# 2015–16 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team

The 2015–16 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team represented the University of Virginia during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, in their 111th season of play. The team was led by head coach Tony Bennett, in his seventh year, and played their home games at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 29–8, 13–5 in ACC play to finish in a tie for second place. They defeated Georgia Tech and Miami (FL) to advance to the championship game of the ACC tournament where they lost to North Carolina. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a #1 seed where they defeated Hampton, Butler, and Iowa State to advance to the Elite Eight where they lost to fellow ACC member Syracuse.

## Last season

The Cavaliers finished the 2014–15 season with a record of 30–4 overall and 16–2 in conference play, finishing in first place in the ACC for the second straight season. Despite their best regular season record in school history of 28–2, and reaching their highest national ranking since 1983, they fell in the semifinals of the ACC tournament to North Carolina, and in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 to Michigan State.

### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Justin Anderson | 1 | G | 6'6" | 228 | Junior | Montross, Virginia | 2015 NBA draft/Dallas Mavericks |
| B. J. Stith | 2 | G | 6'5" | 205 | Freshman | Lawrenceville, Virginia | Transferred to Old Dominion |
| Darion Atkins | 5 | F | 6'8" | 241 | Senior | Clinton, Maryland | Graduated/2015 NBA draft |
| Maleek Frazier | 22 | G | 5'10" | 170 | Senior | Charlottesville, Virginia | Graduated |
| Rob Vozenilek | 23 | G | 6'2" | 190 | Senior | Richmond, Virginia | Graduated |

### Coaching changes

On April 1, 2015, associate head coach Ritchie McKay announced that he would be re-taking the head coaching job at Liberty, which he previously held from 2007 to 2009 until coming to Virginia. On April 17, Lindenwood head coach Brad Soderberg was hired. Soderberg had previously served as an assistant at Wisconsin alongside Tony Bennett's father Dick, and was interim head coach following the latter's retirement in 2000. On July 2, 2015, Ron Sanchez was promoted to associate head coach.

## Class of 2015 signees

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Jarred Reuter PF | Marion, MA | Brewster Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | August 2, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Mamadi Diakite PF | Conakry, Guinea | Blue Ridge School | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | August 4, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 85 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Virginia 2015 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. "2015 Virginia Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. "2015 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. "Virginia 2015 Basketball Commitments". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015. ||||||
Diakite originally committed to the class of 2016, but at the time of his commitment stated that there was an "80-percent chance" that he could reclassify to 2015 and redshirt. On September 3, Bennett announced that Diakite was eligible to join the program.

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Austin Nichols | 1 | F | 6'9" | 228 | Junior | Collierville, TN | Transferred from Memphis. Under NCAA transfer rules, Nichols must redshirt for the 2015–16 season. After this season he will have two years of remaining eligibility. |

## Roster
### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| F/C | Anthony Gill | Mike Tobey | Jack Salt |
| F | Isaiah Wilkins | Jarred Reuter | Caid Kirven |
| G/F | Devon Hall | Evan Nolte | Jeff Jones |
| G | Malcolm Brogdon | Marial Shayok | Justice Bartley |
| PG | London Perrantes | Darius Thompson | |

