Little win in a loss for U.Va.
By Jeff White
Published: February 8, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- They didn't always play well, but they competed.

For the Virginia Cavaliers, that was a victory of sorts on a day when they suffered their seventh straight loss, falling 76-61 to third-ranked North Carolina in ACC men's basketball.

If the Tar Heels (7-2, 21-2) had won by 40 yesterday, nobody who'd seen the Cavaliers' lethargic play recently would have been shocked. With 3:35 left in the first half, though, Carolina's lead was only 24-23. The game wasn't as close as the final score would suggest -- the Wahoos (1-7, 7-12) closed the game on an 11-2 run -- but the visitors' effort easily was their best in weeks.

The 76 points were a season low for UNC, the ACC's highest-scoring team.

"First game since I can remember that we didn't come out flat," said Virginia's Sammy Zeglinski, a redshirt freshman point guard. "It's definitely a step in the right direction."

Even so, this matches U.Va.'s longest skid in its four seasons under coach Dave Leitao. Virginia lost seven in a row last season before winning at Boston College.

As expected, Leitao shook up his lineup yesterday. Thursday night, after his team's horrific first half against BC, Leitao had benched most of his starters, including Zeglinski, and teamed Assane Sene, Solomon Tat, Jeff Jones and Calvin Baker with leading scorer Sylven Landesberg.

Leitao sent those five out for the opening tip yesterday at the Dean E. Smith Center, where the crowd of 20,879 included the legend for whom the arena is named. For Tat, a 6-5 junior, it was the first start of his college career. For Jones, a 6-4 sophomore, it was his first start this season.

"Coach just wants us to play with more passion," said Zeglinski, who had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists yesterday. "You can't blame him, the way we come out some games. At some point, he had to make a change. The five that he [started against UNC] did a good job of coming out with energy."

Jones, who started 25 games last season, played a career-high 37 minutes yesterday. He hit 7 of 12 shots, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and finished with 19 points, his career high in ACC play. Jones also had four rebounds and a career-best five assists.

"My confidence has always been there," he said. "I got the opportunity today, and I proved what I can do."

Landesberg, who was held to a career-low two points in U.Va.'s 83-61 loss to UNC at John Paul Jones Arena last month, struggled again in the first half yesterday.

In the second half, the 6-6 freshman showed why he's a leading candidate for ACC rookie of the year, hitting both of his 3-point attempts and making 4 of 6 shots overall. Landesberg finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and only one turnover.

"I've been working hard on my midrange game and expanding it out to shoot 3's," Landesberg said. "I'm just trying to get more versatile and make it harder for defenders to guard me."

. . .

Notes: Yesterday marked the first time in Mamadi Diane's career at U.Va. that Leitao did not play the 6-5 swingman, who has started 75 times in his four seasons. Neither guard Mustapha Farrakhan nor center Jerome Meyinsse played yesterday, either . . . After making his previous 26 free throws, Landesberg missed his first one yesterday. He finished 2 for 3 from the line.



 

UNC crushes change-up
Despite shuffling the starting lineup, Virginia experiences another disheartening loss.
By NORM WOOD | 247-4642
February 8, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As Virginia coach Dave Leitao analyzed his team's make-up late this week, he decided the time was right for some lineup experimentation — maybe produce some kind of spark to get his team out of a six-game losing streak.

It turns out lineup creativity doesn't really worry No. 3 North Carolina. UNC coasted to a 76-61 victory Saturday against U.Va., which featured guard Jeff Jones and forward Solomon Tat in the starting lineup for the first time this season. The changes weren't enough to cure all of U.Va.'s ills.

"When you're struggling, you look at things you try to control," Leitao said. "For us (Saturday), it was transition defense and how good we could be at that. Don't turn the ball over. We didn't have a lot (of turnovers), only 12. …When you're struggling, and taking care of your business in one aspect, you tend to leak oil in another."

After playing Jones, Tat, Calvin Baker and Assane Sene off the bench Wednesday for nearly the first 19 minutes in the second half of U.Va.'s 80-70 loss to Boston College, Leitao elected to go with another odd lineup to open the UNC game. Sene, Baker and Sylven Landesberg joined Jones and Tat in Saturday's starting lineup. Senior Mamadi Diane sat out the first game of his career, snapping a streak of 113 consecutive games played.

"I told the guys when we put what we would assume to be a (U.Va.) starting five on the board, and I told them it didn't mean anything because they started a different five in the second half last game," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "They did have three different guys than we thought they would have out there (Saturday), but we prepared for it. I've got enough trouble coaching my team to worry about that."

Wayne Ellington led UNC (21-2 overall, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Tyler Hansbrough was only 4-for-11 shooting, but he still contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds. Danny Green added 17 points.

