Though the first meeting in over thirty years, this is actually the seventh meeting of these two schools.
Both teams have some built in excuses, in that they lost big pieces of last year’s team and must integrate newcomers.
If that first name is familiar to you, it’s because Edwards came from Texas Tech and scored 12 points in 23 minutes on 4/5 shooting in the 2019 NCAA Championship game as a freshman.
Franklin’s ability to either beat Moore, or to get others involved, will likely be the most important aspect of the game.
Sasser was actually quite a bit more effective from 2 point range, because he’s so good at getting to the rack.
Sasser is not a particularly attentive defender, which Virginia will try to take advantage of whether he’s guarding Clark or Beekman.
One of either Beekman or Clark likely opens up guarding Edwards or Moore, and that’s a big size advantage for Houston.
One of the places Houston has been vulnerable, both this season and in previous years, is on the defensive glass.
White started 52 consecutive games in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but then missed almost all of last season after tearing his ACL during offseason workouts.
He has only seen 15 minutes per game, but that may change as his 6’11” frame may be a better matchup for Kadin Shedrick.
That hasn’t been the case this season, as both Navy and Radford were successful on the offensive glass while Virginia is among the nations leaders in steals .
The Hoos have not been all that great defensively so far, but it’s early and they’re still figuring out how to work together.