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| Nov 13, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | No. 6 | Morgan State | W 86–48 | 1–0 | 15 – Tobey | 8 – Tobey | 4 – Tied | John Paul Jones Arena (14,034) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Nov 16, 2015* 7:30 pm, ESPN2 | No. 6 | at George Washington College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon | L 68–73 | 1–1 | 28 – Brogdon | 8 – Brogdon | 4 – Brogdon | Charles E. Smith Center (5,025) Washington, D.C. |
| Nov 19, 2015* 9:30 pm, ESPN2 | No. 6 | vs. Bradley Charleston Classic Quarterfinal | W 82–57 | 2–1 | 16 – Gill | 7 – Gill | 8 – Perrantes | TD Arena (3,437) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Nov 20, 2015* 9:30 pm, ESPNU | No. 6 | vs. Long Beach State Charleston Classic Semifinal | W 87–52 | 3–1 | 17 – Shayok | 6 – Reuter | 7 – Brogdon | TD Arena (3,417) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Nov 22, 2015* 9:30 pm, ESPN2 | No. 6 | vs. George Mason Charleston Classic Championship | W 83–66 | 4–1 | 21 – Brogdon | 8 – Tobey | 11 – Perrantes | TD Arena (2,820) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Nov 25, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | No. 12 | Lehigh | W 80–54 | 5–1 | 23 – Brogdon | 5 – Tied | 8 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (14,220) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Dec 1, 2015* 7:30 pm, ESPN | No. 10 | at Ohio State ACC–Big Ten Challenge | W 64–58 | 6–1 | 22 – Brogdon | 7 – Gill | 6 – Thompson | Value City Arena (12,445) Columbus, Ohio |
| Dec 5, 2015* 2:00 pm, RSN | No. 10 | William & Mary | W 67–52 | 7–1 | 16 – Tied | 7 – Gill | 3 – Shayok | John Paul Jones Arena (14,105) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Dec 8, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPN | No. 10 | vs. No. 14 West Virginia Jimmy V Classic | W 70–54 | 8–1 | 20 – Gill | 12 – Gill | 4 – Perrantes | Madison Square Garden New York, New York |
| Dec 19, 2015* Noon, ESPN2 | No. 8 | No. 12 Villanova | W 86–75 | 9–1 | 22 – Gill | 7 – Tied | 6 – Brogdon | John Paul Jones Arena (14,593) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Dec 22, 2015* 9:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 5 | California | W 63–62 $^{OT}$ | 10–1 | 17 – Gill | 7 – Wilkins | 6 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (13,265) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Dec 30, 2015* 6:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 5 | Oakland | W 71–58 | 11–1 | 17 – Gill | 8 – Wilkins | 5 – Brogdon | John Paul Jones Arena (14,465) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| ACC regular season |||||||||
| Jan 2, 2016 5:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 5 | Notre Dame | W 77–66 | 12–1 (1–0) | 24 – Brogdon | 6 – Tied | 5 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (14,389) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Jan 4, 2016 9:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 4 | at Virginia Tech Commonwealth Clash | L 68–70 | 12–2 (1–1) | 22 – Perrantes | 8 – Tied | 4 – Brogdon | Cassell Coliseum (6,157) Blacksburg, Virginia |
| Jan 9, 2016 2:00 pm, ACCN | No. 4 | at Georgia Tech | L 64–68 | 12–3 (1–2) | 19 – Brogdon | 7 – Tobey | 4 – Perrantes | Hank McCamish Pavilion (8,073) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Jan 12, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 13 | No. 8 Miami (FL) | W 66–58 | 13–3 (2–2) | 20 – Brogdon | 8 – Gill | 3 – Tied | John Paul Jones Arena (13,495) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Jan 17, 2016 6:30 pm, ESPNU | No. 13 | at Florida State | L 62–69 | 13–4 (2–3) | 19 – Perrantes | 5 – Brogdon | 5 – Brogdon | Donald L. Tucker Center (9,158) Tallahassee, Florida |
| Jan 19, 2016 9:00 pm, ACCN | No. 13 | Clemson | W 69–62 | 14–4 (3–3) | 20 – Brogdon | 6 – Tied | 4 – Tied | John Paul Jones Arena (14,398) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Jan 24, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 13 | Syracuse | W 73–65 | 15–4 (4–3) | 21 – Brogdon | 8 – Gill | 7 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (13,305) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Jan 26, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | No. 11 | at Wake Forest | W 72–71 | 16–4 (5–3) | 28 – Brogdon | 7 – Brogdon | 5 – Perrantes | LJVM Coliseum (9,221) Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Jan 30, 2016 1:00 pm, CBS | No. 11 | at No. 16 Louisville | W 63–47 | 17–4 (6–3) | 