Cavaliers Win Third Consecutive ITA National Team Indoor Title
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/15/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia men’s tennis team won its third consecutive ITA National Team Indoor Championship, defeating Tennessee 4-1 in the 2010 tournament final on Monday afternoon at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. The second-seeded Cavaliers used strong singles play to overcome an early deficit and defeat the fifth-seeded Volunteers.

“Every championship feels just as fulfilling as the previous ones,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “I am so happy for this entire group of guys who worked so hard and were resilient through some ups and downs earlier in the season. They know what we need to do to be successful and this is a reward that they richly deserve.”

The Cavaliers (8-1) fell behind early 1-0 as Tennessee (10-1) dominated doubles play. John-Patrick Smith and Davey Sandgren defeated Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) and Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) 8-1 at the No. 1 position and Boris Conkic and Rhyne Williams downed Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Jarmere Jenkins (College Park, Ga.) 8-2 at No. 2 doubles.

“I was pretty hard on the guys after doubles,” said Boland. “They listened and responded accordingly. We needed to do a much better job than we were doing. They came out believing again and knew what their responsibility was in singles. I was proud of how we refocused and were ready to go in singles.”

Virginia rebounded in singles and got off to a quick start, winning five of the six first sets. The Cavaliers quickly finished off two of the wins to take a 2-1 lead. Barrick tied the match with his 6-2, 6-4 win over Matteo Fago at No. 5 singles. Fellow co-captain Lee Singer (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) gave the Cavaliers the lead with his 6-2, 7-5 win over Davey Sandgren at the No. 6 position.

“We have two senior captains at the bottom of the lineup that are so determined and battle-tested,” said Boland. “They stayed composed and knew what they needed to do to win. They played to their strengths and to the weaknesses of their opponents. Lee and Houston really led by example with their play today.”

In a battle of two of the top three ranked players in the country, the Cavaliers took a 3-1 lead in the match when No. 3 ranked Shabaz downed No. 2 ranked Smith 6-4, 6-4. The win snapped Smith’s 13-match dual match winning streak, dating back to last season.

“Michael is a big time player,” said Boland. “He rises to the occasion. When the stakes are the highest, he raises the level of his play. When it comes to crunch time, he knows what it takes to be successful. He came up big for us today and I am not surprised at all by that.”

The victory was clinched at No. 4 singles by Courtney, who topped Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. It marked the second consecutive year that Courtney won the match to clinch the ITA National Team Indoor final.

“I knew I was serving for the whole team match,” said Courtney. “Coach just told me to hit some big serves to close it out and fortunately I was able to do that. It felt great to be able to clinch it. To do it in our house and in front of our fans made it even more special. This atmosphere is something I will never forget.”

Virginia becomes the second team in history to win three consecutive ITA National Team Indoor Championships. Stanford won the first three tournaments held from 1973-76.

The Cavaliers return to action on Saturday when they host a doubleheader at the Boyd Tinsley Courts. Virginia hosts No. 34 LSU at 1 p.m. and Boston College at 6 p.m.

No. 2 Virginia 4, No. 5 Tennessee 1

Doubles:
1. #7 Smith/D.Sandgren (UT) def. Courtney/Shabaz (UVa) 8-1
2. #12 Williams/Conkic (UT) def. Barrick/Jenkins (UVa) 8-2
3. Singh/Singer (UVa) vs. T.Sandgren/Fago (UT) 4-4 DNF

Singles:
1. #3 Michael Shabaz (UVa) def. #2 John-Patrick Smith (UT) 6-4, 6-4
2. #12 Sanam Singh (UVa) vs. #68 Boris Conkic (UT) 6-4, 5-7, 0-0 DNF
3. #16 Jarmere Jenkins (UVa) vs. #22 Rhyne Williams (UT) 5-7, 6-4, 1-1 DNF
4. #31 Drew Courtney (UVa) def. Tennys Sandgren (UT) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
5. #58 Houston Barrick (UVa) def. Matteo Fago (UT) 6-2, 6-4
6. #28 Lee Singer (UVa) def. Davey Sandgren (UT) 6-2, 7-5

Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1,2
Singles: 5,6,1,4

Kings of their court
By Chip Knighton
Published: February 16, 2010
Updated: February 16, 2010
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Let the record show that 1:35 p.m. was the moment the tide turned for the Virginia men’s tennis team in the finals of the ITA National Men’s Indoor Championship at Boar’s Head Sports Club on Monday.

At that point, Michael Shabaz, the Cavaliers’ No. 1 singles player, picked up his first break on Tennessee counterpart John-Patrick Smith. Minutes later, Shabaz and teammate Drew Courtney closed out their first sets, giving the second-seeded Cavs the momentum they needed to overcome some shaky doubles play and defeat the fifth-seeded Volunteers 4-1 for their third straight championship in the event.

It was Courtney who provided the Cavaliers’ coup de grace after Shabaz, Houston Barrick and Lee Singer had won their matches to give UVa a 3-1 lead. Leading 5-3, he went up 40-love before hitting a huge serve into the ad court that Vols freshman Tennys Sandgren couldn’t return, setting off a wild celebration from teammates standing courtside.

“I just wanted to hit four good serves,” said Courtney, who won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. “I knew that if I could put four good serves on the court, it would make him beat me … I just wanted to drop big serves.”

The Cavaliers became the second men’s team to win three straight ITA Indoors titles. Stanford won the championship in 1973, 1975 and 1976, the first three years the tournament was held.

Early in the proceedings, it looked unlikely that Courtney or Shabaz would have an opportunity to provide their heroics. Playing together at No. 1 doubles, they fell 8-1 to Smith and Davey Sandgren while Barrick and Jarmere Jenkins lost 8-2 to Rhyne Williams and Boris Conkic on the second court to give the doubles point to Tennessee.

“It was tough for us to get a rhythm,” Courtney said. “They were ripping returns right up the middle and making it tough for us.”

Virginia coach Brian Boland took the opportunity to motivate his team before singles play began, challenging his players’ toughness in the locker room and complimenting them on their response after the match ended.

“To lose in doubles after we felt good about ourselves and then bounce back said a lot about our team,” he said. “They heard a few things in the locker room, but they came back. They’re the ones that got it done and they deserve all the credit.”

After the break, the Cavaliers wasted no time asserting themselves. UVa took the first set in five of the six singles matches, with Williams claiming the only set victory — 7-5 over Jenkins — for Tennessee.

“We didn’t seize the momentum from that,” Tennessee coach Sam Winterbotham said of his team’s doubles success. “There was a chance early in the match for us to take the momentum, and Virginia did a good job of preventing that from happening.”

Barrick, a senior, was the first UVa player off the court in singles play by a wide margin, making quick work of Tennessee junior Matteo Fago at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 6-4. On the next court at No. 6, classmate Singer used a late break to knock off Davey Sandgren, 6-2, 7-5.

“The guys are really composed under pressure, and it comes from experience,” Boland said of his two seniors. “… they’re the ones that stepped up and found a way.”

On the upper courts, Shabaz gutted out a lengthy game in the second set to break Smith and seize a 4-3 advantage. Serving for the match, he induced Smith into a long return to clinch a 6-4, 6-4 victory and set up Courtney’s theatrics.

“I knew going into the match that it was going to be a battle,” Shabaz said, “and that it would come down to a few big points and who played them better.”

Boland singled out Barrick’s heady play as a big reason for the Cavs’ comeback.

“He is an emotional leader and he plays a very smart game of tennis,” Boland said. “He fights hard, stays within himself and plays a very clever game on the court. He knows how to take his strengths and use them against his opponent.”

The Cavaliers return to action in a doubleheader at Boar’s Head on Saturday, taking on LSU at 1 p.m. before hosting Boston College at 6.

Aces

Virginia junior Sanam Singh received the ITA Sportsmanship Award on Monday, becoming the first UVa player to win the award. … The LSU match will mark the Cavaliers’ fifth battle with a Southeastern Conference opponent in the span of a week. UVa fell 4-3 to Kentucky last Saturday before beating Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee in the ITA Championships.
 

