Prior to Sunday’s game against No. 13 Maryland, Virginia was faced with options regarding its playing time for this week’s ACC tournament. The Cavaliers took a little extra time to make their decision. Apparently, they didn’t want to play in Thursday’s play-in game. Behind 26 points and 15 rebounds from Travis Watson in what was his final regular season game at U-Hall, Virginia downed Maryland 80-78 in overtime. The win ended a seven-game losing streak for the Cavaliers (15-14, 6-10 ACC) and earned them the sixth seed in the tournament where they will face third-seeded Duke in Friday’s quarterfinal at 9:30 p.m. The victory gave Virginia, which out rebounded Maryland 59-36, a season sweep of the Terrapins, the defending national champions. Virginia had defeated Maryland at the Comcast Center on Feb. 6. It was Virginia’s first sweep of the Terrapins since the 1992-93 season. “We played with the fire that we’ve been missing for a long time. Emotion and fire and passion can make up for a lot of things,” said UVa coach Pete Gillen, whose team played in its first overtime contest since falling in triple overtime to Georgetown in a first round NIT contest in 2000. It was the second straight solid performance for Watson after he played sporadically over the previous three games because of several disciplinary suspensions. “Travis was great. He was zeroed in. They couldn’t stop him,” Gillen said. Todd Billet added 18 for the Cavaliers, while Watson’s classmate, reserve center Jason Rogers, played an inspired 21 minutes as he finished with a career-high 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks. “Jason Rogers gave us tremendous energy and we’ve been missing that. We haven’t had that,” Gillen said. Drew Nicholas led Maryland (19-8, 11-5 ACC) with 27 points while Ryan Randle added 13. The game ended in regulation tied at 73. Virginia built a five-point lead, 79-74, on a layup by Watson with 2:11 left in the overtime period. A 3-pointer by Steve Blake, only his second made basket of the game — made it 79-78 with 1:15 left. Virginia, however, seemed poised to win the game as Elton Brown strode to the free throw line with 18.9 seconds remaining after he corralled a missed trey by Blake. Brown missed both free throws and Maryland called its final timeout with 14.1 seconds left. After the stoppage, Nicholas quickly fired a 26-foot 3-pointer that missed and Watson, the school’s second all-time leading rebounder, grabbed his final regular season rebound at U-Hall. He then made one of two from the line to give UVa the 80-78 advantage with 3.7 seconds left. Maryland then had two chances to win or possibly tie the game as a Blake 3-pointer missed and then Ryan Randle failed to tip-in a shot that would have counted as the buzzer sounded. “Steve did a good job getting it up on the rim. We got a good shot at the end. It wasn’t about missing shots from 30 feet, it was missing one from six inches,” said Maryland coach Gary Williams. After Virginia led 38-33 at the half, the game, obviously, became a nip-and-tuck affair the rest of the way. Virginia led 58-51 on a jumper by Watson with 10:42 left but that was as big an advantage either team would have over the final 20 minutes. Blake gave Maryland a 71-70 lead on a 3-pointer with 1:25 left but Billet connected on his sixth trey of game on UVa’s ensuing possession to make it 73-71 with 41.8 seconds left. A dunk by Randle tied it at 73. The game was then bound for overtime after Devin Smith missed a 3-point attempt with 2.5 seconds remaining and then a desperation heave by Blake missed. Paced by the play of Rogers, Virginia led 38-33 at halftime. Rogers had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the first 20 minutes as Virginia held the lead for all but one minute and 39 seconds of the opening half. Rogers hit a jumper that rattled around and fell through with 12:25 before halftime that made it 18-12 in favor of the Cavaliers and later had a one-handed dunk that vaulted the Cavaliers to a 30-25 advantage with 4:34 before intermission. Along the way, literally each move by Rogers and each touch of the ball was wildly cheered by the UVa student section. “It was something I never expected through four years here,” Rogers said. Added Watson: “When you see a guy doing that on Senior Night, it inspires him and his teammates. He was out there giving 100 percent and I think that got us going.” The Cavaliers limited Maryland, which missed four dunks, to 37.5 percent shooting in the first and dominated it on the boards by a 29-13 margin. Nicholas led the Terrapins in the first half with 15 points.
