Virginia Cavaliers (16-15, 7-9)
Projected starting five:
Jr. G Jontel Evans
Sr. G Sammy Zeglinski
So. G Joe Harris
Sr. F Mike Scott
Sr. C Assane Sene
Important departures:
Mustapha Farrakhan: 13.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
Percent returning scoring and rebounding:
Scoring: 66.4 percent
Rebounding: 80.6 percent
Percent returning scoring and rebounding:
Scoring: 69.0 percent
Rebounding: 81.2 percent
Additions:
Malcolm Brogdon, No. 104 Rivals.com and ESPNU four-star shooting guard from Norcross, Ga.
Paul Jesperson, No. 136 Rivals.com and ESPNU four-star small forward from Merrill, Wisc.
Schedule highlights:
Best non-conference game: vs. Michigan
Toughest conference stretch: Feb. 21-March 1 (at Virginia Tech, vs. North Carolina, vs. Florida State)
Outlook:
Coach Tony Bennett gets back Mike Scott for a fifth year after the senior forward missed nearly all of last season with an ankle injury. In limited action, Scott was very productive, and he should be the dominant post player on offense for Bennett. Surrounding Scott, guards Jontel Evans, Joe Harris and Sammy Zeglinski should have plenty of opportunities to stretch the court for long-range shots.
Bennett should have the Cavaliers competing for an NCAA Tournament bid once again. Virginia doesn’t have a ton of opportunities to pick up non-conference quality wins, so the team’s NCAA Tournament hopes could rest on the team’s performance against Michigan and George Mason — and possibly Marquette in the Paradise Jam.