Cavaliers top Vols to take Indoor crown
Squad captures title for third consecutive year, as home fans cheer Courtney to decisive singles win
Matt Diton and Emily Poe, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Men's Tennis / Sports
February 16, 2010 0

The Virginia men’s tennis team captured the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor title for the third year in a row yesterday, defeating Tennessee 4-1 at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

The Cavaliers won the match in the end but started off slowly, losing the doubles point to Tennessee within the first hour. The Volunteers grabbed both the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles spots, winning 8-1 and 8-2 and handing Virginia its first loss in the doubles point since the match against Kentucky Feb. 6. Boland realigned the team’s pairings heading into the weekend, but Tennessee’s decisive wins indicate that the Cavaliers still haven’t found their marks.

“[The Volunteers] were clearly better at doubles,” No. 3 junior Michael Shabaz said. “But we knew it was only one point.”

Despite the early setback, Virginia came entered the singles matchups, hoping to regain control as swiftly as possible.

Senior Houston Barrick topped Matteo Fago 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 5 spot, and senior Lee Singer defeated Davey Sandgren 6-2, 7-5 at No. 6. Shabaz then edged No. 2 John-Patrick Smith at the No. 1 position, 6-4, 6-4.

The Cavaliers needed only one more win to take the championship, and that victory ultimately came off the racket of sophomore Drew Courtney at No. 4.

Courtney quickly captured the first set 6-3, but Tennys Sandgren rallied and won the second by the same margin.

Courtney broke Sandgren during the third and found himself up 5-3. Sandgren then served to stay in the match but quickly fell behind love-40. With Virginia only one point away from the championship, the home fans erupted.

“I just tried to focus on controlling what I could control,” Courtney said of the point. “I was definitely feeding off the energy of the fans … I was on another planet.”

Boland too praised the support from dedicated Cavalier fans who came in droves to the tournament, particularly for Virginia’s Saturday match against Georgia.

“They give us such a huge boost,” Boland said. “Our fans are the best in college tennis.”

Courtney went on to win that final point, and junior Sanam Singh, who was tied at 6-4, 5-7 with Boris Conkic at No. 2 and freshman Jarmere Jenkins, who fell even with Rhyne Williams 5-7, 6-4, 1-1 at No. 3, suspended play with the championship already in hand.

In spite of the victory, however, the Cavaliers still face questions about the strength of their doubles lineup.

Though they dropped only one doubles match during the preliminary rounds of the tournament, Tennessee’s pairings blew by the Cavaliers at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.

“It’s just going to take a little bit more time,” Boland said of the new lineup. “If we can emphasize our doubles teams, then we become much more scary as a team to beat.”

During the first round, the Cavaliers swiftly topped No. 15 Alabama 4-0, sweeping the doubles point and winning three singles matches at the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 spots.

Next, Virginia pounded No. 7 Georgia during the quarterfinal round, again winning 4-0. The squad also put marks in the win column at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles and at the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 singles spots.

During the semis, Virginia trounced No. 3 Ohio State 4-1, falling only at No. 1 singles No. 3 doubles.

Singh was awarded the ITA Tournament’s Sportsmanship Award for his positive attitude and composure on the court throughout the weekend.

The team now looks to next weekend’s matches against No. 34 LSU and Boston College, but only after taking a brief moment to take in their third ITA Indoor win.

“It still hasn’t sunk in that we’ve done it again,” Singh said.

 

Unfinished Business: 2010 Men's Lacrosse Season Outlook
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/15/2010

Boasting eight NCAA Final Four appearances in the past 11 seasons, including two straight, reflects the elevated measure of the team's annual goals and the narrow perspective that defines success.

There is an acute feeling of unfinished business going in to the 2010 season and a heightened sense of urgency for a senior class searching for its first national championship. If the quality of the performances during the fall and in the off-season workouts is a reliable indication of potential and intent, there is every reason for fans of Virginia Lacrosse to be very excited about the opening face-off.
While there are a lot of new faces in important roles, there are also a lot of anxious players awaiting additional responsibilities. This is a team that will work hard to improve as the season goes on, looking to hit its stride in the playoff month of May. That journey will include increased TV exposure throughout the season, the most exciting schedule in the college game, an appearance in the Giants and Jets new NFL facility at the Meadowlands, the prospect of record crowds at Klöckner Stadium and almost certainly the close games and exciting action that always accompanies Virginia Lacrosse.
ATTACK
It may be hard to believe that the experienced hand leading the attack belongs to a sophomore, the 2009 ACC Rookie of the Year, Steele Stanwick. Playing alongside Danny Glading and Garrett Billings one year and being the center of attention the next is a big change in responsibility for Steele. If it were almost anyone else, there would be greater concern amongst the staff. "Steele continues to get stronger, more forceful and exhibits uncommon poise and maturity," said Virginia head coach Dom Starsia.

There will be learning pains for a young attack in 2010 but the leadership is in good hands. Classmate Chris Bocklet looks to play alongside Steele. "Chris is a clever, instinctive offensive player who moves smartly without the ball and is one of the program's best shooters," said Starsia. "He is a very hard worker, anxious to assume an important starting role."

Senior Tim Fuchs is an efficient inside left-handed attackman who has experience on the first extra man unit.

Four freshmen round out the unit and any number will see time early in the season. Matt White's game reflects his experience as a celebrated high school quarterback. "Matt is strong with both hands and can feed the ball and get to the corner," said Starsia. "He is a leader, calm and cool."
Connor English is a left-handed "pit bull" - strong and tough. "Connor may be the most explosive dodger of the group and has an uncanny knack close to the cage," said Starsia.

Nick O'Reilly is deceptively dangerous and possesses a deft touch finding the open man. "As his confidence grew throughout the fall, more and more of his potential to make plays shined through," said the head coach.

Matt Cockerton demonstrates a "Canadian's touch" around the goal and could see time on the extra man. "He is a mature young man and a hard worker," said Starsia.

MIDFIELD
While the attack may be young, the difference could be made up by one of the more balanced and explosive midfield units in recent UVa memory. 2009 captain Max Pomper returns for his fifth-year and joins 2010 captain Mikey Thompson on the defensive midfield.

"Max and Mikey both have logged a lot of important minutes throughout their careers and have blossomed into the leaders this team will need," said Starsia.

Senior Brian Carroll has established himself as one of the top middies in the country. "A powerful athlete, one of the game's most efficient shooters and now a captain, Brian's significant influence on the program extends beyond the playing field," said Starsia.

Seniors George Huguely, Kevin Carroll and faceoff specialist Brian McDermott are all "gameday experienced" and will be counted on to provide poise and leadership.

"George has been a regular on the first two units throughout his career, Kevin has stepped in to a variety of roles and Brian may have established himself as the first option at face-off during this past fall," said Starsia.

The junior class provides explosive athleticism and depth to the team. Shamel Bratton always draws the opponent's long stick defender and is still a catalyst at the offensive end. "Shamel is just coming into his own and already finds himself on the short list of the nation's top players," said Starsia. "If he continues to improve, look out."

John Haldy and Rhamel Bratton have inserted themselves in to the mix for playing time on the top midfield unit. Both are two of the program's strongest athletes and make plays all over the field.

"John's strength and Rhamel's quickness present match-up problems for opposing defenses," said the head coach. "We will be mixing and matching these two as the season unfolds."

Colin Briggs quietly progressed throughout this past fall and had his best day at the fall's final scrimmages in Annapolis. "Colin has a veteran's instincts and toughness at both ends of the field and has begun to decide that he will be reckoned with in the spring," said Starsia. "It could happen in an unexpected way."

Garrett Ince also had his best stretch of lacrosse this past fall and has begun to extend his influence beyond the face-off circle. "His continued development is a key component for this team," said Starsia.

Chris Clements spent the fall recovering from ACL surgery and his status for the spring is still to be determined. Clements has played most of his career on one good leg and is still one of the program's top players.

Sophomore Matt Kugler had a solid fall after switching from attack to midfield. Classmates Brian Pomper, Ryan Benincasa and Brian McLinden are all working hard to establish themselves.

There is a young man in the freshmen class who has already made an indelible impression on everyone associated with the program. Chris LaPierre is a "freight train" of an athlete who leaves his mark all over the field. "It is as much about Chris' determination and confidence as it is with physical talent," said Starsia. "Our opponents will find that he needs to be accounted for."