Mark this one down as a game of things forgotten and things remembered. A sign in the stands read: “Win this one and we’ll forget the other seven.” Virginia senior Travis Watson said he had already forgotten his team’s seven-game losing streak by the time that 13th-ranked Maryland came to University Hall for Sunday night’s ACC regular season finale. What the Cavaliers had not forgotten was that they had knocked off the defending national champions last month in College Park. What they had also not forgotten was Jason Rogers, a 6-foot-11 senior from Staunton, buried on Virginia’s roster for the past four years. Rogers had played only 14 minutes in UVa’s 28 games this season, most of those in the last couple of outings. But on Senior Night, the obscure, lanky lad from the Shenandoah Valley was going to make the most of his opportunity. Providing a spark On this night, Rogers was a shining star. Out of respect for Rogers’ four years of unheralded labor in practice, Coach Pete Gillen started the kid, which could turn out to be one of his best moves this season. Rogers responded with a stunning performance, 12 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots. Plus, he played defense and he played hard. Inspired by their two seniors, Rogers and regular standout Travis Watson, Virginia swept Maryland for the first time since the 1992-93 season with an 80-78 upset in overtime. It had been a long time since Virginia fans had reason to rush the floor at game’s end but they celebrated as if the seven-game streak was truly forgotten. “Jason Rogers gave us that passion and fire that we had been missing,” said a thankful Gillen afterward as his team finished 15-14 heading into Friday night’s ACC tournament quarterfinals against Duke. Gillen admittedly had chills watching Rogers’ performance. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Gillen. “I was stunned. He was blocking shots, making baskets. I said, ‘Damn ... that’s the best he’s played in four years.’” Where’s he been? Which begs the question, where’s this guy been for four years? “We’ve been saving him for four years just for this moment,” deadpanned Gillen, who has kept his sense of humor all through the adversity of the season. “I’m not very smart. You don’t have to write it, I’ll go ahead and say it.” In all actuality, Gillen said that Rogers hasn’t performed that way in practice, which has kept him riding the pines. A lot of seniors would become bitter about such treatment over a four-year stretch. They could become a cancer for a team. But not Rogers, a kid that everyone loves. “My father always told me that when your day comes, you’ve got to be ready for it,” said Rogers after the game. “God gave me my day today. When I looked into the crowd and saw my mother’s and my father’s faces, before the game, all I saw was smiles. All of the negatives suddenly went away.” Rogers didn’t really know how to react after the game, sitting there in the locker room with microphones, tape recorders, TV cameras all in his face, treatment usually reserved for star players. “This is something I never expected to happen,” said Rogers, unable to wipe the grin from his face. “To tell you the truth, I’m still in shock about this whole night.” Someone asked about a slam dunk that helped build a lead on the Terps in the big upset. “Man, by the time I’m 90 years old, I’m going to be saying that I took off from half court,” said Rogers. As the chances for an upset grew and more became at stake, Rogers’ buddy, one of his best friends, senior teammate Travis Watson kept encouraging him. “Jason, don’t worry about the turnover, just play defense. Just keep playing defense. Block that shot, Jason.” Those were constant comments made by Watson to the understudy stepping into the starring role. “Travis has been a rock for me out there, somebody I could always lean on and that’s what he did for me tonight,” said Rogers. On more than one occasion, Virginia fans chanted his name, something else he never expected to hear as his career faded into oblivion. “I’m used to them chanting my name to come in off the bench for a little playing time the last two minutes or something like that,” said Rogers. “Tonight when they chanted it for a reason it was a natural high. It’s hard to let 7,000 people down. That meant a lot that the community supported me that way.” Watson, who finished the regular season with two of the best back-to-back games of his career, said it was nice to see Rogers get the opportunity and wasn’t at all surprised his teammate made the most of it. “He blocks my shot in practice all the time,” said Watson. “Tonight he showed everyone that he could play in this league, that he IS an ACC-caliber player. I hope that he gets more minutes in the rotation for the postseason, but that’s not for me to say.” Gillen could use Rogers’ fire, his passion, not to mention his statistics.
In search of a quick point guard who can handle the ball under pressure and penetrate defenses, Virginia is hosting Florida prospect T.J. Bannister this weekend. Bannister, who plays for Arlington Country Day in Jacksonville, Fla., will be in attendance at today’s regular season finale with Maryland. Rated a three-star point guard by Rivals 100 Hoops, Bannister has drawn strong interest from Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Auburn and N.C. State, according to his AAU coach John Adkins. Also, Texas has reportedly begun to show significant interest in the Florida native. “He’s a good point guard who does a lot of nice things on the court,” said Adkins. “If Virginia is looking for speed and quickness, those are things T.J. has.” In a national recruiting class where the point guard position is thin, Bannister is expected to draw a lot of attention. He is rated the No. 26 point guard in the country by Rivals and ranked the 197th overall prospect in the nation by recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons. With Keith Jenifer’s departure from UVa’s program, the Cavaliers are combing the country in search of a guard who can handle ACC pressing defenses.
