The return of the Lithuanian
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
February 14, 2008

A few weeks back, Lars Mikalauskas’ parents flew in from Lithuania. It was the couple’s first trip to Charlottesville.

Mikalauskas took them to all the local hot spots - Applebee’s, Best Buy, IHOP.

Unfortunately, one of the things that Ruta Neverauskiene and Audrius Neverauskas didn’t get to do was see their son play in a basketball game. Mikalauskas was out with an injured shoulder.

Oh, how Ruta and Audrius would have loved what transpired on Tuesday night.

If you didn’t know better, you would have thought Justin Timberlake was in the building when Mikalauskas walked to the scorer’s table midway through the first half of Virginia’s 75-74 loss to North Carolina. When the self-proclaimed “Pride of Lithuania” checked into the game, the 13,765 fans on hand at John Paul Jones Arena went bananas.

“It felt great,” Mikalauskas said. “At least I know that they still like me.”

One female fan was shown on the video board with a sign that read, “The Lithuanian is back!”

Mikalauskas, who hadn’t played since Dec. 7, did not disappoint his following. The former Blue Ridge School star immediately got under the skin of North Carolina All-American Tyler Hansbrough with some tough defensive play.

With just over six minutes to go in the first half, Mikalauskas drew an offensive foul on Hansbrough. The play highlighted a 16-4 run that enabled Virginia to get back into the game after it had trailed by as many as 13 points.

As Mikalauskas got up from the floor following Hansbrough’s charge, he started screaming and pumping his fists - to his teammates and the crowd’s delight.

“We all got up and screamed for him,” said Virginia sophomore Jamil Tucker. “You know, Lars is our man. When he gets excited, it gets us amped.”

Mikalauskas was immediately removed from the game, which seemed like a curious substitution at the time given his strong play, but the 6-foot-8, 246-pounder said he had raised his arm to the Virginia bench - a sign that he needed a breather.

When the Lithuanian returned to action in the second half, he continued his good defense on Hansbrough - Mikalauskas and senior Ryan Pettinella held the Tar Heels’ star to just six points after the break.

“I think one of the missing pieces all year long has been that the backline of our defense has been small and inexperienced,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao, when asked about Mikalauskas. “To have a bigger body in there gives us a little bit more of a presence and a little bit of a lift.

“Obviously he’s always been a crowd favorite, so when he does something, he pumps his fists and gets everybody a little bit more excited.”

Mikalauskas, who played 13 minutes, also contributed on the offensive end. First, he scored on a tip-in. Then, with just over seven minutes remaining, he schooled North Carolina’s Alex Stepheson with a baseline spin move that pulled Virginia within a point at 60-59.

Mikalauskas, who finished with four points and a rebound, said it felt great to be back.

“It’s more mental than it is physical, really,” he said, when asked about his shoulder. “I was watching and trying to do some biking and conditioning, so I never really got out of shape and was able to come back.

“I knew it was a big game. Sometimes you can’t think about how tired you are, you just have to play.”

Mikalauskas, who joked that his acting professor at Virginia was probably proud of him for the charge he drew, said he just tried to bring some intensity.

“I just wanted to win,” he said. “We lost. A loss is a loss, but we competed. That’s what we were missing before.

“I hope I can bring something to the table, especially now when we’re in this position and need to win some more games.”

Mikalauskas’ teammates spoke about him as if they had just reconnected with a long lost brother.

“Lars played so well,” said Virginia senior Sean Singletary. “I’m so happy we have him back. Hopefully he can stay healthy and we can keep him in the lineup.”

Added Calvin Baker: “We’ve been missing Lars. He has a lot of experience that we need at that position. Just him coming in and taking charges and bringing energy – that’s what we needed. I’m glad to have Lars back.”

So too is the Lithuanian’s legion of fans.
 

