Archive for December, 2009
More on the UAB win
Dec 31st
Jerry Ratcliffe (a “statement win“) and Jeff White (a “signature win“) on last night’s victory over UAB. (Plus, here is STL’s take.)
I think we’re in danger of overreacting to this win, but it was a nice showing for a team that was in need of a victory like this. I remain encouraged about the team’s direction.
Good news for Mike London
Dec 31st
UVa’s new football coach, Mike London, and his defense got some welcome news: cornerback Ras-I Dowling is returning for his senior year.
Nice win!
Dec 31st
Wow, nice win for the Hoos over 24th-ranked UAB. That’s right, the guys beat a ranked team. No, it isn’t Kansas, but I’ll take it.
I listened to the first half of the game in the car via XM Radio; sounds like I picked the wrong half:
The biggest win of the young Tony Bennett era came just the way the first-year coach likes it. Defensively. Well, for a half at least. The Virginia men’s basketball team used a solid second-half defensive effort to rally past 24th-ranked UAB on Wednesday night, 72-63, the first win over a ranked team in Bennett’s short tenure.
Sylven Landesberg had 19 points and 6 rebounds, while Mike Scott made his return to the court with 10 points and 7 boards. Mustapha Farrakhan scored ten, but drew special praise from Coach Bennett for his work on the defensive end, especially against UAB’s Elijah Millsap in the second half.
I keep saying it: this team keeps improving. I don’t know how many they’ll win this year, but they’re going to be fun to watch, methinks.
Finally!
Dec 30th
The Hoos hit the court again tonight, finally, against UAB.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve hated December in college basketball because, after a furious start, things die down during exams/end of the semester. That was exacerbated this year by the cancellation of the UNC-Wilmington game (rescheduled for January 18, by the way).
Unfortunately, it appears that the game will not be televised.
Unexpected improvement
Dec 29th
I mentioned below that the Hoos are showing improvement on the basketball court under Coach Bennett, but Dear Old UVa has found an unexpected area of improvement.
I know some (most?) people are down on the basketball program, and maybe I’m just looking through orange and blue colored glasses, but I maintain that there are many reasons for optimism. Just be patient.
Hoos showing improvement
Dec 26th
Virginia beat up on Hampton, led by Sylven Landesberg’s first career double-double. Yeah, it was just Hampton, but I’m pretty happy that the team is improving steadily.
Check out the quotes from Coach Bennett in the article linked above. I continue to maintain there is reason for optimism, although there may be some real low points in the upcoming ACC season.
Next up: UAB on Wednesday.
Baseball team ranked…third!
Dec 23rd
Collegiate Baseball newspaper has released its first poll in anticipation of the upcoming baseball season. Our Cavaliers are ranked third in the country, behind Texas and LSU.
With snow all around me and a house that is dark without power…it’s disconcerting to read anything about baseball. On the other hand, reading about the powerhouse Hoos baseball program is enough to give even the grinch some warm fuzzies. Or something like that.
I’m back…but Jamil Tucker isn’t
Dec 23rd
Today is the sixth day that I have been without electricity in the wake of the recent snowstorm that blanketed Virginia (and elsewhere). No power means no computer and no television, so I’ve been way out of the loop.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), I still have the BlackBerry, and even though it’s difficult to post from this thing, I need to get back on the horse…especially since there’s some big news from the Men’s Basketball program:
Virginia men’s head basketball coach Tony Bennett has dismissed Jamil Tucker from the team for academic reasons.
“We expect our student-athletes to perform to certain standards academically and Jamil has not met those standards,” Bennett said. “We wish him well and will provide assistance where we can, but he is no longer a member of our team.”
So that’s that. Tucker never seemed to be a good fit for the Bennett system, in the best of circumstances, but it appears that academics is the reason for the announcement. We also wish Jamil the best, wherever he ends up.
In the meantime, UVa hits the court again tonight to take on Hampton.
Virginia Soccer: National Champions!
Dec 13th
The No. 2 Virginia men’s soccer team captured its sixth NCAA Championship, and first since 1994, with a 3-2 penalty kick shootout win over No. 1 Akron following a 0-0 draw in the NCAA Championship final at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Cavaliers (19-3-3) ended the season on a 16-game unbeaten streak.
The title was the sixth for the Cavaliers in program history, having won the championship in 1989 and from 1991-94. The victory also gave Virginia its 19th team National Championship in school history, the first since men’s lacrosse in 2006.
First soccer championship since my third year at UVa, and I had a blast watching the game today. I wish I had made the trip to North Carolina to see the game in person, despite the nasty weather.
Actually, sitting on the couch with my 5 year old son and 8 year old daughter was pretty sweet, too. Today was a great day.
Hoos lose to Auburn
Dec 7th
Hey, Virginia men’s basketball team: you might consider playing a little defense in the last seven seconds of the game next time.
Terrible. Just a terrible way to finish the game. Doesn’t one player have the guts to step in front of a player streaking down the court to win the game for the other team?
No, evidently not.
