Jay Ballard 
Virginia basketball opens season with victory.
The University of Virginia Cavaliers kicked off their 2024 basketball season with a 65-56 victory over the Campbell Fighting Camels in what turned out to be a surprisingly tight affair. Despite the win, there were plenty of questions and areas for improvement, especially with the season marking the first game under new head coach Ron Sanchez following the surprise retirement of Tony Bennett just 20 days prior. While it’s too early to make sweeping judgments, the game highlighted some positives — notably the emergence of key freshmen — but also raised concerns over player rotations and some veteran performances.
Bright Spots: Freshmen Make Their Mark
One of the most exciting takeaways from the game was the impressive play of first-year players, particularly Jacob Cofie and Iman Sharma, both of whom showcased their skills in pivotal moments.
Cofie, in what can only be described as a “coming-out party,” demonstrated why he was such a highly-recruited prospect. The 6’ 10” forward wasted no time in establishing himself, scoring 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including two 3-pointers. He added six rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in what was a near-perfect performance. Cofie’s versatility was on full display — capable of handling the ball, finishing in the paint, and stepping out to hit the three — making it clear he can be a key piece for the Cavaliers this season.
Similarly, Sharma caught the eye of fans and analysts alike with his smooth, quick-release shooting. Sharma, a highly-touted freshman out of Canada, nailed a three-pointer in the first half that had echoes of UVA’s past sharpshooters like Curtis Staples. His overall confidence on the floor — even though he was pulled quickly after a missed shot in the second half — signals that he could be a fixture in the rotation moving forward.
The Confusion at Point Guard
While the freshmen flourished, there was significant head-scratching over the performance and rotation of the point guard position.
Most notably, the performance of Andrew Rohde, the starting point guard, raised eyebrows. He finished with 1 point, 5 assists, and 4 turnovers, and his overall play did not inspire confidence. At one point, after a turnover in the final minutes, Rohde failed to even hustle back on defense, leading to an easy layup for Campbell. Social Media was filled with fans wondering why he was given extended minutes in crucial stretches of the game.
Even more puzzling was the decision to not have Dai Dai Ames handle the ball in crunch time. Ames, known for his quickness and ball-handling ability, barely played in the second half and was left out of the game during key moments when Virginia needed a steady hand to bring the ball up the floor. The minutes distribution at Point Guard will be a huge talking point this season if performances like this are the norm. It could become even more muddy when injured Christian Bliss is ready to return.
The Bigs: Saunders and Buchanan Stand Out, But Issues Persist
On the inside, Elijah Saunders and Blake Buchanan were solid, but there were still clear areas for improvement.
Saunders, who flashed strength in the post, continued to show why he could be a key player for Virginia this season. The 6’8” junior scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, but the biggest concern for Saunders remains his foul trouble. He fouled out late in the game, and it was clear that Virginia struggled without his presence on the floor. However, his ability to create offense in the post — something UVA desperately lacked last season — could make him a matchup problem for opponents.
Buchanan, the 6’11” sophomore, added 10 points and 7 rebounds, but his inconsistency at the free-throw line was alarming. He went 4-of-9 from the charity stripe, and that could be a major issue against stronger competition. There was a lot to like, but this team will be in close games more often than not. If Buchanan is to be on the floor late, he’ll have to improve at the line.
A Mixed Bag for Virginia’s Offense
As a whole, Virginia had a strong statistical game on offense, shooting 57% from the floor and 46% from three point range. Additionally, four Hoos finished in double figures, a good sign for a team that leaned too heavily on Reece Beekman to do it all last year. On any given night, there could be a different leading scorer for this team, as all nine players that played are capable of getting to double digits.
One of the biggest concerns for UVA will be figuring out ways to get Isaac McNeely open shots. The Junior guard finished with 11 points, but only attempted six shots, a number that simply isn’t enough for Virginia to succeed. If McNeely is going to be the team’s primary scorer,as most expect, he needs to be more aggressive and involved in the offense. The Cavaliers can’t afford to have their top weapon take a backseat when the team needs points in tight games.
Final Thoughts
The 65-56 win over Campbell wasn’t as convincing as many fans and analysts expected, especially considering Campbell’s low preseason projections in the CAA (13 of 14). That being said, the game provided plenty of learning opportunities for the new coaching staff, and the team certainly has the pieces to build on moving forward. The freshmen — Cofie and Sharma — provided a glimpse of what could be an exciting future, but the Cavaliers will need to find more consistency, especially from the veterans, if they hope to compete in the ACC this season.
As Coach Sanchez and the UVA program move forward into this new era, the takeaway from this game is clear: there is talent on this team, but it will take time to shake out the rotation and for the staff to figure out who can be counted on in crunch time. Remember, this was just the opener of a 30 game regular season, and improvement will definitely come. Let’s just enjoy the ride and trus the process. GO HOOS!
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