PRINCETON — Princeton worried Chris Rotelli. Not just the talent of the Tigers, but the timing of the game. Beating Syracuse had created an emotional level all its own, but to have to dig down deep and reach that level two straight weeks was going to be a true test of Virginia’s character. The Cavaliers showed some true grit, handling Princeton’s deliberate attack and then erupting late to take an impressive, 10-7 win in a battle of national title contenders on the Tigers’ Class of 1952 Stadium turf before 4,330 fans that encircled the sun-soaked field. “It was hard to get focused,” Rotelli said. “We’ve been looking forward to that Syracuse game ever since last May in the Final Four and then to have to turn around and play another great team like Princeton was difficult. I was really proud of the team the way they responded. We showed a lot of guts and played hard.” None played harder then Rotelli. He had four goals, including three in the second quarter and fittingly the final one of the game. Rotelli assisted on John Christmas’ tally that erased the lone Princeton lead of 6-5 to knot the score at 6-6 midway through the third period. The goal ignited a spurt that saw the No. 1-ranked Cavaliers (3-0) score five of the game’s last six goals. “The difference was Chris Rotelli,” said Virginia coach Dom Starsia. “He was the best player in the country today. When your best player takes the lead and makes those kind of plays then you know you have a chance. It’s hard not to fall in behind him when a kid is playing that hard.” While the Cavaliers had their best player, the No. 5 Tigers (0-2) were without Ryan Boyle, who was suspended following a violation of team rules. So while the Tigers, who have fallen to 0-2 for the second straight year, tried to rule with its deliberate style of play, it was the uptempo pace the Cavaliers set late that decided things. “They are a run-and-gun type team,” Julian Gould, the Princeton goalie said. “They have a lot of good athletes, they like to move the ball around and they are a challenge to our defense.” Besides Rotelli’s All-American type effort Virginia got two goals from Christmas and Matt Ward, while A.J. Shannon and Billy Glading each netted one. Joe Yevoli had two assists. “This was a big test for us coming here after the Syracuse game,” said Starsia, who saw his team defeat Syracuse and Princeton in back-to-back games for the first time since 1996. “Playing a Princeton team that had lost its first game and that added to the chore of what we had to do. We didn’t play our best game, but we got a little tougher at the end and made some plays to win the game.” Rotelli’s three in the second quarter gave the Cavaliers a 5-4 halftime advantage. It should’ve been 5-3 but a defensive lapse allowed Princeton’s Will MacColl to score with just one second left in the half. Then Princeton made it 6-5 with goals from Brad Dumont and Sean Hartofilis in the first three minutes and 14 seconds of the third period. But, a goal in transition by Christmas off a perfect feed from Rotelli got Virginia back even at 6-6. “In a certain way you have to beat them at their own game,” Starsia said. “They came out in the second half and controlled the play. They are a good defense and we knew that we’d have our hands full and needed the veterans to step up.” They did. After Christmas’ second of the game tied it, Shannon gave the Cavaliers the lead for good, getting a low bullet past Gould. Ward got one in close early in the final period, then Yevoli from behind found Glading breaking down the middle for a 9-7 lead after Daly scored for Princeton. Rotelli then split two defenders to put the finishing touches on the win. “We were moving the ball pretty good and some shots opened up and I was just lucky to be one of those guys,” Rotelli said. “When the team has to rebound from an emotional game like Syracuse, the onus is on the older guys that they are up to the task and I think we did that.” None did it better then Rotelli.
Terps Still Have the Incentive
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 9, 2003; Page D07
Maryland lost it chance to win a share of consecutive ACC regular season titles
for the first time yesterday when Wake Forest beat North Carolina State, but the
Terrapins say they still have plenty of motivation for tonight's regular season
finale at slumping Virginia.
After all, Virginia handed Maryland its only home loss in conference play the
past two seasons, 86-78 on Feb. 6. Some Maryland players said they were
embarrassed by that performance, in which they blew a 12-point lead in the final
13 minutes. They would like to gain a measure of retribution tonight.
"We obviously don't like losing at home, and they got us here, which hurts a
little bit," shooting guard Drew Nicholas said. "We're going in with the fact
that we owe them a little something."
Point guard Steve Blake took a slightly different approach, but he, too, said
this is a game to which players are looking forward.
"No one is talking about revenge, but we know we let one get away from us last
time," Blake said. "It's the one game we kind of let slip away. It was our
fault. We didn't perform the way we're supposed to. We can make up for it with a
win down there."
In particular, Maryland (19-7, 11-4 ACC) wants to play better defense than it
did in the teams' first meeting. Virginia shot 49.1 percent in that game,
including 12 of 22 three-point attempts, many of them on open looks in
transition as the Terrapins struggled to find their men.
"You have to guard people," Maryland Coach Gary Williams said. "That probably
was one of our worst defensive performances this year, maybe our worst.
"I think this team has just done a good job, home and road, of getting ready to
play for the most part. Probably the game that we didn't prepare very well was
the Virginia game. If you look back over the season, that's probably as poorly
as we were ready to play. I think our players certainly remember that. I
remember. . . . It's nice to get another chance to play that team."
Maryland has spent the past few weeks watching the scoreboard, hoping a Wake
Forest slip would allow the Terrapins to pull even and claim the No. 1 seed in
the ACC tournament, which will begin Thursday in Greensboro, N.C. However, since
losing to Maryland on Feb. 17, the Demon Deacons won their final six games,
including 78-72 over N.C. State yesterday, to claim their first outright regular
season title since 1962.
Instead, Maryland and Duke, which plays at North Carolina today, are vying for
the second and third seeds in the conference tournament, with Maryland holding
the tiebreaker by virtue of its series sweep of fourth-place N.C. State.
"Any win you get on the road late in the year helps you not just in the league
but for future things," Williams said, alluding to the NCAA tournament.
While the Terrapins try to improve their postseason seedings, Virginia (14-14,
5-10) needs a victory to be eligible for the National Invitation Tournament. If
the Cavaliers lose, they would have to win two games in the ACC tournament to
reach the .500 mark and be eligible for the NIT. Virginia, which has not won an
ACC tournament game since 1995, also needs a victory to stay out of the ACC
tournament play-in game.
"We're going to try to have a winning record or a .500 record or above, but the
big thing is getting into the NCAA tournament," Virginia Coach Pete Gillen said
in an apparent admission of his team's disappointing season. "In a lot of major
conferences, it's NCAA or bust."
Tonight's game will be the final one at University Hall for three Virginia
seniors, including center Travis Watson, and they will be honored in a pregame
ceremony.
"We always love sending those seniors off with a loss," Blake said. "We did that
to [Duke's Shane Battier] a few years ago. That was fun."
