The Virginia Cavaliers faced off against each other in the annual preseason Blue-White Scrimmage in JPJ on Saturday. The team played three quarters and gave us a first-look into the young 2024-25 roster. Here are our four takeaways and analysis from Saturday night’s scrimmage.
Lineup configuration
Coach Tony Bennett and staff played different starters for each quarter, teasing what could be potential season lineups. Junior Guard Isaac McKneely’s leadership and shot value make him a sure starter, especially after his seven points and two assists in the Blue-White scrimmage.
Elijah Saunders, Ishan Sharma, and Blake Buchanan will likely get minutes, but in what combinations? Buchanan and Saunders faced off on opposing teams in the second and third quarter, and after Saunders’ 10 points and six rebounds to Buchanan’s four points and two rebounds, the starting forward may be more featured than some previously thought,
In the first quarter, Warley, McKneely, Power, Saunders, and Buchanan started in white while Ames, Sharma, Murray, Cofie, and Robinson were in blue.
In the second quarter, Ames, McKneely, Sharma, Cofie, and Buchanan were in white against Bliss, Warley, Rohde, Saunders and Power in blue.
Bliss, Sharma, Power, Cofie, and Robinson played in white in the third against Warley, McKneely, Murray, Saunders, and Buchanan in blue.
Offensive improvement
Offensively, the ‘Hoos had a more diverse group of scorers compared to last season. The pace of play was quicker. But, at the same time, within the same offensive scheme we’ve seen under CTB. There certainly seemed to be an emphasis on getting the ball up the floor quickly to get into offense.
The versatility and size of this offense is something to be excited about. Sharma did well creating his own shots, most notably his great end of shot clock three that had JPJ fans jumping out of their seats.
Still plenty of the screening actions we’re used to with this offense. Definitely playing offense at a quicker pace in halfcourt sets.
— Garrett Keogh (@garrett_keogh01) October 5, 2024
Things felt more balanced for both squads, which should be a breath of fresh air after Reece Beekman and McKneely were required to shoulder the scoring production in 2023.
The shooting looked more dangerous with McKneely, Saunders, and Power all connecting on shots from three. Having a player with the size and athleticism like Saunders really opens things up with so many different shooting threats and Buchanan as the main man on the block.
Key Players: Sharma & Saunders
Sharma, the true freshman guard, was a force to be reckoned with. With nine points, including one three-pointer and two free-throws, Sharma was a bright spot on the offensive end. He shot 2-for-6 from two-point range and 1-for-5 from beyond the arc. Plus, he had a couple of steals.
The rookie plays hard, with an aggressive drive to the basket and the confidence to make his own shot. By our count, Sharma had no assists on the night. He had a few dribble-happy plays, and didn’t display McKneely-level three-point shooting. Nevertheless, with coaching and time to develop, the freshman shows potential as the offensive spark Virginia could always use.
Saunders was clearly one of the best players on the floor. We had him finishing with 10 points and six rebounds. The transfer introduced himself to the home crowd early with two good looking threes to jumpstart the scoring for the white team. His shooting was great to see and his big-game experience should be a great addition to the frontcourt alongside a young Blake Buchanan.
TJ Power’s role was an intriguing question heading into the scrimmage. His shooting prowess was emphasized from the moment he committed to the ‘Hoos and he did a good job moving to shooting spots on his way to a 10-point night. Pairing both he and McKneely on the floor together will be a scary sight for the rest of the ACC this season.
Free throw improvement
After last season’s 63.7 team free throw percentage, it’s safe to say that this is an area of improvement. The ‘Hoos shot a collective 84% from the line in the Blue-White scrimmage. Sharma and Murray hit 2-for-2 while McKneely and Power were 4-for-4 — upholding a high- standard for McKneely, our best free throw shooter last year at 84%.
The pressures of a scrimmage doesn’t compare to in-season play. But the consistency at the line is encouraging. Besides, now that Kyle Guy is on staff, maybe he can teach them a thing or two about the importance of big-time free throws.
Additional analysis
Anna Thomas:
The shooter distribution is one of the biggest takeaways from the scrimmage – and is cause for optimism on offense. Sure, defense is the foundation of Bennett-era basketball and, after the scrimmage, it’s clear that the team is still developing the IQ for taking the “best shot” (as Bennett always says).
But a reluctance to shoot has hurt Virginia in the past, and the scoring responsibility has been a burden carried by only a few players. Getting shots up is important, and it’s encouraging to see an offensive drive from a number of players.
Garrett Keogh:
I thought there was a nice balance of urgency on offense, without compromising the defense the program has leaned on throughout the Bennett era.
Last season’s tournament loss made it clear that the offense needed adjustment, and even though we only saw 30 minutes of scrimmage time, it looked much better with more players contributing. Is it due to schematic changes by the staff or adding better players in the offseason? I’d say a healthy mix of both.
Stay tuned to Streaking the Lawn as we ramp up for basketball season over the next month!
