Five Things to Watch for in Virginia's Early Season Reading Early Season Questions Answered, as Virginia Prepares for First Tests

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Early Season Questions Answered, as Virginia Prepares for First Tests

Early Season Questions Answered, as Virginia Prepares for First Tests

Led by new coach Ryan Odom, the Virginia Cavaliers are off to a 4-0 start with more challenging opponents looming on the horizon.  Before the season tipped, I listed five things to watch for in the early season.  Now, we look back to see how it’s played out so far. 

Cruise Control

Through four games against mid-major competition, Virginia has taken care of business.  None of the contests were ever in doubt, with the Hoos overwhelming lesser opponents as you’d hope.  The last two victories were especially convincing, taking 28-point leads into half over Hampton and Marshall.  They’ve covered the Vegas spread in three of those four wins, helping them inch upward in adjusted efficiency ratings.  

Over the long run, the margins of those games make little difference.  But typically, teams that wobble in the early season show signs even against the cupcakes.  Odom’s Wahoos passed that test and seem well-prepared for the stiffer upcoming opponents.    

Euro Stars

How well Virginia’s European imports Thijs de Ridder and Johann Grunloh adjust to the college game, as well as being in more featured roles, was seen as a big key entering the season.  It may be premature to fully judge.  But so far, so good.  

De Ridder currently leads the Wahoos in scoring at 17.3 PPG.  The more relevant indicator, he has the highest usage rate on the team at 26%.  He seems to have embraced his role as a go-to scoring option.  Meanwhile, Grunloh’s rate is a tad lower than we’d like at 19%. But he’s coming off his best scoring effort, a 16-point performance against Marshall in which he got up a season-high 11 field goal attempts.  Grunloh also leads the team in rebounds at 7.5 per game and ranks second nationally in blocked shots at 4.3 per game, so not a bad start for the German. 

I’ll be keeping an eye on their foul rates as UVA steps up in competition.  As mentioned before, both of them were a little too foul prone in Europe.  In their roles with this UVA team, it’s really important that they stay on the floor.  Especially De Ridder.  So far, they’ve both kept it at an acceptable rate.  

Hometown Hero

Early season games represent the best opportunity for players to make an impression and move up in the rotation, before roles get cemented.  Virginia freshman point guard Chance Mallory has made the most of his first four career outings.  The St. Anne’s Belfield product is averaging 10.8 points, on an efficient 55% from the field while hitting at an early 60% clip behind the arc.  He’s carrying an impressive 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and his 2.8 steals per game ranks third in the ACC. 

Chance has logged over 20 minutes in every game.  Despite coming off the bench, his 22 minutes per game is 5th on the team.  He’s already on equal footing in the rotation with the more experienced guards that were expected to be ahead of him.  Mallory’s play has been the story of the early season, in my opinion.  The next four years with him are going to be a lot of fun.  He is a perfect fit in Odom’s system.  

Not So Fast

Virginia is playing at a much faster tempo.  There was only one direction that could go from the methodical pace of the Tony Bennett years.  But Odom’s past teams didn’t typically play at a super fast pace statistically either, and that’s the case for this year’s Wahoos.  So far, their adjusted tempo ranks 316th nationally. 

By the way, I don’t think that matters at all.  Fans make too much of it, mostly useful for calculating adjusted efficiency.  And the Hoos have been extremely efficient so far, ranking 11th offensively and 47th defensively.  Good for 25th in the country overall.  That’s what matters.

Solid Sam

We wondered about junior wing Sam Lewis after he had a couple disappointing performances in preseason scrimmages.  He’s been just fine since the games started to count.  The former Toledo star has started all four contests, averaging 10.8 points and shooting a blistering 53% from three-point range.  

Due to the injury to forward Devin Tillis, Lewis has seen expanded duties.  Odom has turned to him as an occasional small-ball power forward, helping back up Thijs de Ridder.  Lewis was always going to be an important piece this season.  But at least for the time being, he’s even more crucial.  His versatility in that regard will be invaluable for the Hoos in the non-conference tests to come.  

What’s Next

Ryan Odom’s Wahoos head over to West Virginia this weekend for their first real tests of the season as part of the Greenbrier Tip-Off.  They’ll face Northwestern (4-0) Friday evening at 5:00 PM Eastern, then Butler (3-1) on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.  

Both look like quality opponents.  Northwestern currently ranks 44th in the KenPom ratings, while the Butler Bulldogs sit at 64th.  They represent opportunities for potential resume wins, depending how their seasons play out.  Virginia will likely be favored in each game.  It’ll be interesting to see how the new look Wahoos respond to their first power conference challenge.  

Come join the discussion on the Locker Room Access forum, the best spot on the web for the Wahoo Basketball fanatic.  

(Featured Image Credit: Josie Drumheller/UVA Athletics) 

 

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