ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio forward Brandon Hunter has been called one of the best-kept secrets in college basketball. Still, Virginia probably had some forewarning about him Wednesday. The Cavaliers, however, had little clue about Steve Esterkamp. Esterkamp scored a career-high 31 points as Ohio sent Virginia to its fifth-straight loss with a 78-72 victory before a crowd of 7,281 at the Convocation Center. It is Virginia’s first five-game losing streak since an eight-game skid during the 1997-98 season and the loss most likely ended any faint hopes of reaching the NCAA tournament for the Cavaliers (14-12). “I want to congratulate Ohio. They played very well,” said Virginia coach Pete Gillen, whose team allowed Ohio to shoot 51.1 percent for the game. “The report on Esterkamp was to jam him. He’s a terrific shooter and you want to make him put it on the ground. We didn’t do that.” No, the Cavaliers didn’t. Esterkamp made 11 of his 17 shots from the floor, including a 5-of-6 performance from behind the arc. The senior from Cincinnati, who followed Gillen’s teams at Xavier in that city, entered the game averaging 14.4 points a game but easily eclipsed that mark midway through the first half. “It’s the ACC and that’s one of the top leagues in the country. Of course you want to play well,” said Esterkamp, whose school was hosting its first ever ACC opponent. “Everyone was getting me the ball and I was just making shots.” Jaivon Harris, who was a perfect 4 of 4 from behind the arc, added 15 for the Bobcats (10-14) while Hunter added 14 points and seven rebounds. It was only the fifth time this season that Hunter, who was averaging 22 points and a nation’s best 13.3 rebounds per contest entering the game, didn’t record a double-double. That was of little importance to Hunter after the game. “If I didn’t get the double and we lost, that would be something, but we won,” Hunter said. Nick Vander Laan was a perfect 7 of 7 from the floor as he and Todd Billet each had 15 to pace Virginia. It was Vander Laan’s first double-digit performance since scoring 10 at Clemson on Jan. 18. Travis Watson had 11 for the Cavaliers while Elton Brown and Devin Smith each had 10. Vander Laan’s performance was of little satisfaction to him, as his team continued its tailspin. “It hurts. The coaches have been giving us their entire effort. … The most important thing about winning and losing is realizing what we did wrong and not letting it happen again,” Vander Laan said. Ohio led 36-34 at halftime and maintained the advantage until a dunk by Jason Clark gave Virginia a 46-45 lead with 16:11 remaining. It would be, however, Virginia’s last lead of the game. Back-to-back buckets by Esterkamp gave Ohio a 49-46 lead and the Bobcats would hold a three- to four-point lead for much of the rest of the game. Virginia’s offense was never able to get the key spurt it needed while its defense also wasn’t able to provide the key stops. “They played a zone for most of the game and we just couldn’t put the ball in the basket. That was a big key to the game,” Gillen said. Virginia appeared poised for one last run after it cut Ohio’s lead to 69-66 on a banker by Smith with 2:11 left. A foul on the ensuing possession sent Hunter to the line. The 56-percent free-throw shooter missed both shots but snared the precious offensive rebound. It was a play that Gillen has now seen countless times in critical situations this season. “We work on free-throw boxouts. You have to be alert and ready. That didn’t lose the game for us, but it was a big play in the game,” Gillen said. The Bobcats, who were picked to finish atop the MAC prior to the season but have struggled this season, made nine of their final 10 free throws to seal the victory. The Ohio crowd rushed the court, but Ohio coach Tim O’Shea said it was a scene that likely won’t be seen here again. This game was a return game for Ohio playing at UVa in December 2000 and as part of its agreement Virginia had to come here. “You probably will never see something like this again. Majors won’t return games on mid-major team’s home courts. This was just a scheduling quirk that I lucked into,” said O’Shea, in his second year at Ohio. Ohio led 36-34 at halftime after Steve Esterkamp scored 19 first-half points to pace the Bobcats. Esterkamp scored 17 of the Bobcats’ first 33 points as they vaulted to a 33-25 lead with 3:35 left before intermission. Ohio’s advantage grew to nine, 35-26, on a basket by Delvar Barrett with 3:04 remaining. Virginia, however, outscored Ohio 8-1 over the half’s final three minutes to reduce the deficit to two. Watson, the staf forward who did not start for the second straight time, entered the game with 14:31 remaining and finished the half with six points and two rebounds. Vander Laan, Watson’s replacement in the starting lineup, led Virginia at the break with seven.
