Virginia’s four-game exhibition tour of Italy got off to a great start as the Cavaliers routed Stella Azzurra 76-24 on Saturday in Rome.
Of course, this is just an exhibition game, but since this is the first time we’ve seen this year’s UVA men’s basketball team face off in a live game, we’re naturally going to over-analyze everything. .
Virginia led a starting five of Reece Beekman, Isaac McKneely, Armaan Franklin, Jayden Gardner and Kadin Shedrick, while Kihei Clark, Francisco Caffaro and Taine Murray were inactive for the game as part of Tony Bennett’s rotation plan for all four exhibition games. Three different players will sit out each match to ensure that the 9 or 10 players who play get enough minutes in that particular match.
It’s very interesting to see Isaac McKneely start with the usual starters from last year, minus Kihei Clark. This move allowed Reece Beekman to start as a true playmaker and McKneely slipped into the shooting position. Obviously it’s just an exhibition game overseas, but it’s saying something that this was the starting lineup that Tony Bennett was looking forward to seeing on the floor for the first match of the tour. .
Virginia dominated the game from start to finish. Perhaps passed by the Hoos, Stella Azzurra managed just four points in the first quarter and trailed 40-10 at halftime.
A few standout clips have been posted on UVA basketball social media, including this three-pointer from Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas:
Kadin Shedrick led Virginia with 13 points and seven rebounds and all ten Cavaliers who played in the game scored points. The first year, Leon III had 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
Here’s Jayden Gardner hitting his virtually unstoppable midrange jumper:
Kadin Shedrick had eight points and five boards in the first half. Freshman Ryan Dunn and Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas had seven points apiece in the first half, and Reece Beekman finished the game with nine points, seven assists and five rebounds. Isaac Traudt put together a strong stat line with eight points, four rebounds and three steals.
UVA led 57-16 at the end of the third quarter and Virginia won 76-24. The level of competition has to be taken into account, but it’s good to see the Hoos dominating on both sides of the pitch, scoring with ease while maintaining their stifling defence.
Check out more highlights from the game in this video from Virginia Sports TV on YouTube:
Virginia will play the second match of her exhibition tour on Monday August 15 in Florence.
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