Blake Riley also stepped forward as the fall progressed. "Blake plays with the throttle wide open and will acquire the poise that accompanies experience," said Starsia.

Jacob Ghitleman was hurt most of this past fall but did exhibit some dynamic offensive skills. There is a possibility he may redshirt this spring.

DEFENSE
Seniors Ken Clausen and Ryan Nizolek lead the defense. "Ken returns for his fourth year in the starting line-up as a captain and one of the most dynamic and recognized defenseman in the country," said Starsia. "Ken's uncanny knack in loose-ball play and his ability to make plays in the middle of field allows us to move him around in different situations.

"Ryan was held out of fall lacrosse while recuperating from knee surgery," said Starsia. "He is close to full speed and anxious to get back involved. Ryan is a powerful athlete with a sophisticated stick and the experience to cover the nation's top attackmen."

Transfer Todd Faiella, a fifth-year senior, is a long stick middie still recovering from Achilles surgery during his final season as a captain at Brown.
Juniors Bray Malphrus and Matt Lovejoy will both play significant roles. Bray returns as the team's top long stick middie and could see some time on the close defense. "Bray is an intense, focused athlete determined to be a leader on and off the field," said Starsia. "His overall effort sets a high bar for the entire team.

"Matt is also one of the team's hardest workers and really came on throughout the fall," said Starsia. "He missed the 2009 season with an ankle injury and his confidence grew with each passing day. His stickwork and communication skills stand out."

The sophomore class is working hard to establish itself. Peter Borror is poised and smart and capable of playing out top and behind. Wyatt Melzer's strong fundamentals and speed make him a natural in the middle of the field and coming off the wing. Jarrid Puzes is strong, fast and best suited for the close defense.

Freshman Harry Prevas was one of the surprises of the fall. "Harry's unassuming persona belies an intensity and poise uncommon for a young defenseman," said Starsia. "He was in the middle of the mix throughout the fall and will play early in the season."

Classmate Chris Landon is fast, quick and tough. He is likely a long stick middie and faceoff wing. Freshman Howie Long has the tools to excel. "He is working to coordinate effort and potential," said Starsia.

GOALIE
"One of the joys of college coaching is being witness to a young college athlete's coming to terms with the measure of his potential," said Starsia.

Junior Adam Ghitelman was thrust into the most challenging position in his first two years and seems poised to reap the benefits of that experience. "Adam is fully engaged, working hard and playing the best lacrosse of his career," said Starsia. "He is ready to challenge his teammates and be the leader of the defense."

Sophomore Rob Fortunato may have been the most improved player of the fall season. "Rob exhibited an improved maturity and toughness every day that elevated his game to a different level, and he is ready to contribute," said Starsia.

Senior Rob Eimer is one of the program's most popular and improved athletes over the course of his career. "Rob's steady, positive daily approach serves as a considerable influence on his teammates," said Starsia.

Senior walk-on Will Bolton is in the midst of his first year with the team. "Between the workouts, the running, the rigors of practice, Will's life is quite different from just a few months ago," said Starsia. "He has been a good addition to the team."

 

Grovatt Does It All for 'Hoos
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/15/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In his first two seasons at UVa, Dan Grovatt hit for power, hit for average, stole bases and played stellar defense in right field. About the only thing he didn't do for the Cavaliers was pitch.

That's coming.

"We're going to use him out of the bullpen a little bit," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "We tinkered with it this fall, and it's looked really good."
Grovatt, who made the all-ACC first team as an outfielder in 2009, has consistently met the challenges he's faced since joining O'Connor's program, so there's ample reason to believe he'll thrive in this role, too. Plus, it's not as if he's new to the mound.

At Seneca High School in Tabernacle, N.J. -- also the hometown of former UVa great Sean Doolittle -- Grovatt went 20-2 as a pitcher.

"I threw a lot," he said, "and I'd say I was probably recruited here more for my arm out of high school."

During fall practices in 2007 and again in '08, the 6-1, 195-pound left-hander took turns at pitcher. As the 2008 and '09 seasons approached, however, UVa's coaches decided Grovatt wasn't needed on the mound.

"I got to about this point both years, and they said, 'You know what? Just concentrate on hitting,'" Grovatt recalled. "Hopefully we'll see it through this year."

He's practicing as if that will be the case, and he's been reminded that pitching requires different muscles than his regular position.

"I throw a lot in the outfield, but it's definitely an adjustment, because [on the mound] you're throwing every pitch as hard as you can," Grovatt said. "You definitely have to get back in shape, and I've realized that your arm gets out of shape quicker than you think."

His hitting stroke needs only fine-tuning. In 2008, he batted .324, second only to John Barr (.325) at UVa. In 2009, Grovatt led the team in batting (.356) and tied for third with 8 home runs.

He batted cleanup in 2009 and will hit in the middle of the order again this year. There are other Cavaliers with more power, but Grovatt is "a tough guy to strike out," O'Connor said, and that makes him extraordinarily valuable.

"Danny's just a really good athlete."

Virginia opens the season Friday afternoon at East Carolina, where Terry Holland is athletics director. UVa and ECU also will meet Saturday and Sunday in Greenville.

Of the UVa players with at least 200 at-bats last season, Grovatt had the fewest strikeouts. He had at least one hit in each of the Cavaliers' first 19 games and later had streaks of nine and 10 games, respectively.

"He's got a knack for the barrel of his bat finding the ball," O'Connor said.

At the ACC tournament in Durham, N.C., Grovatt went 8 for 18 in leading the 'Hoos to the championship. He was named the tourney's MVP.

"I think he'll hit even more this year," O'Connor said, "just because he's a year older, stronger and continues to be a better player."

At the plate, Grovatt said, he's worked on using his legs more when he swings.

"You can always get better," he said. "Average-wise, I would like to see myself hit for a higher average this year than I did last year. I guess you shoot for that every year."

To say 2009 was a remarkable year for Grovatt would be an understatement. He helped UVa advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history and also distinguished himself off the field, making the ACC's all-academic baseball team.

He had a memorable summer, too. After returning from Omaha, Neb., Grovatt joined the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League. He made the all-star game and got to play in Fenway Park.

"It was fantastic," Grovatt said.

That he landed in Charlottesville out of high school shocked no one. Growing up in Tabernacle, he and Doolittle were friends, and Doolittle's success at Virginia made Grovatt "an easy sell," O'Connor said.

Doolittle, who's now in the Athletics' organization, was a two-way player at UVa, starting at first base when he wasn't pitching.

The UVa teams on which Doolittle played all advanced to the NCAA tournament, but none got as far as the 2009 Cavaliers. With all of their starting position players back, the 'Hoos head into this season ranked in the top 5 of many polls, and expectations never have been higher for O'Connor's program.

Having been to Omaha once, Grovatt acknowledged, he's likely to be disappointed if UVa doesn't return this year. He knows that won't be easy.

"I would say the biggest thing for us is to stay focused," he said. "It might be a little harder. We're a year older. We've been to the College World Series.

"But we have to approach it as, the reason we got to where we were last year was we worked, and that's the same attitude we're going to have to have this year."

Shields Hangs Up His Cleats
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/16/2010
Feb. 16, 2010
10:48 a.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jack Shields, who started 23 games at center for UVa's football team in 2008 and '09, has decided not to use his final season of eligibility.

Shields said he weighed his decisions for weeks before meeting recently with the Cavaliers' new coach, Mike London.

"I told him I can't fake it," Shields said. "I think I'm just burned out on football. I had a great time here, and I don't regret anything. I loved it."

UVa will miss Shields' experience, London said, "but we'll manage and move forward with other players who look forward to the opportunity to challenge for that spot."

Anthony Mihota, who'll be a redshirt junior this season, backed up Shields in 2008 and '09. With Shields out with a leg injury, Mihota started against Virginia Tech in 2008.

Shields, who redshirted in 2006, is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in history this spring. He hopes to attend graduate school, perhaps at UVa, in 2010-11.

Another factor in Shields' decision was the back pain with which he played throughout his college career.

"I didn't know if I'd be able to go full go," he said.

