Simply Singletary
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 25, 2008

When Virginia defeated Maryland on Senior Night back on March 9, it didn’t seem humanly possible that Sean Singletary could end his UVa career on any better note.

Singletary had 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds in what many people figured was his last-ever home game.

However, a little over two weeks later, that note - that wicked guitar riff if you will - is still reverberating throughout John Paul Jones Arena.

On Monday night, Singletary single-handedly propelled Virginia into the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational.

The senior co-captain scored eight points in the last 30 seconds to shock Old Dominion, 80-76, in front of a surprisingly energetic crowd of 6,460 at JPJ.

“He just continues to rewrite a story that is already a best-seller in the annals of Virginia basketball,” said Virginia coach Dave Leitao. “We’ve been able to ride on his shoulders for a very long time.

“He’s one in a million.”

With the victory, Virginia kept its suddenly perky season alive.

“When I look back on my career,” said Singletary, who had 22 points and 10 assists, “this will definitely be one of the bright spots.”

UVa (17-15) will host Bradley on Wednesday night. The Braves defeated Ohio in their quarterfinal game on Monday.

If the Cavaliers were to beat Bradley, they would play a best-of-three championship series against the Tulsa and Houston winner beginning March 31.

With under two minutes to play in the game, Virginia’s season was in serious peril after Lars Mikalauskas gambled for a steal and Gerald Lee knocked down a short jumper for a 74-70 lead.

However, Singletary nailed two free throws, and when the Monarchs’ Brain Henderson split a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to go, that left the door open for some heroics, courtesy of No. 44.

On the ensuing possession, Singletary banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 75.

“He missed it so bad, he made it,” lamented ODU coach Blaine Taylor. “The old joke in H-O-R-S-E about calling bank … if he had shot that ball that poorly from any other angle, it wouldn’t have gone in.”

Singletary wasn’t done tormenting Taylor.

As ODU (18-16) looked to set up a game-winning shot, Singletary perfectly anticipated a cross-over dribble by Brandon Johnson. He stole the ball at midcourt and raced to the other end for a layup as he was being fouled.

“When [Johnson] went to the retreat dribble, I knew he was going to cross over,” Singletary said, “so I stuck my hand out and he put the ball right in my hands.”

Singletary’s 3-point play, with just 4.6 seconds left, gave UVa a 78-75 lead and sent JPJ into bedlam.

“I could tell no difference between the crowd today and 15,000 people who have been in here,” Leitao said. “I think part of it is that people who may not have been able to sit in the lower level - for $10 they can do that - it makes for an excited fan.”

ODU’s last gasp came at the free-throw line when Jonathan Adams purposely missed the second of two free throws in attempt for an offensive put-back. However, he was called for a lane violation and Virginia guard Calvin Baker iced the game away at the free-throw line.

Virginia actually started the game miserably.

Before fans could settle in their seats, ODU, behind five quick points from Brian Henderson (26 points), led 10-0.

Virginia cut the lead to 24-23 on two free throws by Singletary with 5 minutes, 40 seconds left in the half, but ODU finished on a 13-6 run for a 37-29 advantage at the break.

“I wasn’t panicking because I knew what we had done to prepare for today,” Leitao said.

He also knew he had Singletary.

“The ending to this one follows right up there with the Duke shot,” said Virginia sophomore Jamil Tucker, referring to Singletary’s game-winner over the Blue Devils last season. “The steal, the 3-pointer and the last few sequences were something a lot of players can’t do.”

Dunks

Virginia had four players in double figures: Singletary (22), Mamadi Diane (14), Jamil Tucker (11) and Mikalauskas (10). … Plenty of tickets remain for Wednesday’s game against Bradley. Visit virginiasports.com for info.

 

Senior provides MasterCard moment
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com
March 25, 2008

Sixty thousand dollars to beat Richmond in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational in front of 4,200 fans.

Another 60 grand to beat Old Dominion in the second round as 6,460 fans sounded more like 15,000.

A chance to see Sean Singletary work his magic one more time: Priceless.

Virginia’s senior point guard has made 200 steals during his career, but none bigger than the one that came with seven seconds remaining Monday night. That’s when Singletary’s split-second anticipation resulted in a steal near mid-court and a dramatic breakaway layup that nearly brought the house down.

An incredible run

It was the final play in a personal, 25-second highlight reel that will be frozen in memory throughout Virginia basketball history. Down 74-72 to the visiting Monarchs, Singletary scored two free throws with 29.6 seconds to play, then seven seconds later stepped behind a Lars Mikalauskas screen to drill a 3-pointer off the glass, knotting the game at 75-all.

But, as we have become accustomed to witnessing, No. 44 saved the best for the last.

With time ticking down, Singletary guarded ODU’s Brandon Johnson closely as he brought the ball down the court. During film study, Singletary always looks for tendencies and so he had noticed that the Monarchs’ guard liked to crossover dribble and was very deliberate in doing so.

Study paying off

During the game, those tendencies held true and when the right time came, Singletary struck like a cobra, taking the ball from Johnson before racing to the basket for the go-ahead goal and was fouled with 4.3 seconds to play in Virginia’s 80-75 win.

“I noticed all night that if I’m leaning to one side, then he’s going to go the other way,” Singletary said, confirming what he learned in the film study. “I knew that with time running out that he was going to attack. He went from left to right, so I just played him on the left and made him go right. I knew he would cross over.”

That’s exactly what Johnson, who is, ironically, the CAA’s Defensive Player of the Year and steals leader, decided to do, and Singletary was waiting.

“When [Johnson] took the retreat dribble, I just put my hand down there and he put the ball right in my hand,” Singletary said, delivering yet another Cavalier moment.

You’ve no doubt heard of the great Celtics highlight, “Havlicek Stole the Ball,” with the gravely voice of Johnny Most bellowing out the dramatic steal and win. Then there was Jordan’s steal against Virginia at Carmichael Auditorium that is part of ACC history.

Undoubtedly, Singletary’s steal will go down in Cavalier lore as one of the most dramatic moments, even if it did come in the CBI.

“I don’t think a competitor differentiates competition,” said UVa coach Dave Leitao after watching his team improve to 17-15, setting up a tournament semifinal game against Bradley on Wednesday night.

“He wants to beat you at anything. That’s what competitors do. