'Hoos Make Themselves at Home in Dean Dome
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 01/31/2010
By Jeff White

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- With 3:58 remaining Sunday night, play halted for the fourth and final TV timeout of the second half, and the teams returned to their respective benches.

Virginia led North Carolina 65-50 at the storied Dean E. Smith Center. Three nights earlier, however, UVa had led Virginia Tech by 10 with three minutes left in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena, only to collapse and end up losing in overtime.

"And that was one thing we talked about in the huddle [Sunday night]," first-year coach Tony Bennett recalled. "I said, 'Now, you've been in this spot before. Show me you've learned. Play with composure. If they hit tough shots, OK.'"

The Wahoos didn't crack this time. Sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski's fourth 3-pointer of the game made it 68-50 with 3:33 left. His fifth made it 73-56 with 72 seconds remaining, after which UNC coach Roy Williams conceded, inserting a quintet of walk-ons.

The final score in this ACC game -- UVa 75, UNC 60 -- reflected a remarkably poised performance by a team coming off a gut-wrenching loss to its biggest rival.

Against the defending NCAA champion Tar Heels, Virginia (4-2, 13-6) never trailed and rarely faltered. Memories of their loss to the Hokies drove the 'Hoos.

"Failure is the greatest teacher, and I think it taught us well in this instance," Bennett said.

The victory was the Cavaliers' first in Chapel Hill since Jan. 12, 2002, and their first over UNC anywhere since Jan. 19, 2006.

"It's really gratifying to come down here and get a win, with all the history in this gym," Zeglinski said after scoring a season-high 19 points. "It was just fun. It was fun to play here, and it was even better to get a win."

Bennett spent six seasons at Washington State before coming to UVa last spring, so he's not as well-versed as some in the history of this series. To better understand the significance of his team's feat Sunday night, Bennett needed only to check with Jason Williford, Cory Alexander or Mike Curtis.

Williford is one of the Bennett's assistants, and Curtis is the team's strength-and-conditioning coach. Alexander provides analysis on radio broadcasts of UVa games. Each played at Virginia, and none had been part of a victory at UNC until Sunday night.

The Cavaliers' record in Chapel Hill is now 6-63. At the Dean Dome, they're 3-21. Bennett, however, is 1-0.

"I feel fortunate," he said. "I'm happy for our guys. I always say I just want them to compete and keep getting better. I got a big picture in mind, but for me in my first trip to come away with a victory, I know that doesn't happen all the time."

The Wahoos' margin of victory was their largest ever in Chapel Hill. For that, Sylven Landesberg deserves much of the credit. The sophomore swingman pierced UNC's defense time and time again, making 11 of 18 shots from the floor.

"Sylven played his heart out," UVa forward Mike Scott said.

Landesberg finished with 29 points and added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. He was 7 for 8 from the line.

"Sylven was just showing off at the offensive end," Zeglinski said. "He was doing everything: making jump shots, getting in the lane, getting fouled. He's a great player. Offensively, I don't think anybody's better in the ACC."

Landesberg had not been nearly as sharp against Virginia Tech, especially late in the game. He scored 18 points against the Hokies but finished with 6 turnovers, matching his career high, and missed the front end of a crucial one-and-one in overtime.

"It was definitely a lot of motivation," Landesberg said. "I don't think I closed the Virginia Tech game out the way I should have. I definitely had my head hung after that. I spoke to my father for a long time, and he told me to just build off of that.

"I told him it was tough. I felt like the game was my fault when we lost it, just turnovers, missed free throws. I took all that. I made sure that wouldn't happen again, so I came out here with something to prove."

Landesberg's and Zeglinski's fellow starters also shined against the Heels (2-4, 13-8), who were coming off a convincing road win over N.C. State.

Senior center Jerome Meyinsse had 7 points, 5 rebounds and a career-high 3 blocks. First-year point guard Jontel Evans had a career-best 6 assists. Scott, a 6-8 junior, totaled 11 points, 5 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals.

The interior defense of Meyinsse and Scott helped the 'Hoos limit UNC big men Deon Thompson and Ed Davis to a combined 11 points. Scott also made a critical shot in the final seconds of the first half. After Carolina swingman William Graves' fourth 3-pointer made it 32-30 and woke up the slumbering crowd of 14,437, Scott answered with a trey that silenced the home fans.

"I think that just gave us a little boost going into halftime," said Scott, who's 2 for 2 from beyond the arc this season.

The Heels scored the first basket of the second half, a dunk by Davis that made it 35-32, but UVa responded with its second-largest run of the season.

Against UNC Wilmington on Jan. 18, the Cavaliers had scored 20 unanswered points. Against UNC Chapel Hill, they ran off 18 straight points, the final three coming from Meyinsse, who took a pass from Zeglinski and soared for a vicious slam on which he was fouled. Meyinsse added the free throw to make it 53-32 with 14:20 left.

"It was really exciting to see what this team is capable of," Zeglinski said.

Meyinsse said: "It was a great victory. I remember my first time coming here, my first year, I was just in awe of all the banners that were in the rafters, and I didn't get a chance to play. This is my first time playing, and I came out with the win in my first time playing at North Carolina, so I'm really happy."

Not so upbeat afterward was the Tar Heels' coach, who opened his remarks by congratulating Bennett.

"He's a real neat young man and he's done a great job with his basketball team," Williams said. "I haven't done a great job with my basketball team.

"I'm about as frustrated and disappointed as I've ever been in my entire life. I've been very fortunate to have some great moments, but this is definitely not one of them."

Virginia is tied with Maryland (4-2, 14-6) for second in the ACC, a half-game behind Duke (5-2, 17-4).

It was difficult to say which was more impressive Sunday night, the Cavaliers' defense or their offense. UNC made only 20 of 56 shots (35.7 percent) from the floor.

"Guys were really on the same page. We didn't get split much. The ball didn't get in the paint," Bennett said.

"There weren't a lot of easy baskets. Most of them were contested, and when that's happening, you can feel good about your defense, and I thought that was important for us tonight."

At the other end, UVa shot 51.9 percent. Each of Bennett's starters made at least half of his field-goal attempts.

"We got a little stagnant at the end of our game against Virginia Tech, and we really went to work, because we knew [UNC would] extend defensively and pressure us," Bennett said.

"We needed to make some outside shots, needed to bounce it a little bit and cut real hard, making the extra pass. All those things happened, and this was probably the best we've moved the ball and shared the ball, and we cut with purpose, and that makes a difference."

Zeglinski said: "I thought we showed a lot more poise against pressure. We spaced out nicely. We saw the trap coming, and people presented themselves nicely to relieve some pressure, and I thought our shot selection later in the game was good, and our defense was sound."

Funny that Zeglinski would bring up shot selection. That was an issue Thursday night in Charlottesville, where junior guard Jeff Jones, with the Cavaliers up 10 late in the second half, attempted a 3-pointer about five seconds into a new shot clock.

The shot missed, leaving the Hokies more time to rally.

Against UNC, with the score 65-50, the ball came to Zeglinski, who was open in the left corner. He didn't hesitate, even though the 'Hoos weren't deep into the shot clock, and he didn't miss.

"I told Sammy he's lucky he made that 3, because we've been there before, haven't we?" Bennett said with a smile.

Zeglinski said: "I didn't want to be passive. I know it was kind of a questionable shot, but I thought I had a really good look, and I didn't want to be passive. I maybe could have worked some clock, but it went in. I shot it with confidence.

"I just want to keep my confidence up. I'm a shooter, and my team needs me to make shots."

Virginia's next two games are at JPJ. N.C. State visits Wednesday night, and then the 'Hoos host Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon. With another win, UVa would exceed its 2008-09 victory total in ACC play.

"The kids have heart," Bennett said, "and I've said before. I credit the previous staff for instilling toughness in them, because they certainly showed some toughness [Sunday night]."

 

Postgame Quotes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/31/2010
UNC vs. Virginia Postgame Quotes

North Carolina Coach Roy Williams
Opening Statement:
"I just want to say congratulations to Tony [Bennett]. He's a real neat young man and he's done a great job with his basketball team. I haven't done a great job with my basketball team. I really thought that we would play well but we didn't come out with the intensity. We are very sorry at executing properly, turning it over three of the first five possessions. But I've got to do a better job, I know I sound like a stuck record, but that's what we've got to do."
On Virginia's ball movement and spacing:
"They're a good basketball team. Whether you look at their three-point field goal percentage, or free throws or rebound margin, you go down the line and see that they do a really nice job of playing team basketball. Landesberg is their best player and we wanted to try to do a great job on some of his dribble penetration, then he gets four lay-ups in the first half. They share the ball; it looked like some of our teams from past years."
On feelings on loss after beating NC State:
"I'm about as frustrated and disappointed as I've ever been in my entire life. I've very fortunate to have some great moments, but this is definitely not one of them. We have to figure out a better way to get our kids focused on doing the things that we talk about. I've gotten awfully dumb in the last six months, is what someone told me, and in some ways it's true."
________________________________________
Virginia Coach Tony Bennett
Challenge of coming off of a loss to Va. Tech
"That was significant because that was a real had loss to our in-state rival. We were up by ten with three minutes and then lost it. That was a challenge to them. A lot of teams would probably hang their head and go into a situation like this and not fight. I said, 'I want you to be different' and I thought they were. Sylvan was terrific offensively. He was special. Sammy made some big shots. It helps when you got some guys making plays. That was significant for us to bounce back. I think it revealed a lot. It took away the sting of that game. Our guys were ready to play and I was happy to see it."
Start of second half, extending the lead
"We made them earn. I understand too they were cold and they didn't play one of their best games. But we did take advantage of the opportunities we had. We didn't stop cutting hard, moving hard, defending hard. That's our goal, it doesn't change. I thought there was more purpose coming out because sometimes you can tighten up a little bit. Calvin Baker gave us a good lift, Jerome defensively was terrific. The right plays happened at the right time. There wasn't really a drop off because we have kind of played in spurts a lot of our games."

Quotes courtesy of North Carolina Athletic Communications

The ball movement and spacing on offense...
"I thought we cut extremely hard. We talked about that. We got a little stagnant at the end of our game against Virginia Tech. We really went to work because we knew they'd extend defensively and pressure us. We needed to make some outside shots, bounce it a little bit and cut real hard, making the extra pass. All those things happened. This is probably the best we have moved the ball, shared the ball and cut with a purpose. That makes a difference. It really dents the defense."
 

