A new era begins for one program at John Paul Jones Arena this season, while the other resident team at the University of Virginia’s basketball venue hopes to reach new heights.
Intrigue abounds for both the men’s and women’s representations of Cavalier hoops in 2024-25.
The UVA men’s team is now under the leadership of interim head coach Ron Sanchez after the sudden retirement of the legendary Tony Bennett on Oct. 17. The men begin their season Wednesday with a 7 p.m. home game against Campbell University.
The Wahoo women, encouraged with how they ended last season under head coach Amaka “Mox” Agugua-Hamilton, are seeking their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2018. They tip off Agugua-Hamilton’s third season on Monday with a 7 p.m. home game against American University.
Here are three things to know about both teams:
UVA Men
‘Journey Well’
This is Sanchez’s second stint as a head coach. He previously led the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, for five seasons, including a 22-win campaign in 2022-23 that ended with a College Basketball Invitational championship.
The rest of his coaching career has mostly been by Bennett’s side, whether at Washington State University (2003 to 2009) or Virginia (2009 to 2018; 2023 to 2024).
Sanchez has now replaced Bennett under unforeseen circumstances. He’s asked his team to “journey well” throughout this unique season.
“When I hear the words ‘journey well,’ I think it means sticking together through it all,” junior guard Isaac McKneely said. “Obviously Coach Bennett left, and we’re sad about that, but I think we have to have a positive outlook. And the only thing we can do now is let this bring us closer.
“It’s a long season. There’s going to be ups and downs, but we have to continue to stay on the journey and stick together through it all.”
"We can't wait until we get games started!"#GoHoos | Presented by @VaFarmBureau
pic.twitter.com/edCePdRp1m— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) October 28, 2024
[♪ Upbeat music plays ♪]
Isaac McKneely:
Yeah, that’s one of the things coach Sanchez harped on a lot, was actually the assistants were the ones who recruited all of us. Like, we’re probably closer to them than we ever were. So, I think that’s a big thing.
Nothing’s changed. Nothing’s changed. We’re still doing the same thing offensively, defensively, we’ve been doing all summer. Like you said, the only thing that’s changed is the head coaching job.
Being more aggressive, obviously, taking more shots, hope to score more points. And just being more of a leader. I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve been trying to do this offseason, is be more vocal in practice or scrimmages. Whatever it is, just be more vocal, because I’m one of the oldest, most experienced guys, so these guys trust me to be that leader, and that’s what I’ve been trying to be.
Elijah Saunders:
His message to us has really just been to compete. Our past four practices, five practices, since coach Bennett retired have been just our defense playing harder, more competitive drills to kind of just light a spark in us and have us compete harder.
Isaac McKneely:
Coach Sanchez is a great coach. Obviously, he didn’t expect to step into the head coaching job this soon. But I think we’re excited to play for him. We all trust him.
I know we’re all really excited and we can’t wait to get games started.
[♪ Music ends ♪]
Embrace the (Quicker) Pace?
The Sanchez-led Wahoos will still focus on the defensive-minded system Bennett perfected over his record-setting 15 seasons in Charlottesville. But one twist that was in the works before Bennett retired, quickening the offensive pace, is expected to debut Wednesday.
“It doesn’t have to be anything that’s super creative or overly complex,” Sanchez said. “It’s just more of concepts … let’s get the ball up the floor in three or four seconds, as opposed to five or six seconds. Just little things like that that I think will make a difference.”
New Faces and an Old ‘Guy’
McKneely and senior guard Taine Murray are the only scholarship players who have been in the program for more than two seasons.
The six newcomers include transfers T.J. Power from Duke University, Elijah Saunders (San Diego State University), Dai Dai Ames (Kansas State University) and Carter Lang (Vanderbilt University).
National recruiting services regarded Power, a sophomore, as one of the top 35 players coming out of high school. Saunders, a junior, played on San Diego State’s Final Four team in 2023.
One notable addition off the floor is the return of star alumnus Kyle Guy, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2019 Final Four, who was hired as a special assistant to the UVA staff in August.
🎙️ @kylejguy on the mic!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/g8JR0ARJ58— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) September 26, 2024
Chase Coleman:
Look at Ish and smile and watch what happens.
[♪ Upbeat music plays ♪]
Kyle Guy:
Just smile at him?
Chase Coleman:
Yeah. He’s locked in today.
Kyle Guy:
Happy belated to T.J.
Tony Bennett:
Together on 3. 1, 2, 3 – “Together!”
Kyle Guy:
Good Dai Dai! good Dai Dai!
Come on, finish that, Mac. Finish that, Mac.
We got big guards here! Big guards here!
[Shoes squeaking]
Don’t guess, Rohde. Don’t guess.
Be second to move. You just got to move faster.
[Basketball bouncing, shoes squeaking]
There ya go, Rohde. There ya go.
[Ball bouncing]
Shot!
[Hands clapping]
[Ball bouncing]
Hey! Don’t do that.
Tony Bennett:
How was that?
Kyle Guy:
It was good.
I’ll talk to you, all right?
One blue! One blue!
Two blue! Two blue!
[Shoes squeaking]
Tony Bennett:
That’s great. Make him earn that.
[♪ Music ends ♪]
UVA Women
Time to Dance?
Last season, for the first time since 2008-09, the Cavaliers beat four ranked opponents, including an 80-75 win over No. 5 Virginia Tech in the home finale before a record crowd at JPJ. They finished with a 16-16 record and appeared in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
With several key returning players – including All-Atlantic Coast Conference guard Kymora Johnson – and a slew of exciting transfer additions, Agugua-Hamilton said, “The natural next step would be the Big Dance, NCAA Tournament. But (we’re) just focusing on consistency and the work that goes into it. That’s why we say, ‘Grind now, shine later.’
“We want to focus on the little details that go into being successful and getting this program to reach greatness and sustain it.”
Led by a Local
It didn’t take long for Johnson to become a face of the program. A high school star at St. Anne’s-Belfield in Charlottesville, Johnson shined as a freshman for the Hoos, leading the team in scoring, assists and steals.
