Doughty has all day to dissect Cavs’ demise
2007-2008 post situation starting to look scary
By Doug Doughty

Who am I to comment on a college basketball team and whether or not it has lost its focus?

Shortly after arriving at Miami International at 6:30 this morning, I learned that my anticipated 8:45 a.m. flight to Virginia wasn’t due to depart until 8:45 p.m.

And, I was the guy who made the reservation, mercifully changed to send me off at 11:45 a.m.

There were a few other snafus, including a failure to pack socks, but I couldn’t have been much more miserable than the Virginia men’s basketball team, a 68-60 loser Wednesday night at BankUnited Center.

The Cavaliers lost at Purdue (62-60) and at home to Stanford (76-75) on shots inside the final two seconds, but those back-and-forth affairs weren’t any more winnable than Wednesday night’s debacle, when Miami outscored Virginia 7-0 over the final 25 seconds.

All it would have taken was one defensive stop and the Cavaliers were holding tough until Miami called a timeout with 25.7 seconds left on the game clock and seven seconds remaining on the shot clock. Then, J.R. Reynolds slipped coming around a screen and a 61-60 Miami lead jumped to 64-60 on a Jack McClinton 3-pointer.

At various points of the season, second-year UVa coach Dave Leitao has chosen to overlook the Cavaliers’ offensive shortcomings while harping on defense. The defense Wednesday night wasn’t great, but what can you say when a team scores 25 points in a half, as Virginia did over the final 20 minutes.

UVa shot under 40 percent for the second game in a row and was 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) from the field in the second half. The only guy who could make a shot was Jamil Tucker, a 6-foot-9 freshman who hit three 3-pointers in the second half

As bad as they were from the field, however, the Cavaliers could have saved the game by making their free throws. Not only did Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds both miss the front ends of one-and-ones, but Tunji Soroye missed both ends of a two-shot opportunity – all in the final eight minutes.

Soroye blocked four shots and has been a defensive force in recent games, but he has gone 1-for-8 from the free-throw line in the last two games. When you consider that Ryan Pettinella is shooting 25 percent (8-for-33) from the line for the season, it makes you cringe at the thought of Virginia’s post play in 2007-2008.

Starting post player Jason Cain made five of six free throws but all he had to show for a 25-minute outing was seven points, two rebounds and three blocks. The Cavaliers were killed on the boards in the second half, 27-14, after outrebounding the Hurricanes 20-14 in the first half.

A fourth post player, former starter Lauris Mikalauskas, played five minutes and did not have a rebound. Pettinella’s only stats over a two-minute stint were a pair of fouls.

This wasn’t one of the nation’s top inside games that Virginia was facing, but freshman Dwayne Collins chewed up the Cavaliers in the second half. UVa’s leading rebounder for the game was J.R. Reynolds, a 6-foot-2 ½ guard, with eight.

Reynolds and Singletary were less than stellar, but what of sophomore wing Mamadi Diane, one of the Cavaliers’ three double-figure scorers on the season? Diane had two points and zero rebounds in 17 minutes and continues to come up small on the road.

It was Diane’s second straight two-point game on the road, dating back to an 84-57 loss at Virginia Tech on Feb. 10. Those same Hokies, flush off a XX-XX drubbing of Boston College in an early Wednesday game that did not make the final edition of the Miami Herald, are the opponents for one of the two home games that remain on Virginia’s schedule.

Diane shouldn’t be singled out. Freshmen Will Harris and Solomon Tat were 0-for-1 from the field in a combined 12 minutes Wednesday and have joined a growing group of Virginia players who aren’t a factor at the offensive end (Diane, Cain, Soroye, Pettinella and Mikaluaskas).

Given that the Cavaliers are 14-1 at home, you would think they would win one of their two final games at John Paul Jones Arena, where they entertain Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but the longer it takes for Virginia to get a 10th ACC victory, the more pressure there will be on the Cavaliers.

An inconsistent non-conference performance against a weaker-than-expected schedule has created some question as to whether even a 10-6 ACC record will get the Cavaliers in the NCAA field. One thing’s for sure: At 9-7, with four straight losses to end the regular season, UVa would be in big trouble.

