Virginia Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Cavaliers
2021-22 season outlook
UVA basketball will have to find their identity in a hurry but considering ACC basketball isn’t the strongest outside the Top 4, they should do well to stay in the middle of the pack at the very least. If not, it will be interesting to see how they adjust their rotation to be a successful unit.
Kihei Clark and Reece Beekman are both solid ballhandlers and unselfish playmakers that will need to mesh quickly with the additions of Armaan Franklin and Jayden Gardner. Gardner’s presence gives them a rare back-to-the-basket threat that can get them much-needed buckets around the rim utilizing his size and frame.
Franklin has shown he can knock down shots in a Power 5 conference already, but he’ll need to show he can be effective in Tony Bennett’s defensive system.
The supporting cast outside of Clark, Beekman, Franklin, and Gardner will tell the tale as far as everything else goes. Kody Stattmann is a prospect with the potential to boost his production after appearing in just four games this past year.
Next. Preseason ACC power rankings for 2021-22. dark
Francisco Caffaro and Kadin Shedrick are two other names with the potential to break out in the frontcourt with bigger roles on the table. There are a lot of question marks offensively, but no doubt that the Cavaliers will be their usual selves on defense. It will be interesting to see if they can replace last year’s production, if not, it could be a nail-biting season for UVA basketball fans in 2021-22.