Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: 10 questions looming for the 2021-22 season

By Jerran Anderson

Feb 8, 2018; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coaches Jeff Capel and Nate James during the national anthem at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2018; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coaches Jeff Capel and Nate James during the national anthem at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Alton Strupp-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Alton Strupp-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Have the Virginia offensive woes been solved?

The Virginia Cavaliers were the ACC Regular Season Champions this past season with a 13-4 record. Their defense was still ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 60.5 points per contest. It was their sputtering offense once again that let them down, this time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 13 seed Ohio and Jason Preston.

The Cavaliers went 18-7 on the season and finished as ACC Regular Season Champions with a 13-4 record. Their demise in 2020-21 came in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 Seed, 58-62 to Ohio. They shot just 25.8 percent from 3-point land in that loss.

The offense has been an interesting conundrum for the Cavaliers, for quite some now. This past season, they finished 11th in ACC Basketball in points per game (68.2) while still managing to shoot 47.4 percent (2nd in the ACC) and 37.5 percent (2nd in the ACC) from 3-point range.

Efficiency wasn’t so much the issue, simply scoring points in key moments were. They could have that problem solved with the addition of Jayden Gardner, an addition from the transfer portal after spending the past three seasons at East Carolina.

He built a name for himself in the Pirates’ frontcourt while producing 18.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest from 2018-21. This past season, he finished second in the American Athletic Conference in scoring (18.3 ppg) and rebounds (8.3 rpg).

A stronger paint presence should equal more points in the paint for the Virginia Cavaliers, but they still have to replace Trey Murphy on the wing and Jay Huff and Sam Hauser in the frontcourt. Cavaliers fans may have some things to worry about in 2021-22.