MEDIA GADFLY Jeff White loves to shoot down my theories, but even White agrees that University of Richmond offensive coordinator Wayne Lineburg merits strong consideration for the football assistant’s job left vacant by receiver coach John Garrett.

Lineburg, a former walk-on quarterback and 1996 graduate, knows the school and he knows the state after working at William and Mary and Richmond. He comes from a coaching background where academics have been valued in recruiting.

If there is a question about Lineburg, it concerns his experience with wide receivers, although he did work with that position group while serving as a UVa graduate assistant in 1997-98. As Richmond’s offensive coordinator, he doubled up as running backs coach.

 

Tucker a bright spot for UVa in loss
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 23, 2007

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Virginia’s 68-60 loss to Miami on Wednesday night may have been reminiscent of its wretched performance in the San Juan Shootout in December.

However, there was one main difference: It was just one bad game - not three.

“It had similarities to Puerto Rico,” said freshman forward Jamil Tucker, “but we’re a totally different team now. It was just a rough night for our two best players.”

Virginia’s backcourt of Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds went 9 of 23 from the field. The duo was held to 30 points, six below their combined average.

The one bright spot to come out of the Sunshine State was the play of Tucker, who made his most valuable contributions of the season.

“He played big for us,” Reynolds said. “He shot the ball well and got some rebounds. We needed it.

“Any time we get production off the bench like that, it’s a plus for us.”

Tucker had played a total of just 17 minutes in the team’s previous six games, including three DNPs. In that span, he had two points and three rebounds.

On Wednesday, he had 11 points, five rebounds and a steal in 16 minutes.

The most encouraging sign was the fact Tucker appeared to be doing a lot of the little things that Virginia coach Dave Leitao has been trying to get him to do.

In the first half, he rotated perfectly on defense and broke up an alley-oop pass to Dwayne Collins. Later, he snared a rebound from two Miami players while tight-roping the endline.

“Defense and rebounding is what Coach Leitao preaches day in and day out,” Tucker said. “I believe I still have a lot of work to do and I’m trying as hard as I can to get it accomplished.”

In the second half, Tucker hit back-to-back 3-pointers, but was then taken out of the game. The substitution was a bit curious considering Virginia’s shooting woes (UVa was just 6 of 22 from the field in the final 20 minutes).

“I have complete faith in Coach Leitao’s coaching philosophy, so he must have seen something that had to be adjusted,” Tucker said. “It wasn’t a surprise and I was just ready to go back in when needed.”

Tucker reentered the game about five minutes later and promptly hit another 3 - off a drive-and-kick from Reynolds - to give Virginia a 54-53 lead.

“We have a team full of great players and they all attract so much attention,” Tucker said. “When they’re doing their thing and going to the hole like they do so well, it’s easy for people like me to get open.”

Tucker said it felt good to be able to contribute. However, he would have rather had the victory.

“It was a good gesture that I got to play, but the end factor was us losing,” he said. “It feels the same as if I didn’t play a second and we lost.”

No. 24 Virginia (18-8, 9-4) is now in a second-place tie with Virginia Tech in the ACC. The Cavaliers host Georgia Tech on Saturday.

“Our team needs to regroup, reenergize and come out strong,” Tucker said.

Dunks

While Reynolds was held to just seven shot attempts and 13 points, he did pull down eight rebounds - one shy of his career high that came earlier this season at Purdue. … Tunji Soroye’s four blocks tied his season high. … Virginia had six offensive fouls in the game. “We have been working on taking the charge,” said Miami coach Frank Haith. “It’s something we’ve been practicing.” … For Miami guard Jack McClinton, the win was extra special. It came against Virginia assistant coach Rob Lanier, his former head coach at Siena. … Virginia had more turnovers (17) than its opponent (13) for the first time in five games and was out-rebounded (41-32) for the second straight game. … Miami was averaging 4,309 fans in its six previous league home games but drew just 3,707 on Wednesday.