Shields, who turned 23 in December, would have been the oldest player in the UVa program this season. A team's veterans should be fully committed and ready to lead, Shields said, and he wasn't sure he could fullfill those responsibilities.

In addition to Mihota, UVa's centers this season figure to include rising sophomore Mike Price and incoming freshman Cody Wallace, who played for Fork Union Military Academy's postgraduate team in 2009.

Shields' departure leaves new offensive-line coach Ron Mattes with three returning starters: Landon Bradley at left tackle, Austin Pasztor at left guard and B.J. Cabbell at right guard.

-- Jeff White


 

Long Night in College Park
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/15/2010
By Jeff White

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Sylven Landesberg slumped against the wall in the visitors' locker room Monday night, struggling to make sense of the UVa men's basketball team's latest loss.

"I can't even put my finger on it," Landesberg said.

Tony Bennett was no less frustrated, but words came easier for the Cavaliers' first-year coach at his postgame press conference.

Two nights earlier, his team had lost 61-55 to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. However poorly the Wahoos might have executed at Cassell Coliseum, however, especially on offense, their effort level was beyond reproach.

Not so at Comcast Center, where a raucous crowd of 17,091 saw Maryland shred UVa 85-66 in an ACC game that wasn't that close.

Asked if fatigue might have contributed to his team's dismal performance, Bennett swatted away that suggestion.

"That's not an excuse for what we just put out there," he said emphatically. "No way. We were flat. We weren't who I thought we had to be. And I tell our guys, I can handle a loss, but not like that, and we have to respond. We have to respond."

The Cavaliers (5-5, 14-9) have dropped three straight games, and their task gets no easier. They're in the midst of a stretch in which they'll play four times in eight days.

Game No. 3 comes Wednesday night, when Florida State (6-5, 18-7) visits John Paul Jones Arena. Then the 'Hoos go back on the road, visiting Clemson on Saturday and Miami next Tuesday.

"It'll certainly be a gut-check time," Bennett said of the FSU game. "I wish I had the perfect answer. I don't. I think we have to realize as a team that we can't take anything for granted. If we're not sharp in all areas, both sides of the floor, it gets hard for us. We've got a small margin of error, and when all of the sudden we don't defend the way we have been defending, it can get out of hand."

In the first half, the Terrapins (7-3, 17-7) looked as if they were running their offense against a high school team. Led by senior guard Greivis Vasquez, Maryland shot 70 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

Had he ever coached another team, Bennett was asked, that allowed an opponent to shoot such a high percentage in a half?

"If I did, I blocked it out," he said with a weak smile. "I think I went to counseling to get out of my head if I did."

Vasquez toyed with the 'Hoos. Over the course of the game, Bennett tried Jontel Evans, Sammy Zeglinski, Mustapha Farrakhan and Landesberg on Maryland's ACC-player-of-the-year candidate. None bothered Vasquez.

The 6-6 senior guard from Venezuela, whose flamboyance irritates opposing fans while delighting the Maryland faithful, went into the break with 25 points, on 10-for-13 shooting.

Vasquez finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 blocked shot and no turnovers.

"He had his way," Bennett said. "Nobody really could handle him. It's gotta be done with our team defense, and that was lacking. There were so many holes in it tonight. Everything was a step slow. Even a simple ball screen we had trouble with."

Maryland made its first four shots from the floor and didn't cool off much after that. With 10:30 left in the first half, the Terps led 24-13, and a blowout seemed imminent.

UVa battled back behind reserve guard Jeff Jones, however, and scored eight straight points. The last six were by Jones, who hit a trey and then converted a three-point play to pull Virginia to 24-21 at the 9:04 mark.

"And then the floodgates opened," Bennett said.

Vasquez's backcourt mate, senior Eric Hayes, made a layup and was fouled by Virginia forward Mike Scott on the play. The personal was the second for Scott, who went to the bench.

Hayes added the free throw to complete the three-point play, and the Terrapins extended their lead to 14 before Scott, who'd re-entered at the 5:42 mark, scored to make it 35-23.

No stirring comeback followed. The Terps scored on 13 of their final 15 possessions in the first half and led 52-34 at the break. They weren't as efficient offensively after intermission but still shot 56.3 percent from the floor for the game.

When a team falls behind, "it comes down to the little things," Bennett said. "It really does. You have to be willing to put a body on someone to block out to finish the play. You have to be willing to jump the ball, help your teammate, talk on defense, make the extra pass when they're loading up on you, just share the ball.

"I think we got a little panicky. We got down big and tried to get it back too quickly and lost our mentality of trying to battle possession by possession, and that thing got out of hand."

Until Monday night, no opponent had shot better than 55.3 percent this season against UVa. It was also the Cavaliers' largest margin of defeat under Bennett.

"We did not put the effort in defensively to be successful, and they picked us apart," senior center Jerome Meyinsse said. "It was a surprise. Usually night in and night out, our defense is something that we can rely on, and tonight we just didn't come out with any effort, intensity or intelligence on defense."

Scott and Jones scored 16 points apiece to lead the Cavaliers. Jones played 27 minutes, his longest stint since Jan. 28. On that night, he came off the bench to score 12 points in 28 minutes in an overtime loss to Virginia Tech at JPJ.

Landesberg added 12 points but made only 5 of 13 shots. Of more concern for the 'Hoos going forward is Zeglinski's slump. The 6-0 sophomore, a starter all season, went 0 for 4 from the floor and failed to score Monday night.

Since going 5 for 9 in Virginia's win at North Carolina on Jan. 31, Zeglinski has missed 25 of 31 field-goal attempts, including 16 of 19 from beyond the arc.

"Sammy's a shooter, and when a shooter's not hitting shots, it's tough," Bennett said. "I don't think he forced any, but when we've played well, he's knocked down some shots."

In the end, though, missed shots weren't what did UVa in Monday night.

"We've hung in there with good defense and shaky offense, but we haven't hung in a game yet with poor defense, because we're not that potent offensively to just say, 'Hey, we're going to trade buckets with you and we'll be able to score with you,'" Bennett said.

"That's certainly a lesson learned. And as I said, you can't ever take it for granted. Just because you played good defense in the past doesn't mean it's just going to be there. You've got to desire it, and you've got to try to execute it."

 

Postgame Quotes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 02/15/2010

Virginia Head Coach Tony Bennett

Opening Statement:
“Not much to say in this one. They outplayed us. From a tangible standpoint, and an intangible standpoint, they got to us. I told our guys to compete as hard as they competed on Saturday and battle. To come out this flat was really frustrating. We have 48 hours to turn around and it will be a gut check playing against another tough team. But from a defensive standpoint, to get beat in transition like that and have our starters give up offensive rebounds, to not play team help-oriented defense - those are the things we work on a lot and those things were really exposed and lacking. That hurt.”

On Maryland’s win:
“We were a step behind just trying to beat a simple pin-down screen. [Maryland] played well. They shot well and [they’re] certainly a well-coached team. They run their stuff hard and they had something to prove after their tough loss, but they won. Any category you want to put up, they got it, as far as positive categories.”

On Greivis Vasquez:
“We didn’t guard a simple up-screen. It was 18 to 25 at the half. He had his way. We didn’t make him earn it and the couple times we did he would just rise up and shoot it … I don’t think we were helping near well enough to guard a player of that caliber. Even if we did, they got a second chance with a transition basket. It was a breakdown in almost every area.”

On instructing his players in the huddle:
“It’s the little things. You get down like that - I think it was [between] 21 and 24, and then the flood gates opened. Then you get down and it comes down to the little things. It really does. You have to be willing to put a body on someone to block out a defensive play. You have to be willing to jump the ball, help a player out, and make the extra pass. Just share the ball. I think we got a little panicky. We tried to get it back too quickly. We lost our mentality of trying to battle possession to possession. I think it got out of hand.”

________________________________________

Junior forward Mike Scott

On his mindset toward getting back on the right track:
“We just need to play better defense and play more intense.”

On how frustrating it is to have a lapse in defense:
“Very frustrating. They did everything they wanted in the half court set.”

On how tough it is to stop a player like Greivis Vazquez when they get going:
“Very tough. He was doing everything. He basically controlled the whole game.”

