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Virginia moves up to #5 in ESPN's Revised "Too Early Top 25"

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5. Virginia Cavaliers If you're looking for draft-related intrigue, look elsewhere. (Other than the off-chance Malcolm Brogdon might sneak into the first round and fulfill his destiny as the San Antonio Spurs' latest personnel miracle, of course. Make it happen, R.C.!) Virginia's next roster has been more or less set since their 2015-16 season ended in March's Elite Eight heartbreak. As we wrote in April, Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett will not only rely on his customary corps of ever-improving veterans. The architect of three straight top-two seeds will also, for the first time, mix in a top-10 recruiting class exclusively stocked with top-100 talents -- plus elite Memphis transfer Austin Nichols. That sound you just heard was the rest of the ACC shuddering.

Eamonn Brennan, ESPN (Click for full Top 25)

SI: Tony Bennett is the "After-Timeout Efficiency King"

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It’s a bizarro season when Bennett is winning offensive, rather than defensive, awards. But the master of the Pack-Line D had a great scoring team this season, and when strength-of-schedule adjustments are applied to Synergy Sports Technology’s after-timeout efficiency logs, Bennett’s Cavaliers come out on top. They scored an adjusted 1.065 points per possession in ATO situations, edging out an ACC team known for its offense (Notre Dame, at 1.063) and the national champion (Villanova, at 1.058). Having two highly efficient go-to seniors in guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Anthony Gill helped Bennett’s case, but his team’s halfcourt execution was noticeably impressive, even with elite personnel.

-Luke Winn, Sports Illustrated (Click for full article)

ESPN: Tony Bennett =Velociraptor

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7. Virginia Cavaliers Remember the cafeteria scene in "Jurassic Park?" Of course you do. Dr. Grant asks Dr. Sattler if she's sure a rampant velociraptor has been "contained." "Yes," she replies, "unless they figure out how to open doors." Virginia coach Tony Bennett is that velociraptor. See, Bennett has always relied on player development to make up for the talent gap between his recruits and Duke's or North Carolina's, and now, after three years terrorizing the rest of the ACC, the Cavaliers face personnel losses (Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill) that should be beyond their immediate capabilities. Except -- gasp -- Virginia's 2016 recruiting class boasts not one but two top-10 players at their positions, plus Memphis transfer (and former elite prospect) Austin Nichols, plus London Perrantes and the rest of the returners. What is that? "It's ... Bennett. He's inside."

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15123601/duke-blue-devils-kentucky-wildcats-college-basketball-top-25-2016-2017

CBS's Matt Norlander Picks UVa as 4th Best Team in the NCAA Tournament

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4. Virginia: Malcolm Brogdon is finishing up one of the greatest ACC careers in conference history. Tony Bennett has been picked off early despite really good seeds in recent years. But here's the difference this time around: Virginia has a much better offense than the past two seasons.

CBS Ranks All 68 NCAA Teams

SI Projects Brogdon to the Pacers with the 19th Overall Pick

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MALCOLM BROGDON, VIRGINIA GUARD | 6'5", 225 | SR. Another player who could rise or fall depending on what happens in March. For now, at 6'5" he's averaging 18 points-a-game and shooting 41% from three, with four years of experience at UVA, and excellent defense. He has all the tools to be a solid role player. With Myles Turner and Paul George and a roster full of question marks, Indiana could use a few of those. SI's 2016 NBA Mock Draft

Malcolm Brogdon No. 19 in SI Mock Draft

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Another player who could rise or fall depending on what happens in March. For now, at 6'5" he's averaging 18 points-a-game and shooting 41% from three, with four years of experience at UVA, and excellent defense. He has all the tools to be a solid role player. With Myles Turner and Paul George and a roster full of question marks, Indiana could use a few of those.

SI Mock Draft 1.0

Latest SB Nation mock NBA draft has Brogdon in the first round

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25. Los Angeles Clippers - SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia

Brogdon is a tremendous defender blessed with long arms who has led Virginia in scoring three years in a row. He could be another steal. 2016 NBA mock draft: Ben Simmons might not be the first pick after all

Brogdon is #19 in SI's latest mock draft

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Another player who could rise or fall depending on what happens in March. For now, at 6'5" he's averaging 18 points-a-game and shooting 41% from three, with four years of experience at UVA, and excellent defense. He has all the tools to be a solid role player.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/03/11/nba-mock-draft-ncaa-tournament-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram

Yahoo: "What scouts are saying about Malcolm Brogdon"

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WHAT SCOUTS ARE SAYING ABOUT … G Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia

Fifth-year college player who redshirted during the 2012-13 season. One of the older draft-eligible players at 23. Recent success of Draymond Green should change the league’s opinions on drafting four-year players.

Versatile wing that always makes the right play on both ends of the court. Although not lightning quick, Brogdon is a smart and unselfish player. Creative when he has the ball in his hand, always probing on offense looking to make the right play. Gets most of his points coming off screens with a great mid-range game.

Would be a great fit for a team drafting in the mid-20s.

Yahoo Sports! (Hat tip to @RMJ_Equals_Hero)

Roy Williams praises Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia Cavaliers

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"I'd like to congratulate Virginia. Malcolm (Brogdon) for the first half was as good a performance we've had against us this season and maybe several years."

"I thought the biggest factor in the game was they played with a high level of intensity from my point of view, on both offense and defense. I think they were the actors and we were the reactors the whole night."

"I said it even this week and I said it last week, and I said it ten weeks ago at the start of the season. Me and my buddies get together and I thought Virginia had the best team in the country and Tony does a great, great job and he's a credit to what we should have in coaching. But I don't like him during the game because his team plays so daggum well."

Roy Williams's postgame remarks