 

Singing the ACC's praises
By Jerry Miller / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com | 978-7251
February 23, 2007

Bracketology gone wild. For the next two weeks or so, we will be bombarded with opinions on who’s in and who’s out of the NCAA Tournament.
No wonder they call it March Madness. For those of us who can survive the onslaught of self-proclaimed bracketologists, screaming about RPI and strength of schedules, it can be a bit maddening.
Some claim the ACC has nine teams with NCAA resumes. Even Dick Vitale shouts that the ACC should get eight this time around, which might produce a soothing effect on the basketball-rich league that felt a bit snubbed with a mere four invites last year.

On the offensive
You’ve got to hand it to the ACC’s brass, though. Conference administrators, ACC coaches and athletic directors huddled in the aftermath in order to take a proactive approach to solving the problem.
While the league was going to be better this season anyway, simply because of the maturation process (most of the teams returned four starters or more), there was much discussion in how to get more teams in the tournament.
Virginia AD Craig Littlepage, who chaired the NCAA Tournament selection committee last season, was approached with several questions along with Greg Shaheen, the NCAA’s vice president of Division I basketball and championship strategies, on what the ACC could do.

Opponents matter
Littlepage’s message was clear and echoed the sentiments of the committee from as far back as 20 years ago: teams needed to play a good schedule. Even in the highly competitive ACC, conference games were not enough. Non-conference games were part of the equation.
“Strength of schedule does matter,” Littlepage said with emphasis.
Florida State found that out the hard way last season when the Seminoles compiled a 9-7 ACC record but had a poor RPI of 63 and an even worse non-conference strength of schedule: No. 316.
Littlepage explained to the ACC’s inquiring minds that in a day of unbalanced conference schedules due to expansion, that teams that might finish with identical 10-6 records might have arrived at that record via different paths.
“So, the non-conference games become particularly important in this era of college basketball,” Littlepage said. “The emphasis was on producing a balanced non-conference schedule that would allow the committee and, to a lesser extent, fans of the game, to compare teams’ quality on the basis of playing other good teams.
“It does not enhance the attractiveness of teams in any league nor does it help the committee do its work when there is little effort to challenge oneself outside of its own conference,” he said.
“Building a non-conference schedule intended to win 20 games (as if the 20-win plateau is the magic number) will not always result in a positive evaluation come selection weekend.”
Obviously, the ACC got the message. At last glance, nine of the league’s 12 teams were among the strongest 50 RPI in the nation.
Florida State, even in the midst of a losing skid, was 39th in RPI and was ranked No. 17 in strength of schedule.
Not only did ACC teams beef up their non-conference schedules, they beefed up their presentation. Littlepage and league officials believed that because the conference was young last season and had lost several of its premier players via either graduation or early entry into the NBA, that the national perception was that the league had been watered down.
Certainly that didn’t help the cause when the talking heads began to ask “What’s wrong with the ACC?”
This year, from the first day of practice onward, you’ve heard ACC coaches talk up the league, and that chatter hasn’t ceased. Those words took on extra meaning in the wake of on-court success. Still, the coaches weren’t about to allow any negative perceptions of the league to seep into the conversation.
North Carolina’s Roy Williams said this week that the league is as tough as he has ever seen it. He’s right, even though the overall quality of college basketball isn’t quite as good because the truly great players aren’t sticking around as long as they used to during its golden age.
From top to bottom, though, the ACC is pretty darned good.
Just ask Virginia after Wednesday night’s visit to Miami. Or Virginia Tech about its visit to Raleigh. Williams will vouch for that.
FSU coach Leonard Hamilton is quick to sing the league’s praises.
“I’ve had the chance to coach in the SEC, the Big 12, the Big East and the NBA, and I feel that every game is a big game in the ACC,” Hamilton said. “When you go on the road, you cannot be competing against more passionate fans. As a result, it’s such a tremendous, overwhelming atmosphere.
“In other leagues I’ve been in, there have been some atmospheres that weren’t as enthusiastic, but that does not exist in the ACC regardless of where you go,” Hamilton said. “If you’re not ready to play, you can get it handed to you regardless of where you are in the standings. … That’s not the case in other conferences I’ve been in and I’m not sure the nation or the committee understands or appreciates that.”
Well, I don’t know about the rest of the committee, but Littlepage certainly understands. I don’t know of anyone who loves the game of college basketball more than the Virginia AD. He takes his role on the committee seriously. It’s not unusual for him to watch three to five basketball games in one night to get a better handle on, not just the ACC, but also teams around the country.
He’s been around ACC hoops for 30 years as either a coach or administrator, so he’s well-equipped to evaluate teams.
The man he hired to turn around Virginia basketball, coach Dave Leitao, was quick to learn the difference between the ACC and other leagues he’s been involved with.
“I can’t remember the conversation I had before our first [ACC] game, but someone said, ‘Hey, you realize the atmosphere is different don’t you?’” Leitao said.
He found out immediately.
“They eat, sleep, and breathe it,” Leitao said. “This is a different experience. Tremendous offensive teams, tremendous offensive players and coaches who get them ready to play. The venues, the tradition.”
Leitao believes, while some other leagues have a team that has dominated over decades, such as Kentucky in the SEC, Kansas in the Big 12, UCLA in the Pac 10, Syracuse in the Big East, none of them feature two giants such as Duke and North Carolina in the ACC.
“Then there are national championship teams like Maryland and N.C. State, and other solid programs and that’s really a chore,” Leitao said. “That’s what separates us from any other league in America.”
That’s why any ACC team with an RPI in the top 50 this season has truly earned it. Maybe this time the selection committee will be impressed.

