Virginia Loses Ben Vander Plas for Remainder of Season

UVA announced that transfer forward Ben Vander Plas will be out for the remainder of the season. This is a huge loss for the Hoos. According to Streaking The Lawn on Twitter, Vander Plas fractured his right hand in practice. 

As a transfer from Ohio University, Vander Plas has been a key part of the frontcourt for coach Tony Bennett. His ability to rebound, stretch the floor and shoot from three is a key to their success this year. He was averaging 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and shooting 41.2% from the field (32% from three). 

The fifth-year transfer spent his first four seasons with the Ohio University Bobcats and was a big part of their NCAA tournament in the 2021-22 season. That Bobcats team upset his current Virginia team in the first round that year. 

The loss of Vander Plas comes at a time when Virginia faced a North Carolina team that needs to win as many games as possible in the ACC Tournament to get a bid for the NCAA tournament.