Virginia
Odds to win title: +1800
2014-15 Record: 30-4, 16-2 ACC
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Virginia Cavaliers are ready to be defensive pests again and is once again an ACC favorite. The team has the experience and defensive acumen to be there in March. College basketball oddsmakers set the line at +1800 for Tony Bennett’s crew who finished 30-4 last season.
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Virginia has made the tournament the past two seasons and Malcolm Brogdon is coming off an ACC player of the year season which saw him average 14 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He can up that scoring figure still, which would only make this team that much tougher to take down.
Offense had been problematic last year, but Brogdon and 6’2” junior point guard London Perrantes should be able to get it going. Perrantes is a top-notch distributor and averaged 4.6 assists last season to go with his 6.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He needs to look more for his own offense, though, if this team is going to really click on the offensive end. His shooting was not good last season and teams are able to lay off him by and large.
Justin Anderson is gone, but Brogdon was a second-team All-American and led the team in scoring. He is a good passer and a very good defender, too, but the next step will be him creating more looks for teammates and getting better at bailing the Cavs out of late-shot clock situations.
Tennessee transfer Darius Thompson only averaged 2.6 points per game last season but is a good combo guard who can take some time at the point. Thompson is good at getting to the basket, but is not a great finisher. Sophomore Marial Shayok is a good shooter and will get time because the Cavaliers need the floor spacing.
The second scoring option after Brogdon could be 6’8” senior Anthony Gill, who is a strong finisher and is able to draw a lot of contact. He averaged 11.6 points last season but was a mediocre rebounder with 6.5 per game.
Senior Mike Tobey is a great rim protector and key to the vaunted defense. Tobey averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. But he just 17.1 minutes per game last season but will likely play in the mid-20s this year.
Senior Evan Nolte is a good stretch-4 at 6’8” with the range to keep teams honest. He shot just 27.6 percent from three last year, which will have to improve if he is really to serve his purpose. Note posted averages of 3.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomore Isaiah Wilkins will have to hit the boards hard if he wants to earn his time, last year he averaged 2.5 rebounds per game, but was good on a per-minute basis.
The Cavaliers will be a tough team on the basis of its defense alone, but it has to improve its scoring if it is really going to be a threat in March. Brogdon needs help, and Perrantes really has to look to score.
If this team can get some offensive rhythm and develop its scoring options, it will win the ACC. If it tries to do it by shutting opponents down alone, it will fall short again.
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