 

Cavs hurler Rule back where he belongs
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 23, 2007

It is quite possible that pitcher Jake Rule has the most comprehensive understanding of how far the Virginia baseball program has come in recent years.

Growing up in Waynesboro, Rule spent countless afternoons as a youngster at Davenport Field long before improvements were made to the facility.

“There were about three rows of bleachers and some grass out there,” Rule joked. “Those are about the only similarities.”

Rule also remembers the stereotype that the Cavaliers were strictly going through the motions on the diamond - from 1992 to 2003, UVa registered four just winning seasons.

“When I was a kid 10 years ago, I would have never imagined that the program, the facilities, the coaches … everything is unbelievably better than I ever saw growing up,” Rule said.

The right-hander took the path less traveled, but when Virginia (7-1) opens a three-game series with Bucknell today at Davenport Field, it will do so with Rule in its bullpen.

Late in his career at Stuarts Draft High, Rule was spotted by a member of Virginia’s coaching staff. There were glaring problems: Virginia’s recruiting class was full and Rule had committed to play at William and Mary.

Rule made the most of his rookie season with the Tribe, notching four wins and three saves in a team-best 25 appearances.

A month after the season ended, Rule learned that William and Mary coach Jim Farr, who doubled as his pitching coach, had resigned.

“When Coach Farr left [to become the pitching coach at Maryland], I decided that it was time for a change for me, too,” Rule said. “I looked at a couple of places, but I knew right off the bat that [Virginia] was the place that I wanted to come to.”

It was a perfect match barring one formality.

“I begged and pleaded,” Rule said of his release from the school. “It wasn’t Coach Farr. The school just has a policy where they don’t release their players.”

Unlike most college baseball players, Rule was forced to sit out a year.

“The kid was in a tough situation,” O’Connor said. “Anytime you transfer to a new school and you have to sit out a year and you can’t compete, I think you just feel so secluded from the team.”

Rule is quick to admit that his treatment like an everyday player helped, but pitching coach Karl Kuhn credits a former Cavalier for helping ease the transition.

Mike Ballard, who was the team’s No. 3 starter, could relate to Rule. Ballard was forced to sit out the 2004 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery

"Mike being the only one there who had been through a year off could kind of help Jake and kind of help facilitate what it is that he would be trying to get done in his year off," Kuhn said. "I think Mike played a big part in it.

"It is not the way you want it designed. I know that Jake wanted to play last year, but he will tell you that he is better for it. I think he is only looking forward."

Rule agreed.

"It was definitely worth it and I would do it again," he said. "I don’t have any regrets about it."

