Tony Bennett Virginia Cavaliers Offense

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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February 16, 2015

Tony Bennett Virginia Cavaliers Offense

There has always been some flexibility in the rules around the Virginia Cavaliers offensive system, but they do have a few main principles. Coach Tony Bennett will always talk about being sound with the basketball. He wants the Virginia Cavaliers to limit their turnovers, take smart shots, and overall make smart basketball decisions. Most of the time, this type of play will slow down the speed of the game. It’s totally by design. The Virginia Cavaliers would rather take a smart shot with 5 seconds left on the play clock than a risky shot with 20 seconds left. It makes total sense if you think about it for a moment. North Carolina or Duke will take quick shots and they try to speed up the game which puts their often superior athletes in a better position to win. It’s a total contrast in strategy compared to the Virginia Cavaliers.

Coach Tony Bennett uses the “Block-Mover” offensive system, which he took from his dad, Dick Bennett. For all intense purposes, just know that there are two types of players on the Virginia Cavaliers: Blockers and Movers. The primary job for the movers are to handle the ball. The primary job for the blockers are to set screens and create space for the movers. Joe Harris is a mover. Harris can be at any spot on the court that he wants, and can take any type of shot he wants. The freedom comes from experience and trust, but it’s all my design. The offense is set up so they can get the right players in position to make the most of the decisions with the basketball.

The blockers have limited spaces that they are allowed to operate in and fewer freedom with the basketball. The blockers can score at times, but the shots have to be around the basket or mid-range jumpers. They are mainly setting screens for the movers. They won’t be handling the ball too often either. It’s all by design.

The Virginia Cavaliers system doesn’t rely on athleticism or star power. Think about that for a moment, that is why it’s a great fit for a lot of programs. Dick Bennett designed this offense and his pack line defense to give his less-athletic teams a chance to win against the more athletic power conference teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Virginia Cavaliers recruit well, but they are often on the shorter end of the athletic scale of players. Tony Bennett’s system is the great equalizer in the ACC and in the NCAA Tournament. It frustrates opponents and keeps the Virginia Cavaliers out of a lot of track meets in which they couldn’t win. Coach Tony Bennett and his system are fully entrenched there and now the Virginia Cavaliers will have a chance to have the success that they haven’t seen in over twenty years. It’s all by design too.

Virginia Cavaliers