ATHENS, Ohio Virginia crossed the mighty Ohio River in search of the answer to a four-game losing streak on Wednesday. All the Cavaliers had to do was show up and polish off an unheralded, worn-out bunch of Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference. Right? Bad idea. All the Wahoos got for their trouble was another loss hung on them from a hungrier team fighting for recognition and respect. If Virginia came here hoping to find itself or boost its confidence, even stop the bleeding, they were sent home disappointed. “This is exactly why guys don’t schedule these games,” said Ohio U. coach Tim O’Shea, after watching his team stun the five-point favorites from the ACC. “Teams are under such scrutiny ... Why come here? This could be the last time you see a major school go on the road like this. I empathize with Coach Gillen.” Unhappy fans While there may be plenty of empathy for Gillen in Ohio, where he coached nine years at Xavier, there won’t be any back in snowy Virginia. “Obviously this was a lose-lose situation,” said Gillen after the 78-72 setback to a 10-14 Ohio team. “If we win, we’re supposed to.” Somehow, that would have sat better in the stomachs of Wahoo fans over their cornflakes this morning. A loss only reminds them of Gillen’s words when he walked off the court in University Hall last season and said, “I promise we’ll be even better next year.” That’s when Virginia finished 17-12 and lost 10 of its last 13 games. Fast forward to last night and note that the Cavs, mired in their longest losing streak since 1997-98, are now 14-12 and have dropped nine of their last 13. Perhaps scheduling a nonconference game on the road in late February wasn’t the smartest idea that ever came out of UVa’s basketball office. O’Shea admitted that he was the beneficiary of the scheduling quirk that gave his team a chance to play giant-killer just when his team’s chemistry was coming together. “For our guys, this was a big deal,” said the Ohio coach. “I’m not so sure it’s a big thing for a Maryland or a Virginia type team to come in here. Our kids were so excited to play an ACC team.” Coming out flat That showed in Ohio’s intensity throughout the game and the student body swarming the court after the upset. Virginia owed a return bout with Ohio from two years ago when the ACC office encouraged teams to improve their schedule in order to raise their RPIs. Ohio came to Charlottesville, UVa won and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Because UVa played in Maui in late November, then had to take a 10-day exam break, there was no more room to fit this game into the already crowded December schedule. So, late February was the only option. Getting outplayed wasn’t supposed to be in the mix. “This was certainly an emotional game for [Ohio],” said Gillen. “This was their Super Bowl and they played well. Give them credit. They outplayed us.” You could read the disappointment on Gillen’s face dur ing his postgame press conference. Inside the locker room, assistant Walt Fuller couldn’t contain his frustration, ripping his coat from the locker and muttering, “Embarrassing ... embarrassing,” as he stormed through the door. Junior center Nick Vander Laan, who played his best game as a Cavalier with 15 points (7 for 7 from the field) and eight rebounds, tried to keep everything in perspective. “It hurts ... this team has been fighting all year,” said the Cal transfer. “There was a lot of disappointment in the air in here afterward. We need to rally from this, step it up.” Vander Laan said the coaches are working hard and preparing the team for each game, doing what is expected. “The players have to play,” the 6-10 post man said. “We’re the ones who’ve gotta win. It’s on us. “This is the way I really feel,” said Vander Laan. “I’m not responding to anything. We’re at a point now where we’ve got to get things done. We have the talent. We might be 14-12 but our goal is to still make the NCAA Tournament. I can’t stress enough the character this team is learning this year and once we get to a certain level, it’s going to be shown on the floor.” But time is running out on this season. Three games remain in the regular season, all in conference, the last two at home. Then there’s the ACC Tournament. The clock is ticking; the fans are waiting. Gillen’s promise may come back to haunt him if something doesn’t change over the next two weeks. Wednesday was national “For Pete’s Sake Day,” one of those obscure national days you seldom hear about. For Pete Gillen’s sake, his team needs to step up the learning process.
Cavaliers' hopes take a hit
Steve Esterkamp scores 31 points as Ohio hands Virginia its fifth straight
defeat.
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
ATHENS, Ohio - Virginia is on the bubble, all right. The NIT bubble.
In a matchup of teams that had not lived up to preseason expectations, Ohio
University of the Mid-American Conference got a career-high 31 points from
senior forward Steve Esterkamp on Wednesday night and defeated the Cavaliers
78-72.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Cavaliers, who had not previously lost
more than four consecutive games in Pete Gillen's five seasons as coach. UVa
(14-12) needs to win at least one more game to finish with the .500 record that
is required for the NIT.