Postgame Notes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/31/2010
VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
Postgame Notes
Virginia 75, North Carolina 60

Team Notes
• Virginia snapped a six-game losing streak vs. North Carolina and a six-game losing streak in Chapel Hill
• The Cavaliers improve to 6-63 in Chapel Hill and 3-21 in the Smith Center
• 15 points was Virginia’s largest margin of victory in Chapel Hill and the largest by Virginia against North Carolina since an 86-66 win at University Hall in 2001
• Virginia held UNC to its lowest scoring output of the season (60 points)

Individual Notes
• Sylven Landesberg scored a season-high 29 points
• Landesberg scored in double figures for the 19th time this season (every game) and 42nd time in his career
• Landesberg had his seventh 20-point game of the season and the 19th of his career
• Landesberg remains the only player in the conference to score at least 18 points in every ACC game this season
• After not attempting a 3-pointer over the first 17 games of the season, Mike Scott has made a 3-pointer in each of the past two games and is 2-2 (1.000) for the season from behind the arc
• Mike Scott (11 points) scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 32nd time in his career
• Scott tied a season high and his ACC career high with three assists
• Sammy Zeglinski scored an ACC career high 19 points (also a season high)
• Zeglinski scored in double figures for the 13th time this season and the 23rd time in his career
• Zeglinski tied his season-high with four steals

Player Career Highs
• Jerome Meyinsse had a career-high three blocks
• Jontel Evans had a career-high six assists
 

Virginia uses big run to dismantle North Carolina, 75-60
By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 1, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It was a familiar scene under entirely different circumstances. During Virginia's visit to Smith Center last season, North Carolina inserted its walk-ons late in a blowout. When the Cavaliers returned on Sunday, the Tar Heels' walk-ons again entered the game late -- although this time, it was because of Virginia possessed a sizable lead in the waning minutes of a 75-60 victory over North Carolina.

The win was as impressive as it was historic for Virginia (13-6, 4-2 ACC), which had left Smith Center with a win just twice in 23 previous attempts, and not since 2001-02.

The current era of Virginia basketball is headlined by Coach Tony Bennett, who has his team playing at a level few could have expected -- save for the group that dominated the defending national champions on Sunday. That group is led by Sylven Landesberg, whose season-high 29 points highlighted the finest performance of his career.

"Getting a win like this should prove to all of us that we could pretty much win anywhere," Landesberg said.

Landesberg, a native New Yorker, compared Smith Center to Madison Square Garden. He remained awestruck at the banners hanging from the rafters, knew the game was on television and aspired to thrive on the visible stage.

"I definitely took that to mind," Landesberg said, "and tried to show off a little bit."

Bennett often remains reserved in his praise for players, but even he called Landesberg's performance "special." Along with five three-pointers from Sammy Zeglinski (19 points), Bennett saw the efficient offense combine with the airtight defense at a pivotal time.

Virginia shot 51.9 percent from the field and held North Carolina (13-8, 2-4) to 35.7 percent. The Cavaliers never trailed and put the game out of reach with an 18-0 run early in the second half. The Cavaliers' lead swelled to 21 points, and unlike past performances, they did not let the Tar Heels back in the game.

"I thought there was more purpose coming out because sometimes you tighten up a little bit," said Bennett, whose team made a believer out of him on Sunday.
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After an overtime loss to in-state rival Virginia Tech on Thursday, Bennett told his players to "be different" than other teams that experienced a similar defeat. It was the type of loss that could have crippled Virginia's season if the players allowed the frustration to linger.

"A lot of teams would probably hang their heads and maybe go into a situation like this and not fight," Bennett said. "That was significant. For us to bounce back. I think it revealed a lot."

Although the Cavaliers have beaten three teams that were ranked when they played, North Carolina possesses prestige like few others -- and particularly when it plays within its own building.

That building has lost some of its luster this season with North Carolina losing its third consecutive game at home. Many fans skipped Sunday's game because of a storm that swept through the region. Still, some Virginia players called it the biggest victory of their collegiate careers.

"This is Carolina; it doesn't matter what their record is," junior Will Sherrill said. "Anytime you do that on the road, let alone at Carolina, that's a great feeling."

The skeptic can insist this is not the same North Carolina as last season, and that is true. But this is not the same Virginia team as last season, either -- evidenced as much by the circumstance under which North Carolina Coach Roy Williams inserted his walk-ons as the way the Cavaliers dominated the Tar Heels.

And with two home games this week, conversation about the Cavaliers' hot start could soon turn into discussion about the team's NCAA tournament credentials.

"We started off 3-0, and I think a lot of people have begun to count us out," Sherrill said. "I think this game shows that what we've been doing, what we've been working on since Coach Bennett has gotten here, is really going to work. No matter what happens game to game, Virginia is not going to be an easy out."