13 – Tied | 6 – Gill | 5 – Perrantes | KFC Yum! Center (21,714) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Feb 3, 2016 7:00 pm, RSN | No. 9 | Boston College | W 61–47 | 18–4 (7–3) | 27 – Brogdon | 11 – Gill | 4 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (14,310) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Feb 6, 2016 Noon, ACCN | No. 9 | at Pittsburgh | W 64–50 | 19–4 (8–3) | 21 – Brogdon | 7 – Wilkins | 5 – Wilkins | Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Feb 9, 2016 8:00 pm, ACCN | No. 7 | Virginia Tech Commonwealth Clash | W 67–49 | 20–4 (9–3) | 16 – Gill | 5 – Tied | 5 – Hall | John Paul Jones Arena (14,395) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Feb 13, 2016 4:30 pm, ESPN | No. 7 | at Duke | L 62–63 | 20–5 (9–4) | 18 – Brogdon | 5 – Tied | 4 – Shayok | Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) Durham, North Carolina |
| Feb 15, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPN | No. 7 | NC State | W 73–53 | 21–5 (10–4) | 22 – Brogdon | 13 – Wilkins | 5 – Tied | John Paul Jones Arena (14,016) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Feb 22, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPN | No. 3 | at No. 12 Miami (FL) | L 61–64 | 21–6 (10–5) | 28 – Brogdon | 10 – Gill | 7 – Perrantes | BankUnited Center (7,016) Coral Gables, Florida |
| Feb 27, 2016 6:30 pm, ESPN | No. 3 | No. 7 North Carolina ESPN College GameDay | W 79–74 | 22–6 (11–5) | 26 – Brogdon | 9 – Gill | 6 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (14,593) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Mar 1, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 4 | at Clemson | W 64–57 | 23–6 (12–5) | 18 – Brogdon | 10 – Gill | 4 – Perrantes | Bon Secours Wellness Arena (9,626) Greenville, South Carolina |
| Mar 5, 2016 8:30 pm, ESPN | No. 4 | No. 11 Louisville | W 68–46 | 24–6 (13–5) | 17 – Brogdon | 20 – Tobey | 4 – Perrantes | John Paul Jones Arena (14,088) Charlottesville, Virginia |
| ACC Tournament |||||||||
| Mar 10, 2016 7:00 pm, ESPN/ACCN | (2) No. 4 | vs. (10) Georgia Tech Quarterfinals | W 72–52 | 25–6 | 26 – Brogdon | 8 – Gill | 8 – Perrantes | Verizon Center (20,719) Washington, D.C. |
| Mar 11, 2016 9:00 pm, ESPN/ACCN | (2) No. 4 | vs. (3) No. 11 Miami (FL) Semifinals | W 73–68 | 26–6 | 24 – Brogdon | 7 – Wilkins | 4 – Brogdon | Verizon Center (20,719) Washington, D.C. |
| Mar 12, 2016 9:00 pm, ESPN/ACCN | (2) No. 4 | vs. (1) No. 7 North Carolina Championship | L 57–61 | 26–7 | 15 – Brogdon | 9 – Tobey | 4 – Brogdon | Verizon Center (20,719) Washington, D.C. |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| Mar 17, 2016* 3:10 pm, truTV | (1 MW) No. 4 | vs. (16 MW) Hampton First Round | W 81–45 | 27–7 | 19 – Gill | 7 – Gill | 4 – 3 Tied | PNC Arena (19,722) Raleigh, NC |
| Mar 19, 2016* 7:10 pm, TBS | (1 MW) No. 4 | vs. (9 MW) Butler Second Round | W 77–69 | 28–7 | 22 – Brogdon | 8 – Gill | 5 – Brogdon | PNC Arena (19,433) Raleigh, NC |
| Mar 25, 2016* 7:10 pm, CBS | (1 MW) No. 4 | vs. (4 MW) No. 22 Iowa State Sweet Sixteen | W 84–71 | 29–7 | 23 – Gill | 8 – Gill | 9 – Perrantes | United Center (21,490) Chicago, Illinois |
| Mar 27, 2016* 6:09 pm, TBS | (1 MW) No. 4 | vs. (10 MW) Syracuse Elite Eight | L 62–68 | 29–8 | 18 – Perrantes | 6 – Brogdon | 7 – Brogdon | United Center (20,155) Chicago, Illinois |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest Region ^1 Game played in Greenville, South Carolina, during renovations to Littlejohn Coliseum.. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 (1) | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | N/A |
| Coaches | 6 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |

## Team players drafted into the NBA

| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 2016 | 2 | 36 | Malcolm Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks |

## Awards and honors

* Tony Bennett
** USBWA District III Coach of the Year
* Malcolm Brogdon
** ACC Preseason Co-Player of the Year
** ACC Player of the Year (ACSMA, ACC Coaches)
** ACC Defensive Player of the Year (ACSMA, ACC Coaches)
** All-ACC First Team
** USBWA District III All-District Team
** USBWA District III Player of the Year
** Consensus First-Team All-American
** NABC Defensive Player of the Year
** Senior CLASS First-Team
* Anthony Gill
** All-ACC Third Team (ACSMA, ACC Coaches)
** NABC Allstate Good Works Team
** USBWA District III All-District Team
* London Perrantes
** All-ACC Honorable Mention (ACSMA, ACC Coaches)