Since Tony Bennett turned around Virginia’s program during his third season in Charlottesville, the program’s staple has been a suffocating pack-line defense annually among the nation’s stingiest units. But times may be changing for the two-time defending ACC regular season champs, as the Cavaliers have been downright offensive this season. In fact, after Saturday’s impressive 86-75 victory over Big East power Villanova (which included a 53-point Cavalier second half), Virginia ranks not only first in KenPom’s overall ratings, but the Cavaliers are also first in adjusted offensive efficiency. It’s not like there’s been a huge dropoff on the defensive end — Virginia currently ranks 14th in adjusted defensive efficiency — but the Cavaliers are now scoring at a rate of efficiency we haven’t seen in the Bennett era, making them even a greater threat to get over the Sweet Sixteen hump this season.
Anthony Gill has been dominant in the paint recently for Virginia. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
Virginia’s offensive improvement — 77.3 PPG compared with 68.8 PPG in the team’s first 10 games a year ago — can be attributed to a combination of tempo and efficiency. Always one of the nation’s slowest teams, the Cavaliers once again rank near the bottom of college basketball in pace (#348). Still, Virginia could act as the poster child for the NCAA’s new rules and enforcement strategy, as its adjusted tempo of 63.5 possessions per game would have ranked about 100 places higher a season ago. That difference in tempo is almost completely due to Bennett’s squad playing a little more quickly on the offensive end. Opponents still take a long time to find a good shot against the Cavaliers (19.2 seconds per possession compared with 19.5 last season), but on the other hand, Virginia has cut its length of offensive possession by over two seconds (from 21.1 to 18.9). The main reason that Virginia’s scoring is up, however, is its increase in efficiency (particularly with respect to its shooting). The shot selection table below shows that the Cavaliers are more accurate shooters this season from all areas of the floor. Additionally, the Cavaliers have lowered the percentage of two-point jumpers taken (easily the least efficient way to score) and are getting to the rim much more often.
Stats Courtesy of hoop-math.com
The drivers behind the Cavaliers’ newfound offensive prowess are the two members of one of the nation’s most underrated backcourts, senior Malcolm Brogdon and junior London Perrantes. As the table below shows, this duo has taken a giant step forward on the offensive end of the court. The Co-ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Brogdon is playing at an All-America level, with great improvement across the board in his offensive efficiency numbers. And despite missing two games because of an appendectomy, Perrantes has been the team’s most improved scorer, notching huge jumps in both usage and efficiency — a rare combination. It seems that the better the competition in front of them, the better the Virginia guards will play. In Saturday’s big win over Villanova, the pair combined for 39 points on 5-of-7 on threes, and 18-of-19 from the line.
Stats Courtesy of KenPom.com
Another primary weapon in Bennett’s arsenal has been senior forward Anthony Gill. In his last two outings — against excellent competition in West Virginia and Villanova — Gill averaged 21.0 points and 9.5 boards per game while shooting an incredible 17-of-20 from the field. The longtime efficiency darling is also well on his way to being recognized as one of the best all-around big men in the country. It’s also noteworthy that Bennett is going to his bench more this season. So far this year, Virginia’s reserves are playing 37.3 percent (#55) of the total minutes compared with 33.6 percent (#143) last season and 29.1 percent (#204) in 2013-14. Improved shooting accuracy could be a result of fresher legs in the stretch runs of games.
The next test for the Cavaliers will be in Charlottesville tonight against a talented California team. It will be another chance for the red-hot Virginia offense to show its stuff heading into the beginning of ACC play. At this point in time, Bennett’s team appears more than ready for the challenge — on both ends of the floor.