Year one at Virginia for new head coach Ryan Odom went about as well as anyone could have expected. The Cavaliers won 30 games, finished 2nd place in the ACC, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Odom is responsible for one of the lowest points in program history when he led UMBC all those years ago and now he’s trying to produce unforgettable success in the near future.
What makes this potential even greater is the amount of talent returning next season for the Cavaliers. Sure, a few pieces like Malik Thomas, Jacari White, and Ugonna Onyenso will be missed, but consider that four bona fide playmakers are back. Thijs De Ridder and Johann Grunloh anchor the frontcourt after showing great signs as freshmen last season while Chance Mallory is also back for his second season. Sam Lewis occupies a major role as well after averaging nearly 11 points a game last year.
Looks strong on paper
There’s four pretty solid starters coming back in Charlottesville and a ton of returning depth as well, but Odom and his staff still added a few names as well. 7-footer Favour Ibe is the most notable freshman addition while Kalu Anya also joins the frontcourt from Saint Louis. The Cavaliers also added three notable guards, getting Jan Vide from Loyola Marymount and Christian Harmon out of Arkansas State.
These guards are all potential options to start at the 2 for the Cavaliers and for today’s sake we’re leaning on Jurian Dixon in that role. A 6-5 guard from San Diego, he spent the last two seasons at UC Irvine and showed great signs with the Anteaters. After solid work as a freshman, he put up 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season, becoming First Team All-Big West while making 38% of his 3-pointers.
There aren’t a lot of open questions right now at Virginia thanks to all of that returning talent but the other backcourt starter is certainly still up in the air. We’re leaning in Dixon’s direction, though it’s a fierce battle between him and Harmon that might become a split role when the season begins. We’re looking towards Dixon as slightly more important because of his offensive versatility and better shot making last year.
The what if is real
If Dixon becomes the real deal and can handle that jump from the Big West to the ACC as an upperclassman then Virginia really has something cooking here. There’s a ton of young talent just ready to take off for a Cavaliers team that already showed they can hang with Duke and other top teams last season. If those open questions are quickly answered in the backcourt, then watch out for Virginia making a national statement by March.
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