Cavaliers Post 75-60 Win at North Carolina
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/31/2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sylven Landesberg scored a season-high 29 points and Virginia ran off 18 unanswered points early in the second half to beat struggling North Carolina 75-60 on Sunday night. Landesberg also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was 11 for 18 from the field and 7 for 8 from the free-throw line.
Sammy Zeglinski added a season-high 19 points for the Cavaliers (13-6, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who regrouped from consecutive losses to earn another impressive victory under first-year coach Tony Bennett. Virginia had lost 63 of 68 meetings in Chapel Hill, but blew the game open by holding the Tar Heels without a field goal for nearly 8 minutes in front of a stunned Smith Center crowd.
While Landesberg led the offense, Zeglinski knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during the decisive run, which turned a 35-32 margin into a 21-point lead with 14:20 to play.
Virginia never let North Carolina (13-8, 2-4) back in it, maintaining a comfortable lead and shooting 51.9 percent for the game.
Zeglinski's 19 points were a personal ACC career high. He also had four assists and four steals.
Mike Scott added 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Cavaliers. Jerome Meyinsse scored seven points, had five rebounds and blocked a career-high three shots.
UVa led 35-30 at halftime.
"We made them earn," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said about the Cavaliers extending their lead early in the second half. "I understand too they were cold and they didn't play one of their best games. But we did take advantage of the opportunities we had. We didn't stop cutting hard, moving hard, defending hard. That's our goal, it doesn't change. I thought there was more purpose coming out because sometimes you can tighten up a little bit. Calvin Baker gave us a good lift, Jerome defensively was terrific. The right plays happened at the right time. There wasn't really a drop off because we have kind of played in spurts a lot of our games."
Bennett also talked about the challenge of coming off a difficult loss to Virginia Tech.
"That was significant because that was a real hard loss to our in-state rival," Bennett said. "We were up by ten with three minutes left and then lost it. That was a challenge to them. A lot of teams would probably hang their heads and go into a situation like this and not fight. I said, 'I want you to be different' and I thought they were. Sylven was terrific offensively. He was special. Sammy made some big shots. It helps when you've got some guys making plays. That was significant for us to bounce back. I think it revealed a lot. It took away the sting of that game. Our guys were ready to play and I was happy to see it."
Larry Drew II and Will Graves each scored 15 points to lead North Carolina.
Virginia made 27 of 52 shots from the field, including shooting 41.2 percent (7-17) from three-point range, and shot 77.8 percent (14-18) from the free-throw line. UVa had 18 assists in the game.
The Cavaliers limited North Carolina to 35.7 percent (20-56) shooting from the field, including 40.9 percent (9-22) from three-point range, and the Tar Heels shot 50.0 percent (11-22) from the free-throw line. North Carolina out-rebounded Virginia 35-30.
"They're a good basketball team," North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said. "Whether you look at their three-point field goal percentage, or free throws or rebound margin, you go down the line and see that they do a really nice job of playing team basketball. Landesberg is their best player and we wanted to try to do a great job on some of his dribble penetration, then he gets four lay-ups in the first half. They share the ball; it looked like some of our teams from past years."

 

U.Va. beats UNC 75-60
By Michael Phillips
Published: January 31, 2010
Updated: February 1, 2010
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Usually the sound of the ball swishing through the net is followed by the squeaking of sneakers running backwards.

But Sunday night, the sounds were synced up nearly perfectly. The Cavs weren’t interested in admiring their baskets, they were ready to get back and play defense.

“Our whole mindframe coming into this game is that we wanted to be the aggressor on defense,“ forward Will Sherrill said. “When they got to the post, we didn’t want to let them go one-on-one. We wanted to double-down, trap them, make them kick it out and make their perimeter guys make plays. And I think that really disrupted their rhythm.“

The proof was on the scoreboard - Virginia 75, North Carolina 60. It was the Cavs largest margin of victory in Chapel Hill, and a win worth celebrating no matter how the Tar Heels have been doing this year.

“It just feels so good,“ said Sylven Landesberg, who led all scorers with 29 points. “I came in a little jittery. I was looking up at all the Final Fours, all the retired jerseys. It’s a tough place to come into.“

He compared the Dean Dome to Madison Square Garden, another iconic facility. And like the NBA player he hopes to become, he had a big game ready for the big stage.

Landesberg had struggled through foul trouble in the previous two games, but found his way to the hoop early and often thanks to screens from teammate Jerome Meyinsse.

Told afterward he was named player of the game, Landesberg suggested the honor belonged to Meyinsse, whose well-rounded line included 5 rebounds, 7 points and 3 blocks. One of those, a second-half rejection, was followed by a piercing scream that echoed through the mostly-empty upper deck.

“I don’t plan it, but after a play like that, it’s a natural reaction,“ he said with a smile. “It’s just what happens.“

Landesberg laughed at a mention of the scream, noting that “I was a little scared.“

Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett doesn’t mind the scream, especially since it came on the defensive end of the court. The defensive-minded coach has always been more enthusiastic about shutting down opponents, but especially so after several lapses in the team’s previous game against Virginia Tech.

“There weren’t a lot of easy shots,“ he said of last night’s effort. “Most of them were contested, and when that happens you can feel good about your defense.“

Offensively the coach is less picky, but does have one principle rule - protect the ball, and cut down on turnovers.

After falling behind and allowing an 18-0 run in the second half, the Tar Heels seemed intent on pressing the Cavs into making mistakes, especially with a freshman, Jontel Evans, controlling the ball.

