Perspective: What separates this Virginia team from its NCAA busts? NBA talent.
By Jerry Brewer Jerry Brewer Sports columnist Email Bio Follow Columnist March 27 at 7:12 PM LOUISVILLE — If you had to choose a face to portray the Virginia men’s basketball program, it actually would not be the boyish smile of Coach Tony Bennett. His look is too sweet and perfect, and he masks the requisite steely edge. More fitting would be the restrained, imperishable expression of forward De’Andre Hunter.
Now the monkey is literally off their backs, thanks to Bennett carrying the stuffed animal into the locker room Sunday night and yanking it off himself after a 63-51 victory over Oklahoma. The greater challenge — and the truer indicator of the program’s current postseason elasticity — starts Thursday night against Oregon in the South Region semifinal round. If the top-seeded Cavaliers beat the No.
This is also Virginia’s best chance because of evolution and pure talent. The Cavaliers remain a slow-tempo, defense-centric team, but they are more dynamic within the system. They have the ability to score quickly, and sometimes they do so to punish faster-paced teams with poor defensive habits. The current squad is the most efficient offensive group Bennett has ever coached. Virginia ranked second in the nation in offensive efficiency this season, its highest mark of this six-year run.
Virginia has four Bennett-coached players currently on NBA rosters . If Hunter and Jerome turn pro after this season and go in Round 1, it would be the first time Bennett has had multiple first-rounders in the same draft. As a fringe NBA prospect, Guy definitely needs to return for his senior year, but even so, Bennett has never had a trio this close to being draft worthy at the same time.
“It’s not the same defense that he’s run,” Oregon Coach Dana Altman said of Bennett. “They get out a little bit more than what they previously have. They’re really pressuring the ball a little bit more with Clark. He’s picking up a little more fullcourt and all that. So I think it’s a little different.”
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