Close losses leave Cavs seeking answers
Below-.500 cloud hovers over U.Va. after UNC's escape
Thursday, Feb 14, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE - First came the two-point loss to Syracuse in early December. The three overtime losses followed - two to Virginia Tech and one to Georgia Tech - along with a two-point loss to Florida State. And now the University of Virginia men's basketball team is reeling again, this time from a 75-74 loss to No. 5 North Carolina.

Had U.Va. won, say, four of those six games, the mood at John Paul Jones Arena would not be so gloomy. But the Cavaliers (1-9, 11-12) went 0-fer, and so they're the only ACC team whose overall record is below .500.

"As I just said to the guys, competitive sports is a cruel, cruel game," Virginia coach Dave Leitao told reporters Tuesday night. "You win and you lose. Winners are revered, and losers go home."

More often than not, Leitao noted, ACC games are tight. "You're going to have to find a way to get over the hump," he said, "and we have not done that."

In 2006-07, U.Va. tied North Carolina for first in the regular season, and Leitao was named ACC coach of the year. Eleven months later, his team is losing the games it won last season.

"I feel for Dave Leitao," Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. "He's one of the true credits in the coaching profession. He's a true gentleman and a good, good guy, and you don't like to see anybody go through those kinds of things. And I've been there. Everybody thinks I haven't, but my first year at Kansas, we lost eight games in a row, and you go home at night and feel like your insides are turning out."

Virginia's next game is Sunday afternoon at Boston College (3-6, 12-10). The Eagles are struggling, too - they've lost six in a row - and U.Va. pounded them 84-66 in Charlottesville last month.

To complete a sweep of BC, the Wahoos probably will have to shoot better than they did against UNC. Virginia was 9 for 31 from beyond the arc and 28 for 74 overall. Those misses included several shots around the basket, some of them uncontested.

Senior guard Sean Singletary, who scored a game-high 27 points and was otherwise brilliant, missed a dunk attempt on a breakaway. Senior center Ryan Pettinella, coming off a 6-for-7 effort against Wake Forest, went 0 for 4 against UNC.

"Offensively, when you don't have a margin of error and you get open shots, as we got - we got point-blank layups - you gotta make those," Leitao said. "You don't have any choice."

Only three Cavaliers shot at least 50 percent from the floor against Carolina: freshman forward Mike Scott (2 for 4), freshman guard Jeff Jones (3 for 6) and, in his first appearance since Dec. 7, Laurynas Mikalauskas (2 for 2). The 6-8, 246-pound junior from Lithuania showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury that had caused him to miss 13 games.

"It feels great to be back," said Mikalauskas, who in 13 minutes scored four points, grabbed one rebound, took a charge from North Carolina's All-America forward, Tyler Hansbrough, and generally stoked the Cavaliers and the home fans, especially the student section.

"He just came in and gave them a boost," Hansbrough said. "It seems like Mikalauskas brings more energy than anybody on the team. I think that's how he really helped. He may not produce a lot offensively, but he comes in there and does what his team needs him to do."

Leitao said: "One of the missing pieces all year long is that the backline of our defense has been small and inexperienced. To have a bigger body in there gives us a little bit more presence, gives us a little bit of a lift. [Mikalauskas has] always been a crowd favorite, so when he does something and pumps his fist, it gets everyone a little more excited."

 

As its woes grow, U.Va. will even take the moral victories
Posted to: Bob Molinaro Sports
Bob Molinaro
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 13, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE

As the action got under way at John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday night, the University of Virginia was trying to break a losing streak that extended beyond the basketball court.

It's been such a bad stretch for Cavalier athletics - throw all those offseason football problems into the mix - that even a gut-wrenching 75-74 loss to North Carolina may be enough to lift U.Va. spirits.

If not that, than what? What are U.Va. alumni left with, other than gloating over the men's tennis team - currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally.

At the very least, perhaps the effort put forth by Dave Leitao's team will help distract momentarily from the reality of the Cavaliers' sagging situation - 1-9 in the ACC and falling even deeper into the cellar.