Sophomore guard Sylven Landesberg

When asked if he thought the team got tired:
“I don’t think so. I just think we all need to get on the same page.”

On the first half:
“Coach kept saying we weren’t sticking to our principles defensively, and that’s basically what happened. We weren’t doing what we were supposed to do like help defense and we let them get easy baskets.”

On what the team needs to do going forward:
“We just need to build off these games.”



 

Terps shatter Cavaliers’ defense in rout
NEXT
Tomorrow:Florida State at Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPNU
By Michael Phillips
Published: February 16, 2010
Updated: February 16, 2010
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Even one of basketball's most basic plays was giving Virginia problems last night.

Maryland found any number of holes in the U.Va. defense as the Terps rolled to an 85-66 victory, but for coach Tony Bennett, the sign that things weren't going his way was when he saw his Cavaliers giving up baskets on the screen.

"Even the simple, fundamental screen," he said. "We were so out of focus."

The Cavs slipped to 5-5 in the ACC, but this loss wasn't like the others. Virginia's offensive woes are well-documented, but Bennett's pack-line defense had always been enough to keep games close.

Instead, the Cavs watched helplessly in the first half as the Terps scored at will against a U.Va. defense that forgot everything it had learned.

"We didn't come out and do the things we needed to be successful," Jerome Meyinsse said. "We're definitely disappointed in our effort."

Compounding things was a red-hot night from Maryland's Greivis Vasquez, who finished with 30 points, 25 in the first half. By the final buzzer, Virginia had thrown five players at him, but none could contain the star senior.

He dazzled the crowd during the 11-0 first-half run that sealed the victory. First he pulled down a rebound and went the length of a court, sidestepping Assane Sene for a layup. Then a no-look pass to Eric Hayes resulted in a 3-pointer and sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The Terps senior wasn't done, though, as he hit a 3-pointer for his 21st point of the half, and did a short hip-shaking dance before running back downcourt.

Asked about it after the game, he laughed and gave a "no comment," mindful of the fact that had the official seen it, he probably would have received a technical under the ACC's stricter rules on celebrations.

While he had a night to remember, for Virginia, it was one to forget. Bennett was asked if he'd been a part of a defensive lapse of that caliber as a head coach.

"If I did I blocked it out," he said with a laugh. "I think I went to counseling to get it out of my head."

The Terps' 52 first-half points were a season high by a Virginia opponent. Five of the Cavs' opponents this year have scored 55 points or less during entire games.

Bennett tried any number of lineups to counter. After his big men found foul trouble, he went with four guards and Will Sherrill for a short time. He also tried playing without point guards Jontel Evans and Calvin Baker. Evans has been an offensive liability, and after the Terps left him wide open for his first shot, and he missed it, they continued the strategy for the rest of the night.

Perhaps the lone bright spot for the Cavs was Jeff Jones, who seemed ready to heed Bennett's call for a third scoring option. He finished with 16 points, sparking the team on one of its first-half rallies. But his teammate at guard, Sammy Zeglinski, continued his recent drought, and felt the sting of the loss after the game.

"I don't know if we can get any lower than this," he said. "It was a pretty bad loss. We got outplayed, definitely."

Cavs fall flat
UVa permits Maryland to shoot 70 percent from the floor in the first half.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Virginia's Cavaliers put on a President's Day exhibition Monday that might have caused Thomas Jefferson to disown them.

Defensive-minded UVa gave up 52 points in the first half, 25 by Maryland senior guard Greivis Vasquez, and the Terrapins coasted to an 85-66 victory at the Comcast Center.

The Terrapins (17-7, 7-3 ACC) led by 29 points on two occasions in the second half.

"I don't know if we could get any lower than this," said Virginia junior Sammy Zeglinski, one of five Cavaliers who had a defensive turn on Vasquez.

"There are no excuses for the way we played."

It was the second game in less than 48 hours for Virginia, but Maryland was in a similar position. The Terrapins trailed by as many as 24 points Saturday in a 77-56 loss at Duke.

A rare Monday night conference game was the result of a snowstorm that caused postponement of a game that originally was scheduled for last Wednesday.

First-year Virginia coach Tony Bennett was a veteran of quick, Thursday-Saturday turnarounds in the Pac-10, where he coached for three years at Washington State. He didn't think there was any reason for a letdown against the Terps.

Virginia (14-9, 5-5) was coming off a 61-55 loss at Virginia Tech, where the Cavaliers had the lead going into the last two minutes. In fact, the Cavaliers had been competitive in almost all of their losses.

"They were leading the league in all of the offensive stats and you could see how potent they were," Bennett said of the Terps, "but it can't be that easy on our part."

Bennett couldn't say if one of his teams had ever allowed a team to shoot 70 percent from the field, as Maryland did in a 21-for-30 first half.

"If I did, I blocked it out," he said. "I think I went to counseling to get that out of my head."

Vasquez's 25-point first half was equally rare.

"Best I've seen him," said UVa forward Mike Scott, a junior who has been playing against Vasquez for three years. "He just got whatever he wanted."

The Cavaliers, saddled with their second three-game losing streak, had played well enough defensively to give themselves a chance in back-to-back losses to Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, but offensive production had been lacking.

Bennett had lamented the absence of a third scorer after Scott and Sylven Landesberg combined for 39 of UVa's 55 points Saturday, but the Cavaliers had a third double-figure scorer Monday.

Junior guard Jeff Jones came off the bench to score 12 points in the first half and finished with 16 points, tying Scott for team scoring honors. Landesberg had 12.

Landesberg and Scott came out of the game for good with 4:27 remaining, possibly with an eye toward a 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting with Florida State in Charlottesville.

"I don't think fatigue was a factor tonight and I don't think it would have been a factor Wednesday if we had played 40 minutes," Landesberg said. "It was just really frustrating out there and the frustration only grew after I came out."

Maryland shot 56.3 percent for the game and outrebounded the Cavaliers 42-28. UVa post players Jerome Meyinsse, Will Sherrill and Assane Sene did not corral a single defensive rebound in a combined 24 first-half minutes.

"I told our guys to compete as hard as they did on Saturday and to battle," Bennett said.

"To come out this flat was really frustrating. We have 48 hours to turn around and it will be a gut-check time against a good team.

"I think we took a step back. We weren't who I thought we had to be. And, I tell our guys, 'I can handle a loss,' but not like that. And, we have to respond."

In all fairness, Virginia would have had difficulty countering Vasquez under the best of circumstances.

He finished with 30 points, hitting 12 of 19 shots from the field, and contributed eight rebounds and five assists without a turnover in 34 minutes.

"I am not big on individual play usually," Maryland coach Gary Williams said, "but the way Greivis played tonight was exceptional. It wasn't easy to get ready and play this game tonight, but the way we started the first half tonight really set the tone."

Maryland carves up Virginia's defense in 85-66 rout
By Norm Wood | 247-4642
February 16, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - — As he contemplated the damage Maryland delivered Monday night on the offensive end in an 85-66 victory against Virginia, Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett was hard-pressed to recall a game where one of his teams had played worse on defense.

"If I did, I blocked it out," said Bennett, who coached for three years at Washington State before coming to U.Va.. "I went to counseling to get that out of my head."

Memo to Charlottesville-area mental health professionals: expect a phone call today.

Maryland (17-7 overall, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) used a 70 percent shooting effort from the floor in the first half to coast to the win. Guard Greivis Vasquez provided much of the offense for Maryland in the first half, scoring 25 of his season high-tying 30 points.

With the loss, U.Va. (14-9, 5-5) missed out on a chance to get a quality win against an opponent included among the Rating Percentage Index top 50, which could've helped the Cavaliers' fading chances of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Maryland entered the game 42nd in RPI, according to the collegerpi.com Web site.

U.Va., which came into the game 95th in RPI, is 2-5 against RPI top 50 foes. It hasn't defeated a top-50 opponent since Jan. 13, when it beat Georgia Tech. U.Va., which is in the midst of a five-game stretch in 11 days, had to wait five extra days to get a shot at Maryland. The game originally was scheduled for last Wednesday, but it was postponed because of snow.