U.Va. (7-12, 1-7) never led, but it kept the deficit less than double digits for the entire first half by limiting UNC's breakaway opportunities. Jones had nine of his 19 points — a season high and career high in an ACC game — in the first half.

"My confidence has always been good," said Jones, who played 37 minutes after averaging 151/2 minutes per game coming into Saturday. "I think it was just opportunity. I had the opportunity (against UNC) and I proved what I can do."

UNC had trouble in the half with U.Va.'s zone and the Tar Heels shot just 33 percent from the floor. Meanwhile, U.Va. connected on just 31 percent of its shots and trailed 33-25 at halftime.

Ty Lawson and Ellington helped UNC break out early in the second half. Lawson, who had nine assists and no turnovers, and Ellington each had 10 points in the first 10 minutes.

"That is 1,000 percent Ty Lawson," Leitao said regarding Lawson's efficiency. "That makes it 151 assists and 40 turnovers (on the season for Lawson). It has nothing really to do with Virginia. It has everything to do with his emergence as a great point guard."

In the second half, UNC's lead climbed to as many as 24 as the Tar Heels shot nearly 50 percent from the floor. U.Va., which was out-rebounded 46-34, shot 43 percent from the floor in the half. The Cavaliers went on an 11-2 run to end the game with the Tar Heels playing every walk-on on their roster.

"We were getting a lot of open shots, but we just weren't knocking them down," said U.Va.'s Sylven Landesberg, who had 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting. "It was just real frustrating. I don't think it was (UNC's defense). It was just us. It was our mentality."

 

Cavs start better, but Heels finish strong
UNC takes control of the game early in the second half, handing UVa its seventh straight loss.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Virginia was better Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they were playing in a venue where they had to be a whole lot better.

Former North Carolina men's basketball coach Dean Smith was honored at halftime and third-ranked UNC beat the Cavaliers for the 21st time in 23 games in the building which carries the coach's name, 76-61.

It was the seventh straight victory for the Tar Heels (21-2, 8-2 ACC). Virginia (7-12, 1-7) has lost seven in a row.

In most of those losses, UVa opponents had built first-half leads of 20 points or more, but it took a while for the Tar Heels to get on track Saturday.

Carolina led 33-25 at the half, setting the stage for UVa coach Dave Leitao to become a prophet when he told his coaches, "The most important part of the game will be the first five minutes of the second half."

Wayne Ellington's 3-pointer to open the second half sparked a 7-0 run as the Tar Heels stretched their lead to 15. Carolina, a 24-point favorite, enjoyed its biggest lead at 62-40 but the Cavaliers didn't wither and die.

Sammy Zeglinski took a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left that could have trimmed the deficit to 10, although, by that time, Carolina coach Roy Williams had emptied his bench.

"I was too mad at the [subs] that I didn't know what the score was at that point," he said.

Williams was happy for the most part with his starters, although the Tar Heels didn't shoot particularly well, at least in the first half, when they were 11-for-33.

Reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough was only 4-for-11 from the floor but did finish with a double-double, 15 points and 13 rebounds. Ellington led all scorers with 20 points and was supported by Danny Green with 17.

Junior point guard Ty Lawson had 10 points, nine assists and zero turnovers. In two games against UVa, not known for pressuring the ball, he has 18 assists and one turnover.

"That is 1,000 percent Ty Lawson," Leitao said. "That makes it 151 assists and 40 turnovers [for the season]. It has nothing really to do with Virginia and has everything to do with his emergence as a great point guard."

The Cavaliers were coming off of an 80-70 home loss to Boston College on a night when they trailed 42-22 at the half. Leitao stayed with the same five players in the second half for nearly 19 minutes.

He started the same lineup Saturday. Freshman Assane Sene was at center, 6-foot-5 junior Solomon Tat was at power forward, freshmen Sylven Landesberg was at small forward, sophomore Jeff Jones was at the off guard and junior Calvin Baker played point.

Mamadi Diane, a senior who started against BC , did not play -- a career first after 114 consecutive appearances.

Jones matched a season high with 10 points against the Eagles and followed that up with a team-high 19 Saturday, when he made 7-of-12 shots.

"He doesn't always make the right plays, he doesn't always put himself in the right position, but he brings energy," Leitao said. "If I can get him more consistent in knocking down shots, then he'll be what we all know him to be and what he could be."

Landesberg said: "I would say in practice, day in and day out, Jeff is our most consistent scorer."

When the teams played in Charlottesville, the Tar Heels held Landesberg to a season-low two points and blocked four of his shots.

"I was real down on myself after that first Carolina game and some of it carried over," he said. "We lost by a lot at home, and I didn't feel like I could do anything to help. It hurt a lot but I [eventually] got it out my head, just got rid of it."