"Confidence is a problem when you lose five games in a row," said Gillen, whose
Cavaliers entered the game as five-point favorites. "I believe in them; I still
think they believe in themselves. It's tough to beat anybody on the road. MAC
teams are good teams."
UVa had not previously played on the home floor of a MAC opponent. However, the
Cavaliers had agreed to a home-and-home series after failing to make the NCAA
Tournament in 1999-2000 when they were perceived to have a weak schedule.
A crowd of only 7,281 was on hand at the Bobcats' Convocation Center, known as
"The Convo," but students stormed the court after watching Ohio (10-14) beat an
ACC team for the second year in a row.
"Certainly this is a very emotional game for them, their biggest game of the
year," Gillen said. "I thought our kids played hard and just didn't put the ball
in the basket. It was their Super Bowl. We let a kid get going who got very
hot."
The Bobcats got 23 points from Esterkamp in an 86-78 victory over North Carolina
last year in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"Please put down that I was joking," Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said, "but I said to
the guys in the locker room after the game, 'Maybe we should schedule more ACC
teams.' We were fortunate to have the game here. It was a golden opportunity for
our kids to play an ACC team on our home court.
"I'm the beneficiary of a crazy scheduling quirk that happened years ago. This
could be the last time you actually see any major school go on the road on a
one-for-one basis and play a good mid-major. Nobody does it. I empathize with
Coach Gillen on this one.
"For our kids, this was a big deal. I'm not so sure, when you're coming out of
the ACC and playing Duke and Maryland, that those kids look upon us the same
way."
Much of the pregame hype centered on 6-foot-7, 260-pound Ohio center Brandon
Hunter, who was averaging 22.0 points and a Division I-high 13.3 rebounds per
game. The Cavaliers held Hunter to 14 points and seven rebounds, ending his
streak of 11 double-doubles, but he got the biggest rebound of the game.
Ohio was leading 69-66 when Hunter missed both ends of a two-shot free-throw
opportunity with 1:34 left, but the second shot glanced off the front rim and
Hunter tipped it back to himself. The Bobcats held the ball until Jeff Halbert
drove to the basket and was fouled by Travis Watson with five seconds left on
the shot clock.
Watson fouled out on the play and Halbert, an 81-percent free-throw shooter,
made both shots. Todd Billet hit a pair of free throws for UVa to make it 71-68
with 1:04 left, but the Cavaliers quickly fouled Hunter, who made five of six
free throws over the final 55.7 seconds.
The Bobcats, shooting 66.6 percent from the line before Wednesday night,
converted 23 of 30 (76.7 percent) against the Cavaliers. Ohio was 9-of-15 on
3-pointers, including 9-of-10 by Esterkamp (5-of-6) and Jaivon Harris (4-of-4).
UVa had five scorers in double figures, led by Nick Vander Laan, who was 7-for-7
from the field and finished with 15 points after not scoring more than three in
the last five games.
"This hurts," Vander Laan said. "There's been a lot of disappointment. It's been
a long season. We really need to rally."
Coaches putting best spin on deflated ACC basketball
BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Feb 27, 2003
Contact Bob Lipper at (804) 649-6555 or e-mail blipper@timesdispatch.com
Here's how you know it isn't a vintage year for ACC hoops: Mike Krzyzewski is
tub-thumping again on behalf of the proposition that six or seven league members
should be shoe horned onto the NCAA drawsheet. And Herb Sendek is lobbying for
expansion of the field so even coaches of stray dogs can wave a postseason
pedigree at their barking critics.
This is all posturing and nonsense, of course. Krzyzewski is a smart guy and a
championship coach, and he's sweet to stick up for the poor wretches he
snarlingly lathers a couple of times a week. But even he can look down on the
standings from his Olympus in Durham and see that only three ACC teams are
legitimately deserving of NCAA inclusion.
That would be his own Duke perennials, plus Maryland and Wake Forest. Anyone
else at this moment is strictly a wannabe, a pretender or toast.
As for Sendek, who's only slightly drier than toast, he gave a stump speech
Tuesday during which he advanced the idea of raising the ceiling for the NCAAs
beyond the current 65 teams. "I think that would enrich college basketball at
this time," Sendek said, presumably with his standard straight face.