But Evans knew it would be coming, and had been practicing for it all week. He said he’s learned in his freshman year that he doesn’t have to be a hero against the press, he just needs to find an open teammate.

“It’s a little different, since in high school I could just dribble through the pressure,“ he said. “But these guys are stronger, faster, more phsyical and more intelligent, so you have to pass it and be alert.“

Evans was rotated with senior Calvin Baker at the position, the first playing time he’s received since not traveling with the team to Wake Forest. He said he wanted to “go out there and be a leader” with the ball, and finished with three turnovers in 18 minutes against the press.

Bennett wanted the rotation to negate fatigue in a high-intensity game.

“All hands on deck,“ the coach said. “That’s our theme, and they have to be ready. It was such a hard-fought game - our kids were playing real hard, and I thought guys needed a little more of a break.“

One player who didn’t get much of a rest is Landesberg, who at 34 minutes played spent more time on the court than everybody else by at least 7 minutes. It’s time he earned by staying out of foul trouble and making sound decisions.

The Cavaliers get Monday off, an ACC rule, but Bennett can feel good knowing that his defensive lessons from the past week seem to have stuck, and resulted in a marquee victory for the program.

“Virginia’s not going to be an easy out,“ Sherrill said. “We’re going to be tough to play against any night.“

Cavs top Tar Heels
Virginia wins at the Dean Smith Center for just the third time since it opened in 1987.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Virginia's 69th trip to North Carolina for a men's basketball game ended with a familiar sight -- the Tar Heels emptying their bench and sending in their walk-ons with 1:05 remaining.

There was one big difference Sunday night.

On came the walk-ons because Carolina had no chance of winning.

Virginia led wire to wire and found the secret to holding onto 10-point leads. The Cavaliers stretched their advantage to 21 en route to a 75-60 victory over the defending NCAA champions.

It was the first trip to the Dean Smith Center for first-year Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who played professionally for the Charlotte Bobcats and had always planned to take in a game at Chapel Hill but had never seen the inside of the building until this weekend.

"For me, in my first trip, to come away with a victory, I realize it doesn't happen all the time," he said.

The Cavaliers (13-6, 4-2 ACC) entered the game on a two-game losing streak but moved into a tie for second place in the ACC behind Duke (17-5, 5-2).

Carolina (13-8, 2-4) had just dropped out of The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 75 weeks and the Tar Heels have now lost five of their last seven games, "But they're UNC," said fifth-year Virginia guard Calvin Baker, who emerged from Bennett's doghouse to play 18 minutes. "They're still last year's national champions."

Virginia had won only twice in 23 games at the Smith Center since its opening in 1987, the last time in 2002.

The Cavaliers were 8 12-point underdogs, based partially on a 76-71 overtime loss to Virginia Tech on Thursday night in Charlottesville, where they squandered a 10-point lead in the final 2:57 of regulation.

"That was a real hard loss," Bennett said. "I said, 'A lot of teams would probably hang their head and maybe go into a situation like this and not fight.' I told them, 'I want you to be different.'

"In the huddle at the three-minute mark, I told them, 'You've been in this spot before. Show me you've learned.' Failure is the greatest teacher and I thought it taught us well in this instance."

Sophomore Sylven Landesberg led the Cavaliers with a season-high 29 points.

It was redemption for Landesberg after the Tech game, when he scored 18 points but committed six turnovers.

"That was a lot of motivation for tonight," Landesberg said. "I don't think I closed out the Virginia Tech game the way I should have. I definitely had my head hung after that.

"I spoke to my father for a long time. He told me, 'Just build off that.' I told him, 'It's tough.' I felt it was my fault that we lost the game. Turnovers. Missed free throws. I wanted to make sure that didn't happen again.

"I came out here with something to prove."

Sophomore Sammy Zeglinski said, "Sylven was just showing off. He was doing everything -- making jump shots, getting in the lane, getting fouled. He's a great player. Offensively, I don't think there's anybody better in the ACC."

Zeglinski was the only other Cavalier in double figures, going 5-of-8 on 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 19.

Zeglinski's 3-pointer from the left wing with 3:35 left may have been the final blow after the Tar Heels had trimmed a 59-39 deficit to 65-50.

It was reminiscent of a Jeff Jones' 3-point miss late in the Virginia Tech game that came with 32 seconds remaining on the shot clock. There were 20 seconds on the clock when Zeglinski took his final 3.

"Coach Bennett said something to me about it," Zeglinski said. "I didn't want to be passive. We probably should have run some clock, but it went in. I shot it with confidence."

Carolina shot only 35.7 percent from the field and got little out of big men Deon Thompson and Ed Davis, who had seven and three points, respectively.

"I'm about as frustrated and disappointed as I've been in my whole life," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "How can we go any lower? How can it get any worse than it is?"

The Cavaliers got a little shot of momentum with a Mike Scott 3-pointer that put them on top 35-30 at the half. Carolina scored the first basket of the second half on an Ed Davis dunk -- his only field goal -- and then Virginia went on an 18-0 run.

At that time, the clock could not run fast enough for the Cavaliers.

"The main thing that helped us out was defense," Landesberg said. "Being able to hold a team like Carolina to 60 points is phenomenal."

No wait needed; name Bennett coach of the year now - David Teel

Musings on a snowy Sunday of ACC basketball ...

