White: Farrakhan Expands His Game
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/04/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In a span of 143 seconds last January, he made three 3-pointers and three free throws, a flurry that nearly lifted UVa to a stunning comeback victory over Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum.
That still ranks as Mustapha Farrakhan's most spectacular performance in a UVa basketball uniform. His best overall performance, though, came last week against then-No. 24 Alabama-Birmingham at John Paul Jones Arena.
In Virginia's 72-63 upset of UAB, the 6-4 junior totaled 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots, 1 steals and no turnovers.
That's a fine stat line, but nothing extraordinary. What made Farrakhan's night special was his defense on Blazers star Elijah Millsap.
"He bothered him," UVa's first-year coach, Tony Bennett, said on his radio show Monday night.
Millsap, whose brother Paul plays for the NBA's Utah Jazz, finished with a game-high 27 points. Only 10, however, came during a second half in which Farrakhan hounded the taller, heavier and stronger Millsap.
"That's what I just try to do," said Farrakhan, who's from the Chicago area. "I try to come in and play solid defense and be opportunistic with my jump shot. Do my best to try to play the game the right way."
UVa (7-4) hosts the University of Texas-Pan American (1-14) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at JPJ. Farrakhan, who has come off the bench in Virginia's past three games, enters with averages of 7.3 points and 1.5 rebounds, and he has more assists (24) than turnovers (17).
During his first two seasons at UVa, the grandson of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan had 33 turnovers and only 19 assists, and his defense was not good enough to compensate for his mistakes on offense.
As a freshman, Farrakhan averaged only 6.1 minutes per game, and though the form on his jumper often looked flawless, his shots rarely fell.
Farrakhan shot 18.4 percent from the floor in 2007-08. He improved to 34.7 percent as a sophomore but again struggled with turnovers. Aside from his strong showing in UVa's win at Georgia Tech and his 17-point outburst against the Hokies, Farrakhan produced few highlights in 2008-09.
Neither did the Cavaliers, who finished 10-18. But the coaching change that followed the season created an opportunity for Farrakhan, an excellent athlete in whom Bennett saw the potential to be a lockdown defender.
"It all started this fall when I was watching Mustapha, and Sean Singletary came out and worked out with our guys," Bennett said Monday night. "I was so impressed with how Mu could slide and make a guy like Singletary work to get his shot."
For much of Farrakhan's career, the rest of his game suffered when he didn't get untracked early on offense.
"You can't be a guy that if your first shot doesn't go in, you're a mess. That doesn't work at this level," said Bennett, who as a point guard at Wisconsin-Green Bay became one of the top outside shooters in NCAA history.
"As a staff," Bennett said, "we've challenged him to use his quickness and that mindset to be really good at trying to lock up an opposing team's scorer."
Farrakhan is eager to be known for more than a textbook jump shot.
"I like taking on the challenge of guarding the better offensive players," he said on Bennett's radio show.
First-year point guard Jontel Evans has emerged as a defensive force for the Wahoos, and Bennett is happy to see Farrakhan embracing that role, too.
"You have to have guys, whether it's one or two, who really will take that challenge to try and guard the opponent's best player and do it within your system," Bennett said. "I thought Mu did a great job against Millsap in that UAB game, and we needed that."
Farrakhan isn't Cornel Parker yet. In UVa's Nov. 30 loss to Penn State, for example, he couldn't slow Talor Battle, who scored 28 points in the second half.
Still, Bennett said, Farrakhan is "a guy we've at times marked and said, 'Hey, you're our guy. You gotta get stops, and we're going to provide as much assistance as possible.'"
Farrakhan shot well against UAB, hitting 2 of 3 attempts from beyond the arc. He felt good enough about his defense -- and his team's victory -- that he could laugh afterward about the 3-pointer he missed: an airball off a perfectly executed inbounds play.
"I don't know what happened," Farrakhan said, smiling broadly. "It slipped right out of my hand."
 

