Locker Room Access - Virginia

Adding context to the Tony Bennett retirement news, what to expect from a Ron Sanchez coached team, and details from UVA’s first secret scrimmage in this Locker Room Access Intel Report.  

Retirement Basics 

Tony Bennett didn’t hold back at his retirement press conference on Friday.  He explained his decision pretty well.  I recommend watching if you haven’t, linked here.  You may also want to check out Matt Norlander’s article on CBS Sports.  Bennett talked further with him, diving a bit deeper into his reasons and decision timeline.  

The cliff notes version is that Tony isn’t a fan of the current condition of college sports, the wild west lawlessness brought on by the transfer portal and unregulated pay-to-play.  All the extra unpleasant stuff that now goes along with being a college coach burned him out, and he no longer feels he’s the best person for the job.  He made the decision over the long fall break weekend, then gave it one more practice on Wednesday to be sure before moving forward with the retirement announcement.  

Other than presumably Ron Sanchez, now the Interim Head Coach for this season, the rest of the staff along with the players were informed at a 3pm Thursday meeting.  The official press release went out an hour later.  It came about very suddenly and as a total surprise to everybody.  I’ve heard some staff members didn’t care for the timing and/or being kept in the dark.  But they’ll all rally together and get ready for a new season behind Coach Sanchez. 

My 2 Cents  

I don’t think NIL and other changes really caused his retirement as much as it pushed it forward.  The retirement talk started before all that.  He famously promised Isaac McKneely that he would be at UVA for his entire college career.   For a while, everybody believed we were safe until 2026 because of that promise.  And if the system hadn’t gone crazy, I feel sure we would have been.  But as time went on, it shifted to more of a hope that he would hold on that long.  The talk this offseason became one season, maybe two.  You could feel it becoming more definite, then speeding up.  

Tony’s hope had been to make one last run.  That’s what everyone around the program had said for the past few years.  He wanted to build a team capable of having Final Four aspirations.  I think he probably felt like the current group was a year away from maybe having a shot, often talking about the two-year window with the core of his team. In a way, things might have been going according to plan.  He just didn’t have enough gas left in the tank for two more years of dealing with all the extra BS that goes along with the job in today’s environment.  

As he alluded to, the staff shielded him as much as possible from NIL dealings.  It couldn’t be done completely though.  Each year, NIL has become more and more a part of the recruiting process.  At first, coaches were forbidden from direct involvement.  Then that changed, and it became a job requirement to negotiate with a recruit’s family or their agent.  This offseason in particular, it ramped up.  Before, NIL was only a topic in transfer recruiting for the most part.  Coaches only needed to deal with it for a month or so each year.  Now, it’s a central part of every high schooler’s recruitment too.  There’s no escape.  

The signs were there that the end was near.  His involvement in recruiting scaled way back the last couple years.  For the most part, they’ve just been trotting him out to be seen and when it was time to close the deal.  Assistants were making most of the decisions.  He skipped several evaluation weekends, which would have been unthinkable before. Then the most obvious sign came this fall when he didn’t bother to begin the 2026 recruiting cycle.  There was no point, he wouldn’t be around when they enrolled.   

Some of that may have had to do with his disillusionment with the way recruiting had changed too.  Bennett always built personal relationships with recruits.  He was terrific at it, because it was sincere.  By the time new players arrived, there was already a close bond.  He enjoyed being a mentor, even to recruits that didn’t choose Virginia.  That’s why he was so successful at getting them on the rebound as transfers.  At his press conference, he said something about relationships becoming more transactional. I think that probably bothers him more than the headaches of today's recruiting process.  

Interim Coach

Ron Sanchez was named Interim Head Coach for this season.  It’ll be a tryout, allowing him the opportunity to prove himself.  In the meantime, Athletic Director Carla Williams said they will start a national search for the next head coach.  If Sanchez can pull this team together and have a good season, winning a game in the NCAA Tournament would be great, he’ll have a good chance at winning the job.  If not, they’ll go in a different direction.  Most likely, we won't get a definite answer until at least March.  