* Can we just name Virginia's Tony Bennett the conference's coach o' the year now?

The Cavaliers' 75-60 demolition of North Carolina at the Dean Dome tonight was remarkable on so many levels.

First, it came three nights after they squandered a 10-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation before losing in overtime to Virginia Tech. At home of all places.

That's coaching. Instilling confidence in a team after a disheartening defeat. It takes a combination of discipline and understanding, and Bennett clearly struck the ideal balance.

"For our kids to bounce back and show composure and defend ... that's special," he said.

Second, the victory transpired at Virginia's Little Shop of Horrors. Dating to a 70-62 victory nine years ago, the Cavs had lost six consecutive games in Chapel Hill by an average of 19.5 points. The margins ranged from 10 to 45 points.

Ouch.

Tonight, by the way, is Virginia's most lopsided win ever in Chapel Hill. Then again, it was only the Cavs' sixth victory in Blue Heaven, as opposed to 63 setbacks.

Third, this was North Carolina. Sure, these Tar Heels pale to last season's national champs, but they aren't chumps either.

Virginia's inside dominance was startling. Jerome Meyinsse, Mike Scott and friends made Deon Thompson and others look soft.

Kudos to Sylven Landesberg, U.Va.'s backbone, After going scoreless during Virginia Tech's comeback Thursday, he responded with 29 points, three shy of the career-best he established last year against Boston College.

The Cavs (13-6, 4-2) already have exceeded their victory total from last season (10) and matched their ACC wins (four). That record prompted the dimissal of Dave Leitao, the 2007 ACC coach of the year.

Bennett would be the third rookie to win the award recently, joining Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt in 2001 and Carolina's Bill Guthridge in 1998.

* Since making his first two 3-point attempts against Boston College last Saturday, Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney has missed 16 consecutive shots from beyond the arc.

Delaney, the ACC's leading scorer, was 0-for-5 in this afternoon's 82-75 loss at Miami. This on the heels of an 0-for-6 at Virginia and 0-for-his-last-5 against BC.

Like many slumps, Delaney's is a combination of mental and physical. Ankle and shoulder ailments have limited him, and as the misses mount, confidence wanes.

Despite Delaney's struggles, Tech defeated BC and Virginia. But the Hokies' defense wasn't good enough today.

Miami committed 20 turnovers but shot a lights-out 63 percent, 70 percent in the first half. The Canes led by 17 at intermission.

Promise to research the last time a Tech opponent shot so well.

* Maryland lost sole possession of first place and its game at Clemson, 62-53, for one reason: turnovers.

The Terps committed 26, more than double their season average of 11. Not surprisingly, the primary offender was Greivis Vasquez with nine.

Vasquez is exceptionally talented but among the most fundamentally unsound players you'll find. As if Maryland coach Gary Williams' blood pressure wasn't high enough.

HooYa! Blog
by Trent.Thurston@eljos.com

Wahoos whip Tar Heels in Chapel Hill 75-60!
by Trent Thurston, January 31st 10:52pm
UVA had only won twice at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. Now you can make that three times a charm as the Hoos won big. Carolina played more like a bunch of guys working the McDonald’s counter than the team full of McDonald's All-Americans that are on their roster. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams, who I think has more than a passing resemblance to Huckleberry Hound, looked like his head would explode this evening as his baby blue–clad boys could not hit the broadside of a barn (36%). But this is not exactly your father’s Tar Heels.
The Wahoos were up 35-30 at the half and really never looked back as they were in control of the game throughout. In the first half, Virginia had 20 points in the paint, and they shot a blistering 53% from the field. Carolina (13-8, 2-4) looked truly befuddled by the quicker and much more physical Virginia team this evening. Not sure I have ever been able to say that! The Hoos did exactly what they wanted to all evening and had their way with the Heels throughout this game. Carolina only had one player in double figures (Graves, 15 points).
Virginia (13-6, 4-2) was led by super second-year Sylven Landesberg who scored at will in the first stanza and finished with 29 points on 11-18 shooting. Sammy Zeglinski also added 19 and played very much in control on both ends of the court. What an incredible effort by Virginia tonight. I’m speechless! The Hoos won Tony Bennett’s first game in Chapel Hill, and that makes him 2-0 in the Research Triangle as they also beat NC State earlier this season. GO HOOS!


 

Heels stumble again
BY ROBBI PICKERAL - Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL -- Through six ACC games, North Carolina has been inconsistent when it comes to shooting, aggressiveness, turnovers and effort.

But one ugly constant reared its head, again, during the Tar Heels' 75-60 loss to Virginia on Sunday: their inability to slow opposing guards.

Cavaliers sophomore Sylven Landesberg joined what is quickly becoming an "I Lit Up Carolina" club, scoring 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting. He joined five other perimeter starters in the league who have exposed UNC this season: Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney (26 points), Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert (30), Clemson's Demontez Stitt (20), Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith (20) and N.C. State's Javi Gonzalez (19).

As a result, the Tar Heels (13-8) fell to 2-4 in the ACC, a precarious position when it comes to tournament hopes, what with 10 conference games - including six on the road - remaining.

"How can you go any lower?" UNC coach Roy Williams asked. "Be honest: How can it be any worse than it is right now?"