Texas-Pan American Visits JPJA On Tuesday
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/04/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE—The Virginia men’s basketball team hosts Texas-Pan American at John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday (Jan. 5) in the Cavaliers’ final game before beginning Atlantic Coast Conference play. UVa plays at NC State on Saturday (Jan. 9).

Tuesday’s game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and reserved seat tickets are available at a cost of $15. The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network.

UVa enters the game with a three-game winning streak and an overall record of 7-4 after a 72-63 victory over No. 24 UAB last Wednesday (Dec. 30) at JPJA.

Sophomore guard Sylven Landesberg scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four assists to lead the Cavaliers, but several Virginia players made important contributions to the victory. Landesberg has scored in double figures in every game this season.

Junior forward Mike Scott returned after missing three games with an ankle injury. He scored 10 points and led the team with seven rebounds.

Junior guard Mustapha Farrakhan scored 10 points, tied a career-high with two blocked shots, had two assists, two rebounds, one steal and no turnovers in 21 minutes while taking on the challenge of guarding the Blazers’ Elijah Millsap. Farrakhan is shooting 60 percent (6-10) from the field, including 80 percent (4-5) from three-point range, and has made all four of his free throw attempts in the last two games.

Freshman guard Jontel Evans scored a season-high nine points, had three assists, two steals and no turnovers in 21 minutes. Evans is shooting 66.7 percent (10-15) from the field with 14 assists, seven steals and just three turnovers in the last four games.

Sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski added nine points, senior guard Calvin Baker scored eight points and had a season-high six assists, and senior center/forward Jerome Meyinsse scored a season-high six points and had three rebounds.

“UAB is a talented team,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said after the game. “It’s a prelude to what we’re going to see in the ACC. We had to play well to be in it. We didn’t play perfect by any means, early on they got baskets at the rim and in the paint, but we toughened up as the game went on and it was definitely a team effort. That’s what I liked about it. Sammy did a nice job finding people. Mike Scott helped us. I can go down the list and it was a complete team effort. I like it that I think we won it with our defense in the second half, I’ll have to watch the tape, but that always makes me happy.”

As a team, Virginia shot 48.1 percent (25-52) from the field, including 46.2 percent (6-13) from three-point range, and 76.2 percent (16-21) from the free-throw line. The Cavaliers limited UAB to 39.3 percent (11-28) shooting from the field in the second half and the Blazers shot just 14.3 percent (2-14) from three-point range in the game. UAB also made just five of 15 free throw attempts.

Bennett was pleased with the victory over a ranked team.

“It’s good for our guys,” Bennett said. “The way I’m trying to do it with them … I’m not letting them take shortcuts. I’m demanding certain things defensively. We try and hold them accountable for staying in the stance. Offensively we’re asking them to make the extra pass and be really team-oriented. It’s not an easy way, but it’s something that when it’s played well stands up to good competition.”

Landesberg leads Virginia in scoring, assists and minutes played. He is averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 assists and 31.0 minutes played a game.

Scott is UVa’s leading rebounder with an average of 9.0 a game and he is averaging 12.8 points a game. He is shooting 57.3 percent (43-75) from the field.

Zeglinski is the third Virginia player averaging in double figures in scoring with an average of 10.6 points a game. He is shooting 47.4 percent (27-57) from three-point range.

As a team UVa is scoring an average of 70.0 points a game and allowing an average of 59.3 points a game.

Texas-Pan American enters Tuesday’s game with an overall record of 1-14 and the Broncs have lost their last nine games. Texas-Pan American is coming off a 72-65 loss at Air Force on Saturday (Jan. 2).

Sophomore guard Jared Maree leads the Broncs in scoring with an average of 9.6 points a game. Maree is shooting 44.4 percent (12-27) from three-point range and 88.1 percent (52-59) from the free-throw line.

