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4 CAVALIER CORNER R edshirt third-year center Francisco Caffaro represented Ar- gentina at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo this past summer. Caffaro, who has played in 37 career games at UVA, talks about his Olympic experience and looks ahead to the 2021-22 men's basketball season at Virginia. Cavalier Corner: How would you describe your experience playing for Argentina in the Tokyo 2020 Games? Caffaro: "It was an amazing learning and life experience that no one will ever take from me. It's always a pleasure and honor to represent my country. "To do it at the highest level I could was definitely one of the best, if not the best, ex- periences I have had with basketball so far." Cavalier Corner: What did you learn from your Olympic experience that will help prepare you for the 2021-22 season at UVA? Caffaro: "For this year's team, I think we have to stick to what we know how to do — and do it at a high level. Personally, I learned to just be more patient and take more time before making a read, among other things that can help me. "It was good to be around and learn these things from experi- enced players, especially a professional like Luis Scola, whom I paid a lot of attention to and learned a great deal from during this Olympic experience." Cavalier Corner: What are your goals and expectations for the 2021-22 season? Caffaro: "I never really like to set expectations for myself or the team. Obviously, the aim is always the biggest, and I aim to have the best season I can have and for the team as well. I feel like ev- ery year is a different process and has to be taken step by step." Cavalier Corner: How did the NBA Global Academy prepare you for college and international basketball? Caffaro: "The NBA Global Academy is a program that is very well organized with smart, hard-working people who are ready to give everything they can to help their players improve and make it to the next level. "They do not care if you speak zero English, which was my big- gest problem and what I was most afraid of moving out of Argen- tina. They did an amazing job at making me feel comfortable, and I learned the language shortly after I moved to Australia." Cavalier Corner: What is your favorite place on Grounds and why? Caffaro: "My favorite place on Grounds had to be the Pav, and the reason why should be pretty obvious: The Pav has Chick-fil-A, Subway, Five Guys and sushi all in one spot. Gotta love it!" — Erich Bacher Caffaro, a 7-1, 242-pound center, played in 17 games last season. (Photo courtesy UVA) cavalier sports five questions with Men's Basketball Redshirt Third-Year Center Francisco Caffaro