What Bracketville expansion actually would enrich are the bank accounts of
coaches who have bonuses for NCAA appearances etched on their contracts.
Contracts, it might be added, they'd have a better shot at completing if they
could wave as evidence of competence an NCAA bid, even if it amounted to a 27th
seed in the South Region.
Sendek's welfare-for-million- aires overture is reminiscent of the revision ACC
coaches pulled off in the late '90s when they had the league tournament's
8-vs.-9 play-in game replaced by an opening-day doubleheader - the idea being
they could disguise which of them had been truly wretched during the regular
season. The restructuring lasted two years. Somehow, the fat-cat boosters never
bought in and confused Clemson or Florida State with Duke.
This year's tournament will be the 50th, and there figures to be more past than
present to celebrate. The league is getting older. The rosters are getting
younger, the talent level - as is the case nationwide - more diluted, the
coaches less sure-footed.
Once upon a time, for instance, North Carolina-N.C. State meant Dean Smith vs.
Norm Sloan - my nasal twang vs. your plaid sportscoat. Tuesday, it meant Matt
Doherty vs. Sendek in a matchup of terminally beleaguered overseers. The
resulting scrap between two underachieving squads spawned a tense but flawed
overtime engagement.
State won it 75-67 to dab some rouge on its homely NCAA face. The Pack is 8-5
and a clear No. 4 in the ACC pecking order with tests against Maryland, Clemson
(on the road) and Wake upcoming. The flip side is it has no showcase
nonconference wins to tout. It did, on the other hand, fall to UMass and get
flogged by Temple, each a sub-.500 Atlantic-10 entry.
Speaking of floggings, UNC's previous outing ended in a hideous 40-point swoon
at Maryland- the program's most lopsided setback in 53 years. The Tar Heels are
now veering toward the dreaded play-in game - this in the shadows of a
worst-ever 8-20 finish and rumors everyone this side of the manager has thought
about transferring. Somewhere, a Rams Club heavyweight is saying this never
would've happened with Roy.
If Doherty is skating toward thin ice, Virginia's Pete Gillen is trying to
extract a harpoon from his hide. The Coach for Life had a crummy 2002, and he's
having a lousier 2003, and the chat rooms are burning.
At a tumbling 5-8 in the league, the Cavs likely need to win out at FSU and
against Georgia Tech and Maryland to have a prayer of landing in the NCAAs.
Gillen, meanwhile, juggles egos and crises and lamely suggests things would be
different if banished ballhandler Keith Jenifer were on board. As if Jenifer is
the second coming of John Crotty and was punted for taking an extra dessert in
the cafeteria.
MIA might also describe the ACC this postseason. The league that's snared five
national titles and 15 Final Four berths since 1990 will be fortunate to get a
whiff of New Orleans come April. Don't look now, but football's gaining.
Coaches putting best spin on deflated ACC basketball
BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Feb 27, 2003
Contact Bob Lipper at (804) 649-6555 or e-mail blipper@timesdispatch.com
Here's how you know it isn't a vintage year for ACC hoops: Mike Krzyzewski is
tub-thumping again on behalf of the proposition that six or seven league members
should be shoe horned onto the NCAA drawsheet. And Herb Sendek is lobbying for
expansion of the field so even coaches of stray dogs can wave a postseason
pedigree at their barking critics.
This is all posturing and nonsense, of course. Krzyzewski is a smart guy and a
championship coach, and he's sweet to stick up for the poor wretches he
snarlingly lathers a couple of times a week. But even he can look down on the
standings from his Olympus in Durham and see that only three ACC teams are
legitimately deserving of NCAA inclusion.
That would be his own Duke perennials, plus Maryland and Wake Forest. Anyone
else at this moment is strictly a wannabe, a pretender or toast.
As for Sendek, who's only slightly drier than toast, he gave a stump speech
Tuesday during which he advanced the idea of raising the ceiling for the NCAAs
beyond the current 65 teams. "I think that would enrich college basketball at
this time," Sendek said, presumably with his standard straight face.
What Bracketville expansion actually would enrich are the bank accounts of
coaches who have bonuses for NCAA appearances etched on their contracts.
Contracts, it might be added, they'd have a better shot at completing if they
could wave as evidence of competence an NCAA bid, even if it amounted to a 27th
seed in the South Region.
