact they aren’t expected to lose anyone early to the NBA Draft (Jay Huff is expected to return), and Tony Bennett’s squad is expected to keep the positive momentum rolling into 2020-21.

The losses of Mamadi Diakite and Braxton Key will be felt, but UVA does have some firepower coming in to replace them. Bennett is welcoming a top 15 recruiting class, headlined by top 65 prospects Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Reece Beekman, both of whom are expected to see significant playing time right away.

Add in Marquette transfer Sam Hauser, who is eligible after sitting out last year, and the Cavaliers look to be in good hands. That doesn’t even include the expected progression of returning players like Tomas Woldetensae, Casey Morsell and others.

That combination, along with the respect for Bennett has a coach, as Virginia ranked in the top five in many early polls – the highest ranking of any ACC team. Can they return to the top of the ACC after previously winning it in 2018 and 2019?