Vasquez's 25 first half points were more than six of U.Va.'s opponents have scored this season in the opening half. With its 52-34 halftime advantage, Maryland put more points on the scoreboard in a half against U.Va. than any of the Cavaliers' previous opponents.

"He had his way," said Bennett regarding Vasquez. "We didn't make him earn (it), and then when we did, he simply rose up and hit the jumper."

U.Va. tried at least four players, including Sammy Zeglinski, Bethel High graduate Jontel Evans and Sylen Landesberg, on Vasquez to try to slow him down. Nothing worked. He finished the game 12 of 19 shooting from the field and added eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers.

"I was just playing," Vasquez said. "I wasn't really thinking about anything else … I don't want to waste any time, any second (on the floor). I want to enjoy my last few games at the Comcast Center."

Maryland had no trouble solving Bennett's "pack line" defense, which aims to put pressure on the ball and make entries passes into the lane a chore. It didn't seem to present many issues for Maryland, which made 21 of 30 shots from the floor in the first half.

The Terrapins shot 56 percent from the floor for the game, while the Cavaliers shot just 38 percent, including 13 percent (2 of 16) from 3-point range. Maryland held a 42-28 rebounding advantage and had four players score in double digits.

"We weren't doing on defense what we're known to do — help, guys being in the gaps and they were getting easy baskets," said Landesberg, who had 12 points on 5 of 13 shooting.

U.Va., which has lost 15 of its last 17 games at Maryland, managed to keep the game close in the opening 11 minutes. Jeff Jones, who scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half off the bench, knocked down a 3-pointer with 9:47 remaining. He followed it up with a 3-point play on U.Va.'s next trip up the floor to cut Maryland's lead to 24-21, but the Terrapins came alive offensively in the next 31/2 minutes with an 11-0 run.

"I don't know if we can get any lower than this," said Zeglinski, who missed all four of his field goal attempts and went scoreless for the first time this season. "It was a bad loss."

Vasquez goes off in Maryland's rout of Virginia
Senior guard scores 30 points, leads Terps to another dominant win at home

COLLEGE PARK - - It sure felt sweet for Maryland to return home, see all that red in the stands Monday night and bask in familiar surroundings. Actually, the Terrapins appeared pleased to be anywhere but Cameron Indoor Stadium, where they were humbled by Duke two days earlier.

Maryland has been a competitive road team this season - a 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference mark - but the Terps have been downright potent at Comcast Center, where they improved their league record to 5-0 with an 85-66 pasting of Virginia.

Maryland surely knew it was home when Greivis Vasquez - who scored 30 points - did a trademark hip waggle for the student section after his 3-pointer put the Terps ahead, 42-27, in the first half. The Terps were shooting 69.2 percent at that point. They had shot 37.7 percent in losing, 77-56, at Duke on Saturday.

"I'm not big on individual performances usually, but what [Vasquez] did tonight was exceptional," said Maryland coach Gary Williams, who noted that the Terps were playing on a short turnaround of one day between games. "It wasn't easy to get ready to play this game."

Maryland (17-7, 7-3 ACC), which had won its previous ACC home games by an average of 19 points, acted as if it couldn't wait to play another game after the Duke drubbing.

The antsiest, it appeared, was Vasquez, who seems to be savoring every home game of his senior season.

"I've got a couple more games, so I don't want to waste any time, any seconds. I want to enjoy my last couple games at Comcast," Vasquez said. The Terps have two more home games before Vasquez and the other seniors play their final home game against Duke on March 3.

Vasquez, 6 feet 6, took advantage of Virginia's smaller guards to convert 10 of his first 12 shots as the Terps quickly seized a lead that was never threatened. Vasquez had 25 points at the half.

It was perhaps Vasquez's best half since last season's second North Carolina game, when he scored a career-high 35 points and had a triple double in Maryland's overtime win.

"I've never seen him playing the way he was tonight," senior guard Eric Hayes (10 points) said of Vasquez. "He was on fire. He was making everything, and he was also getting others involved."

Maryland shot 70 percent in the first half and 56.3 percent for the game.

Said Virginia forward Mike Scott: "[Vasquez] basically controlled the whole game."

Among the few remaining questions in the second half were whether Vasquez would approach his career high and how long the regulars would remain in the game given that the Terps must play at North Carolina State on Wednesday.

Williams began removing his starters with 4:56 left and a 79-52 lead. That was when Vasquez departed.

In addition to Vasquez, freshman center Jordan Williams (11 points, 11 rebounds) also had a big game against the Cavaliers (14-9, 5-5), who began 3-0 in the ACC but are 2-5 since.

Virginia's leading scorer, Sylven Landesberg, was held to 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting.

The Terps did not show any ill effects from being in the middle of a stretch in which they are playing three games in five days. Their schedule became more congested when the Virginia game - originally scheduled for last Wednesday - was postponed because of the most recent winter storm.

"I wasn't sure how we'd be mentally or physically because of the short turnaround," Gary Williams said.

He said the Terps had proved resilient Monday night "and now we have to do it again."

Asked whether the team has started preparing yet for North Carolina State, forward Dino Gregory replied: "Not yet. We just finished the game."

Vasquez does his Superman routine
February 16, 2010 12:35 am

COLLEGE PARK, Md.--
As the teams warmed up for the start of the second half last night, Maryland's student band broke into the theme for the movie "Superman."

They couldn't have chosen a more appropriate tune.

Greivis Vasquez has scored more points in a game than the 30 he netted in last night's 85-66 romp over Virginia. In fact, he scored Maryland's first 13 points in its upset of eventual national champion North Carolina. His totals in rebounds (eight) and assists (five) weren't career highs.

But the total package has never been better--either last night or in his dazzling senior season.

"What wasn't he doing?" marveled Virginia guard Sammy Zeglinski. "He was scoring any way he wanted. We had no answer for him tonight."

The Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year honor is likely to come down to Vasquez and Duke's Jon Scheyer, who may have gained an edge in the Devils' 77-56 win over the Terps on Saturday in Durham, N.C. But Scheyer has never had a first half like Vasquez's tour de force last night: 25 points, five assists and four rebounds. Ernest Graham's 32-year-old school record of 44 points in a game seemed vulnerable.

Four different Cavaliers--Zeglinski, Jontel Evans, Calvin Baker and Mustafa Farrakhan--tried their hands at stopping Vasquez in the first half, without any luck. Virginia coach Tony Bennett reluctantly put his own top scorer, Sylven Landesberg, on Vasquez to open the second half.

By that point, the Terps were comfortably ahead, and the only number Vasquez cared about was the final score. That's a far cry from the flashy version that delighted and confounded Maryland fans for most of his first three seasons.

"He understands, and that's part of being a senior," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "People know whether you can play. It doesn't matter if you score 18 points or 30 points. If you can play, you can play.

" Greivis is at the point of his career where he knows if he plays well and we play well, it makes you look better than if we lose and he scores 35 That's part of senior leadership."

Many doubted that either of those last two words would ever apply to Vasquez. He declared for the NBA draft after last season, when he was named second-team all-ACC for the second straight season. He withdrew, though, when pro scouts told him there were too many holes in his game to make him a first-round choice.

Early in his career, Vasquez seemed to prefer style over substance. He led the nation is turnovers as a sophomore, and he often tried for the spectacular play when a basic one would suffice. He drew the ire of fans on the road--and even, on occasion, at Comcast Center.

But the 2010 version of Vasquez is new, improved--and remarkably solid. His most impressive number last night may have been zero--as in turnovers.

"I've never seen him playing with such purpose. He was on fire," said Eric Hayes, Vasquez's backcourt mate for the past four seasons. "He was making everything--and it was not just scoring. He was getting us the ball in good position to score."

Of course, Vasquez will never be confused with a robot. After sinking a first-half 3-pointer, Vasquez did a shimmy in front of the student section. Following a long-distance shot in the second half, he got a congratulatory slap from former Maryland All-American Steve Francis, who was seated courtside.

Francis was the Terrapins' last do-everything guard, albeit for just one season. Vasquez is closing out his fourth year and has an outside chance to become Maryland's all-time scoring leader and finish No. 2 in assists. Remarkably, he could even rank in the school's top 20 in career rebounds.

