Tag: UVA

It’s time to buy stock in Virginia men’s basketball (again)

Don’t look now, but the Hoos are surging.

Tony Bennett and the Virginia Cavaliers are back.

After a one-year absence from the NCAA tournament, the Hoos are in peak form on the hardcourt. Virginia traveled to the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas over the weekend and emerged with victories over then-No. 5 Baylor and then-No. 19 Illinois to claim the title belt.

No, really, it was a literal title belt.

The enormity of the victories cannot be overstated, not just because the impact they’ll have on the season, but because the Cavaliers played with heavy hearts following the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three Virginia football players — Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry — the night of November 13.

Bennett returned all five of his starters from the 2021-22 squad and added grad transfer Ben Vander Plas (Ohio) and a top-notch recruiting class that ranked No. 14 nationally. The early returns for the Wahoos are encouraging.

Beyond the arc — where Virginia struggled immensely last season — the No. 5 Cavaliers are off to a blistering pace. Through four games, UVA is shooting 46.9%. That’s good for second in the nation, per KenPom. Five players for the Hoos have attempted at least 12 threes this season, and they’re all shooting between 46% and 50% from deep. Armaan Franklin, who finished last season with a 30% mark beyond the arc, is 10-for-22 early (46%).

The improved shooting from outside has done wonders in the paint, opening up more driving lanes for bigs like Kadin Shedrick, Jayden Gardner and Vander Plas. It’s also allowed the Cavaliers to drive the lane and, as a result, draw more free throws. Virginia is currently third nationally in free throw rate — one of Ken Pomeroy’s Four Factors — which “…captures a team’s ability to get to the free throw line.” For reference, Virginia’s best mark in that stat in the last five seasons was 279th in 2019 (when they won the National Championship).

Defensively, the Cavaliers might have the nation’s best on-ball defender in Reece Beekman. One game after Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr. went off for 29 points, 10 rebounds and two turnovers against UCLA, the potential All-American put up a paltry nine points with six turnovers and five fouls. The difference? Beekman. The third year guard was getting it done on both ends of the court, too.

Beekman’s emergence means good things for Virginia all over the court. He’s got excellent court vision — Beekman has an assist rate of 42.6%, good for 17th best in the nation — and dished 10 assists against Baylor for a points-assist double-double. He’s not the only one sharing the ball well. The Cavaliers are fourth in overall offensive efficiency and are assisting 72.6% of their made buckets (good for 5th nationally). For comparison, No. 1 North Carolina is 336th with a 39.3% assist rate.

All of this is to say … Virginia is back. They are back to a defensive level that will annoy all of their opponents with individual players who are impactful. Offensively — although early — they’re hitting shots better than they have in recent years while having a lineup that offers depth and variety. It’s a mix of youth — first years Isaac McKneely and Ryan Dunn have high ceilings — and experience (yes, Kihei Clark is still playing).

You can still get great odds on the Hoos for both winning the national championship and taking the ACC. North Carolina has shorter odds to win the conference, but this is the perfect time to get really great value on a team with (seemingly) all the pieces needed to contend for a title.

The Cavaliers are passing the eye test early, have a champion-caliber head coach in Bennett and look to be ready to stay in the top-15 of both offensive and defensive efficiency. If you can jump on those +2000 odds to win the title, you have to do it.

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5 things to watch for in UNC football vs Virginia matchup

As North Carolina prepare to hit the road against Virginia this Saturday, we look at a few key things you should know before you watch.

The 7-1 North Carolina Tar Heels are in the driver’s seat of the ACC Coastal and have the chance to extend its lead when they take on Virginia this weekend on the road.

Finally, UNC is gaining the respect of the Associated Press Poll’s top 25, moving to No. 17 this week. As the season is winding down, North Carolina will need to add some statement wins to their resume for a significant boost in the rankings, and the Cavaliers are a perfect team for it.

This game shouldn’t be close, with the two teams on different paths this season. Virginia has struggled mightily in the division, mustering up only one win and four losses in the conference. On the other hand, North Carolina has taken care of business, going 4-0 in the conference. UNC is by far the superior team. However, if a trap game were to occur for North Carolina, it would be this one.

The two teams share heated history, dating back to 1892, and with this being coined as the “South’s Oldest Rivalry,” expect the Cavaliers to fight to end despite their lackluster season so far.