Virginia wins in overtime
By Dave Johnson
Daily Press
Published March 10, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE -- A kid behind the basket held a homemade sign that no doubt
captured the collective feeling inside University Hall Sunday night: "Win This
One And I'll Forget The Last Seven."
No, Virginia didn't erase that seven-game losing streak from existence, but it
did the next-best thing. Facing the ultimate embarrassment of falling into the
ACC tournament's play-in game if that streak reached eight games, the Cavaliers
showed the right stuff in defeating 13th-ranked Maryland 80-78 in overtime.
With its first victory since Feb. 9, Virginia (15-14, 6-10) finished tied with
North Carolina for sixth place in the conference. By virtue of a tiebreaker, the
Cavaliers earned the sixth seed and will face third-seeded Duke in Friday's 9:30
p.m. quarterfinal.
The victory also assures Virginia of at least a .500 record on Selection Sunday,
making it eligible to participate in the NIT.
"I thought our kids played with emotion and fire, which had been missing for a
long time," Cavaliers coach Pete Gillen said. "That can make up for a lot of
things. Maryland has great talent and experience and a great coach. But we were
able to sneak out a win by playing with tremendous energy."
Maryland (19-8, 11-5) finished tied for second with Duke, which lost at North
Carolina Sunday afternoon. The Terrapins won the second seed by virtue of the
tiebreaker and will play the seventh-seeded Tar Heels Friday.
Virginia never trailed in the extra period and led 79-74 on Travis Watson's
follow with 2:11 left, but the Terrapins made Gillen sweat - even more than
usual. Three times in the final 40 seconds, Maryland had a shot either to go
ahead or tie. On the first, Steve Blake missed a 3-pointer. On the second, Drew
Nicholas was short on a 25-foot attempt.
The third came after Watson (26 points, 15 rebounds) went 1-for-2 from the foul
line to make it a two-point game with 3.7 seconds left. Maryland's Tahj Holden
inbounded the length of the floor to Blake in the left corner. With Todd Billet
hounding him, Blake threw up a desperation 3-pointer that didn't draw rim.
But Virginia didn't account for Ryan Randle, who was in perfect position for a
Lorenzo Charles-like follow. He tipped the ball toward the goal - in time to
beat the horn - but it bounced off the rim. Finally, the Cavaliers had it.
Go figure Virginia. The same team that went a combined 0-6 against Clemson,
Georgia Tech, Ohio and Virginia Tech this season just swept the defending
national champion.
"Coming into this game, Coach Gillen kept saying that every game is a new game
and you can't keep bringing your losses into the game you're going to play,"
said Billet, who had 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from behind the 3-point arc.
"So we just wanted to come into this game 0-0, like it was a new season."
Virginia's two scholarship seniors were the biggest factors. You expect that of
Watson, who posted his 53rd career double-double. His rebound of Nicholas' miss
with 3.7 seconds left belongs on his career highlight reel.
But Jason Rogers, who hadn't played more than four minutes in any game since an
early-season rout of Wofford? Given his first career start on Senior Night,
Rogers was, well, stunning. He set career highs in minutes (21), points (12) and
rebounds (six). He also blocked three shots.
"We were saving him four years for this moment," Gillen quipped.
Cavs stun Terps again
NCAA champs swept by U.Va.
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Mar 10, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE - If this was the final game at University Hall for Virginia
seniors Travis Watson and Jason Rogers, they couldn't have gone out in more
memorable fash- ion.
Behind inspired performances by Watson and Rogers - as well as junior guard Todd
Billet (18 points) - U.Va. closed the regular season by stunning 13th-ranked
Maryland 80-78 in overtime last night.
"I thought our kids played with emotion and fire, which has been missing for a
long time," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "Emotion and fire and passion can
make up for a lot of things."
So can a player like Watson, a four-year starter. The 6-8 255-pounder totaled 26
points and 15 rebounds - both game highs - and also had three steals. He hasn't
been a great free throw shooter this season, but Watson was 8 for 10 from the
line last night.
"He's had a great career here," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "He's done
that to a lot of teams."
After Watson made 1 of 2 free throws with 3.7 seconds left in OT, Maryland threw
the ball long to point guard Steve Blake, who, with Billet in his face, launched
an off-balance 3-pointer. It missed, but Maryland center Ryan Randle was alone
under the basket for a follow. Randle's tip attempt bounced off the rim,
however, and the buzzer sounded, sending many of the students in the crowd of
7,301 rushing onto the court to celebrate.
"We got a roll at the end," Gillen said. "All year that shot goes in against us.
Teams make that. We got a break and it rolled out. We needed that."
Virginia (6-10, 15-14) held defending NCAA champion Maryland (11-5, 19-8) to
38.6-percent accuracy from the floor. Even more impressive, the Wahoos, led by
Watson, outrebounded the Terrapins 59-36.
This was no ordinary victory for the Cavaliers and their embattled coach. U.Va.
snapped a seven-game losing streak, completed its first regular-season sweep of
Maryland in 10 years, became eligible for an NIT bid and avoided the ACC
tournament's play-in game.
Virginia, the tournament's No.6 seed, will meet third-seeded Duke (11-5, 21-6)
in Friday's last quarterfinal (9:30 p.m.) at the Greensboro Coliseum. Maryland,
the No. 2 seed, will meet seventh-seeded North Carolina (6-10, 16-14) at 7 p.m.