Senior forward Luis Valera is averaging 8.6 points a game and is shooting 52.9 percent (54-102) from the field, while junior guard Nick Weiermiller is averaging 8.5 points a game and leads the team in assists with 50 (3.3 apg.). Junior forward Matt Mierzycki is averaging 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds a game in six games. Senior guard Ben Smith is averaging 6.9 points a game.

Ryan Marks is in his first season as head coach of the Broncs.

Tuesday’s game is the first meeting between Texas-Pan American and Virginia.

After the game with Texas-Pan American, UVa opens ACC play at NC State on Saturday (Jan. 9). Saturday’s game is scheduled to begin at noon and will be televised by Raycom.

Despite fluctuating minutes, Meyinsse earns role

Few on Virginia's roster seemed to benefit more from the Cavaliers' offseason coaching change than Jerome Meyinsse, a seldom-used big man under former coach Dave Leitao who was entering his senior season.

Meyinsse's stock improved even more when the Cavaliers started the season shorthanded in the interior when Assane Sene was suspended and Jamil Tucker took a leave of absence. He played 20 or more minutes in the team's first four games.

His minutes have decreased ever since, although Meyinsse still has a role in the rotation. He had his best scoring output of the season in last week's win over Alabama-Birmingham, scoring six points while connecting on all three shots. Coach Tony Bennett has praised Meyinsse's willingness to accept any role in the rotation, which remains fluid.

"I think there's not a ton of separation in a lot of of our guys," Bennett said. "He's got to be ready when called upon."

Bennett said Meyinsse has been "pretty steady" with the ball in his hands and is one of the best players on the team when he makes a move and tries to score. He must improve on defense, where Meyinsse can be slow in reacting to ball screens.

Regardless, Meyinsse will have a role on the team in his final ACC season after playing on the bench during most of his first three seasons.

"He's provided great leadership," Bennett said. "Whatever his role is, he embraces it. He's got a lot going for him."

By Zach Berman | January 4, 2010; 9:56 AM ET
 

Cavs look to keep up string of victories
By Whitey Reid
Published: January 5, 2010
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The biggest win of the Tony Bennett era — an upset over No. 24 UAB last Wednesday at John Paul Jones Arena — came against a Blazers squad that had won 10 straight games.
Tonight at JPJ, Bennett’s bunch will face an opponent at the other end of the spectrum.
The far end.
Texas Pan-American, a school out of the Great West Conference, has lost nine straight games and hasn’t won since the day after Thanksgiving.
After an up-and-down start, Virginia (7-4) is riding a season-high three-game winning steak. Save for a makeup date with UNC-Wilmington on Jan. 18, Texas Pan-Am (1-14) will be UVa’s final non-conference opponent before beginning ACC play at N.C. State on Saturday.
“We’re still just trying to find stuff out about our ball club,” Bennett said. “I think that as our team and as our
coaching staff learn each other more and more, we’re realizing that there’s a small margin of error for us.
“When we’re executing well on both ends of the floor, I think there’s some confidence that we can compete with a lot of teams. We haven’t stepped into ACC play, [but] we’re coming off a solid win against UAB, and I think that was certainly good for us.”
What Bennett liked most about the victory was its well-roundedness. Virginia was solid offensively and defensively for one of the first times this season and received contributions from just about everyone who played.
Mike Scott, who had missed three games with a sprained ankle, gave the team a nice lift off the bench. Ditto for guards Jontel Evans and Mustapha Farrakhan, and center Jerome Meyinsse.
Evans and Farrakhan were feisty on defense, and, just when you least expected it, provided some offensive punch.
Bennett liked the way Farrakhan challenged UAB’s Elijah Millsap. The Blazers’ leading scorer finished with 27 points, but only 10 came in the second half.
“Mu did a great job against Millsap in that UAB game,” Bennett said, “and we needed that.
“We’ve challenged him as a staff to use his quickness and that mindset to be really good at trying to lock up the opposing team’s scorer.”
Of course, there probably won’t be any player like Millsap for Farrakhan to pester tonight. Texas Pan-American doesn’t have a single player with a double-digit scoring average.
Look for Scott, who started the second half against UAB, to have an increased role. The junior power forward could be in the starting lineup, depending on how he performed in Monday’s practice, according to Bennett.
“My hope is that he just gets stronger and stronger,” Bennett said. “I don’t know when that time will be when he feels like he has everything that he had before the injury, but he’s slowly improving.”
While Bennett was encouraged by the victory over UAB, he says his team still has a ways to go.
“We’re just trying to knock down that door and reach our full potential,” he said, “and to be a team that doesn’t beat itself because that’s what will be required.”
Dunks
Texas Pan-American is Virginia’s second opponent from the Great West this season. On Dec. 21, UVa defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology. ... Former NBA player Rodrick Rhodes, who played collegiately at Kentucky and USC, is an assistant coach for Texas Pan-Am.
 

