The Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball program is renowned for its accomplished players, with the Tony Bennett era notably featuring stars like Malcolm Brogdon, Kyle Guy, Joe Harris, and others.
Simultaneously, numerous supporting players have contributed significantly to Bennett’s success over the past decade and more. While often overlooked in favor of the stars, these players excelled in specific roles without necessarily topping the stat sheet.
Today, we’ll explore the outliers who defied this trend by highlighting the top five unexpected standout performances from non-star players in the Tony Bennett era.
Notable Mentions
The standout performance by Francisco Caffaro on January 12, 2022
The imposing center, who maintained an average of 2.6 points per game throughout his four-year tenure at Virginia, chose to assert himself in this intense rivalry match. He racked up 16 significant points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a hard-fought battle against Virginia Tech. When Hokies guard Storm Murphy missed an open three-pointer at the buzzer, it underscored the impact of Papi’s performance, which was crucial in securing a 54-52 victory.
The Blake Buchanan Performance: November 10, 2023
To be clear, Buchanan has a real chance to emerge as a star for Virginia, unlike the other players on this list whose time with the Cavaliers has come to an end. However, this game against Florida led us to believe he had already achieved that status early in his first year. Buchanan remained unfazed by the Gators’ imposing frontcourt, entering the game from the bench to contribute 18 points, aided by his five offensive rebounds.
5) The Jordan Minor Performance: January 17, 2024 Up to this juncture
Virginia had been struggling significantly, suffering from a series of lopsided defeats at the hands of average teams. They were particularly unable to counter any inside presence offered by their opponents. Minor had faced some tough moments of his own, sparking discussions that he lacked the athleticism to play meaningful minutes and that transitioning from the NEC to ACC was too challenging for him.
All these opinions were dispelled one night when the transfer from Merrimack suddenly transformed into the most impactful player on the court in a crucial rivalry game. The Hoos secured a 65-57 victory, largely thanks to Minor’s contributions as he emerged as a defensive stalwart in the post and added 16 points on the offensive end.
4) The Performance of Casey Morsell
November 24, 2019 Casey Morsell’s tenure in a UVA uniform might be remembered for being a shooter who often struggled with his shot. During the 2019-20 season, he averaged just 4.0 points per game and shot 27.7% from the field. Scoring points was particularly difficult for the Cavaliers that season, especially evident in their game against Arizona State in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.
Morsell faced the usual defensive strategy of defenders giving him space and challenging him to shoot, and he only made one of his five three-point attempts. However, in the second half, Morsell transformed into an effective attacker, scoring several crucial baskets down the stretch. He ended the game with 19 points and two steals in 38 minutes, contributing to the 48-45 victory over the Sun Devils.
3) The Performance of Nigel Johnson
December 16, 2017 Johnson, although not a subpar player, was somewhat overlooked in the context of recent UVA history. His time with the Cavaliers was brief, he didn’t receive many minutes, and he wasn’t part of the championship-winning team.
However, in a non-conference game one December afternoon, Johnson unexpectedly had an outstanding performance against Davidson. While Kyle Guy scored 20 points and Devon Hall had 19, it was Nigel who emerged as the leading scorer, achieving a season-high 22 points. In just 26 minutes, Johnson made seven of ten field goal attempts and three of four three-pointers, along with three assists, three rebounds, and four steals. The Cavaliers secured a convincing 80-60 victory.
2) The Performance of Tomas Woldetensae
February 8, 2020 Interestingly, this game concluded as one of Louisville’s two victories over the Hoos since they joined the ACC in 2014. However, even the weakest offense in high-major basketball ignited against the fifth-ranked Cardinals that day. The primary catalyst for this turnaround was Tomas Woldetensae, who was averaging fewer than five points per game at the time.
During this game, the JUCO product simply couldn’t seem to miss, and Coach Bennett continued to utilize the hot hand. Every time Louisville appeared to secure a crucial basket, Woldetensae had a response. Unfortunately, the remarkable performance eventually came to an end, and Louisville clinched the win, 80-73. Nevertheless, Woldetensae’s 27-point effort, which included seven three-pointers, 10-of-13 shooting from the field, and a career-high 38 minutes of play, should be remembered.
1) The Jack Salt Performance
March 14, 2019 The 2018-19 national championship-winning season holds numerous memorable moments, particularly from the postseason. Among these, none was more entertaining than Jack Salt’s display in the ACC quarterfinals against NC State.
Salt was cherished for his various contributions to the team: adeptly setting screens for the shooters, providing defensive stability, and serving as a seasoned leader in the locker room. However, scoring prolifically was not typically part of his repertoire… until this game. Despite not scoring a single basket in seven previous games, Salt shattered his previous career-high with an impressive 18-point performance.
He dominated the Wolfpack defense in the post and even converted four of his five free throws. Perhaps the most unforgettable moment (0:48 in the video) occurred when Salt grabbed a corner rebound, executed a pivot, drove with a single dribble, and scored an and-one reverse layup. It was a defining moment that signaled the game’s outcome. Virginia ultimately overturned a halftime deficit and secured a resounding 76-56 victory.
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