Virginia Cavaliers
Overall Rank: #39
Conference Rank: #8 ACC
Virginia heads into year number seven under the direction of head coach Joanne Boyle without a single trip to the NCAA Tournament under her watch. The Cavaliers are 43-55 in ACC play under Boyle with only one plus .500 conference record in that time. Their inability to string together quality offensive performances cost them last season in games where they could have won and maybe snuck into the NCAA Tournament. Thus, coach Boyle is in a NCAA Tournament or bust situation for her to make it to an eighth season as head coach.
2016-17 Record: 20-13, 7-9
2016-17 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Joanne Boyle
Coach Record: 110-85 at Virginia, 314-178 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Breyana Mason, Guard, 10.3 points per game
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Jocelyn Willoughby, Sophomore, Guard, 9.8 points per game
Lauren Moses, Senior, Forward, 9.5 points per game
Dominique Toussaint, Sophomore, Guard, 9.5 points per game
J’Kyra Brown, Senior, Guard, 8.6 points per game
Aliyah Huland El, Senior, Guard, 7.4 points per game
Felicia Aieyotan, Sophomore, Center, 4.6 points per game
Jae’Lisa Allen, Senior, Forward, 0.7 points per game
Mone` Jones, Junior, Forward, 1.6 points per game
Lisa Jablonowski, Sophomore, Forward, 2.4 points per game
Key New Players
Brianna Tinsley, Freshman, Guard
Khyasia Caldwell, Freshman, Guard
Amandine Toi, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Lauren Moses and Dominique Toussaint are going to have to lead the way at the offensive end of the court until the rest of the team comes together and gels as a unit. Jocelyn Willoughby is going to be threat for a double-double this season as she averaged just under ten points per game and could increase her rebounding to nearly ten rebounds per game this season. The season opens on November 10th at Mississippi State and that will be a heck of a test right away for Virginia. The Bulldogs are relentless at the defensive end of the court and will challenge the Cavaliers to stay patient in finding that perfect quality shot. At the end of the day it will be about player development and staying healthy with this experienced Virginia team to finally get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 63.2 (200th in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 55.9 (16, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.2 (116, 9)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.1 (22, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (240, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.4 (60, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.8 (190, 9)
Rebound Margin: 1.6 (135, 10)
Assists Per Game: 12.3 (216,12)
Turnovers Per Game: 16.0 (200, 11)
