A little over week ago, I listed the 4 ACC coaches that I thought were in the ACC COY race. Those were Chris Mack, Leonard Hamilton, Mike Krzyzewski and and a distant wildcard in Mike Young. We gave Leonard Hamilton the edge at the time of that piece.
With VT in free fall, I think Young has fallen completely out of the chase. Enter in a new possible candidate – Virginia’s Tony Bennett.
Bennett is a lot like Mike Krzyzewski in that he’s a victim of his success. Virginia has become such a national power that Bennett is churning out 25+ win seasons like clock work. He’s had 5 25+ win seasons in the last 6 years. We tend to forget that he can be doing a fine coaching job even if the record isn’t a vintage UVa year.
Despite losing the core of his 2019 national championship team in Ty Jerome, De’Andre Hunter, and Kyle Guy, Virginia is in position for a double bye in the ACC Tournament.
The Hoos have won 5 of their last 6 games to sit 17-7 (9-5), and arguably are playing as well as anyone in the ACC during that time.
They beat Florida State, and nearly won at Louisville. They are a better team than they were a month ago, and are closing in on locking up a NCAA bid.
Bennett again has Virginia’s defense the nations stingiest, giving up only 51.6 points a game.
Tony Bennett still has work to do to be considered with the Big 3 this year, but the opportunity is there. Virginia should be favored in 5 of their last 7 games, and Louisville and Duke are at home.
A 5-2 finish will have Virginia 21-9 (13-7) and virtually assured of a top 4 finish. ACC COY may be out of reach, but Bennett again is proving why he’s one of the best coaches in the country. It doesn’t always have to show as a top 10 season either.
Sometimes it’s still putting out a quality team despite big roster turnover, and Bennett is doing that.
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