Meanwhile, the win was the first for Virginia (13-6, 4-2) at the Smith Center since Jan. 12, 2002.

"We made them earn [points]," Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett said. "I understand too they were cold, and they didn't play one of their best games. But we did take advantage of the opportunities we had."

And there were quite a few.

UNC trailed from the outset. It committed three turnovers in its first six possessions, made only five of its 12 first-half free-throw attempts and saw starting forward Ed Davis attempt only two shots - and miss both of them (while also missing four of six free throws). It never got much better.

The reason the Tar Heels trailed only 35-30 at halftime was junior Will Graves, who had 14 first-half points and was 4-for-6 from behind the 3-point line.

But none of that could negate Landesberg, who had 16 points by halftime by consistently blowing by and shooting over Graves, then freshman John Henson, then senior Marcus Ginyard.

"We're just not helping each other out," Ginyard said. "One, we're not guarding the ball. Two, we're not really getting any help. We're just not playing as a team on defense."

After Davis scored on a dunk to open the second half and cut the Cavs' lead to 35-32, Virginia sprinted to an 18-0 run, holding the Tar Heels without a field goal for eight minutes. Landesberg scored only three points, on a three-point play, during his team's breakaway, but after UNC freshman Travis Wear scored on a putback to cut the Cavs' lead to 53-37, Landesberg bookended a Dexter Strickland jumper with two free throws and a field goal.

UNC freshman Leslie McDonald also took a turn guarding him. But in the end, Landesberg scored 13 of his points in the second half, helping thwart any serious UNC comeback attempt, before Carolina's walk-ons entered the game with 1:04 left.

Graves and Larry Drew II led the Tar Heels with 15 points apiece. Guard Sammy Zeglinski added 19 points for the Cavaliers.

"We've got a lot of problems, and staying in front of the basketball has been one from Day 1 with this team," Williams - who was tearing up in frustration - said after the game. "And I really thought we could be a good defensive team, and we haven't shown that. Two or three games I thought we were really good defensively. Last game, I thought we were really good defensively, ... but we're not really good defensively on a consistent basis."

Bennett making it look easy
BY LUKE DECOCK - Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL -- The look on Tony Bennett's face gave nothing away, not satisfaction, not delight, not even a coach's pessimistic concern when all is going well.

As his team was in the middle of an 18-2 run to open the second half Sunday night, as North Carolina coach Roy Williams yanked five new players off his bench and argued with official Brian Dorsey so vehemently his tie flipped up and wrapped itself around his neck, Bennett watched impassively, hands in his pockets in front of the Virginia bench, seemingly without a care in the world at that moment.

The Virginia job was, for Bennett's predecessors, a constant source of stress, misery and heartburn, pushing Pete Gillen's face to new shades of crimson and driving Dave Leitao to desperation. After Sunday's 75-60 blowout of the Tar Heels, Bennett is making it look easy.

Bennett has taken the collection of talent Leitao left him, one that finished second-to-last in the ACC last season, and turned it into a team capable of finishing in the top half of the league, one capable of winning at the Smith Center for the first time in more than eight years.

Virginia won four ACC games last season. Bennett won that many this month.

"I really didn't have expectations in terms of wins and losses," Bennett said. "I wanted it to be about quality, and I wanted these guys to get a feel for when they play defensively the right way, they have a chance to be in games, and to come together a little more offensively. That has happened at moments. At times, we've looked pretty poor, I'll be honest."

The conference may be down this year - that much, at this point, is abundantly clear - but Bennett's new peers haven't capitalized the way he has.

He has done it with some impressive in-season coaching: working freshman point guard Jontel Evans into the lineup; getting valuable minutes (and points) out of heretofore role players such as Sammy Zeglinski and Jerome Meyenisse; asking, and getting, a lot from stars Sylven Landesberg and Mike Scott.

The early results were not impressive, and losses to South Florida, Stanford, Penn State and Auburn certainly didn't bode well, but that 3-0 start to ACC play proved Sunday to be no mirage.

The Cavaliers bounced back from losses to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech with a complete performance in Chapel Hill against a North Carolina team that has quite clearly lost its way.

While the Heels stagger through the season, the Cavaliers continue to exceed expectations in Bennett's first season in Charlottesville.

Bennett watched as his father, Dick, built winning programs at Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin, then finished the job at Washington State. This progression is nothing new to him or his family.

But the Cavaliers have come so far, so fast, even by those standards.

"It validates it when you have a performance or two like this," Bennett said before walking out of the Smith Center in a way so few coaches have in their first visit: with a win.
 

Cavaliers shut down Heels
Associated Press
Published: February 1, 2010
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Sylven Landesberg scored 29 points and Virginia ran off 18 unanswered points early in the second half to beat struggling North Carolina 75-60 on Sunday night.

Sammy Zeglinski added 19 points for the Cavaliers (13-6, 4-2 ACC), who regrouped from consecutive losses to earn another impressive victory under first-year coach Tony Bennett. Virginia had lost 63 of 68 meetings in Chapel Hill, but blew the game open by holding the Tar Heels without a field goal for nearly eight minutes in front of a stunned Smith Center crowd.

While Landesberg led the offense, Zeglinski knocked down a pair of 3-pointers during the decisive run, which turned a 35-32 margin into a 21-point lead with 14:20 to play.