UNC football vs. Virginia: Game preview, info, prediction and more

We take a look at what you need to know for the UNC football program’s matchup against Virginia this Saturday.

The 7-1 North Carolina Tar Heels will be on the road this Saturday to take on the 3-5 Virginia Cavaliers.

Riding a four-game win streak, UNC has found its groove as they look to continue its climb of the Associated Press Poll Top 25. Ranked at No.17 this week, North Carolina has had a bumpy path despite their first place standing in the ACC Coastal division.

The shaky defense and nail-biting wins have yet to help UNC get established as a respectable team this season. Despite the lack of recognition the team has received, quarterback Drake Maye and North Carolina’s offense have gained respect as one of the best in the nation and will have a chance to prove it again this weekend against a struggling defense.

Virginia’s offense has struggled mightily with no true identity. A win won’t be enough to throw on the resume. As we get closer to bowl season, UNC will need to deliver another statement game.

Want to feel old? UVA basketball’s incoming class answers 90s trivia and actually do pretty well!

Virginia’s incoming first years try and answer some 90s trivia.

A popular trend over the last few years has a simple premise but usually a great payoff: ask people of one generation about the trends and popular items of a previous generation. Usually these end with the older generation feeling so, so ancient and wondering how the youths have been led so astray while the younger generation wonders why the older generation didn’t have reliable internet and made stuffed animals talk with terrifying voices (looking at you, Furby).

Virginia basketball had some fun with this, asking their highly-rated incoming class about the 90s in a social media video. Ryan Dunn, Leon Bond, Isaac Traudt, and Isaac McKneely — all born in the early 2000s — sat down to field some questions on the decade that preceded their arrival into the world.

They’re shown pictures of popular, trendy items like Beanie Babies or Tamagotchis, people like Lindsay Lohan and Steve Urkel and album covers like Backstreet Boys’ Millennium. That sound you hear is 90’s kids yelling “OH NO I FEEL SO OLDDDD.”

Bond dominates, even if he said he knew what VHS tapes were thanks to the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. All the guys knew slap bracelets and most recognized the red carpet coupling of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. No one knew Tamagotchis (finger clocks!) or Lindsay Lohan circa Parent Trap era (Miranda Tisdale?!) or the AOL logo (I mean, why would they), but overall the guys did a great job and seemingly had fun.

Now if you excuse me, I’m going to reminisce about dial up internet and watching TRL after school on MTV.

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Kate Douglass has historic meet as Virginia repeats as NCAA Swimming and Diving champs

Complete domination from the reigning champs.

The Virginia Cavaliers followed up their impressive 2021 NCAA Swimming and Diving championship with an utterly dominant showing this year to repeat. Virginia finished with 551.5 points, lightyears ahead of second place Texas (406 points). Junior Kate Douglass and sophomore Alex Walsh — both medal winners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — each went 3-for-3 in their individual events.

Walsh won the 200-yard individual medley, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard fly events. Freshmen Emma Weyant and Gretchen Walsh (the younger sister of Alex) were among the bevy of Cavaliers that also collected podium finishes.

Virginia then won NCAA titles in four relay events — the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard free relay and 400-yard free relay. They also set NCAA records in the 400-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay, and an American Record in the latter.

While all the Cavaliers impressed, it was Douglass who truly stole the show. Douglass not only touched first in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard breaststroke events, she set new American Records in each of them. It’s not unusual for a swimmer to excel in freestyle and butterfly events, but breaststroke is usually a specialized event. Think of it as if Tom Brady won the NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and then also won the NBA three-point shooting title.

Douglass set the record in the 50-yard free in the preliminary swim with a 20.84, but nearly matched it in the finals with a 20.87.

Her 49.04 time in the 100-yard butterfly set the American Record for that event, and she closed out her individual events with a blistering 2:02.19 time that broke Lilly King’s record from 2018.

With Douglass, Weyant and the Walsh sisters all returning as Virginia’s core for next year, the Cavaliers could be looking a the three-peat. Saturday night’s team title is the University of Virginia’s 30th NCAA team championship.