Rogers, a seldom-used senior from Staunton, started for the first time as a
Cavalier, and he played so well that anyone who watched the game had to wonder
why he hadn't played more. The 6-11, 232-pound senior contributed 12 points and
six rebounds - both career highs - and blocked three shots in 21 minutes.
"Jason Rogers gave us that emotion, gave us that energy," Gillen said. "We were
saving him for four years for this moment."
Gillen later told reporters: "I'm not very smart. I didn't play him enough. I'll
say it. You don't have to write it."
The Cavaliers, who hadn't played an overtime game since March 15, 2000, never
trailed in the extra period last night after regulation ended at 73-73. Freshman
swingman Derrick Byars made a reverse layup with 3:33 left in OT to make it
75-73, but Maryland fought to the end.
Blake made only 2 of 11 field goal attempts, but each was huge. His first, a
3-pointer, put the Terps up 71-70 with 1:25 left in regulation, their first lead
in 13 minutes and 11 seconds. Billet answered, however, with his sixth trey to
give Virginia a 73-71 lead at the 41.8-second mark.
After Randle dunked to tie the game, U.Va. wing Devin Smith missed a 3-point
attempt in the final seconds.
In overtime, Blake struck again from the same spot on the right wing, burying a
trey that pulled Maryland to 79-78 with 1:14 remaining. The score was unchanged
when Virginia sophomore Elton Brown went to the line for two free throws with
18.9 seconds left. Brown, 0 for 3 from the floor in the final 2:13, missed both
foul shots, and the Terps called timeout with 14.1 seconds left.
Senior guard Drew Nicholas led the Terps with 27 points, but his final 3-point
attempt, with about 5 seconds left in OT, went in and out, and Watson grabbed
his 15th rebound.
U.Va. shocks Terps again, ends skid
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© March 10, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE — It was not so much a career night as a one-night career. For
the first 20 minutes of Virginia’s 80-78 overtime victory over Maryland Sunday
night, the best player on the court was the Cavaliers’ Jason Rogers.
Yes, that Jason Rogers, the 6-foot-11 enigma who has played less in his
four-year career than some players do in two weeks. The same Jason Rogers who
had played a grand total of 14 minutes this season.
On senior night at University Hall, Rogers got his first career start and made
the most of it. In 12 first-half minutes, he scored 10 points, grabbed five
rebounds, and blocked three shots.
Rogers’ performance awoke the crowd of 7,301 and inspired his teammates, who
hammered the Terrapins on the boards all night, grabbing 59 rebounds to
Maryland’s 36.
“Jason Rogers gave us that emotion, that energy,” coach Pete Gillen said. “We
were saving him for four years for that moment.”
Gillen was kidding. Still, it was a toss-up as to which performance was more
surprising, Rogers’ or Virginia’s. The Cavaliers, who had lost seven straight,
appeared headed for the play-in game of the ACC tournament.
Instead, they grabbed the sixth seed, and completed a regular-season sweep of
the defending national champions. Virginia, in fact, was 3-1 against the ACC’s
top two, Wake Forest and Maryland. The Cavaliers were a frustrating 3-9 against
the rest of the league.
On Sunday, however, Virginia played tantalizingly well.
Travis Watson, the team’s other senior, led the pack with 26 points and 15
rebounds. His free throw with 3.7 seconds left put Virginia up 80-78.
Maryland had a chance to win, but a Steve Blake 3-pointer rimmed out and Ryan
Randle missed a tip at the buzzer, sending Virginia fans storming onto the
court. If the first half belonged to Rogers, the final 25 minutes belonged to
Watson and junior guard Todd Billet. Maryland (19-8, 11-5) opened the second
half with a 7-0 run, but Virginia (15-14, 6-10) responded.
Watson and Billet combined for 20 of the Cavaliers’ first 22 in the half.
Billet and Watson also made the decisive plays down the stretch. Watson scored
six straight to keep Virginia ahead 70-68 with 1:35 left in regulation. Billet
canned a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to make it 73-71.
Maryland tied the game on a dunk by Randle. After a Devin Smith miss, Blake
missed a 40-foot 3-point heave as time ran out.
Overtime was sloppy. Maryland pulled within one, 79-78, on a Blake 3-pointer.
Elton Brown missed two free throws with 19 seconds left.
A long 3-pointer by Maryland’s Drew Nicholas bounced in and out with five
seconds left. Watson squeezed the rebound and was fouled with 3.7 second
remaining.
Watson missed his first free-throw attempt but made the second.
“Our kids played with great emotion and fire, which has been missing or a long
time,” Gillen said. “Emotion and fire and passion can make up for a lot of
things.”
Virginia will meet No. 3 seed Duke in the ACC tournament Friday night. Maryland,
the No. 2 seed, will meet No. 7 North Carolina.
Maryland coach Gary Williams shrugged off the fact that Virginia swept his team
this year.
“I’ll take our record,” Williams. “I’ve been in a lot of conferences and it’s
weird how some teams play against others. It’s the 16 games you look at.”
Cavaliers crack Terrapins for 2nd time this season
UVa guarantees itself at least a .500 record through the ACC Tournament, in
which it will play third-seeded Duke on Friday night.
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Senior day is made for the kind of story that Virginia
basketball players Travis Watson and Jason Rogers fashioned Sunday night.