None of that really matters to him, though. Maybe four years of Williams' rants have sunk in. Maybe he's just more mature.

But he's never been more fun to watch,

"I was just ready to play basketball," he said. "I was excited to come back to Comcast Center, with my family watching, and all my friends. I don't want to waste any time, any seconds. I'm just enjoying my last couple games at Comcast Center. I just want to win games."

Terrapins snow over Virginia
February 16, 2010 12:35 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.
--The Virginia Cavaliers' game against Maryland was postponed from Feb. 10 until last night because of a snowstorm.

The Cavaliers probably would've preferred more winter weather over what they endured last night.

Maryland senior guard Greivis Vasquez scored 25 of his season-high 30 points in the first half as the Terrapins rolled to an 85-66 Atlantic Coast Conference victory in front of 17,091 in Comcast Center.

It was the third straight loss for Virginia (14-9, 5-5 ACC), whose once-promising season appears to be slipping away.

"We thoroughly got outplayed," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. "I think we took a step back...we lost our fight in that one."

The Cavaliers started conference play 3-1, but have dropped four of six contests since.

The loss to Maryland (17-7, 7-3) was the start of a stretch in which Virginia plays five games in 11 days.

It was coming off a hard-fought 61-55 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Maryland was coming off a blowout loss to Duke the same day.

"That's not an excuse for what we just put up there-no way," Bennett said of the Virginia Tech game. "We were flat. We weren't who I thought we had to be. I can handle a loss, but not like that. We have to respond."

The Cavaliers host Florida State tomorrow before trips to Clemson and Miami. They allowed Maryland to shoot 70 percent from the floor in the first half.

The defensive-minded Bennett said he can't recall one of his teams allowing such a high percentage.

"If I did, I blocked it out," Bennett said. "I went to counseling to get that out of my head."

Bennett probably wishes he could forget last night, too.

The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 29 points in the second half.

The game was a contrast in styles, but the Terrapins' easily controlled the tempo.

They entered the game second in the ACC in scoring (79.1 points per game). The Cavaliers were first in scoring defense.

The Terrapins topped the 61 points Virginia allows per game on a Cliff Tucker 3-pointer with 13 minutes, 20 seconds left.

They led 52-34 at halftime as Vasquez torched Virginia in a variety of ways against several different defenders.

He connected on mid-range jumpers. He drove for layups. He made one 3-pointer and the Cavaliers were called for goaltending on one of his attempts.

"In the first half, he just went off," Virginia sophomore guard Sylven Landesberg said. "We've got to do a better job against players like him."

When Vasquez wasn't scoring, he was delivering on-target passes to open defenders and hitting the boards. He finished with eight rebounds and five assists.

His no-look pass to point guard Eric Hayes led to a 3 that gave Maryland a 34-21 lead, forcing Virginia to call a timeout with seven minutes, 31 seconds left in the first half.

"I'm not big on individual play usually, but the way Greivis played tonight was exceptional," Maryland head coach Gary Williams said. "I think he got us off to a great start."

The Cavaliers were led by Mike Scott and Jeff Jones with 16 points each. Landesberg, the team's leading scorer, finished with 12 points on five-for-13 shooting.

Jones' solid night came after he scored just two points in the previous four games combined.

Virginia may need more of Jones' scoring because its schedule only gets tougher, beginning tomorrow with Florida State.

"I told our guys that to compete as hard as they did [against Virginia Tech] and to come out this flat was really frustrating," Bennett said. "We have 48 hours to turn it around. It will be a gut-check time."

Maryland routs UVa
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 16, 2010
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It’s easy to see why Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez has a reputation for agitating just about everyone except his own home crowd. In Monday night’s game against Virginia at the Comcast Center, Vasquez, to the delight of Terrapins fans, unveiled his entire repertoire.

There were jigs after made shots, high-fives with former Terrapin star Steve Francis (who was seated courtside) and a plethora of other annoying theatrics.

Virginia, however, had more things to worry about than Vasquez’ showmanship.

At the top of the list — a suddenly non-existent defense, especially as it pertained to Vasquez.

Maryland, with 30 points and five assists from Vasquez, completely dismantled Virginia, 85-66, in a make-up game from last Wednesday that was postponed because of heavy snowfall.

By the way UVa performed, it probably would have been just fine with coach Tony Bennett if the game had never been replayed.

“Certainly, they outplayed us — from a tangible standpoint and an intangible standpoint,” Bennett said. “I told our guys to compete as hard as they did on Saturday [against Virginia Tech] and battle. To come out this flat, was really frustrating. We have 48 hours to turn around and it will be gut-check time, playing against another tough team.”

Virginia (14-9, 5-5 ACC), which hosts Florida State on Wednesday, has now lost three straight and seems to be regressing with each defeat.

The Cavaliers’ shooting was a touch better than it was in the loss to Virginia Tech, but their defense took about three steps back.

The first half was a train wreck for Virginia. UVa trailed 52-34 at the break. The 52 points were the most scored in a half on UVa this season.

“We came out and we had no passion,” said Virginia junior Will Sherrill. “Everyone on the floor was kind of playing on their man and not adhering to our pack principles.

“The main thing was that we didn’t have any intensity or unity on defense.”

From the opening tip, Maryland (17-7, 7-3) got just about any shot it wanted. Vasquez scored 25 of his points in the first 20 minutes.

The senior seemed to be toying with Virginia. Vasquez scored on drives to the hoop, hit long-range jumpers, and seemed to be able to set up teammates at will.

With under eight minutes remaining in the half, Vasquez made a flashy no-look pass to Eric Hayes, who drained a 3-pointer to put Maryland up 34-21.

Three minutes later, Vasquez took a pass in transition and knocked down a triple of his own from the wing. Following the shot, Vasquez, to the delight of the crowd, did a little jig.

“We didn’t guard a simple up-screen,” said Bennett, when asked what went wrong in the team’s defense of Vasquez. “I mean, he had 25 at the half. He had his way.

“We didn’t make him earn, and then the couple times we did, he would just rise up and shoot it. We tried Jontel [Evans]. We tried Sylven [Landesberg] in the second half, and I didn’t think we were helping near well enough to guard a player of that caliber. When we did, they got a second-chance point or a transition basket, so there was a breakdown in almost every area.”

Maryland shot an outlandish 70 percent from the field before the break.

Things didn’t get much better in the second half. Immediately after the intermission, Hayes found a cutting Jordan Williams for an easy layup.

Williams then blocked Sammy Zeglinski’s shot before scoring on a jump hook at the other end, and the route was on.

“We got thoroughly outplayed and I think we took a step back,” Bennett said. “I think we have to learn from it and battle, but we lost our fight in that one…

“We were flat. We weren’t who I thought we had to be. I told our guys, ‘I can handle a loss, but not like that.’”

Added Zeglinski, who was scoreless with just one assist in 23 minutes of action: “I don’t know if we can get any lower than this. This was a pretty bad loss.”

Dunks

Mike Scott and Jeff Jones led Virginia with 16 points apiece. ... Virginia freshman Tristan Spurlock played for the first time in four games. Spurlock, who hails from Woodbridge, scored four points in mop-up duty.
 

Embarrassing effort on ‘D’ dooms Cavs
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: February 16, 2010
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COLLEGE PARK, Md.

Tony Bennett can take a loss. What he can’t take is a lack of effort.

The Virginia coach watched from the sidelines as an angry Maryland team sliced, diced and shishkabobbed the Cavaliers, 85-66, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

Embarrassed at Duke on Saturday, the Terrapins turned the tables on visiting Virginia, blowing out to a 52-34 halftime lead — the most points a Cavalier team has surrendered in the first half of any game the past two seasons.

A sticking point for Bennett was his team’s lousy defensive effort. Maryland, which leads most of the offensive statistical categories in the ACC, shot 70 percent the first half before cooling to 56.3 for the game.

Greivis errors

Pouring salt into the Wahoos’ wounds was Terps senior guard Greivis Vasquez, for whom Virginia had no answer. Vasquez had 25 points at the break and 30 for the game (his fourth career 30-point effort).

The Cavs simply couldn’t stop the feisty Maryland scorer. Bennett tried several defenders on Vasquez but to no avail. Sylven Landesberg, Calvin Baker, Sammy Zeglinski, Jontel Evans, Mustapha Farrakhan — no dice.