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13 reasons why Eagles GM will look to trade a 2022 first-round pick for more draft assets in 2023

After hearing his end of the year press conference, here are 13 reasons why #Eagles GM Howie #Roseman will look to trade a 2022 first-round pick for more #NFLDraft assets in 2023

During the 2021 NFL offseason, Howie Roseman was able to trade Carson Wentz and land a pre-draft deal with the Dolphins, resulting in three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, but after listening to his end of the season press conference, Philadelphia’s top decision-maker could have something even more brazen up his sleeves.

The Eagles are technically still in the midst of a rebuild and although they made the postseason, last yearΒ was still supposed to be about seeing what they had at quarterback and other key positions.

That press conference, coupled with a lack of star power in the upcoming draft is why the evaluation will continue,Β  giving Hurts another year as the starter,Β  but could Roseman move one of his coveted 2022 assets in hopes of greener pastures in 2023?

If Roseman still has dreams of a more conventional superstar passer or a once-in-a-lifetime pass rusher, the 2023 draft could offer at minimum, seven quarterbacks for Philadelphia and other teams to start targeting.

If Philadelphia dreams of an all-world pass-rusher or stud wide receiver, an extra first-round pick would be gold.

Here are some of the top 2023 signal-callers, a star running back, and one all-world edge rusher that could have Roseman waiting patiently for that greener pasture.

Good news for Elliott and UVA

Former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and the Virginia football program received some good news this week heading into his first season as the Cavaliers’ head coach in 2022. UVA quarterback Brennan Armstrong announced this week that he …

Former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and the Virginia football program received some good news this week heading into his first season as the Cavaliers’ head coach in 2022.

UVA quarterback Brennan Armstrong announced this week that he will be returning for his final season of eligibility.

β€œAfter a long talk with my family, I’m excited to announce I will be coming back to the University of Virginia and playing one more year,” Armstrong said in a video posted on social media Thursday night.

As a junior this past season, Armstrong passed for 4,449 yards, accounted for 4,700 yards of total offense and threw for 31 touchdowns — all single-season UVA records.

For his career (2018-21), Armstrong ranks second all-time at UVA with 6,824 passing yards, third in career total offense (7,720 yards) and third in career passing touchdowns (51).

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.Β  #SaveNicks

Virginia Football head coach Bronco Mendenhall stuns everyone by stepping down

Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall stunned the football world when he stepped down on Thursday.

In an already tumultuous and crazy college football coaching carouselΒ  season, Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Thursday evening that he would be stepping down after six years in Charlottesville. Mendenhall, who has been coaching in some form or fashion for 31 years, led Virginia to a 6-6 regular season record in 2021.

“I absolutely want to be at my best in anything that I do for everyone that I’m responsible for, but most importantly, [for] my partner, Holly, it’s 25 years straight, 17 of which I’ve been a head coach,” Mendenhall told reporters shortly after his departure was announced. “I don’t know if anyone — none of you know what that could be like, and I don’t know.Β 

But what I do know is I want to spend a lot of time with her together, reconsidering the next thing we’re going to do together. That would be my first priority: what are we going to do together, and what’s next for us before we take on anything else.”

Stunned feels like an understatement when describing this development. There was no indication that Mendenhall would be fired let alone resign. The Cavaliers came up a few plays short of competing for the Coastal Division title, falling on the road at Pitt before dropping a heartbreaking loss to in-state rival Virginia Tech.

β€œIt has been a privilege to have Bronco Mendenhall direct the Virginia football team over the past six seasons,” Virginia athletics director Carla Williams said in the official release. β€œHe has done an exceptional job of not just transforming the program, but elevating the expectations for the program. He has established the necessary foundation to propel our football team upward. He is more than a football coach and the impact he has had on these young men will be a positive influence for the rest of their lives.”

Mendenhall met with his team around 4:45pm, the release was issued at 5pm and met with the press at 5:30pm. In all it was a quick turnaround β€” even with both Williams and University of Virginia president Jim Ryan asking him to stay.

What happens now is the big question.

There are not yet any indications as to who Virginia will hire to replace Mendenhall, if it’ll hire internally or try and jump into the chaotic coaching search pool. Virginia is eligible for a bowl game, and Mendenhall intends to stay on to see that through for his team and coaching staff, despite their surprise with the news.

“I’m not going to do it unless I can and feel energetic enough to do all that,” Mendenhall said. “So they saw that and they understand — it doesn’t mean they liked it. But I’m looking to continue to add value, not just ride it out.”

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