Rogers gave the Cavaliers an emotional lift and some unexpected production in
his first career start, and fellow senior Watson put up monster numbers as UVa
snapped a seven-game losing streak with its second victory of the season over
13th-ranked and defending national champion Maryland.
Watson finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds as Virginia prevailed 80-78 in
its first overtime game in nearly two years. Rogers, who had played 14 minutes
all season, had a career-high 12 points to go with six rebounds and three
blocked shots.
"It was a fairy tale," said Rogers, a 6-foot-11 post player from Staunton who
played 21 minutes. "I couldn't have asked for a better ending."
Virginia (15-14, 6-10 ACC) clinched the break-even season it will need for a bid
to the National Invitation Tournament and finished in a tie for sixth place in
the conference with North Carolina, which had upset Duke earlier in the day.
According to the ACC's tiebreaker formula, UVa gets the edge over the Tar Heels
and will meet third-seeded Duke at 9:30 p.m. Friday in an ACC Tournament
quarterfinal game at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Second-seeded Maryland (19-8, 11-5) will meet seventh-seeded UNC at 7 p.m. The
Terrapins were seven-point favorites Sunday against a UVa team that was 1-12 in
March during coach Pete Gillen's first five seasons.
"The kids played with a passion and a fire that has been missing for some time,"
Gillen said. "[At] Maryland might be the last time we had that."
The Cavaliers were 13 1/2 -point underdogs when they beat then-No.8 Maryland
86-78 in College Park, Md., on Feb.6. They had not swept the regular-season
series with the Terrapins since 1992-93.
"I'll take our record," Maryland coach Gary Williams said tersely. "I've coached
in a lot of different conferences and it's weird how teams play against other
teams sometimes. I'll take our record."
Maryland had a chance to send the game into a second overtime after Watson made
one of two free throws with 3.7 seconds left, but Ryan Randle's tip of an
off-balance Steve Blake 3-pointer rolled off the rim as time expired.
"It would have been another heartbreaker," Gillen said. "I wouldn't have been
shocked. Some teams get every roll. We haven't gotten many breaks. Other teams,
good things happen. We got a roll at the end. The guy had a point-blank
stickback."
It was warm inside University Hall and both teams showed the effects of an extra
period, in which the Cavaliers took a 79-74 lead on a follow shot by Watson with
2:05 left. Virginia then scored one point on its final four possessions.
Elton Brown badly missed three straight shots from the field, followed by two
missed free throws with 18.9 seconds left with UVa clinging to a 79-78 lead.
Drew Nicholas then missed a long 3-pointer that Watson corralled with 3.7
seconds left.
"He just won a game with a shot like that at N.C. State," Williams said.
Nicholas and backcourt mate Steve Blake each missed 3-point shots in the final
30 seconds, but Blake had hit a 3-pointer to give the Terps a momentary lead
late in regulation and was responsible for trimming a four-point UVa lead to
79-78 with 1:18 left in overtime.
UVa dominated the game in virtually every way, outrebounding the Terps 59-36 and
shooting a higher percentage from the field and the free-throw line. Maryland
stayed in the game only because the Cavaliers had 21 turnovers, compared with 12
for the Terps.
Nicholas led all scorers with 27 points, and Randle had 13 points, all after
intermission. UVa got 18 points from junior guard Todd Billet, whose sixth
3-pointer of the game gave the Cavaliers a 73-71 lead with 42 seconds left in
regulation.
"When guys like Travis and Todd have great games, you hate to see it go to
waste," Gillen said.
On senior day, it seldom does.
Va. seconds that emotion, tops UM again
0-7 since College Park, charged-up Cavs go to overtime for sweep, 80-78;
Nicholas' 3-point try rims out; Randle's open tip misses; Terps 'not fired up to
play'
By Gary Lambrecht
Sun Staff
Originally published March 10, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- One week after coming from behind to steal a dramatic
victory away from home, the Maryland Terrapins could not complete a comeback by
making the clutch shots on the road last night.
When the 13th-ranked Terps look back on their 80-78 overtime loss to Virginia
before 7,301 at University Hall, they will remember a Cavaliers team that showed
an unusual level of effort for a squad that had dropped seven straight games and
looked bad doing it.
Maryland, which finished in second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference and
will be the No. 2 seed in this week's tournament, also will remember the heroics
it could not create, as it had at North Carolina State a week earlier.
After coming from seven points behind midway in the second half to force an
extra period last night, and after trailing by five points three minutes into
overtime, the Terps still had their chances.
Trailing 79-78, the Terps called timeout with 14 seconds left in overtime, then
got the shooter they wanted. But senior guard Drew Nicholas, who scored a
game-high 27 points and had beaten the Wolfpack last week with 1.5 seconds left
on a three-point shot, let fly another three-pointer from well beyond the arc
that rimmed out with five seconds left.
After Virginia center Travis Watson grabbed the rebound and made one of two free
throws, Maryland had one more opportunity to win the contest or send it into
double overtime. But after senior point guard Steve Blake -- held scoreless for
the game's first 38 minutes -- missed a desperation three-point attempt from the
left corner, senior center Ryan Randle missed a tip-in at the buzzer.
By virtue of a tiebreaker, the Terps (19-8, 11-5) head into the ACC tournament
as the second seed and will play seventh-seeded North Carolina on Friday at 7
p.m.
