Cavalier Corner

December 2015 Issue

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fourth-year forward Evan Nolte, second-year guard Marial Shayok, and redshirt second-year guards Devon Hall and Darius Thompson to pick up the slack for Anderson, who was a first-round pick of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Nolte struggled with his shooting as a fill-in when Anderson got hurt last season and finished the season at 27.6 percent from three-point range, but Bennett likes his passing ability and basketball IQ. A s a r o o k i e , S h a y o k showed some nice flashes. This season, the Canadian's minutes figure to increase. Bennett likes the way Shayok moves off the ball. "He's long, strong and ath- letic, can defend and has the ability to get in the lane," he said. "He had a good offsea- son. He's a key." After redshirting as a first-year, Hall saw sporadic minutes last season, mainly because of the team's depth. The Virginia Beach native figures to see the majority of his time on the wing this season, according to Bennett. Thompson, the transfer from Tennessee who sat out last season, is a player Virginia fans will be see- ing for the first time. Bennett said Thompson will spell Perrantes at the point and could also see time in the same backcourt with him. "He's a coach's son who is really good in the open floor," Bennett said. "He's long. He's not super physical, but he can deflect passes and play well off the ball. He can really get in the lane. He has vision and is a good driver. "He's worked hard on his shot. He's not going to set the world on fire and just look to jack threes, but hopefully he'll keep improving. He brings a lot of dimensions." Meanwhile, Bennett is counting on second-year forward Isaiah Wilkins to do some of the things that Atkins provided. "He's not like Darion in terms of being a post defender and as physical, but he's very active," Bennett said. Bennett compared Wilkins to former Wahoo Akil Mitch- ell in his ability to "re-route" dribblers off ball screens. "He's a great help de- fender," he said. "He'll pick up charges, and is always plugging gaps and doing those kinds of things." Redshirt first-year Jack Salt and true first-year Jarred Reuter are the two other big men who will be vying for minutes off the bench. B r o g d o n b e l i eve s t h e team's depth will help com- bat some of the fatigue that has caught up with it in its last two NCAA Tournament appearances. "It will allow more guys to get more minutes, so the bulk of the minutes aren't on a few guys," he said. With several new rules being introduced this season, including a move from a 35- to 30-second shot clock, there has been talk that Virginia might look to run more. But, of course, stout defense will remain the Cavaliers' staple. Virginia's non-conference schedule, which in- cludes fellow top-25 teams Villanova and Califor- nia, is one of the toughest in the country. "It will help us out later in the season when we QUICK FACTS Head Coach: Tony Bennett, 136-64 at UVA (7th year); 205-97 career (9th year) 2014-15 In Review: 30-4, 16-2 ACC (1st) Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2 Lettermen Returning/Lost: 10/5 Key Additions: F Mamadi Diakite, F Jarred Reuter Key Losses: G Justin Anderson (12.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game) and F Darion Atkins (7.6 points and 6.0 re- bounds per contest) Returning Leaders Points: Malcolm Brogdon (14.0 per game) Rebounds: Anthony Gill (6.5 per game) Assists: London Perrantes (4.6 per game) Steals: Gill (0.9 per game) Blocks: Mike Tobey (0.6 per game) FG Pct.: Gill (58.2) 3FG Pct.: Marial Shayok (38.0) FT Pct.: Brogdon (87.9)

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