Landesberg was 2-for-10 in the first half Saturday, but scored 12 points in the second half to finish with 16.

"I've been working hard on my mid-range game and extending out to shoot 3s," said Landesberg, who was 2-for-2 from behind the arc Saturday. "I definitely had to make some adjustments after the first time we played them."

 

New lineup, same result
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 8, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The only drama on Saturday afternoon at the Dean Dome came just before tip-off. Who was Virginia coach Dave Leitao going to send out on the floor to start the game against No. 3 North Carolina?

The scene wasn’t as suspenseful as a “Nip/Tuck” cliffhanger, but, then again, UVa came into the game having lost six in a row, and as the decided underdog.

Leitao elected to go with same five players who had played almost the entire second half in the loss to Boston College on Wednesday. The idea was to go with a unit featuring the most passionate people.

The strategy worked for a little while. However, in the end, North Carolina’s talent — as is the case for many opponents — was just too much to overcome.

The Tar Heels certainly didn’t play their best, but thanks to 20 points from Wayne Ellington and 10 points, nine assists and zero turnovers from floor general Ty Lawson, they had little trouble with Virginia, cruising to a 76-61 win in front of a crowd of 20,879.

“When you play a great team on their court, you have to play, as we’ve been talking about, relatively mistake-free,” said Leitao, whose team has now lost seven in a row, matching the program’s longest slide since the 2002-03 season. “You can miss a couple of shots. You can make a few fouls, but you’re going to have to make the plays that are available to you constantly.”

Virginia, which shot just 37 percent from the field, certainly didn’t do that. The Cavaliers (7-12, 1-7 ACC) held UNC to 42 percent shooting but had 10 less free-throw attempts and were killed on the glass (46-34).

The rebounding discrepancy was, in part, a result of going with a zone for most of the game. The Cavaliers dared the Tar Heels (21-2, 7-2) to beat them from the perimeter. The strategy worked pretty well in the first half when UNC was just 3 of 11 from 3-point range. UVa trailed just 33-25 at the break.

“I said to my staff that the most important part of the game was going to be the first five minutes of the second half,” Leitao said. “If we could maintain some kind of balance to what we were doing and keep the game manageable, and grow and gain confidence from that, then maybe we would have an opportunity in the last 10 or five minutes of the game.”

However, the Tar Heels went 6 of 14 from 3 in the second half, and, when they missed, they converted easy put-backs in the paint. UNC All-American Tyler Hansbrough finished with just 15 points on 4 of 11 shooting, but his teammates more than picked up the slack.

Leitao’s new lineup featured Landesberg (the lone holdover), Jeff Jones, Calvin Baker, Solomon Tat and Assane Sene. Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski, who had started their last 18 and 15 games, respectively, came off the bench.

“It was tough sitting on the bench,” Zeglinski said, “but there was nothing I could do about it. I just tried to support my teammates.

“Coach had his reasons and I can’t blame him — we had lost six in a row.”

Scott didn’t seem as understanding. “No comment,” he said, in response to several questions pertaining to the benching.

At least Scott got into the game. Senior Mamadi Diane, another player who was removed from the lineup, received the first DNP of his career.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams wasn’t shocked by Leitao’s new lineup.

“They did have three different guys than I guess what we thought were going to be in there,” Williams said. “We had prepared for it, talked about it and gave them information about all of them. David’s got to play who he wants at that specific time. I’ve got enough trouble coaching my time without worrying about that.”

Jones, who finished with 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting — an ACC career-high — said he just tried to take advantage of his starting assignment.

“I was definitely relaxed out there and felt comfortable,” he said. “That was the main thing.”

Landesberg, who didn’t lead the team in scoring for the first time in four games, finished with 16 points, including 12 after the break.

“In the first half, he played young,” Leitao said. “He played like there was a 25-point shot out there.”

Zeglinski, meanwhile, finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and just one turnover. While he would clearly rather be in the starting lineup, Zeglinski couldn’t argue with the unit’s effort.

“It’s the first time in a long time that I can remember where we didn’t come out flat,” Zeglinski said. “To come out with energy against a great team like North Carolina is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Dunks

Freshman John Brandenburg played for the first time in four games. The big man didn’t score, but had a steal and a block in two minutes. … UNC honored Hall of Fame members James Worthy, Bob McAdoo, Billy Cunningham and Dean Smith, among others, at the half.

 

A game effort, but no payoff
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: February 8, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

As close as Virginia played third-ranked North Carolina in the first half on Saturday, Cavaliers’ coach Dave Leitao knew there was absolutely no margin for error.

