Monmouth-NJ @ Virginia preview

After serving as a role player last season, Kyle Guy is ready to take the next step in his career. The sophomore guard aims to lead Virginia to a 4-0 start Sunday when the Cavaliers host Monmouth in non-league action.

Guy averaged 7.5 points as a freshman, making nearly half of his 3-pointers in a reserve role that saw him play 18.6 minutes per game. This season, he's up near 30 minutes per contest and his scoring has reached 19.7 points, fueled by a career-high 29-point effort in Friday's win over VCU. "We got some good looks and then Kyle put on a heck of a shooting clinic with the shots he was making," coach Tony Bennett said to reporters that night. Monmouth has won two of its first three with the lone loss coming at No. 23 Seton Hall.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT MONMOUTH (2-1): The Hawks won 80-72 at Lehigh on Tuesday as Diago Quinn scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds. Micah Seaborn also had 15 points and added seven boards, while Austin Tilghman registered nine points, eight assists and five boards. Seaborn is the team's leading scorer at 17.3 points and has drained 6-of-13 3-pointers on the young season.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (3-0): The Cavaliers are yielding 54.7 points through three games - 12th in the nation - but actually used their offense to fuel the win over VCU. In addition to Guy's big night, Sophomore Ty Jerome was 3-of-6 beyond the arc en route to 13 points and Devon Hall knocked down two 3-pointers for the first time this season. Hall is the team's second-leading scorer at 13.3 points, while freshman Jay Huff chips in nine points per outing and a team-high 2.5 blocks.

TIP-INS

1. This game is part of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Virginia's next game in this event is Thursday in Brooklyn, N.Y., against Vanderbilt.

2. Virginia is 8-0 all-time against current members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

3. Under Bennett, Virginia is 66-2 when holding its opponent below 50 points.

PREDICTION: Virginia 69, Monmouth 55