Virginia Cavaliers NCAA Basketball Betting
Last season will be remembered by its ending for Virginia, a 67-42 loss in the First Four to Colorado State. The loss will taint the Cavaliers’ recent run of NCAA Tournaments, appearing in nine of the last ten. The talent level for this upcoming season’s Virginia team may be the lowest we’ve seen in a long time. The preseason retirement of head coach Tony Bennett further complicates things.
Seven players return to the Virginia program from last season. Junior guard Isaac McKneely (12 ppg) is the top returner and the second-leading scorer on the 2023-24 team. McKneely experienced a jump in nearly every stat category from his freshman campaign to his sophomore, and now he’ll need another jump to become the Cavs’ #1 option. Junior guard Andrew Rhode (4 ppg) transferred over from St. Thomas last season, and after a disappointing season, he’ll be looking for a bounce-back year as the Cavaliers’ shooting spark off the bench.
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Blake Buchanan (3 ppg, 3 rpg) continues the list of returners for Virginia, a sophomore forward who showed flashes of potential as a freshman. Buchanan will be forced to grow up quickly as a sophomore, likely starting and playing big minutes in the frontcourt for the Cavs. Taine Murray (3 ppg) and Dante Harris (3 ppg) return to give the Cavaliers some experienced depth in the backcourt. Redshirt freshmen Anthony Robinson and Christian Bliss return to the program after their redshirt seasons, and both have expectations from fans to be contributors right away.
Five players departed the Virginia offseason this program, none bigger than senior guard Reece Beekman (14 ppg, 6 apg). No player had a bigger impact on the program than Beekman since the title-winning team, a tireless guard who was excellent on both sides of the floor and all areas of the game. Sophomore forward Ryan Dunn (8 ppg, 7 rpg) is the other big loss, an NBA-bound defensive specialist. Senior forward Jacob Groves (7 ppg), senior forward Jordan Minor (4 ppg), and freshman guard Leon Bond III (4 ppg) complete the list of losses.
Virginia found five transfers this offseason, all five competing in top seven conferences last season. The backcourt transfer duo of Dai Dai Ames (5 ppg at Kansas State) and Jalen Warley (8 ppg at Florida State) has a high ceiling but some untapped potential for now. Ames showed great flashes in his freshman campaign, finishing the season with a 16-point, five-assist performance in the NIT against Iowa. He was a bit inefficient as a freshman, but he’s in the perfect spot for a jump in a new home under a great head coach. Warley started 32 of his 33 games at Florida State as a sophomore, and will fit perfectly in the backcourt with Ames. The duo will likely share the ball-handling duties and complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
The frontcourt is where the other three Cavalier transfers play their minutes. TJ Power (2 ppg at Duke) is the most intriguing player of the entire transfer class, a sharpshooting, floor-spacing big man who spent his freshman year at Duke. If Power unlocks his potential, Virginia could be a sneaky tournament team. Elijah Saunders (6 ppg, 4 rpg at San Diego State) and Carter Lang (2 ppg, 4 rpg at Vanderbilt) complete the list of transfers, both likely playing solid minutes off the bench in the frontcourt for the Cavs.
Virginia added two high school recruits to the incoming class for 2024-25, forward Jacob Cofie (4*, NAT 85) and guard Ishan Sharma (3*, NAT 210). Cofie could have an impact right away in the frontcourt and is definitely a guy to keep your eye on in future years. Sharma will likely use his first year as a learning experience playing behind a handful of experienced veterans.
The departure of Bennett will make gamblers careful.
Latest NCAA Tournament Results
| YEAR |
RESULT |
| 2024 |
Lost First Four vs. (10) Colorado State, 42–67 |
| 2023 |
Lost First Round vs. (13) Furman, 67–68 |
| 2021 |
Lost First Round vs. (13) Ohio, 58–62 |
| 2019 |
Won National Championship vs. (3) Texas Tech, 85–77 (OT) |
| 2018 |
Lost First Round vs. (16) UMBC, 54–74 |
| 2017 |
Lost Second Round vs. (4) Florida, 39–65 |
| 2016 |
Lost Elite Eight vs. (10) Syracuse, 62–68 |
2024-2025 NCAA Basketball Top Teams
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