Brian O'Connor explains how much of a role Virginia's experience in Omaha will play this year

Virginia is back in the College World Series this season, making a return after last appearing in Omaha in 2021. And the experience carried over from that recent run is not lost on Cavaliers head coach Brian O’Connor.

Key players on the 2023 Virginia squad like catcher Kyle Teel and infielder Jake Gelof were also on the 2021 team that made it to Omaha. Just having them around to explain to younger players what to expect has utility, O’Connor explained.

“I certainly think it helps having players that have played in Omaha before. And the couple of guys that we have had do that were integral in that run in ’21 and our performance in Omaha. And having them understand and be able to share with their teammates about the feelings they’re going to have, standing on that field on Friday night at 6 p.m. when they play the national anthem in front of the largest crowd they’ve ever played in before, having experience doing that and them being able to share it with their teammates is really important,” O’Connor said.

Virginia will certainly need to be cool and composed from the jump, as their opening opponent in Omaha — the Florida Gators — is one of the top national seeds and has a potent offense and deep pitching.

The Gators and Cavaliers play in Game 2 of the College World Series on Friday night at 7 p.m. EST.

O’Connor said it will take everything Virginia has to beat the Gators

While Virginia has undoubtedly got the goods to deliver against Florida, the No. 2 national seed Gators can just as easily turn a game into a scoring fest. O’Connor remarked that they have few, if any, weak spots.

“Florida is a really talented ball club in every facet of the game. It’s going to take everything from us to be successful against them,” O’Connor said.

The Virginia skipper is confident that his club is ready, though. He credited the ACC for being a tough gauntlet to prepare the Cavaliers for a postseason run.

“But I believe our league prepares us. Every weekend in this league is a challenge and you’ve gotta play your best baseball. If you don’t, you get swept like we did at Notre Dame. And so, the depth of the league over my time here, 20 years at Virginia, has just improved so much. And so that prepares you for opportunities like the last two weekends and certainly prepares us to have success in Omaha,” O’Connor said.