You have to go back 31 seasons to find a U.Va. team that has fared more poorly within the conference - and now the Cavaliers face back-to-back road games.

But Tuesday, U.Va. looked like a different team, helped a little by the return from injury of big man Laurynas Mikalauskas. It's not the first time an ACC bottomfeeder has found inspiration from the sight of those Carolina blue jerseys. The Tar Heels aren't the same team without point guard Ty Lawson, missing again with a bad ankle. Still, U.Va. fans might pause to wonder why the energy displayed by the Cavaliers this night wasn't evident in last week's 31-point home loss to Clemson.

With seven consecutive losses, Leitao's Cavaliers have clearly had the worst of it, but Al Groh's football program has also come in for some heat after losing at football's game within the game - recruiting.

Last week, the Cavaliers' incoming class was rated 11th - next-to-last - in the ACC by the people who do that sort of thing. This came on the heels of reports that quarterback Jameel Sewell and cornerback Chris Cook won't be back next season due to academic difficulties.

An academic matter may also cost U.Va. Jeffrey Fitzgerald, its best returning defensive lineman. Already gone is defensive coordinator and top recruiter, Mike London, who departed to take over at Richmond.

So now Groh is faced with the prospect of starting next season with a largely untested quarterback and a new defensive coordinator. U.Va. will, however, be playing several redshirt players and some upperclassmen who missed last season with injuries.

Maybe, then, it's not as bad as it looks from here. Even so, talk about taking the edge off a Gator Bowl season.

But what about those spring sports that are rolling around? And I'm not talking about spring football.

U.Va. boosters might want to point out that the athletic program is not limited to football and basketball. The school is a perennial power in lacrosse. Its baseball team is highly rated this year.

Duly noted. But basketball and football aren't just the revenue-providing programs - for better or worse, they project the image of U.Va. athletics as a whole.

It hasn't been such a good image of late, especially within the state (see Groh's recruiting).

A lot of us would like to take the high road, a place where one could argue that it shouldn't matter so much - that U.Va. should be mostly proud of its sterling academic reputation. Sounds good and noble, but in the arena of big-business intercollegiate athletics, it's just so much spin. Virginia wants to be a winner as much as anybody else.

Against Carolina, the basketball team came so close. A victory wouldn't have changed much about U.Va.'s season, but it would have done a little to lift the fog of frustration.

Instead, Tyler Hansbrough, the Tar Heels' All-American, hit a shot from the baseline with 21 seconds to play - and the Cavaliers lost again.

Tennis, anyone?

 

Burns' play pleases crowd, energizes teammates
Walk-on forward makes most of playing time, takes pride in team accomplishments
Paul Montana, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor
 

As the Virginia men's basketball team loses game after game this conference season, Cavalier fans haven't had much to cheer about. After last year's NCAA Tournament run had many critics convinced that Virginia would remain in the top half of the ACC this season, the team's return to mediocrity has been accompanied by a feeling of withdrawal from the ecstasy of last year's success for fans.

One player who always brings the crowd to life, however, is sophomore forward Andy Burns. The 6-foot-8, floppy redhead who walked on last year is a fan favorite to say the least, bringing rousing cheers when he enters games in which the outcome has already been decided.

"It's incredible," Burns said. "I think [the fans would] rather me just chuck up half-court shots all the time, but coach [Dave] Leitao probably wouldn't like that. I try to play my hardest, play my best whenever I get in there, and hopefully they respect that."

Burns hails from Alexandria, Va., where he attended Bishop Ireton High School. As a senior, Burns was named his team's Most Valuable Player while averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game, and earned third-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference honors and Virginia Independent All-State honorable mention honors.

After being one of four Virginia players to make the team as a walk-on last season, Burns was relegated to the end of the bench, where he could only watch as Virginia catapulted itself into an NCAA Tournament berth. Burns, however, was thrilled just to be a part of such an outstanding program.

"Last year we were a top-25 program in the nation," Burns said. "Not a lot of people can say that they're on that type of team. There's not that many people that are blessed to be able to play college basketball."