Virginia, coming off losses to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech after a 3-0 ACC start, never let North Carolina (13-8, 2-4) back in it, maintaining a comfortable lead and shooting 52 percent for the game.

It was Virginia’s biggest margin of victory ever in Chapel Hill, surpassing a 14-point win in 2000.

Will Graves and Larry Drew II each scored 15 points to lead the Tar Heels, who shot 36 percent and added another frustrating loss to an ever-growing list of them.

They snapped their first three-game losing streak under Roy Williams with Tuesday’s win at rival N.C. State, a victory North Carolina fans hoped was just the beginning for a team that had fallen from co-ACC favorite and sixth in the preseason to being unranked and near the bottom of the league.

Instead, it ended up as a chance for Bennett’s Cavs — who were picked to finish 11th in the ACC in the preseason — to surprise once again.

Landesberg finished 11 for 18 from the field to torture the Tar Heels the entire game, while Zeglinski and Mike Scott came through with shots at key times. Zeglinski’s last one was a shot-clock beating 3-pointer with about a minute left that punctuated the victory.

Scott started the decisive run with a stickback of a miss from Landesberg, the first of six straight scoring possessions for the Cavaliers. Zeglinski added a 3 to beat the shot clock, then got free in the left corner to bury another one a few possessions later.

The Tar Heels, meanwhile, came up empty time and time again. And by the time Jerome Meyinsse dunked over Drew and drew the foul for a three-point play, Virginia led 53-32 and had firm control of the contest.

It took another 3 1/2 minutes before Travis Wear ended the field-goal drought with a stickback near the 11-minute mark, though that only cut the margin to 16 points.

About 5 inches of snow fell at nearby Raleigh-Durham International Airport over the weekend, leaving a slushy mix of snow and ice on area roads that cut into attendance and left the Smith Center about two-thirds full. That prompted arena officials during the first timeout to invite fans in the upper section to come downstairs and fill the open seats that dotted the lower level.

That might have given the fans a little more juice than usual, but the Tar Heels didn’t quite have the same energy on the court. Virginia maintained early control and got a 3-pointer from Scott with about 10 seconds left to take a 35-30 lead at the break.
 

Lynchburg QB switches commitment from Louisville to U.Va.
Daily Press
10:21 p.m. EST, January 31, 2010

Mike Rocco became the fourth football player to commit to Virginia in a week Sunday, reneging on a commitment to Louisville in the process.

Rocco, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback from Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg who originally committed last July to Louisville, visited U.Va. this past weekend. He's the 17th commitment for U.Va.'s 2010 recruiting class.

Rocco, who missed most of his senior season because of a broken left (non-throwing) arm and wrist, is the nephew of Liberty coach and former U.Va. assistant Danny Rocco.

Since last Monday, U.Va. coach Mike London and his staff have picked up commitments from offensive lineman Stephen Lawe of Maury High in Norfolk and quarterbacks Miles Gooch from Decatur, Ga., Jake McGee from Richmond and Rocco. Wednesday will be the first day recruits can sign a letter of intent.

LCA star Rocco commits to UVa
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: February 1, 2010
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A Virginia football practice session in the fall may suddenly appear to look like a Division I private school championship game.

Days after landing Collegiate’s Jake McGee, the winning quarterback in the contest, Virginia coach Mike London added the losing signal-caller.

Originally a verbal commitment to Louisville, Mike Rocco — the quarterback at Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg — elected to shift gears and informed London of his decision to play for the Cavaliers.

A two-star recruit (out of five) according to Rivals.com, Rocco passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the title game. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Rocco also ran for a score in the loss to Collegiate.

Rocco is familiar with Virginia, as his uncle, Danny, worked under former coach Al Groh as linebackers coach before leaving to become the head coach at Liberty University. His father, Frank, is the head football coach at LCA.
 

Mike Rocco- Doug Doughty | Roanoke Times

Just spoke to Liberty Christian Academy football coach Frank Rocco, who was returning to Lynchburg after accompanying his son, Mike, on a recruiting visit to Virginia this weekend.

Frank said the family would like some time to digest the Cavaliers' offer but hoped to have a decision within 24 hours.

Mike will choose between the Cavaliers and Louisville, to whom he made a commitment in late August. He is being recruited for Louisville by new Cardinals' quarterbacks coach Mike Groh, who had been involved in his earlier recruiting by UVa.

Mike Rocco (6 foot 3, 208 pounds) passed for more than 2,000 yards in his sophomore and junior seasons at LCA before a knee injury interrupted his senior year. He also has an offer from Penn State as an invited walk-on.

Frank Rocco, brother of former UVa assistant and current Liberty University coach Danny Rocco, spoke well of new UVa offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.

Frank described the Lazor hire as "tremendous" and said it "will bode well" for quarterbacks who come through the UVa system.

Frank Rocco also is familiar with Scott Wachenheim, the former Washington Redskins tight ends coach who previously was Danny Rocco's offensive coordinator at Liberty. New UVa coach Mike London has not made an announcement on his ninth full-time assistant, but Wachenheim was interviewed Thursday.

"That's a very intriguing ingredient as well," Frank Rocco said. "It's an exciting time up there and you can tell the energy when you're around the players."