Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1483813
14 CAVALIER CORNER Clark and Gardner started all 35 games last season, as did Beek- man, who led the team in assists (181) and steals (73), and he also was second in blocked shots (25). Now a third-year, the 6-foot-3 Beekman made the ACC's All- Defensive team last season. He's not known for his outside shot, but Beekman has worked hard on that part of his game, and his 3-pointer against No. 7 Duke lifted Virginia to a stunning victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium last season. "Reece has got a chance to be special," Williford said. "He obviously can do it on the defensive end, and he has the ability to touch the paint and finish at the rim. Now he's just got to show people that he can knock down open shots." Also back on the perimeter are second-year swingman Taine Mur- ray and fourth-year point guard Chase Coleman. In July, the 6-foot-5 Murray played for New Zealand's national team, the Tall Blacks, and helped them earn the bronze medal at FIBA's Asia Cup in Indonesia, their best-ever finish in that tourna- ment. He was the youngest player on the New Zealand roster. In the low post, Shedrick, a 6-foot-11 redshirt third-year, has a tantalizing set of skills. He ranked third among ACC players in blocked shots (1.9 per game) last season, averaged 5.1 rebounds per game, and shot a team-high 64.1 percent from the floor. He closed the regular season by scoring a career-best 20 points in UVA's road win over Louisville. "I think the next step for him is, quite honestly, just consistency," Williford said. "Being able to be on the floor and not get the ticky-tack fouls that have limited his minutes. He's gotten stronger. He's worked. It's more of a mindset for him." Shedrick was among Virginia's standouts in its summer trip to Italy. In August, the Cavaliers stayed in three cities in that coun- try — Rome, Florence and Rapallo — and won three of the four games they played. The first two, against Italian teams Stella Azzurra and Orange1 Basket, were blowout victories for Virginia. The competition level increased dramatically for the final two games. Both were against Basketball Club Mega MIS, a professional team from Serbia whose starters included two NBA prospects. "The trip was wonderful in terms of all the things we experienced, and even basketball- wise," Bennett said. "We wanted to play this kind of competition." Under NCAA rules, a team that's going on tour is allowed 10 additional summer practices. Virginia's newcomers benefited from the extra practice time, as well as the games and cultural experiences in Italy. "The guys who were already in the program, they've been through so many games and events and things where they're spending time hanging out," Bennett said, "but for our first- years and Ben, I think that was really valuable to indoctrinate them. I think it definitely made them feel more comfortable around the whole group. Sometimes there's a little feeling-out process, but that's been sped up." Clark said the tour was "a great bonding experience for me and my team- mates. I think we grew closer for sure. I think it was a time for Ben and the new guys to just jell with the guys who are returning." Shedrick agreed. "This team feels so much tighter already than it did last year," he said after one of the games in Italy. "The first-years already feel super comfortable. I remember when I was a first-year, I didn't feel com- fortable until I don't know when. But they're already accustomed to all of us, and that aspect is really important, the chemistry. "And then basketball-wise I think this will be a great foundation [for the season]." At various times during the games in Italy, each of the four first-years shined, and that was during preseason practices at John Paul Jones Arena, too. "It's just about becoming con- sistent," Bennett said. "But they all show great flashes, and as they continue to learn and get consis- tent, they're going to have really good careers. "[For some of them] it might happen sooner than others, and then the question will always be: Will you be willing to work through it, be patient and go?" This is Bennett's 14th season at UVA, where his record stands at 316-117 (.730 winning percentage). This is probably the most experienced team he's ever coached, and it will be challenged early in the season. By the time the calendar flips to 2023, the Hoos will have faced such nonconference opponents as Northern Iowa, Baylor, Michigan, Houston, James Madison and either Illinois or UCLA. Last season, Houston and JMU defeated UVA. That aggressive schedule allows the Cava- liers "to really have a chance to go get some big wins, which is important," Bennett said. "Look, even if those don't go the way you want, you really can grow and learn from those games and prepare yourself going forward," the coach added. His players feel the same way. "We have a gauntlet of a schedule," Gard- ner said. "We're going to be battle-tested for conference play." "Those are like once-in-a-lifetime opportuni- 2022-23 UVA MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 7 NC Central (RSN) 9 p.m. Nov. 11 Monmouth (RSN) 9 p.m. Nov. 14 Northern Iowa (ACCN) 8 p.m. Nov. 18 vs. Baylor^ (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Nov. 20 vs. UCLA or Illinois^ (ESPN) TBA Nov. 25 Maryland Eastern Shore (ACCN) 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at Michigan+ (ESPN) 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3 Florida State* (ESPN2) 2 p.m. Dec. 6 James Madison (ACCN) 8 p.m. Dec. 17 Houston (ESPN2) 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at Miami* (ACCN) 8:30 p.m. Dec. 28 Albany (ACCN) 6 p.m. Dec. 31 at Georgia Tech* (ACCN) TBA Jan. 3 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 7 Syracuse* (ACCN) 5 p.m. Jan. 10 North Carolina* (ESPN2) 9 p.m. Jan. 14 at Florida State* (ESPN2) 4 p.m. Jan. 18 Virginia Tech* (ESPN/2/U) 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Wake Forest* (ESPN2/U) 2 p.m. Jan. 28 Boston College* (RSN) 12 p.m. Jan. 30 at Syracuse* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at Virginia Tech* (ESPN/2/U) 12 p.m. Feb. 7 NC State* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Feb. 11 Duke* (ESPN2) 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at Louisville* (ESPN/2/U) 7 p.m. Feb. 18 Notre Dame* (ESPN/2/U) 12 p.m. Feb. 22 at Boston College* (RSN) 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at North Carolina* (TBA) 6 or 8 p.m. Feb. 28 Clemson* (ACCN) 7 p.m. March 4 Louisville* (TBA) 12, 2 or 4 p.m. Mar. 7-11 ACC Tournament$ TBA ^ Continental Tires Main Event at Las Vegas; + ACC/Big Ten Challenge; * ACC game; $ at Greensboro, N.C.; RSN — Regional Sports Networks; ACCN — ACC Network