The Cavaliers (15-14, 6-10) won on Senior Night by completing their first
regular-season sweep of Maryland in 10 years and denying the Terps their
school-record, seventh straight 20-victory season.
Watson led Virginia with 26 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Guard Todd
Billet scored 18 points, all on three-pointers. Senior center Jason Rogers, who
had played 14 minutes all year and made the first start of his career, hurt
Maryland with 12 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Nicholas led the Terps with 27 points. Randle finished with 13 points and six
rebounds.
Virginia won this game the hard way -- by crushing Maryland on the boards. The
Cavaliers held an astounding 59-36 edge on the glass, including 23-11 at the
offensive end. On a night when they shot a pedestrian 39.4 percent, the
Cavaliers pushed around Maryland's big men at will and killed the Terps with
second shots.
Four Virginia players had at least as many rebounds as Randle, who was benched
for a good chunk of the first half and had only one rebound by halftime. Senior
Terps forward Tahj Holden had 10 points and grabbed only two rebounds in 34
minutes. Junior backup center Jamar Smith scored six points, missed four dunks,
and recorded four rebounds in 19 minutes.
"We've been a pretty good rebounding team all year, but Virginia really got us
on the glass tonight," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "You have to give them
credit for coming out and playing hard. That's a pretty good team when they play
that way. I don't think we were really fired up to play."
Whether it was their one-week layoff, or the fact that Duke's earlier loss
yesterday to North Carolina had guaranteed Maryland the No. 2 seed in
Greensboro, the Terps did not have the zip Williams was expecting to see,
especially against an interstate rival that had come from behind to upset
Maryland in College Park last month.
"Every time we made a run to come back, we couldn't keep them from getting
second shots and putting them in. We got good looks, but we missed shots we
usually make. You couldn't ask for a better shot at the end. That was from six
inches," Williams said of Randle's tip.
Virginia showed that it had something left in its gas tank in the opening half,
as the Cavaliers whipped Maryland badly on the boards while taking an early 7-5
lead and keeping it through halftime at 38-33.
Had it not been for its ability to force turnovers with its full-court press and
convert steals into easy baskets, and had it not been for a 15-point scoring
show by Nicholas, Maryland might have been in a bigger hole.
Four of Maryland's five seniors combined to score two points in the opening
half.
Maryland scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 40-38 lead,
but the Cavaliers dug in and kept digging, eventually pulling away to a 58-51
lead midway in the second half. But behind Nicholas, Holden and Randle, the
Terps tied the score at 66 and 68. Then, Blake made his first shot of the night
-- a pull-up three-pointer that gave the Terps a 71-70 lead with 1:24 to go.
But Billet hit his final three of the night to make it 73-71 in Virginia's favor
with 42 seconds left. Randle tied the score at 73 with a slam off a nice drive
and feed by Blake with 29 seconds left, forcing overtime.
Maryland proceeded to shoot 1-for-8 in the extra period, with Randle's being the
final, painful miss.
"I wanted to make it," Randle said. "I hope it happens next time, so I'll put it
in."
Cavaliers Top Terps in Overtime
Watson Has 26 Points, 15 Rebounds: Virginia 80, Maryland 78
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 10, 2003; Page D01
CHARLOTTESVILLE, March 9 -- Trying to continue to build momentum for a
postseason run, 13th-ranked Maryland instead was upset in overtime by slumping
Virginia, 80-78, in the regular season finale for both teams before 7,301 at
University Hall.
"This hurts a little bit for a lot of reasons," Maryland guard Drew Nicholas
said.
The loss ended the Terrapins' four-game winning streak, denied their try to
reach the 20-win mark and again raised questions about the team's front-court
players. For Virginia, however, the victory ended its seven-game losing streak,
guaranteed at least a .500 finish and a shot at the National Invitation
Tournament, and kept the Cavaliers out of a first appearance in the ACC
tournament play-in game. For Virginia (15-14, 6-10), which will play
third-seeded Duke Friday at 9 p.m., it was its first season sweep over Maryland
in 10 years.
"To beat them twice in one year is special," Virginia Coach Pete Gillen said.
Because Duke was upset by North Carolina, 82-79, earlier today, Maryland (19-8,
11-5) already was ensured the second seed in the ACC tournament, which will
begin Thursday in Greensboro, N.C. The Terrapins will play seventh-seeded North
Carolina in a quarterfinal game Friday at 7 p.m.
"I'm kind of disappointed," Maryland Coach Gary Williams said. "But I am proud
of the team for what we've done this year."
Maryland had several chances to win or tie in the final 30 seconds of overtime,
none better than the last one. Steve Blake's contested, off-balance three-point
try from the left corner was well short, but center Ryan Randle was wide open
under the basket for a potential game-tying put-back.
Randle jumped in the air and tried to redirect the ball into the basket, but it
hit the back of the rim and rolled off to the right as time expired.
"I thought I had it but the ball didn't bounce the way I wanted it to bounce,"
said Randle, who appeared to rush because he knew time was running out.
"You couldn't get a better shot than the last shot we did," said Williams, who
was upset at his team's perceived lack of enthusiasm in the first half but
pleased with its comeback efforts. "We didn't miss a 30-footer. We missed a six-incher."