Reid set to join Virginia grid staff
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

In the aftermath of a season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Jim Reid told his players that he would be resigning to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Virginia.

"He made a decision that's best for his family and everybody congratulated him in the back," said Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake, quoted by the Sun Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"Obviously we'll keep in touch. He definitely has an impact on players' lives, and I know he'll do well when he gets there."

New Virginia head coach Mike London has been reluctant to confirm his appointments until they have been approved by UVa's human resources department, but clearly Reid is the Cavaliers' choice.

Prior to a two-year stay in Miami, Reid, 59, was the head coach at Richmond for nine seasons (1995-2003) and the head coach at VMI for two seasons (2006-07).

Reid earlier had spent two seasons at Richmond as defensive coordinator (1992-93) but most of his coaching career had been spent in the Northeast, including 19 seasons at Massachusetts, six as head coach.

Once approved, Reid will take over a defensive staff that will include longtime colleague Jeff Hanson as defensive line coach, Vincent Brown as linebackers coach and Anthony Poindexter as secondary coach, with Chip West from Old Dominion expected to share some of those duties.

Mike Farigalli is the only offensive coach who has been hired to date.

Farigalli was the offensive coordinator under London at Richmond but may be a position coach for the Cavaliers.

NFL quarterback coaches Bill Musgrave from Atlanta and Rip Scherer from North Carolina have been linked with the Virginia job, although Musgrave has advised UVa that he is not prepared for a move at this time.

In a quick update this past weekend, London indicated that the openings on Virginia's staff have received considerable attention from NFL assistants who were uncertain of their future.

Ex-U.Va. QB Schaub gets $10 million bonus
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 4, 2010
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HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans will exercise an option in Matt Schaub's contract that will give the quarterback a $10 million bonus and extend his contract for the next three years.

Schaub signed a six-year contract when he was traded from the Atlanta Falcons three seasons ago and the Texans had until March to decide if they wanted to exercise the option to keep him in Houston.

Owner Bob McNair said the team plans to do that and the decision "wasn't difficult at all."

"He's really been one of the best quarterbacks in the league this year," McNair said. "We could see how good he was and he just needed the opportunity and this year we were able to protect him better and keep him on the field and he put the numbers up there."

Schaub, who starred collegiately for Virginia's Cavaliers, led the NFL in yards passing with a franchise-best 4,770 in helping Houston (9-7) to its first winning record with a victory over New England yesterday. His 4,770 yards are the sixth-most in NFL history.

The Texans were eliminated from the playoffs late last night with the New York Jets' win over Cincinnati.

It was the first time Schaub had started every game since arriving in Houston after missing five games in each of his first two seasons with injuries.

Though the decision on Schaub's contract didn't have to be made until March, McNair said they decided to give it to him the first time it was discussed.

"It was a no-brainer, there's no way that we're not going to keep Matt," McNair said. "He's our quarterback and the team has confidence in him. He's shown great courage and you've seen when he's gotten injured, he's gone back out there and led his team. So he's really won the respect of his teammates and that's what you need."