There probably won’t be much of a noticeable difference under Sanchez.  He’s obviously very much a Bennett disciple. The real challenge will be keeping the team together and dealing with the inevitable adversity that hits over the course of the season.  These players didn’t sign up to play for him, and the staff didn’t join to serve under him.  It would be easy for them to slack off when times get tough.  This season will be a real test of Sanchez’s leadership ability.  

I will be curious if roles are a little different than under Bennett.  It’s only natural for a coach to prefer the players he’s chosen.  We may see Sanchez’s recruits benefit from the change.   I would expect freshman Jacob Cofie to get more of an opportunity.  Perhaps a longer leash for Elijah Saunders, another Sanchez recruit.  On the flip side, Jalen Warley and Blake Buchanan may not be as secure in their roles as before.  Bennett had preferences that worked in their favor, and that might not be the case with Sanchez in charge.  

Recruiting

Early word is that it looks like St. Anne’s Belfield (VA) point guard Chance Mallory will remain committed to Virginia.  The news is still fresh, he hasn’t had a lot of time to think yet, so there's no guarantee. But from what I’ve heard, he’ll likely sit tight for now while seeing how this season and the coaching situation unfolds.  And if so, that’s the best we can hope for right now.  

Other than that, recruiting will pretty much be non-existent until there’s a new head coach in place.   Sanchez will probably do some relationship building with 2026 recruits, in anticipation of getting the job.  We could have an occasional visitor for games.  But there’s just very little that can be done until there’s coaching clarity.  

Next spring is probably going to be wacky no matter what happens.  We’re much more likely to lose transfers after the season.  An almost total reset isn’t out of the question if a new coach is brought in. Even if Sanchez is kept as head coach, there could be other staff turnover and that could lead to transfers.  Just enjoy the season, then brace for a storm and hope it’s mild.  

Secret Scrimmage

UVA took it on the chin in their first secret scrimmage on Saturday, losing 71-49 at home to VCU.  The box score is posted up in the previous Intel forum thread if you’re interested.   Not much good to report.  They were thoroughly outplayed, shooting 32% to VCU’s 50%.  The Hoos committed 18 turnovers, just a lousy performance.  But not totally unexpected under the circumstances. 

Virginia was without three players.  Isaac McKneely, Dai Dai Ames, and Christian Bliss were all sidelined with what I was told were minor injuries.  Starting center Blake Buchanan also left the game after logging only 8 minutes.  So, they were obviously missing some key guys.  Still, you’d hope for a more competitive score.  

Elijah Saunders was a bright spot, scoring an efficient game-high 19 points.  And freshman Jacob Cofie chipped in 8 points and 5 boards.  They were the only two over 4 points.  TJ Power and Ishan Sharma had horrendous shooting performances, going a combined 1-19 from the field.  Other than Cofie logging 20 minutes, probably a result of Buchanan needing to leave the game, there didn’t seem to be any surprises in terms of role.  With so many players missing, it’s hard to draw conclusions.   

What’s Ahead

We’ll see if the Hoos can bounce back in this Saturday’s secret scrimmage at Georgetown.  The Hoyas won their first closed-door game against Maryland, so they might be better than people expect.  I doubt we’ll get a box score this time, but there should be at least some tidbits to pass along.  

Unless there are surprises ahead the next few weeks, this will probably be the last official Intel Report of the offseason.  We’ll keep the VIP forum threads running of course, so check there for updates all season long.  My sincere thanks to all the loyal subscribers who’ve stayed along for the ride.  It’s been a wild offseason.  I'm ready to get back to basketball.  

By Josh Burton

The University of Virginia Football team fought hard but was unable to keep up with the talent on #10 Clemson’s roster as the Hoos went up early but ultimately lost 48-31, now bringing them to 4-3 on the season. Let's take a look at how it played out. 

