In the past, both Virginia Cavaliers fans and general college basketball enthusiasts alike have criticized Tony Bennett’s teams for having a relatively weak non-conference schedule. And, to be fair, they’ve had some reason.
Looking at both last season and 2018-19, UVA’s best game in non-league action during the regular season was probably a road win at No. 24 Maryland. That victory came on the heels of the only other ranked out-of-conference team they’ve played in the last two years: No. 25 Wisconsin (whom they beat in the Battle 4 Atlantis title game).
But, for what’s been seen as lacking in the past, the schedule can be seen as anything but in 2020-2021.