That was just the final instance of the Terrapins' interior players coming up
short as Jamar Smith missed four dunks and Randle, who appeared tired late in
the game, missed one as well. Virginia dominated in the lane, had a 59-36
rebounding advantage and got big performances from two frontcourt seniors.
Center Travis Watson had another strong game with 26 points and 15 rebounds but
the play of seldom-used forward Jason Rogers was quite a surprise considering he
had scored only 15 points all season.
Rogers, making his first career start only because it was his final home game,
had career-highs of 12 points and six rebounds and helped the Cavaliers bully
the Terrapins inside much of the night.
"It was storybook," Watson said. "It couldn't have ended better for the two of
us."
Williams said the inside play was a critical part of the game.
"Virginia really got us on the glass," Williams said. "The second shots were a
key part of the game."
While the Terrapins are sure of a 10th consecutive NCAA tournament bid, they
were just as certain that tonight's loss might be a blow toward their seeding in
that tournament.
Despite trailing for most of the game, Maryland had plenty of chances to pull
out a momentum-building victory, which would have been its seventh in eight
games and given the team seven consecutive 20-win seasons.
The Terrapins trailed 38-33 at halftime, but surged once play resumed. Randle
scored his first points on a short bank shot, then two Virginia turnovers led to
a Nicholas dunk and three-pointer from the right wing and Maryland was in front,
40-38.
Virginia then surged and eventually took a 58-51 lead on a jumper from the right
side by Watson.
Maryland countered and finally pulled even at 66 with 3:54 left on two free
throws by Tahj Holden. A three-pointer from the right wing by Blake, his first
basket, gave the Terrapins a 71-70 lead with 1:26 left. Billet then answered for
Virginia with a three-pointer from the right wing, over Nicholas's outstretched
hand. That gave the Cavaliers a 73-71 lead with 41 seconds left.
Maryland tied it when Blake fed Randle for a dunk with 29 seconds left in
regulation.
After Devin Smith missed a three-point try from the right side, Blake missed a
40-foot heave at the buzzer and the teams went to overtime.
Virginia led 79-74 after a put-back by Watson, but a three-pointer by Blake made
it 79-78 with 1:16 left. After Elton Brown missed for the Cavaliers, the
Terrapins had several chances. Blake and Nicholas each missed long three-point
attempts.
Watson made 1 of 2 free throws with 3.7 seconds left, setting up the final play.
When Randle missed, Virginia had its sweep.
Absence of Boyle hurts men's lacrosse in loss to No. 1 Virginia
By ANUJ BASIL
Princetonian Senior Writer
Every season, the men's lacrosse team opens by playing Johns Hopkins, Virginia,
and Syracuse in the opening weeks before the Ivy season gets under way.
Seeing as these teams are always among the elite in the nation, these games are
an important measuring stick for how much improvement is needed.
Tierney was not able to test his best lineup Saturday as the Tigers faced No. 1
Virginia at the Class of 1952 Stadium. Junior captain and attack Ryan Boyle,
widely accepted as the Tigers' most skilled player and one of the elite players
in college lacrosse, was suspended for violating a team rule and did not play in
the team's 10-7 loss.
For the second straight year, Princeton has opened with consecutive losses to
Johns Hopkins and Virginia. Since the Tigers advanced to the national title game
last year, there is no reason to panic yet.
In fact, Princeton fans can rejoice in the fact that the Tigers were able to
hang tough with the Cavaliers without Boyle in the lineup.
"Not having Ryan [Boyle] in there actually made it easier to gameplan," Tierney
said. "We knew we had to control the ball and show patience."
Princeton got off to a rough start as Virginia's star attack, John Christmas,
scored an unassisted goal one minute and 48 seconds into the first quarter.
However, the Tigers were able to keep the Cavaliers' quick strike offense in
check for the remainder of the half and early in the second half.
"The defense played fabulous," Tierney said. "If you had told me before the game
we were going to hold them to 10 goals, I would have told you we were going to
win."
Much of the credit has to go to senior goaltender Julian Gould, who played one
of the best games of his collegiate career. He kept the Tigers in the game by
making clutch save after clutch save. He finished the game with 11 stops.
After falling behind 2-0 early in the second quarter, the Tigers rallied to tie
the score on goals by sophomore attack Jason Doneger and senior attack Sean
Hartofolis only 45 seconds apart.
On offense, the Tigers played a slow tempo and simply wanted to keep possession
of the balls.
Tierney wanted to keep the game close and have a chance to win it at the end.
Princeton did just that.
After Virginia scored two quick goals, the second with just under three minutes
left in the half, Princeton found itself down, 5-3, and in dire need of some
momentum.
The Tigers got the ball with 6.3 seconds left as senior midfielder Will MacColl
brought it in from behind the Cavalier goal. He beat his man around the goal and
flicked the ball past Virginia's goalie Tillman Johnson with only a second
remaining.
Princeton carried that momentum over into the second half, and scored two goals
in the first 3:14 to take a 6-5 lead, Princeton's only lead of the game.
The game plan unraveled from here as numerous mistakes cost the Tigers, and the
Cavaliers quick-strike offense made them pay. Chris Rotelli provided most of the
punishment, as he finished the day with four goals and an assist.
Princeton would tally one more goal to cut the deficit to 8-7 with over 10
minutes left in the game. However, Virginia answered quickly and a Rotelli goal
with less than three minutes to play iced the win.