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SPRING 2024 13 lege basketball. Beekman, who felt snubbed from the Naismith honor a year ago, made sure he would not be overlooked this season. "It means a lot," Beekman said. "Last season, I definitely thought I should have been considered for that, but to come back this year and lead this team defensively with Ryan, it means a lot. "For me and him both to get on there just goes to show our hard work and how this system produces great defensive players." Similarly, Dunn felt honored for the privi- lege to make the initial watch list with his teammate. "It's great having Reece up there with me," Dunn said. "We compete with each other every day and we are both still fighting for something, we are so competitive which just shows in being [on the Naismith Defen- sive Player of the Year watch list] together." Beekman was also named the ACC De- fensive Player of the Year for the second con- secutive season, joining Duke's Sheldon Wil- liams (2005-06) and North Carolina's John Henson (2011-12) as the only players to win the award twice. He also was tabbed to the All-ACC second team and All-Defensive squad, while Dunn earned All-ACC honorable mention and All-Defensive accolades. "It's amazing, it's a privilege, it's an honor and there are a lot of great players on that list," Dunn said. "It gives me a lot of confi- dence being on that list and I am grateful for it." The gratitude Beekman and Dunn share for the accolades they've earned underscores Bennett's team defensive philosophy, empha- sizing the importance of playing as a unit. "Our defense is an 'us' defense or a 'we' or a 'team' defense, so that's such a part of it," Bennett said. "But we've talked about it from Day 1. I think you saw some of those natural instincts that Reece has, the anticipation, the quick hands and then the ability to desire to play that way and have the heart, because that's a hard thing to make yourself do." CARRYING THE LOAD Beekman ranked second in the ACC and 13th in the country with 2.1 steals per game during the regular season. His 66 steals in the regular season approached his own single-season school record of 73 set in 2021-22. His 226 career steals (through March 13) broke Othell Wilson's (1981-84) long-standing school record of 222. However, the Milwaukee native's elite de- fense against some of the best guards in the Dunn ranked first in the ACC and 10th nationally with an average of 2.4 blocks per game during the regular sea- son. (Photo by Jim Daves/courtesy UVA)