Offense

I thought, given the obvious talent gap, the Hoos offense played pretty well yesterday. Running back Xavier Brown provided a spark in his limited opportunities, averaging over six yards per carry. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea also had a pretty good game, although he was pulled late and replaced by Tony Muskett after the score started to get away from them. Colandrea did a great job of limiting mistakes and generally making the right decisions. Most of the issues on field came from the offensive line being outmatched by Clemson's star-studded pass rush.  While Colandrea wasn’t able to get much going, the fact that he didn’t make any costly mistakes trying to force the issue is a reason for optimism going forward.

#UVA RB Xavier Brown is a man that doesn't wan't to go down.

Brown rushes for the first down and some.

— Jacquie Franciulli (@JacquieFran_) October 19, 2024

My main gripe with the offensive side of the ball was play calling. In a game where you aren’t expected to win or truthfully even be competitive (the betting line floated around Clemson by 20), you can afford to be more aggressive in your calls. My main complaint was when the Hoos managed to get the ball down deep into Clemson territory early , they completely botched a golden opportunity. On a second and three from the Clemson four-yard line Grady Brosterhous was brought in to try and power forward. Brosterhous gained one yard, bringing up third and two. On the next play, the regular offense was brought in and they had an incomplete pass. The Hoos followed that by electing for the field goal. In a game like this, I would’ve preferred seeing them go for the touchdown in that situation to try to build as much of a lead as possible. Also given the success the “Grady Bunch” has had this year, I wouldn’t have minded even seeing that package stay in for multiple plays from inside the three-yard line, especially given that there was still a first down that could be picked up.

The Hoos still have three matchups scheduled against ranked opponents; I hope to see more situational aggression in those contests.

Defense

I thought the defense also played well, especially in the first half. The Hoos held Clemson to just three points for over twenty-two minutes of game time to start, then went into the half having allowed 17 points. Kam Robinson and Jonas Sanker once again starred for the Hoos, collecting eight tackles apiece.  Kam came up with a huge interception that led to the Hoos go-ahead score. The biggest issue on this side of the ball was in the secondary, as a general lack of speed seemed to really limit them against the impressive Clemson playmakers. This is an area I’ve been a little concerned with for a few weeks and will be watching to see what adjustments are made going forward to accommodate. 

Special Teams

Special teams looked a lot better than they did the week before, specifically the punting unit. A lot of the blame for last week's loss could be reasonably believed to have been the decision to try the “rugby style” punts, as punter Daniel Sparks made multiple errors in getting the punt out cleanly, including a muff that gave Louisville the ball deep in Wahoo territory late in the game.

This week, they went back to the traditional approach and results were much better. Sparks had four punts over fifty yards, including one that pinned Clemson at their own 15 yard-line. With what appears to be a tough stretch to end the season, the Hoos simply can’t afford mistakes from their special teams. 

Next Week 

The Hoos return home next week to host the North Carolina Tar Heels.  Kickoff is scheduled for noon, televised on The CW Network. How do you think the Hoos will do? Will they take the next step toward reaching their first bowl game since 2019? Come follow along with us over on the Locker Room Access forum!

(Featured Image Credit: Josie Drumheller/UVA Athletics) 

As you’re probably aware by now, Tony Bennett is retiring after 15 glorious seasons as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Virginia.  He informed the team of his decision yesterday afternoon, and the news broke on social media within the hour.  There’s a press conference scheduled for 11:00 AM this morning to make it all official.   

BREAKING: Tony Bennett to announce his immediate retirement in a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m. pic.twitter.com/jw9HYtyYaq

— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 17, 2024

Very surprising news.  Even people who go to great lengths to keep their finger on the pulse of the program were totally blindsided.  No one saw this coming right now.  It’ll be really interesting to hear his explanation, mostly for the timing, at today’s press conference.  

