Transcript: Tony Bennett, UVA Men's Basketball Players Talk at 2023 ACC Tipoff

Read what Tony Bennett, Reece Beekman, and Ryan Dunn had to say at the podium at the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte

Virginia men's basketball head coach Tony Bennett, senior guard Reece Beekman, and sophomore forward Ryan Dunn represented UVA at the ACC Men's Basketball Tipoff event in Charlotte on Wednesday. Read everything that Tony Bennett, Reece Beekman, and Ryan Dunn said during the press conference on Wednesday in the transcript below. 

Q. With so many new faces, what has been the process of developing some chemistry and kind of figuring out what kind of a team you have when you have so many new guys?

TONY BENNETT: Yeah, I mean, that's why these preseason scrimmages are so valuable. I think you have to -- I've thought about this a lot with them, be patient and encouraging but also very stubborn. I think they can coexist, even though it doesn't sound like it with them.

But yeah, you probably are a little different than years past when we've had so much experience and continuity.

It is exciting, and I think you start with Reece because Reece has played -- he's going into his fourth year. He's our point guard. So that's really important to have that.

Then we have two other guys who played. McKneely played as a freshman 20 minutes and Ryan Dunn, Isaac McKneely and then Ryan Dunn played 11 minutes a game. So not a lot of experience, but I think you rely on some of those guys and some of the transfers and you just keep plugging and know what you are now is not going to be what you are at the end of the year, and I think there's a lot of room for growth.

Q. Going off of that, the ever-evolving and ever-changing world that we have in collegiate athletics, you've brought guys that are patient and willing to go through the process. How have you had to evolve knowing that that doesn't happen in today's world of college basketball and college athletics?

TONY BENNETT: Yeah, I don't know if you can say it doesn't happen. I think everyone is in a bit of a -- this is like a big experiment right now. It's pretty new. What I believe -- yeah, you'll lose some guys. There's more opportunities. It might be a little easier to step away.

But we talk about doubling down, that's the word we're using, doubling down on what we think is important and finding guys and still trying to bring continuity and at least keep the core together, because I think those teams that can, however they do it, will end up being ahead in the long run.

You know, it's finding the right guys, and I think being as honest and truthful as you can and know there's going to be some ups and downs, but I don't think you change the way you coach.

I think the transfer portal, NIL has maybe allowed you to add some pieces to your team. I think the NCAA Tournament last year and the game in some ways is as good talent-wise as it's been -- maybe it hasn't been built like it was in years past, so that part makes it almost more challenging, but those teams that can stay together are good.

But you can't stick your head in the sand and say this is exactly how it was. You adjust. You make some changes. But you still hold dear and hold true to what matters to you and your program and you find the guys that will buy into it.

No one has the answers as to how this will play out. Everyone has got their ways, and I think the way we've done it still has a chance.

If you have to flip your roster every year and you're turning over, that's going to be hard for a lot of people. There's will only be a few people who can do that.

Q. You've become an elder statesman in the league. How does the personality of the league change with so much coaching turnover and so much new energy that is sitting on the benches now?

TONY BENNETT: I guess we are reflecting the new era of transfer portal and NIL stuff.

No, I think this league, first, you always talk about the history of the league, who's built it, the programs and why it's known as such a great basketball league.

But what I've noticed over the years, there's so many good coaches. Strategies, offensive and defensive schemes, with film watching, with watching the European league, watching all the quality stuff, it's good.

My dad and I talk about that a lot. I always joke, you don't have to deal with half the things we have to deal with these different styles and systems.

But I think there's excellent minds, excellent coaches, bulldog recruiters. It's challenging, but sure, the league lost Hall of Fame coaches. When you lose Coach Boeheim, Coach Brey, obviously Coach K, Coach Williams over the last few years -- I don't think I am forgetting anybody, but that's a lot of them.

That is, and there's been some continuity, and I think it's why our league has stood well.

You look at the National Championships, the first round draft picks, that stuff speaks for itself. But with new coaches, with new teams, there's a hunger and a desire to get your program going that you can't have unless you're new at something and you want to succeed.

I think you'll see that vitality, and again, reasons coaches are getting these jobs is because they've been successful wherever they've been, whether it's a different conference, a lower level and they're moving up. That's why I think it's good.

I think our league has gotten better and better with the coaching, all that stuff, the talent of the players.

I think it's in a healthy spot, and I think with all leagues, there's a little bit of uncertainty; conference realignment comes into play. But it's still one of the reasons I came was to coach -- from the Pac-10 at the time -- was to coach in the ACC. I wanted that chance to go against a lot of those coaches, but this league and its brand for sure.

Q. You mentioned experience on your roster. You have added a player who's a former most outstanding player in the Big East Tournament. Where do you see Dante fitting in with the rotation?

TONY BENNETT: Yeah, so a couple guys, Jake Groves played at Oklahoma, so he has some high major Power Five experience, and then Dante Harris, who played at Georgetown. Dante is one of the quickest on-ball defenders that I've coached, and look, I've had Kihei, Reece is a terrific on-ball defender, and then a guy named Jontel Evans when I first took over the job who was tenacious.

Dante brings a level of quickness and toughness on the ball that is certainly helpful for us, and that he's played, and he's a guy that can touch the paint and very competitive.

I really have enjoyed seeing that competitiveness, and I think when you have newer guys, you see fierce competitors, that really has an impact. But that's something -- actually I told this to Reece the other night watching Reece and Dante go against each other in practice. I think it's been really good for Reece because if you don't have good stuff, you're not getting by a guy like that, and vice versa. Those guys have been fun to watch go head-to-head in practice and develop.

Q. Reece, obviously you made the decision to come back. Take us through how you made that decision, why you made that decision, and what you think this team can accomplish with you back.

REECE BEEKMAN: Yeah, it was such a decision me and my family came to. As you seen, it was in the last couple hours of the day.

But just from time spent, I feel like me coming back just would better myself for the future, just to be -- settle in with the team, give me time to really develop with the team and kind of go from there.

Also just for this team, as well, I feel like coming back I could help lead us to a good spot. I feel like we have all the right pieces. Just everybody got to be bought in with that, and I feel like if that happens, I feel like we can go a long way.

Also I wanted to get my degree. That was something that my family was big on, and me myself, that's something that I always wanted to accomplish.

Q. Ryan, you heard Coach talk about the additions coming on to the team. What can you say about the makeup of this year's roster for Virginia and what you're excited about?

RYAN DUNN: I'm just excited to see how they're going to be on November 6. Throughout this whole off-season, they've been working a lot. We've been through our ups and downs throughout the off-season and preseason, but I can see now we're starting to gel a little bit more, understanding what Tony's philosophy is. There's moments and spurts where we're really good, we're really good.

So we've just got to be consistent. Me and Reece's kind of job this year is just to lead that and facilitate the team this year.

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