Point/Counterpoint: Six Preseason Questions for Virginia Women's Basketball

Matt and Val answer the questions looming large as the Cavaliers prepare for the 2023-2024 basketball season

If there is one common denominator to both the UVA men's and women's basketball programs this year, it is churn. As in there are a LOT of new bodies for Coach Bennett and Coach Mox to assimilate into their respective programs. And questions abound. We've already covered the men.  Now, it's the women's turn.  Val has already previewed the roster here.

Let's try to answer some of the big questions that are on the minds of Cavalier Nation.

1. Virginia loves its Big Threes. Most of the chatter on the men's side is about the new Big Three. I think it's safe to say that the Big Three for Coach Mox are Camryn Taylor, Sam Brunelle, and Mir McLean. Of the three, who is most important?

Matt: This is a tough one. I expect Camryn Taylor to be Virginia's most reliable and consistent player, as she was a season ago. And if Mir McLean returns to form when she gets back on the court, she could be the clear-cut answer to this question too. But I think it's Sam Brunelle, due to the combination of her on-court production and her leadership. At her best, Brunelle is an unstoppable three-level scorer and when she gets hot, the whole team can ride that wave of energy. This is Brunelle's final season of college basketball - the Cavaliers need this to be her best one yet.

Val: I’m not sure I would characterize Brunelle as an unstoppable three-level scorer. Her three best games from deep in the ACC all came in losses, but as the only threat from deep last year – an even 40% on 4.5 treys a game – she’s the hardest player to replace. My choice would be McLean who is, for me, the best player on the team. At 5’11” she is inch for inch the best rebounder in the ACC. (McLean had a double-double in the first half in a game against William & Mary last year.) And she provides that from the wing, which would allow Virginia to play bigger at the 4 and 5.

2. In a similar vein, who among the newcomers is going to have the biggest impact?

Matt: This one is a no-brainer for me. As I wrote following the Blue-White Scrimmage, I think there's a good chance Kymora Johnson could be Virginia's best player this season. No disrespect to the seasoned veterans on the roster - Johnson is just that good. Johnson is a sniper from deep, has great court vision, and can push the ball in transition quickly, but under control, which is incredibly important for Virginia's fast-paced offense. (Honorable mention: Taylor Lauterbach, whose size will be crucial for Virginia on both ends of the floor).

Val: You’ll get no argument from me about how good Johnson can be. She certainly looked like she was ready to run an ACC offense. I’m not sold on Lauterbach. She only played 7 – 9 minutes a game in her three years at Kansas State. Now, she’s here under Coach Mox specifically since she didn’t feel developed at K State, but c’mon, seven minutes when you’re 6’7”?

I’m much more intrigued with Sweden’s Edessa Noyan who is a bit taller than Camryn Taylor and London Clarkson. She’s played professionally the past two years, which means she’s been playing against adults, and she’s been on the Swedish national U-20 team. Of course, I once thought that those same advantages would be difference makers for Taine Murray…

If you’re going to go honorable mention on me, Matt, then I would add that Jillian Brown looked good in the Blue-White scrimmage. Very dangerous in transition. And that’s where Coach Mox wants to live.

3. Injuries have played havoc with the presumed starting lineup. Given that Brunelle has been hobbled this fall and we won't see McLean until the New Year (maybe) who is the opening night starting five?

Matt: If Sam Brunelle is healthy, she makes the starting five along with Camryn Taylor and Taylor Lauterbach in the front court. In the back court, I think Kymora Johnson can and should start from day one and I think it will be Kaydan Lawson (18 starts last season) or Alexia Smith (13 starts last season) beside her. I could also see one of the transfer guards - Jillian Brown or Paris Clark - vying for that starting spot. But my guess would be Johnson/Lawson/Brunelle/Taylor/Lauterbach as the opening night starting five.

Val: I had a friend at ACC Media Day and he said Brunelle was walking without a limp, so yeah, I’m going to be hopeful that she’ll be ready. I don’t think Lauterbach starts. Mox will go with Taylor and Brunelle down low, Kymora Johnson and Alexia Smith in the backcourt, and Lawson at the wing. Lawson was on-fire from deep the first twelve games of the season – over 50% -- and to get that kind of jump on the season would be great.

4. Unlike the men, who are moving to a 20-game ACC slate, the women are still playing an 18-game ACC schedule. What strikes you about the schedule this year?

Matt: Virginia's non-conference schedule will be much more challenging this season. The headliner of course is the Cayman Islands Classic on November 25th, with UVA taking on the reigning national champion LSU. At the very least, taking on Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith, and the No. 1-ranked Tigers will give the Cavaliers a very early litmus test on where they are and, most likely, where they need to improve. But Virginia also hosts Missouri and Oklahoma, an NCAA Tournament team last season. UVA breezed through the non-conference last year undefeated. It'll be harder for the Hoos to do so again, but they'll be better off for it as they'll be better prepared for ACC play.

Val: Saturday, November 25th! If you are a fan of this program, this is the biggest date of maybe the past decade. LSU. A very repeatable national champion LSU. Get your FloHoops subscriptions now! Given the hope and expectations, and the excitement flowing into this program right now, this is the perfect game, the perfect barometer for the program. As far as the ACC slate goes, there is only one powerhouse this year and that is Virginia Tech and the Cavaliers do play them twice. The rest of the ACC is good – I'd be happy with a mid-table 9 – 9 record in ACC play – but I’m not parsing whether playing NC State and Duke twice this year is less advantageous than it would be playing Pitt and Louisville twice.

5. What is flying under the radar as this season approaches?

Matt: Coach Mox's masterful offseason roster improvements. Virginia had two glaring weaknesses last season: no depth and a lack of size down low at the center position. The Cavaliers addressed the latter with the addition of 6'7" center Taylor Lauterbach. Bringing in three transfers and three talented freshmen, Virginia now has a full complement of 14 players, each of whom could give meaningful contributions for the Cavaliers this season. That's a night-and-day difference for a Virginia team that played a game with six active players last season and it's not being talked about enough.

Val: [Chuckles.] Yeah, Matt, Mox ain’t ever dressing out only six players ever again. But the question is how is she going to get everyone minutes? If Cady Pauley makes the sophomore leap and this team can field three shooters, Virginia will collect plenty of pelts this year. Pauley got 11 minutes a game last year. When the full roster was only 11 players. How’s she going to do that when there are, as you say 14 players who look like they contribute. We’ll learn just how far down her bench Coach Mox will go.

6. What's the biggest key for a successful season?

Matt: Getting and staying healthy. Obviously, you want your best players to be available at the end of the season, but it's especially pivotal that the Cavaliers maintain their depth in order to effectively execute Coach Mox's preferred up-tempo style of play. And as for what a successful season looks like for Virginia, anything short of an NCAA Tournament appearance, which would be the program's first since 2018, would be a disappointment. 

Val: Mir McLean’s health. If she’s able to come back at anything close to her previous form, she can make this team special. UVA doesn't have the kind of wings that the ACC can throw at you in droves, but McLean can punish those wings. If McLean can come back, this team will be playing in the Big Dance. 

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