Sendek's welfare-for-million- aires overture is reminiscent of the revision ACC
coaches pulled off in the late '90s when they had the league tournament's
8-vs.-9 play-in game replaced by an opening-day doubleheader - the idea being
they could disguise which of them had been truly wretched during the regular
season. The restructuring lasted two years. Somehow, the fat-cat boosters never
bought in and confused Clemson or Florida State with Duke.
This year's tournament will be the 50th, and there figures to be more past than
present to celebrate. The league is getting older. The rosters are getting
younger, the talent level - as is the case nationwide - more diluted, the
coaches less sure-footed.
Once upon a time, for instance, North Carolina-N.C. State meant Dean Smith vs.
Norm Sloan - my nasal twang vs. your plaid sportscoat. Tuesday, it meant Matt
Doherty vs. Sendek in a matchup of terminally beleaguered overseers. The
resulting scrap between two underachieving squads spawned a tense but flawed
overtime engagement.
State won it 75-67 to dab some rouge on its homely NCAA face. The Pack is 8-5
and a clear No. 4 in the ACC pecking order with tests against Maryland, Clemson
(on the road) and Wake upcoming. The flip side is it has no showcase
nonconference wins to tout. It did, on the other hand, fall to UMass and get
flogged by Temple, each a sub-.500 Atlantic-10 entry.
Speaking of floggings, UNC's previous outing ended in a hideous 40-point swoon
at Maryland- the program's most lopsided setback in 53 years. The Tar Heels are
now veering toward the dreaded play-in game - this in the shadows of a
worst-ever 8-20 finish and rumors everyone this side of the manager has thought
about transferring. Somewhere, a Rams Club heavyweight is saying this never
would've happened with Roy.
If Doherty is skating toward thin ice, Virginia's Pete Gillen is trying to
extract a harpoon from his hide. The Coach for Life had a crummy 2002, and he's
having a lousier 2003, and the chat rooms are burning.
At a tumbling 5-8 in the league, the Cavs likely need to win out at FSU and
against Georgia Tech and Maryland to have a prayer of landing in the NCAAs.
Gillen, meanwhile, juggles egos and crises and lamely suggests things would be
different if banished ballhandler Keith Jenifer were on board. As if Jenifer is
the second coming of John Crotty and was punted for taking an extra dessert in
the cafeteria.
MIA might also describe the ACC this postseason. The league that's snared five
national titles and 15 Final Four berths since 1990 will be fortunate to get a
whiff of New Orleans come April. Don't look now, but football's gaining.
ACC Notebook
"You need guards," Gillen said. "My kingdom for guards. Life guards, crossing guards, prison guards, any type of guards. Security guards, swing guard, combo guard, point guard, two guard.
"Just give me guards in college basketball. If you have three good guards on the perimeter, you've got a chance. You need great guards to be a great team."
When Gillen coached at Providence he had a guard named God Shamgod.
"We had God, and I couldn't win with him," Gillen said. "We had God and all we could do is get to the Final Eight.
"Obviously I'm not a good coach."
• Scooter Sherrill was so upset with a turnover he made late in N.C. State's win over North Carolina on Tuesday that he apologized to Coach Herb Sendek before the game was over, thinking he had cost his team the game.
Sherrill was on the right wing when he threw a pass to Josh Powell, who was standing near the top of the key. David Noel raced over and stole the ball, sped downcourt and beat Sherrill and Powell to the basket for a dunk that sent North Carolina ahead 61-55 with 2:56 left.
Sherrill walked up to Sendek during the next dead ball and told Sendek he was sorry for the pass because the basket was going to let North Carolina win.
Sendek had a quick response: Forget it.
"We just state, 'It's over; you've got to go forward,' " Sendek said. "You've got to go on to the next play. I told him what he could have done in the same situation to avoid the turnover.
"In the heat of the battle, you've got to be able to move on to the next play. You've got to put it behind you. All your best intentions, you can't bring it back."
N.C. State rallied, forced overtime and won 75-67, and Sherrill scored seven of his team's 13 points in the extra period.
• Florida State hasn't won an ACC road game in two seasons, and the mounting losses are bothering the players.
"It's constantly on our minds," Trevor Harvey said. "We're trying to win away games but it seems like we tend to lose focus."
Harvey is a junior-college player who transferred to FSU last year. He hasn't won an ACC road game since joining the program under previous coach Steve Robinson.
The streak has reached 15 games and chances are it isn't going to end this season. FSU's last road game is March 6 at Duke.
