UVA Basketball Season Opener: What to Expect as the Cavaliers Face Campbell
The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived—UVA basketball is back in action! The Virginia Cavaliers will kick off their 2024-2025 season on Wednesday night against the Campbell Fighting Camels at John Paul Jones Arena. This season opener is especially significant, as it marks the first time in 16 years that UVA will begin a new campaign without their iconic coach, Tony Bennett, who retired earlier this fall after an illustrious career. Now, it’s up to interim head coach Ron Sanchez to guide the Cavaliers through this new chapter, with eyes firmly on building a winning legacy of his own.
Though UVA's roster is filled with fresh faces, the Cavaliers still possess a deep pool of talent that could propel them to success. The starting lineup is expected to feature a mix of returning players and newcomers, with key contributors like Isaac McKneely and Andrew Rohde leading the charge. McKneely, a junior guard, is expected to be one of the focal points of the offense after a solid sophomore season, where he averaged 12.3 points per game and shot an impressive 44.5% from beyond the arc. Rohde, who is entering his second year at UVA, will also play a vital role as he looks to improve and refine his game under Sanchez’s guidance.
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But the Cavaliers aren't relying on their veterans alone. Transfers Dai Dai Ames (Kansas State), TJ Power (Duke), and Elijah Saunders (San Diego State) are stepping into key roles that could make or break the season. These players bring much-needed experience to a roster that lost a significant amount of scoring from last year's squad. It’s a team still adjusting to a new coaching staff and a somewhat unfamiliar dynamic, which makes this opener against Campbell particularly intriguing.
Speaking of Campbell, the Fighting Camels enter this game with one win under their belt, having dominated Division III Pfeiffer in their season opener. Campbell won 96-49, putting on a strong performance even without relying heavily on the three-point shot. Instead, they attacked the paint, scoring 56 of their points inside and forcing 23 turnovers from their overmatched opponent. While the Camels are coming off a decent start to the season, they face an uphill battle against a much stronger UVA team, which is a formidable 96-23 in season openers and has a near-perfect record in non-conference games at home over the past decade.
Campbell's roster features some notable players, including Bragi Gudmundsson, who made an instant impact in his debut with 15 points in just 18 minutes of action. The Camels are also counting on veteran contributors like Terren Frank and Elijah Walsh to step up this season, especially after key departures. However, despite these promising performances, Campbell is still considered a heavy underdog against a team like UVA, which has a much stronger pedigree, especially at home.
As the game tips off at 7:00 PM ET, all eyes will be on the Cavaliers to see how they adjust under Sanchez’s leadership. With a blend of familiar faces and new talent, this is a Virginia team in transition, and the season opener will serve as an important benchmark to see how well the team has gelled. While expectations for UVA may not be as high as in previous years, given the coaching change, the talent is still there, and they should be able to handle a Campbell team that has struggled historically against ACC competition.
This game is more than just an opener—it’s a glimpse into the future of UVA basketball. Can Ron Sanchez successfully steer this program after Bennett’s departure? How will the new players integrate into the system? And, most importantly, will the Cavaliers start the season off with a convincing win? Fans are eager to find out, and there's no better way to kick off the 2024-2025 campaign than with a solid performance at home against Campbell.
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