This past summer, Rule returned to the mound for the Staunton Braves in the Valley League and wowed O’Connor with his work during the fall workout period.

The impression was so favorable O’Connor thrust Rule into a pair of games in the season-opening tournament at Coastal Carolina.

"It shows the confidence that I have in him to pitch him in a couple of ball games and a really close ball game, too,’ O’Connor said.

It was during that event that Rule threw one pitch he would like to have back – on a 3-2 pitch, Coastal Carolina senior Chris Raber drilled a homer that led to the Cavaliers’ only loss.

"I have to tip my hat to [Raber] because he was better on that pitch," Rule said. "When something like that happens you want to get the taste out of your mouth. You want to get back out there and get your confidence back up."

He did that on Tuesday against his former teammates at William and Mary – Rule struck out three in 1.1 innings of relief work.

Thanks to Rule and his out-pitch – a nasty slider – the 6-foot-2 converted starter will boost the prospects of Virginia’s bullpen.

"We are hoping that he can kind of bridge that gap and pick-up a little bit of what [Michael] Schwimer did last year," Kuhn said.

O’Connor added: "I think he is going be a real valuable guy for us. He has a great arm, he has a great breaking ball and I think he is going to do well for us here."

Rule is just happy to be playing in the ACC on the diamond he dreamed of playing on.

"I am honored to wear this uniform," he said.

Extra bases

O’Connor said the threat of inclement weather on Sunday could force Virginia and Bucknell to play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. A decision will be made today, he said. … UVa and Bucknell have not squared off since ’05. The Cavaliers swept Bucknell in a three-game series, winning 7-2, 2-0 and 13-3.

 

Kerney set to become a free agent
Falcons still have a week to re-sign defensive end
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/23/07

Indianapolis – Patrick Kerney, the one-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Falcons, said his days with the team appear finished.

"Unfortunately, there is the business side of things," Kerney said in a phone interview Thursday. "I always said since I was a rookie, if Joe Montana didn't finish his career with the San Francisco 49ers, there's no guarantee I'll finish my career with the Atlanta Falcons."

Kerney will void the remaining two years of his contract today, according to his co-agent, Rich Rosa, clearing the path for him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Atlanta projects to have roughly $10 million to spend in free agency, which probably would not be enough to retain Kerney and fortify other positions of need. The Falcons and Kerney have been in contract talks for months, but Kerney said it's unlikely an accord will be reached before free agency starts March 2.

"It doesn't look like it," Kerney said about coming to terms with the Falcons. "I've only got about five more years to play, and I've got to make the most out of it. As great as it would have been to finish my career with Atlanta, where everybody, especially the fans, have been great to me in my eight years there, the business side is there."

Kerney, 30, has emerged as one of the top defensive ends heading into the free agent period after Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Cincinnati's Justin Smith and New Orleans' Charles Grant were taken off the market after their respective teams placed the franchise tag on them.

Teams had until Thursday to use the franchise designation on players, a tag that keeps players off the open market in exchange for a one-year salary at the average of the five highest-paid players at their position. For defensive ends, the average is $8.6 million.

According to NFL rules, since Kerney does not have an expiring contract, the Falcons could not designate him a franchise player.

Kerney, an iron man for most of his career, missed the final seven games last season after tearing his right pectoral muscle. He said he is two months ahead of schedule and has already been bench-pressing weights.

Kerney said he is set to begin visiting with teams interested in him. He said his preference is to play for a contending team that utilizes a 4-3 scheme.

That Kerney is a left defensive end, not a coveted pass-rushing right end, should have little bearing on his market value, according to some league officials at the NFL scouting combine. Kerney's ability to produce against the run and rush the passer as well as his gladiator style and locker room leadership are attractive assets.

Should the Falcons lose Kerney, it could affect how they approach the draft. With few affordable defensive ends in free agency, Atlanta could use the 10th overall pick at the position. Gaines Adams (Clemson), Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas), Adam Carriker (Nebraska) and Charles Johnson (Georgia) are regarded as the top defensive ends in the draft.
 