• Virginia had lost four consecutive games before playing at Ohio last night, and Gillen said he was feeling the wrath of alumni and fans who expected more.
Some alumni and fans have suggested that Virginia fire Gillen, even though he has eight years left on his contract, but Athletics Director Craig Littlepage said he has no intentions of cutting loose his coach.
"Pete is our coach, and I am supporting him," Littlepage said. "Although Pete, the staff and team feel we should be doing better, we are all committed to figuring out the issues and fixing them.
"It might be difficult for everyone to be positive about the program, but the only way for the team to be successful is for all of us to support them. Our fans have been great this year, and I hope they will help the team get through the stretch run of the season."
Littlepage backed his argument with the evidence that Gillen has a better winning percentage in ACC play at this point in his career than Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Gary Williams of Maryland and Sendek had in theirs.
Alumni and fans have a counter argument: Gillen hasn't won a postseason game in the ACC Tournament, the NCAA Tournament or the NIT in four seasons at Virginia.
• Before being throttled at Maryland on Tuesday, Clemson had enjoyed a resurgence led by guard Ed Scott that had the Tigers thinking they could get a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Clemson won three consecutive ACC games for the first time in six seasons and broke a 10-game conference road losing streak in the process. Scott averaged 28.7 points in the three games.
"Physically, he creates an issue for you because it's hard to match up with the combination of perimeter shooting ability, short-range game, and quickness, speed and athleticism, and the experience and savvy," Coach Leonard Hamilton of FSU said. "That's a tough combination."
Scott called a players-only meeting before Clemson played Georgia Tech Feb. 5. The players decided they wanted a faster pace, and Coach Larry Shyatt gave in to their demand. The pace played to Scott's strengths.
"It's fun," Scott said.
Watson Not Getting It Done
By Chris Wallace
Date: Feb 26, 2003
There are a lot reasons why the Virginia men's basketball team has lost four
games in a row. Turnovers have been a major problem, as has intensity and
consistency. And point guard play has been shaky at best, although there were
signs of improvement at Wake Forest. But the play of Travis Watson as of late
would garner my vote as the biggest reason for the slide.
While he's still averaged 10 rebounds per game during the losing streak, Watson
has averaged just nine points per game, while shooting an abysmal 33 percent
from the field. He also has 16 turnovers during that same span. But what's been
more troubling has been his failure to step us as a senior and lead his team the
way the other top seniors in the Atlantic Coast Conference have this year.
And you just have to look back at the last three losses to see exactly what I'm
talking about. In the Duke game, senior Dahntay Jones was determined that his
Blue Devils would not be dropping another road game and he had his teammates
ready to go. Jones also made several big plays in the game and set the tone for
the 78-59 win. Next comes Clemson, and senior guard Ed Scott put his teammates
on his back with a 32-point performance that led to a shocking 73-64 win at
University Hall. And finally the 75-71 Wake loss, where senior forward Josh
Howard simply took over the game in the second half and scored every time his
team needed a basket. You could see in his face that Howard, who finished with
28 points, was determined not to let his team lose.
Sadly, I'm not seeing that look on Watson's face lately. I saw it at the Comcast
Center as he grabbed every big rebound late in Virginia's upset of Maryland, and
I saw it in the closing stages of the narrow home win against N.C. State, with
similar work on the glass. But in the last four games, and truth be told for
much of the season, Watson's play has been a disappointment.
As much as onlookers discuss the youth in the ACC this year, it has been the top
seniors that have made the difference for most teams. I already mentioned Jones,
Scott and Howard, but don't forget about Steve Blake and Drew Nicholas at
Maryland. And Clifford Crawford has had a tremendous year down at N.C. State
doing all the little things and playing great defense. And it's no coincidence
that all of these players, with the exception of Scott, have their teams near or
at the top of the ACC standings. And Scott has been the sparkplug in leading
Clemson, now 15-9 overall and 5-8 in the ACC, to a much better record than many
predicted.
In Watson, Virginia has a player who could be every bit as dominating as the
aforementioned seniors. But it hasn't happened on a consistent basis and there's
no doubt in my mind that is the main reason for UVa's underachieving marks of
14-11 overall and 5-8 in the league. Aside from rebounding, all of Watson's
individual numbers are off this year. His scoring is down to 13.5 points per
game, compared to 14.1 a year ago, and all of his shooting numbers are down as
well. Watson has also been prone to committing unnecessary fouls and has been a
rare visitor to practice from all reports. And what must also be said is that
the ACC is without the number of top big men that have been in the league in the
last couple years, a reason why many had predicted a monster season for Watson
and maybe Virginia.