It was widely believed that he would retire within the next few years.  There were signs of that coming, perhaps even being planned.  Only the timing is a big surprise.  Three weeks before the start of a new season.  And with a promising young team, which he seemed excited about coaching just last week at ACC media day.  But Tony Bennett more than earned the right to walk away on his own schedule.  

Bennett Legacy 

I’ll leave the task of trying to do justice to Tony Bennett’s legacy to more talented writers.  All things considered, he’s the greatest coach in UVA sports history.  On the Mount Rushmore of college basketball coaches over the last two decades.  He took Virginia Basketball to heights that most fans previously thought were impossible.  And then he won a national championship.

Tony Bennett at Virginia:

🔸 364 wins - most in UVA history
🔸 2019 National Title
🔸 8 ACC Titles
🔸 3x National Coach of the Year

A legend in every sense of the word 👏 @UVAMensHoops pic.twitter.com/Q0QV5Zqvfp

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 17, 2024

What I appreciated most about Tony Bennett is he did things his own way.  He had a lot of critics, oftentimes vicious.  And he did not give a damn about any of them.  There’s a supremely confident guy behind that humble smile.  He’s a choir boy, yet somehow a rebel at the same time.  From the methodical style of play, to his approach in recruiting, to the five pillars, and the many little quirks that went along with him. It was all unapologetically unique.  

Bennett built a great team, and a program that lasted.  Exactly as he said he would in his opening press conference.  Above all, he did it with unmatched class.   His Wahoos were an absolute pleasure to root for these last 15 years.   

Interim 

Associate Head Coach Ron Sanchez is expected to be announced as the Interim Head Coach.  It was no secret that Bennett wanted Sanchez to be his successor.  This arrangement will allow him the opportunity to prove himself.  And it sets him up favorably, inheriting a team that’s expected to do pretty well.  UVA will make a decision on the next head coach after the season.  

BREAKING: Sources tell The Hoop Herald that Tony Bennett is Healthy and that the Interim Head Coach for the 2024-2025 Season will be current Associate HC Ron Sanchez

Sanchez was 72-78 in 5 seasons as the Head Coach at Charlotte

This will give Sanchez a good tryout for the job pic.twitter.com/H8FZYHwIPq

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 17, 2024

Sanchez has been a long-time assistant under Tony Bennett, going back to their time at Washington State.  He left the UVA staff in 2018 to become the head coach at Charlotte, where he spent five seasons at the helm before resigning to return to Bennett's side last year. 

His overall record at Charlotte was 72-78.  The 49ers won 22 games in his final season, however, their highest win total in over 20 years. Rumors were that Charlotte wouldn’t commit to a contract extension, so he jumped on the UVA opening when former assistant Kyle Getter bolted for Notre Dame.  No doubt with the hope that this type of opportunity would come. 

Re-Recruiting

The transfer portal is now open to every Virginia player.  Following a coaching change, they have a 30 day window to enter their names.  I doubt anyone will make that move at this point on the calendar.  But Coach Sanchez and the staff will need to make sure everybody is on board.  

A more serious concern is going to be keeping their lone 2025 recruit.  St. Anne’s Belfield (VA) point guard Chance Mallory committed to the Wahoos last month.  We’ll see whether he decides to reopen his recruitment.  As things stand, he doesn’t know who would be his coach at Virginia next year.  Keeping Mallory’s commitment would be a great first step toward earning the job for Sanchez.  

What’s Ahead

There will be basketball soon.  In the aftermath of all this drama, the Hoos will have their first secret scrimmage this weekend against a pretty good VCU team.  Then next week, they head up to Georgetown for another game behind closed doors.  Always curious to hear the results and any details that leak out after those games.  

In just 19 days, UVA opens the new season against Campbell at John Paul Jones Arena.  We’ll have the 2024-25 Wahoos covered every step of the way on Locker Room Access.

(Featured Image Credit: Matt Riley/UVA Athletics)