Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1512280
DECEMBER 2023 13 when they learned of Beekman's decision. "Very, very, very, very excited," McKneely said. "It's huge for us," Jason Williford said. Williford, a charter member of Bennett's staff at UVA, is one of the program's two as- sociate head coaches. The other is Ron San- chez, who returned to Virginia last spring after five seasons as head coach at Charlotte. Sanchez spent nine seasons at UVA — the final three as associate head coach — before leaving in March 2018 to become Charlotte's head coach. But he and Bennett remained close, and Sanchez was Bennett's first choice to fill the vacancy created when assistant coach Kyle Getter left to join the staff at Notre Dame. "He kind of took a step of faith," Bennett said of Sanchez. "I think he sees what can happen here. I'm grateful, and we're all so excited about it." In an era in which NIL and the transfer portal have become major storylines, Ben- nett believes he can continue to succeed by emphasizing the pillars on which his program has been built. Player development remains a priority at Virginia, where Gertrude, Robinson and Bliss (who graduated from high school a year early) are redshirting this season. Bennett said the Cavaliers are intent on "doubling down on what we think is im- portant and finding guys and still trying to bring continuity and at least keep the core together, because I think those teams that can, however they do it, will end up being ahead in the long run." Virginia started the season 4-0, including a 73-70 victory over Florida at the Hall of Fame Series in Charlotte, N.C. During the week of Thanksgiving, the Hoos flew to Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off, where they went 1-1, losing to Wisconsin 65-41, and then, in the consolation game, defeating West Virginia 56-54. One of the biggest storylines for UVA has been the emergence of the 6-foot-8 Dunn, who might be Beekman's equal as a defensive force. Against Florida, Dunn tied the program's single-game record with 7 steals. Through six games he led the team in rebounds (7.0 per game) and blocked shots (2.5) and was tied with Beekman for the lead in steals (2.8). Dunn, who's from Freeport, N.Y., was considered a redshirt candi- date when he arrived on Grounds in June 2022. The Cavaliers' coaches, though, soon realized that Dunn "brought this energy that we couldn't deny," Bennett said. As a first-year, Dunn averaged about 13 minutes per game. He knew his role would grow as a second-year, and he prepared accordingly. "I put in a lot of work this offsea- son," Dunn said. "I put in a lot of work all my life, and it's just now starting to come to fruition. It's starting to come to light, but I can never take a day off. That's how I've been all my life. Just keep working and working." To see Dunn make such strides is "a joy to me," Bennett said. "That's one of my favorite things ever in coaching: watching a guy just go after his game and take another step." 2023-24 UVA MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time/Result (ET) Nov. 6 Tarleton State W, 80-50 Nov. 10 vs. Florida# W, 73-70 Nov. 14 North Carolina A&T W, 80-51 Nov. 16 Texas Southern W, 62-33 Nov. 20 vs. Wisconsin^ L, 65-41 Nov. 22 vs. West Virginia^ W, 56-54 Nov. 29 Texas A&M% (ESPN2) 7:15 p.m. Dec. 2 Syracuse* (ESPN2) 12 p.m. Dec. 5 North Carolina Central (ACCNX) 7 p.m. Dec. 16 Northeastern (ACCN) 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at Memphis (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Dec. 27 Morgan State (ACCN) 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at Notre Dame* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Jan. 3 Louisville* (ESPN/2/U) 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at North Carolina State* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at Wake Forest* (ESPN2) 2 p.m. Jan. 17 Virginia Tech* (ESPN/2/U) 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Jan. 24 North Carolina State* (ACCN) 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Louisville* (CW) 12 p.m. Jan. 31 Notre Dame* (ESPN/2/U) 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Clemson* (ESPN/2) 2 p.m. Feb. 5 Miami* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Florida State* (CW) 7:45 p.m. Feb. 13 Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 7 p.m. Feb. 17 Wake Forest* (ESPN/2/U) 12 p.m. Feb. 19 at Virginia Tech* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 24 North Carolina* (ESPN/2) 2/4 p.m. Feb. 28 at Boston College* (ESPN/2/U) 9 p.m. Mar. 2 at Duke* (ESPN) 6 p.m. Mar. 9 Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Mar. 12-16 ACC Tournament$ TBD # Hall of Fame Series at Charlotte, N.C.; ^ Fort Myers Tip-Off at Fort Myers, Fla.; % ACC/SEC Challenge; * ACC game; $ at Washington, D.C. Last year, fourth-year guard Reece Beekman led the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.36), plus was second in steals (57) and third in assists (168). (Photo by Jim Daves/courtesy UVA)