But again, it hasn't happened, although it still can in many ways. If Virginia
can win its next four games, starting with a road game at Ohio tonight, it will
have put itself in pretty good shape to get into the NCAA Tournament. At 18-11
overall and 8-8 in the league, a sweep of Maryland, wins over Wake and Kentucky
and the overall strength of the ACC would warrant the invitation in my opinion.
And the Cavaliers are certainly capable of winning all four of these contests,
but not with Watson playing the way he has of late.
And he better not wait for an ACC team to get back into the swing of things.
Ohio (9-14) features a player very similar to Travis Watson in 6-foot-7 senior
forward Brandon Hunter. Only Hunter has produced every night for his team in his
final campaign. The Cincinnati native averages 22.2 points and 13.3 rebounds --
a total that leads the nation -- per game. Hunter has been in double figures in
each of the Bobcats' 23 games and has 19 double-doubles. And the 260-pounder has
had some unbelievable games this season, including 30 points and 26 rebounds in
a win over Akron, and 35 points and 16 rebounds in a victory over Marshall.
Hunter will be ready to play, will Watson? And don't kid yourself, at this
stage, this game is every bit as important for the Cavaliers as the final three
ACC games.
Entering tonight's game, Watson has career totals of 1,425 points and 1,047
rebounds, with the rebounding figure ranking second in school history to Ralph
Sampson. But at this point, I don't think Watson's legacy has been defined, and
his performance this year is the major reason why. He's had his moments this
season, but not as many as Virginia fans have expected or have had the right to
expect. I can only think back to Watson's freshman campaign and his first ACC
game, an overtime loss to Duke. Watson was unreal that night and all who
witnessed the game were talking about what kind of player that kid was going to
be. Well, answer that question for us in these final games Travis, but don't do
it for us. Do it for yourself.
| Cavalier Daily
Associate Editor
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The Cavaliers (1-0) head to No. 1 Syracuse on Saturday to face an Orangeman team (1-0) that beat Virginia twice last season, including once in the NCAA national semifinals to end the season for the Cavaliers. Virginia then travels to Princeton to battle the No. 2 Tigers a week later on March 8.
Although Virginia will be up against some of the toughest competition in the country, the Cavaliers are looking forward to the chance of avenging last year's Final Four loss.
"They're going to pay," Virginia midfielder A.J. Shannon said. "They're going to be a good team, but we're going to take it to them. It's been a long time; our class hasn't beaten them. You don't want to say one game is more important than the other, but this one is important, especially for the seniors. We've had enough of always losing close games to Syracuse."
Both the Cavaliers and the Orangemen opened their schedules last weekend with equally decisive wins, Virginia dismissing Drexel 19-8 and the Orangemen pounding Army 15-7, but Syracuse has had the Cavaliers' number for the last three seasons. Virginia has not beaten the Orangemen since 1999, the year the Cavaliers won the national championship.
This Virginia squad feels they may be the ones to turn the tide. The Cavaliers graduated only two starters from last season while Syracuse lost five.
"They've had a lot of changes on defense," Shannon said. "But, their attack is still dynamite even though they lost [first team All-America Josh] Coffman. We don't know much about their midfield units, but they probably have a lot of guys able to step up."
Last year the Cavaliers fell to the Orangeman at home 15-13 in the season opener. This season, the game will be played in the warmth of the Carrier Dome, a stark contrast to the frigid winter temperature the team has become accustomed to.
"It's going to be 75 degrees," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "We're going to need more players throughout the game because we're not going to have played in conditions like 75 degrees before the game. We haven't taken our sweats off all year."
The unseasonable heat seems only appropriate conditions to play in for a Virginia team that has a burning desire for revenge.
"It's one we've been waiting for for a long time, ever since that last whistle blew in the Final Four," senior midfielder Chris Rotelli said. "We need to play better and pick up the level of intensity, but I think we will."
The Cavaliers defeated national runner-up Princeton at home 13-11 last season, but will have to face the Tigers, last year's national runner-up on enemy turf. Princeton opens its season this Saturday against Johns Hopkins, a rematch of last season's other national semifinal.
While the stakes might not be as high as a Final Four game, the Cavaliers know that both their pride and their reputation are on the line.