Schaub was 24 of 39 for 303 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots for his ninth 300-yard passing game of the season, tied for second most in league history.

-- The Associated Press
 

UVa wins fourth straight
By Jay Jenkins
Published: January 5, 2010
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On a day in which Virginia learned that it lost a player for the season, a new fan favorite emerged for the faithful at John Paul Jones Arena.
Lexie Gerson, a seldom-used rookie, scored all 13 of her career-best points in the second half, lifting No. 21 Virginia to a hard-fought 72-64 victory over St. Bonaventure.
“Lexie was huge tonight,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. “She played a great game tonight and she really stepped up. She was real confident with her shot. She has worked really hard the last couple of weeks on her shot and just her play in general.”
It was a bittersweet feeling for the Cavaliers (11-3), who learned that starting point guard China Crosby would miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
Luckily, Virginia’s players were unaware of the severity of the injury during the contest. Ryan waited to tell the team until after the game was over.
Without Crosby, who was hurt on Jan. 2 at Colorado, the Cavaliers struggled for the first 30 minutes of action as the Bonnies (12-3) attempted to slow the pace and milk the shot clock on every possession.
The complexion of the game changed completely, however, during a 4 1/2-minute span in late in the second half.
Trailing 49-47, Virginia used a 3-pointer from Gerson with 10:24 left to start an 18-6 run that gave the Cavaliers their first double-digit lead in the contest.
“That was big. It helped our offense get better. It helped our defense get better,” said Virginia senior Monica Wright, who scored 19 points. “When someone else steps up it takes pressure off everybody.
“You wouldn’t expect her to get up like that, but she does and she’s almost like our secret weapon.”
St. Bonaventure, which has lost three of its past four games, led most of the first half and took a 29-28 lead into halftime.
“I thought in the first half that we did a great job controlling the tempo and making sure that we kept it around 30 [points] per half,” St. Bonventure coach Jim Crowley said. “We took some early shots [in the second half] and they cranked up the pressure.
“They just kept coming and there were too many possessions in the game for us.”
Due to the slow pace in the contest, Virginia managed just 33 rebounds, 12 more than the Bonnies, and failed to score a fast-break basket for the first time all season.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game. St. Bonaventure has had a great year already,” Ryan said. “As you can see they are a very seasoned team. They are probably a first or second round NCAA [tournament] team, and they proved it tonight.
“They make you play a different style. They want you to play slow. That’s obviously not our style. You have to rebound the ball in order to run and this was a low possession game as you can see with only 52 shots [from the field] for us and 49 for them.”
Whitny Edwards joined Gerson and Wright in double figures with 11 points in 28 minutes off the bench.
Jessica Jenkins, the latest opposing player to torch Virginia from outside the 3-point line, led the Bonnies with 22 points. The sophomore hit six 3-pointers.
Virginia returns to action on Thursday at Florida State as it opens conference play. The contest will start at 7 p.m.
 

UVa rookie Crosby out for the season
By Jay Jenkins
Published: January 4, 2010
Updated: January 4, 2010
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The Virginia women’s basketball game took a major hit Monday.

Just hours before beating St. Bonaventure 72-64 at John Paul Jones Arena, Virginia coach Debbie Ryan learned that point guard China Crosby had a torn ACL in her left knee and would miss the remainder of the season.

“China Crosby is out for the season. It is an ACL tear,” Ryan confirmed. “We found that out this afternoon. I didn’t tell the team until [after the game].

“That’s obviously going to change the starting lineup.”

Crosby, who was averaging 5.9 points and 21.7 minutes per game, was injured after playing just one minute at Colorado on Saturday.

“It was devastating when they told her,” Ryan said of Crosby’s reaction.

One of five freshmen on the roster, Crosby has played too deep into the season to qualify for a medical redshirt.

“It is too deep unfortunately and that is what kills you,” Ryan said. “It just happened at just a really, really bad time.”

The New York City native will have three years of eligibility remaining.