In fact, late in the half Leitao turned to his assistant coaches and told them the key to the game would be the first five minutes of the second half. Grasping for anything that would shake Virginia out of a horrible losing slump, Leitao had played more zone defense, spread his offense, shook up his starting lineup, you name it.

However, after battling the Tar Heels to an eight-point margin the first 20 minutes, reality set in quickly to open the second half.

A lid on the basket

“We were stuck on 25 [points] for a while,” Leitao said of the Cavaliers, a prohibitive underdog that ended up trailing by 24 points in the second stanza before losing 76-61.

The Cavaliers suffered a four-minute drought to open the half, their longest scoreless stretch of the entire game, and watched in horror as Carolina sliced and diced its way to an insurmountable lead.

In a way, the game was two programs passing by one another headed in different directions.

North Carolina, 21-2, won its seventh straight game and is tied for first place in the ACC with Duke.

Virginia, 7-12, lost its seventh straight and continued to linger in last place.

While Leitao is not into moral victories, he had to be pleased that he saw some fight from his team. Finishing the first half of the ACC season at 1-7, it would have been easy for the Cavaliers to get blown out of the Dean Dome by an opponent comfortable with running the floor and running up the score.

Slow it down

The game plan was to slow UNC’s rhythm on offense, try the Tar Heels’ patience, and play sticky defense. The strategy worked for a while until Carolina flexed its muscles and felt the roar of an unsatisfied Roy Williams in the UNC locker room during the break.

“It was a grind-it-out type of game, and that’s something we needed to have today,” said Tar Heels guard Wayne Ellington, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 20 points. “All games aren’t won the pretty way.”

At least the Cavaliers kept it interesting past halftime. In recent ACC outings, they’ve stumbled out of the blocks and dug themselves into too deep a hole to escape no matter how inspired they played in the second half.

In fact, this was a much better performance by UVa than its first encounter with Carolina back in Charlottesville on Jan. 15, when the Heels rolled to a 50-36 lead at intermission en route to an 83-61 score.

That was star Cavaliers freshman Sylven Landesberg’s worst game, when he scored a mere two points in a 1 of 9 shooting performance. Saturday, amidst a blue heaven crowd of 20,879 partisans, including Naismith Hall of Famers Dean Smith, James Worthy, Billy Cunningham and Bob McAdoo, Landesberg delivered more of a typical performance: 16 points, 6 of 16 from the field.

He had some help from Jeff Jones, who contributed 19, but as usual, the lack of a balanced attack by the Wahoos left them woefully in Carolina’s dust.

Williams, also a Hall of Famer, was more concerned about how to lift his team out of a first-half shooting slump (11 of 33) than posing for a photograph with his celebrated guests before going in and lighting up the Tar Heels’ locker room.

“It was an unusual game because in the first half it was like pulling teeth,” Williams said. “We could not get a shot to go in, yet I thought we were doing well on the defensive end.”

Carolina, which next plays its archest rival Duke in a Tobacco Road showdown on Wednesday night in Durham, will continue to race toward postseason glory.

Virginia, which was described by a Raleigh columnist as “pitiful” after melting down at Duke a week ago, is bailing as furiously as it can in an attempt to not sink into oblivion. With eight conference games remaining — none of which they will likely be favored to win — and postseason unthinkable at this point, Leitao is desperately searching for a silver lining.

Chapel Hill, where UVa’s futility has reached epic proportions over the decades (the Cavaliers have a record of 5 wins and 61 losses all-time in this town), is an unlikely place for Leitao to discover any encouragement, but may just have done just that on Saturday.

He started this game with the same lineup he finished the last one, Landesberg, Jones, sparingly-used Solomon Tat, Assane Sene and Calvin Baker.

If his aim was to send a message to his team, he squarely hit his target.

“I can’t blame him for making a change ... we had lost six in a row,” said formerly starting point guard Sammy Zeglinski, who was spotted diving on the floor for loose balls and hustling down court with a fury. “When I got in today, I wanted to play hard.”

So far, the zone has been effective over stretches because the Cavaliers are mobile enough to run at the shooters quickly. On the other hand, spreading the offense at times gives Landesberg more options to attack the basket and he’s their best weapon.

Leitao would prefer not to play Landesberg at the point, but he’s better than anyone else on the roster at coming off screens and attacking the basket, making something happen. If the coach had his way, he would mix up his defenses from some pressure, to man-to-man, to zone, but his team hasn’t been able to live up to his expectations in that department.

“I think we made progress today,” Landesberg said optimistically.

Zeglinski, who contributed 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, couldn’t deny that the losing is getting old.

“It’s no fun,” he said of the seven-game streak. “But, we want to continue to get better. Today we gave it all we had.”

Once again, all they had was not enough.