Virginia heads into Saturday’s trip to No. 14 Wake Forest already fighting an uphill battle, and the first availability report only makes the picture look tougher for the Cavaliers.
The report is a long one for UVA, and the absence of Jekail Middlebrook would be a major hit. With Virginia already dealing with injuries at wide receiver and dealing with inconsistency from Beau Pribula and the rest of the unit, losing Middlebrook would make an upset even harder to pull off against a Wake Forest team that is rolling.
That challenge comes against a Demon Deacons squad Tony Elliott clearly respects. In his midweek press conference, the Virginia head coach said Wake Forest is playing with speed, confidence, and a clear edge on both sides of the ball.
"Yeah, so one, you coach (Jake) Dickert doing a great job with the program down there, andyou saw that last year, and there's a lot of carryovers this year. But what you see is you see experience, especially on the defensive side, and man, the guys are playing fast, got a ton ofbelief in what they're doing.
They know the scheme, and they're confident, and they'replaying fast. They capitalize on mistakes, and then when you flip over to the offense, the quarterback just looks like a different guy.
He looks like he's free. He's playing inside the pocket, outside the pocket.
He's running the ball, man. He's dishing it like a point guard.
Then he's throwing it down the field. And so, what you see is you just see a ton of confidence in all three phases.
And the guys are playing with a ton of energy, a ton of passion, and a ton of belief. And it's a good thing to see on tape.
Like, as a coach, man, you always want to see that out of your team. And I see that out of my team at times, you know."
Virginia now has to try to navigate all of those injury issues and still find a way to land a much-needed win.
In Other News...
Virginias Toughest Early Question Could Decide Close Games
Virginia opens with a slate that should tell us a lot about where this roster stands after losing several key pieces from last season. The Cavaliers still have enough continuity to avoid a total reset, with starters back alongside newcomers who are expected to matter right away, but the early schedule will force those pieces to come together quickly against ranked opponents.
The bigger question is what Virginia looks like when the game tightens and the offense has to produce under pressure. Thijs De Ridder and Chance Mallory are projected to drive much of the scoring load, and the way they handle those possessions could define a lot of close finishes. Around them, Sam Lewis, Jurian Dixon and Christian Harmon are also in the mix to handle important shots and decisions, which gives Tony Bennett options but also leaves the Cavs with a race to see who emerges when the margin gets thin. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Elliott Sends Clear Message As Virginia Offense Keeps Slipping
Virginias offense has hit a rough patch at just the wrong time, and Tony Elliott is making it clear he does not see a quick-fix reset coming. The Cavaliers have dropped three of their last four games, and the production has sagged enough to prompt questions about personnel and play-calling, especially with Beau Pribula under center and Des Kitchings handling the offense.
Elliott pushed back on the idea of shaking up the structure, instead pointing to the full picture around the quarterback rather than placing the burden on one player. He cited the kind of breakdowns that can turn a drive sideways, including drops, protection issues and execution lapses, as the reasons Virginia has had trouble sustaining momentum and finding the rhythm it needs. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Offense Nears A Tough Decision As Losses Keep Mounting
As Virginia keeps coming up short in tight games, Tony Elliott is weighing more than just the next lineup card. The Cavaliers head coach said the recent run of close losses has made it clear the offense needs better play across the board, along with cleaner coaching and execution, if the team is going to turn those finishes into wins.
One of the more intriguing pieces in that conversation is backup quarterback Eli Holstein, who has made a positive impression in practice and is viewed as ready if called on. Elliott made it clear Holstein could be part of the answer if the right moment presents itself, but the larger question for Virginia is whether adding another quarterback wrinkle would actually help steady an offense still searching for the right formula. [Read more 🡒]