“Nobody could really handle him,” said a dejected Bennett about his team’s shortcomings against the quick, 6-foot-6 Vasquez, who presented all sorts of mismatch problems for the Cavaliers. “He had his way. We didn’t make him earn.

“We put Jontel on him to start, then Mustapha has a little more length, we tried Sylven the second half, but nobody could really handle [Vasquez],” Bennett said. “It’s gotta be done with our team defense, but it was lacking. There were so many holes in it tonight, everything was a step slow.”

For a program that takes pride in strong defensive play, it was a true letdown. Bennett called it a step back, and he was right.

How far back remains to be seen.

Ill-timed slump

The Cavaliers, now 14-9 overall and 5-5 in the ACC, have dropped three in a row as they head back to Charlottesville to host Florida State on Wednesday night. If Virginia doesn’t stop the bleeding there, it could get discouraging with looming road games to Clemson and Miami, two so-so teams that play their best at home, followed by league-leading Duke coming to town on the last day of February.

Bennett, who won’t make excuses, certainly didn’t use back-to-back road games as a crutch for this setback.

His team was simply flat, a fact that Bennett couldn’t quite grasp, especially after the Cavaliers at least played hard in a loss at Virginia Tech on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Maryland coach Gary Williams boasted about how his team got their act together with such a short turnaround from a disheartening defeat.

“It was more of the players getting mentally focused and being ready for the game tonight,” Williams said of his 17-7, 7-3 Terps. “I wasn’t sure how we would be mentally or physically.”

The Terps’ game plan was to go inside more against Virginia than they did at Duke and play close to the basket.

But the way the Cavaliers defended, it really didn’t matter what Maryland’s plan of attack was.

Maryland outrebounded the Cavs 42-28 and scored 19 second-chance points, and scored a staggering 40 points in the paint.

For Virginia, perhaps a trip back home to the friendly confines of John Paul Jones Arena will be just what the doctor ordered.

In their last two outings the Cavs have dropped games to the Hokies, who are 13-0 at home, and last night to the Terps, who are 12-1 at home.

Like Bennett said before he left the Comcast Center on Monday night, it’s gut check time in Charlottesville.

It’s time for the Cavaliers to fish or cut bait.
 

Against Maryland, Virginia is let down by effort on defense
By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

At every Virginia practice, the Cavaliers preach the same defensive demands. It's a never-ending emphasis and the bedrock of the program Coach Tony Bennett is trying to build in Charlottesville.

Throughout Bennett's first season at Virginia, the Cavaliers' offense has often revealed deficiencies. Bennett's pack-line defense, though, has kept the Cavaliers afloat.

Somewhere between Blacksburg and College Park, the Cavaliers lost the defensive intensity and fundamentals that are taught every day the team gathers together. As a result, Virginia lost its third consecutive game, an embarrassing 85-66 defeat at the hands of Maryland at Comcast Center.

"We've hung in there with good defense and shaky offense, but we haven't hung in a game yet with poor defense," Bennett said. "You can't ever take for granted that just because you played good defense in the past, it's just going to be there."

Bennett was especially crushed by struggles with transition defense, help defense and preventing offensive rebounds. Even when Virginia (14-9, 5-5 ACC) set up in the half court, its defense could not contain the Terrapins.

The Cavaliers entered the game leading the ACC by holding opponents to 61 points per game. Maryland (17-7, 7-3) reached that total with more than 13 minutes remaining.

The Terrapins shot 56.3 percent from the field, including 70 percent in the first half. Greivis Vasquez scored 25 of his 30 points before halftime, when Maryland marched to a 52-35 lead.

"Personally, I was very upset with that," guard Sylven Landesberg said. "I decided to step up to the challenge in the second half, but it was already out of hand."

Virginia tried guarding Vasquez with Jontel Evans, Mustapha Farrakhan, Sammy ZeglinskiCalvin Baker and even Landesberg in the second half, but no one could stop the Maryland star. The Cavaliers' roster is loaded with combination guards -- there are three regular players between 6 feet 2 and 6-4 -- yet does not have a player who can shut down a tall guard (Vasquez is 6-6).

"It's got to be done with our team defense, and that was lacking," Bennett said. "There were so many holes in it tonight."

Landesberg remained without answers because the defense is preached every day. He said nothing occurred that Virginia had not worked on before, and he appeared embittered that the team let down its defensive-minded coach.

Most disheartening to Bennett was that the Cavaliers were outplayed "from a tangible standpoint, and an intangible standpoint." The effort that appeared constant through the previous 22 games was absent and, to a man, the players remaining in the Cavaliers' locker room a few minutes after the game admitted such.

"We just came out here without passion," junior forward Will Sherrill said.

Senior captain Jerome Meyinsse said there was no excuse for the performance -- "fatigue can't account for allowing them to score 52 points in the first half," Meyinsse said -- and took it upon himself and the team's other two captains to ensure that the team does not fall apart now that it has lost five of seven games.

Bennett admitted that Virginia took "a step back," and it came at a crippling time in the schedule. The Cavaliers return to practice on Tuesday to prepare for a game on Wednesday against Florida State at John Paul Jones Arena. Bennett labeled it a "gut-check time."

Virginia has maintained a winning record throughout the ACC calendar, but that cushion is gone. Now, the Cavaliers must win to avoid slipping below .500 amid a stretch in which the once-promising season has quickly faded to mediocrity.

"I can handle a loss, but not like that," Bennett said. "We have to respond. We have to respond."

McCall propels team to two-overtime win
Freshman forward tallies 20 boards in 82-78 victory against North Carolina
Dan Stalcup, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Sports / Women's Basketball
February 16, 2010 0

After 13 straight losses to the Tar Heels — a stretch that dates back to 2003 — the Cavaliers edged North Carolina 82-78 in double overtime last night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Virginia took the lead for good with 1:45 remaining in the second extra period, when freshman forward Telia McCall sank two free throws to go up 80-78. Sophomore guard Ariana Moorer hit another pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to put the last nail in the coffin of North Carolina’s win streak against Virginia.

For the sixth time this season, Wright scored at least 30 points, tallying 33 by the end of the second overtime, including 11-for-11 from the free-throw line while also chipping in nine boards.

But Virginia’s leading rebounder was McCall, who grabbed 20 rebounds including 11 from the offensive end. It was the first time this season an ACC player totaled at least 20 rebounds.

“I really thought that the quiet hero tonight was Telia McCall.” Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan said. “We told her all we needed her to do was to rebound, and she really stepped up and hit two big free throws at the end, too.”

The Tar Heels pushed the game into overtime when Italee Lucas sank a miracle three-pointer with two seconds left.

“It was a dagger, but we just had to keep fighting,” junior guard Paulisha Kellum said. “The game wasn’t over yet, but in the end, the buzzer ended, and we came out with a victory.”

Before the three, Wright had seemingly taken control of the game once and for all, scoring four straight points when Virginia was down by three with less than a minute-and-a-half left in regulation. A pair of Kellum free throws created the three-point gap, which Lucas would close only seconds later.

Despite Wright’s strong play at the end of regulation, she vanished in overtime, scoring no points during the first extra period.

During the second overtime, Wright again was held scoreless from the field but hit four crucial free throws to keep Virginia afloat.

“If you take her off of that team, a lot of things change,” North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “I think she’s the player of the year for the conference. I don’t know anyone else who is better than her.”

Wright’s contributions came not only through points or rebounds, but also through drawing the North Carolina defense away from other players. The Tar Heels adjusted their defense at the half, assigning She’la White to cover Wright, while the rest of the team played a looser zone. This opened up the game for Virginia’s supporting cast and helped McCall grab rebounds, as fewer Tar Heels clogged the lane.

“I think there were a lot of heroes tonight, a lot of people that played their butts off,” Ryan said. “I could not have asked for anything more.”

Of the eight players who saw game time for Virginia, all but one scored at least six points. Moorer added seven assists and was the only Virginia player apart from Wright to score in double digits.
Wright moved to third on the All-Time ACC scoring list with last night’s performance, one spot behind Alana Beard of Duke.