Virginia Master Plan

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Tony Bennett and Mamadi Diakite (Conakry, Guinea) earned All-District 3 honors from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, announced Tuesday (March 10).
 
Bennett was named USBWA District 3 Coach of the Year and Diakite was named to the All-District 3 team.
 
Bennett earned his sixth USBWA District coach of the year honor after guiding the No. 17 Cavaliers to a 23-7 overall record and 15-5 ACC mark. The Cavaliers were picked to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll and finished tied for second. UVA has finished at or higher than its predicted finish in 12 of the last 13 seasons. The Cavaliers have won 23 or more games in eight consecutive seasons.
 
Diakite anchors UVA’s top-ranked scoring defense that yields 52.4 points per game. He ranks eighth in the ACC in blocks (1.3), 11th in defensive rebounds (5.2), 13th in scoring (13.7) and 15th in free throw percentage (75.4) and rebounding (6.8). He has recorded three double-doubles and has reached double figures in 26 contests. Diakite was named ACC Player of the Week on Feb. 17 and March 9.
 
No. 2 seed Virginia (23-7) plays the winner of No. 7 seed Notre Dame (19-12) and No. 10 seed Boston College (13-18) in the quarterfinals of the 67th annual ACC Tournament on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
 
USBWA DISTRICT III
(VA, NC, SC, MD)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tony Bennett, Virginia

ALL-DISTRICT TEAM (10)
Cole Anthony, North Carolina
Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Anthony Cowan Jr., Maryland
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia
Markell Johnson, N.C. State
Tre Jones, Duke
Nathan Knight, William & Mary
Landers Nolley II, Virginia Tech
Jalen Smith, Maryland