From the beginning, according to Burns, Leitao made it clear that Burns would have to earn every ounce of playing time. Burns has yet to see meaningful minutes on the floor; however, the sophomore is not frustrated by his meager game role.

"I know if I get in there, I'll play hard," Burns said. "But the other guys, they play hard too, so you can't get mad because somebody's better than you."

This team-oriented attitude has Leitao speaking volumes about Burns' character on and off the floor.

"I have a ton of respect for a guy like Andy who comes here without a promise," Leitao said. "He's the kind of guy where we're all going to be working for him someday."

When he does get in, he makes the most of the opportunity, even if it is clean-up time. In his 40 career minutes on the floor--the equivalent of a full college game--Burns has accumulated 10 points and 10 rebounds. His three career field goals include a 3-pointer last year against Longwood, a skill that he prides himself on.

"I like to think I have a pretty good shot," he said.

Even through the bench-warming, the ups and downs of Virginia's fortunes the last two years and the enormous time commitment that takes away from other activities that Burns enjoys – he claims to be an X-Box fiend, with a particular liking for the game "Guitar Hero" – Burns says he is exactly where he wants to be.

"We talk a lot about family here," Burns said. "These guys are my best friends, everybody on this team. Just the camaraderie, the competition every day in practice, I just love the game of basketball ... It's my dream come true, to be honest."

 

NCAA Lacrosse Preview: No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers
February 13, 2008
Christian Swezey
Inside Lacrosse continues its 2008 NCAA men's lacrosse preview with a detailed look at each of our top 20 teams.
Today we look at No. 3, the Virginia Cavaliers.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. A good place to start.

The health of senior Ben Rubeor is critical for Virginia

The Cavaliers used three goalies extensively in the fall and preseason - fifth-year senior Bud Petit, sophomore Mark Wade and freshman Adam Ghitelman. All three have made a case to start, according to Coach Dom Starsia.

"They aren't making my job any easier," Starsia said.

All three have impressive credentials. Petit was one of the top goalie recruits in the country and played on the U.S. under-19 team in 2003. Wade was first-team All-Met in The Washington Post in 2005. And Ghitelman was ranked No. 9 among incoming freshmen by Inside Lacrosse.

"We definitely have depth at that position," junior defenseman Matt Kelly said. "They all have different styles. It's going to be a tough battle."

2. Lights, camera, action.

Two Virginia home games--against Johns Hopkins on March 22 and Duke on April 12--will be broadcast on ESPNU. They are the first Virginia regular season home games to be broadcast since 2002.

Now-defunct Home Team Sports made trips to Charlottesville to broadcast the Johns Hopkins game in 2000 and 2002; the ACC tournament held in Charlottesville in 2003 also was broadcast. Despite the Cavaliers' success, they never seemed to make it onto the airwaves at home, until now.

3. 'X' marks the spot.

Sophomore Brian McDermott won a majority of the faceoffs in a scrimmage against Navy on Feb. 2 but was held out of the scrimmage against Georgetown a week later with a shoulder injury. He is expected to play against Drexel on Sunday.

Faceoffs were a real problem for the Cavaliers last year; in their two-game losing streak to end the season, they won 8 of 26 in a loss to Duke in the ACC tournament final and 8 of 24 in a loss to Delaware in the NCAA tournament first round.

"There's no question the two areas where I would agree that we have a question mark is in goal and facing off," Starsia said. "But [in the preseason] both those things have been very good for us."

4. A long four weeks.

Virginia faces four top-six teams in consecutive games - against No. 1 Johns Hopkins on March 22, No. 6 Maryland on March 29, No. 5 North Carolina on April 5 and No. 2 Duke on April 12.

Virginia has faced those teams in consecutive games seven times since 1998 and has gone 4-0 only once, in 2002. (In 2006 the Cavaliers went 16-0 but did not play Duke.)

