Work-in-progress Virginia back home to challenge Holy Cross

Field Level Media|published: Thu 28th November, 10:02 2024

Virginia Cavaliers forward Jacob Cofie (5) dunks the ball during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats at CFG Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Virginia resumes the learning process against a first-time opponent Friday afternoon when Holy Cross takes the floor in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers (4-2) got back in the win column with a wire-to-wire 74-65 home win against Manhattan on Tuesday. Five players scored in double figures for interim coach Ron Sanchez's work-in-progress squad.

"We're not the most experienced age-wise or experienced as having a large number of games together, so we are learning each other," Sanchez said after the victory over the Jaspers, which followed lopsided losses to Tennessee and St. John's in the Bahamas last week.

Isaac McKneely led Virginia with 18 points against Manhattan and is the team's only double-digit scorer, averaging 13.3 points and shooting 54.5 percent (18 of 33) from 3-point distance.

McKneely is one of just four players returning from former coach Tony Bennett's final Virginia team, and one of two returning starters along with Andrew Rohde (9.4 points per game).

"A lot of guys new to the system," McKneely said. "And it's still early in the season, so you know I'm hoping that by January, February we'll have it figured out."

Virginia is 3-0 at home heading into the meeting with Holy Cross (4-3), which fell to 1-3 in road games Sunday with an 80-55 setback at Maine.

Freshman and leading scorer Max Green (12.6 points per game) was held to three points on 1-of-8 shooting by the Black Bears. Holy Cross missed 17 of its 20 3-point attempts and turned the ball over 15 times. DeAndre Williams led three Holy Cross players in double figures with 12 points off the bench.

The Crusaders of the Patriot League are in their second season under coach Dave Paulsen. They have surrendered at least 80 points in all three of their losses.

"We have to hang our hat on defense if we want to have a chance," Paulsen said earlier this month. "The amount of energy and effort and focus we have to sustain on the defensive end just has to get better."

--Field Level Media