Cavaliers aim to rebound from loss
After dropping tough ACC game to Miami, Cavs try to right the ship Saturday against Georgia Tech
Clayton O'Toole, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

An old saying goes something like, "Getting to the top is easy; it's staying there that is the hard part."

Nothing could be truer for the Virginia men's basketball team, which earlier this week tied for first place in the ACC for the second time this season. Unfortunately for Virginia fans, the Cavaliers' second shot at reaching the top was not any more successful than the first. After being embarrassed and relegated to second by Virginia Tech Feb. 10, the Cavaliers (18-8, 9-4 ACC) again fell from first Wednesday as the team lost 60-68 to Miami, which currently sits in last place in the ACC.

After three consecutive ACC road wins in late January and early February, the Cavaliers have now lost two straight away from John Paul Jones Arena, bringing their season record away from home to a mediocre 4-7. Luckily for Virginia, however, the team returns to Charlottesville for two crucial games in the coming week. Saturday, Virginia will battle Georgia Tech (18-9, 6-7 ACC) at 3:30 p.m. Georgia Tech enters this weekend's contest on a much different note than Virginia after dismantling Wake Forest 75-61 Wednesday in Atlanta.

The Yellow Jackets are led by a pair of stellar freshmen, point guard Javaris Crittenton and forward Thaddeus Young. Crittenton is third in the ACC in scoring among freshmen and sits in the top five in the conference in assists and steals. Young is second on the team in scoring behind Crittenton with 13.7 points per game and third in rebounds at nearly five a game.

Virginia has a pair of its own players performing at high levels of late -- and no, it isn't the All-ACC duo of senior guard J.R. Reynolds and junior guard Sean Singletary. Rather, juniors Adrian Joseph and Tunji Soroye have parlayed improvement on the court into increased playing time. Joseph was the hero for the Cavaliers last weekend against Florida State, as he tallied 17 points -- including five three-pointers -- in only 23 minutes.

"The other guys that can make shots weren't getting as many minutes, so you need somebody else [to step up]," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said after the Florida State game. "I don't have a whole lot of doubt that as long as [Joseph] has his legs underneath him that [he] can make a ton of shots."

Junior big man Soroye has also received increased playing time in recent weeks. After an 11-point, four-rebound performance against Maryland and a clear need for change following the team's disaster in Blacksburg, Soroye has found himself in the starting lineup for the team's last three games.

Starting has "been bringing up my confidence a lot," Soroye said. "I've been working hard, trying to get over my injuries and stuff. But now I'm feeling 80 to 90 percentbetter."

The Cavaliers will need strong efforts from both Joseph and Soroye to pull out a win against Georgia Tech this weekend. The Yellow Jackets have won five of their last six ACC games, and desperately need a statement victory in Charlottesville to improve their NCAA Tournament hopes. Virginia, too, could use a decisive victory at home to cement its spot in the final field of 65.

 

Cavaliers eager to redeem themselves
Stony Brook to face a newly determined Virginia squad motivated to register a win
Megan McDonald, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Last Sunday's upset by the Drexel men's lacrosse team surely put a bounce in the step of Stony Brook's squad during practice this week. As the Seawolves open their 2007 schedule against the defending national champions, a victory that once seemed unattainable has been shown to be possible.

"I am expecting us to bounce back and play well," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "I don't think anything else will be acceptable for anyone."

Indeed, as much as it would like to be the next underdog to topple the preseason No. 1 seed, Stony Brook will face a Virginia team more determined than ever to win. Neither Starsia nor the players took last weekend's home loss lightly.

"I think we have come out in practice this week with a renewed energy," junior attackman Ben Rubeor said. "That game has been a learning experience and a motivating factor."

Rubeor attributed the team's positive outlook at practice this week to Starsia's ability to keep the Drexel upset in perspective. Understanding that this team is considerably more inexperienced than last year's, Starsia has focused on analyzing the reasons for the loss, and on making sure the Cavaliers constantly improve by learning from their mistakes.