5. Chemistry lesson.

The Cavaliers are in the unusual position of possibly having a starting midfield comprised of players who were not in the program last year, i.e. freshman Rhamel and Shamel Bratton and fifth-year senior Peter Lamade, a transfer from Duke.

That means a number of players on the roster last year who would have expected to play this season may not do so. Starsia and his staff excel at finding roles for substitute players--like having Brendan Gill quarterback the EMO in 2005 - but overall, how those players handle this situation could be a determining factor of the season.

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UNIT TO WATCH

Junior Danny Glading

Attack

The starting attack - senior Ben Rubeor and juniors Danny Glading and Garrett Billings--combined for 10 goals in a victory over Georgetown in a scrimmage in the fall. When the teams met again this spring, Rubeor was sidelined with a knee injury and the Cavaliers scored seven goals as a team.

Rubeor is expected to get an update on his condition this week, though initial reports indicate his injury is not expected to be season-ending. When he is playing, the Cavaliers believe they have one of the best attack units in the country.

"That attack unit, when it was intact through the fall, had three guys who like each other and being a variety of skills that mesh well together," Starsia said. "When Ben is healthy and flying around, I like our attack as well as anyone's."

Rubeor, the No. 3 rated player in the country by Inside Lacrosse, can do everything. He enters the year with career numbers of 98 goals, 62 assists and 124 groundballs. He is a lefty who can shoot and pass and is comfortable behind the goal or in front. He also is the best rider in the Cavaliers' attack.

Glading is the quarterback of the offense; he is very good behind the cage because he uses his size (he is 6-feet-2) and that he is equally adept righty and lefty. He also can dodge from behind or up top.

"Danny is the classic 'x' guy," Starsia said. "He and Ben can carry the ball and make guys more effective."

Starsia said Billings is not the traditional Canadian attackman. Those players tend to be excellent finishers but not good (nor willing) passers. Billings had 22 assists last year, the same number as Rubeor, though his shooting percentage dipped. He went 21 for 76 (27.7 percent) as a sophomore after having gone 30 for 67 (44.7 percent) as a freshman.

"He is a great finisher, but in transition he also moves the ball well," Starsia said.

Senior Ryan Kelly, junior Gavin Gill and sophomore John Haldy received the most playing time in Rubeor's absence. There is no question that Virginia has one of the top attack units in the country--when Rubeor is out there.

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BIG QUESTION
How much better does the midfield make Virginia?

Duke transfer Peter Lamade joins Virginia

Freshmen Rhamel and Shamel Bratton received an interesting introduction to college lacrosse in the preseason. In Virginia's first scrimmage on Feb. 2, Navy defended the pair with shortsticks. The Brattons scored one goal each but created seven or eight good scoring chances, according to Starsia.

"If people walked away from the scrimmage and said, 'They need to shoot better,' I'd agree with that," Starsia said. "This comes in increments. The angles are different and the goalies are better. They've been playing hard and practicing well, they can create things but they need to polish their game a little."

Said Kelly: "Peter could not have been any better, he has fit right in with his leadership. I'm sure he's really helping [the Brattons]. And the Brattons know what it takes to win."

The emergence of the Brattons and Lamade gives Virginia an added bonus on the second midfield--players with a lot of experience. Senior Jack Riley and junior Steve Giannone each started for half of last season; sophomore Brian Caroll started the entire season.

Starsia's best teams have used their second midfield extensively, and at times he has rotated a top player onto that unit rather than having him be a starter.

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SCOUTING REPORT
We asked several DI coaches to share their thoughts on this year's top 10 preseason teams. Here’s what some had to say about the Cavaliers.

"Certainly, UVA it's been shown over the years - if you look at their records against Hop and Princeton - they've had a great record and a style to win."

"When you look at who beats UVA, it tends to be teams like the Delaware thing last year. It's teams that go up and down and run with them, like a Syracuse..."

"With UVA you have to do unto them what they do to you - you have to be willing to go up and down and give up some goals to get some..."