Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Updated way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Tristan Freeman

Jan 11, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward PJ Hall (24) celebrates after scoring and being fouled against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward PJ Hall (24) celebrates after scoring and being fouled against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball
ACC Basketball Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Virginia Cavaliers

2022-23 season record: 25-8 (15-5)

The Cavaliers were one of the oldest teams in NCAA Basketball last season but thanks to the roster departures, they’re going to get a lot younger. Among the already confirmed exits are seniors Jayden Gardner and Ben Vander Plas, along with outgoing transfers, Kadin Shedrick, Fransico Caffaro, and Isaac Traudt.

There’s going to be a lot of pressure on the incoming transfers for Virginia. Jacob Groves is a 6’7 combo forward that started at Oklahoma this past season, while Andrew Rohde averaged around 17 ppg as a freshman at St. Thomas. And Dante Harris was a mid-season transfer from Georgetown that can run point. Jordan Minor is the big name of the group as he was the NEC Player of the Year and DPOY at Merrimack, averaging 17.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg.

There are still a couple of names worth watching this week, as leading scorer Armaan Franklin and point guard Reece Beekman are still in the NBA Draft process. If they both come back, the Cavaliers will be a contender in the ACC once again. But if not, look for them to have to rely on guys like Leon Bond and Isaac McKneely having breakout sophomore seasons just to be competitive.

There’s no reason not to trust Coach Tony Bennett but his system isn’t easy to play in for guys in their first seasons. And there’s going to be a lot of adjustments going on with the next crop, especially in the frontcourt.