Tony Bennett’s surprising retirement comes at a brutal time for Virginia males’s basketball.
On Thursday, the staff’s social media confirmed the 2019 NCAA champion head coach has retired, efficient instantly.
A information convention is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. ET, when Bennett might share extra particulars and/or reasoning behind his sudden retirement. What’s instantly clear, nevertheless, is this can be a difficult time for a training change.
Bennett is a two-time Related Press Coach of the Yr and posted a profession 364-136 report at Virginia. His .728 win proportion is tied for the very best in program historical past and his 500 profession video games as Virginia head coach are probably the most, another than former head coach Terry Holland (1975-90).
Virginia is coming off a disappointing finish to the 2023-24 season. On account of a horrific offensive efficiency, it misplaced to Colorado State within the Spherical of 68 of the 2024 NCAA Event.
The Cavaliers scored 42 factors, together with 14 within the first half, whereas taking pictures 25 p.c for the sport.
Since Bennett led this system to its solely NCAA championship in 2019, Virginia has fallen behind the ACC’s elite, Related Press No. 7 Duke and No. 9 North Carolina.
Now the Cavaliers should stabilize their teaching workers and roster simply 20 days earlier than tipping off the 2024-25 season on Nov. 6 towards Campbell.
Per On3’s Pete Nakos, Bennett’s choice opened a 30-day switch portal window for Virginia gamers.
Virginia is 56th in 247 Sports’ 2024 team recruiting rankings and this system did not register a vote in the AP’s preseason rankings.
The Cavaliers have been already dealing with an uphill battle to be a contender this yr. However Bennett’s choice might sink the season earlier than it begins.
Following a March loss to Colorado State, Bennett mentioned Virginia’s latest shortcomings, together with first-round NCAA Event losses to Ohio and Furman in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
“It is stung to get up to now and never advance. We have to take a look at issues from a system standpoint,” Bennett mentioned. (h/t NCAA.com).
“We gotta get the suitable items in place,” he added.
Now, lower than a month earlier than the 2024-25 season begins, Virginia is lacking its most necessary one.