"I have been characterized as a bellower but I really try and keep my communications positive," Starsia said. "I don't see any merit to cutting them down. No one wanted to play badly -- learning what it takes to be successful is an acquired skill and with a younger team, we are still working on that."

Mentally, the team's most difficult practice of the week was Tuesday. As the Cavaliers gathered to watch film of the Drexel game, they had to relive those excruciating last 10 seconds of the game.

Last year, Virginia crushed Stony Brook 17-4. The Cavaliers recognize, however, that Stony Brook is an up-and-coming program and have learned the hard way that past performance is no guarantee. The key to winning this weekend, according to Starsia, is for everyone to take responsibility for the quality of Virginia's overall performance.

Saturday's game will not only be the first of the regular season for the Seawolves, but also the first of Rick Sowell's career as head coach at Stony Brook.

"We go into this game a little bit blind," Starsia said. "This is their first game, they graduated a couple of key guys and they have a new coach, so systematically there is not a lot that we can look at right now."

Virginia does not necessarily view this lack of knowledge as a disadvantage, however. It will force the Cavaliers to prepare for the match-up by focusing inward and refining their game.

"We need to worry about ourselves," senior goalie Kip Turner said. "We must be prepared and be intense and leave it out on the field. We were a little lacking in intensity last week and I think that, and our mental mistakes, are what lost us the game."

 

Pacman's cash display sparked Vegas meleeESPN.com news services

LAS VEGAS -- Police seized $81,020 in cash belonging to Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, money they said sparked a melee and a triple shooting at a strip club over the weekend, court documents show.

Jones was showering more than 40 strippers onstage at Minxx Gentlemen's Club & Lounge early Monday with the cash "intended as a visual effect," according to a search warrant. But a scuffle broke out when the Houston promoter who hired the strippers told them to pick the money up.

The promoter, identified as Chris Mitchell, owner of "Harlem Knights," and a male associate took a plastic trash bag containing Jones' money and walked out the front door, the warrant says. Police recovered the money and two Breitling watches inside a safe at Mitchell's hotel room Monday morning.

Mitchell, according to the warrant, "admits that he took the money in the bag belonging to Jones because he thought it was for the dancers."

After Mitchell left the club, "a melee broke out," the warrant says.

"Jones became irate about the loss of his money, and the fact that girls were in a frenzy, picking up the money at their feet," the warrant says.

Later, a woman identified as a member of Jones' group fought with one of the strippers and security tried to break up the fight, it says. Jones told the guards to back off and reached behind his back "as if he were retrieving a weapon there."

Jones' entourage was moved outside, but the woman continued to fight, according to the warrant filed Wednesday in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.

The woman hit a guard in the head with a champagne bottle and "began biting and screaming" when other guards tried to restrain her, the warrant says.

Minutes later, a valet told police that he heard shots fired near the front entrance and saw a black man with cornrows in his hair pointing a black semi-automatic handgun, it says. The man then fled.

The shots hit a female customer in the head and two security guards, one of whom remained in critical condition and is going to be paralyzed for life, club co-owner Robert Susnar told The Tennessean. Aaron Cudworth, the guard hit with the champagne bottle, and the woman were treated and released.

Police have described the suspected shooter as last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. As of Thursday morning, police said he was still at large.

Jones' lawyer, Worrick Robinson, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Jones, who was in Las Vegas attending NBA All-Star Weekend, did not know anyone involved in the shooting and was interviewed by local authorities as a witness, not as a suspect. Police have not said Jones is a person of interest in the case.

Robinson could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who was at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, had no comment.


Jones has faced criminal charges three times since the Titans made the former West Virginia University player the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft -- all involving incidents at nightclubs in Tennessee.

The cornerback promised he had seen the inside of a courtroom for the last time Feb. 1, when a judge dismissed an assault charge filed by a woman who claimed Jones spit on her during an October nightclub altercation.

Charges in a confrontation with a club manager during a private party in July 2005 also have been dismissed.

Jones was ordered to stay out of trouble until July 5 if he wants his criminal record cleared of public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges for an August arrest in the Nashville suburb of Murfreesboro.

Robinson has said he didn't think the Las Vegas incident violated the judge's order.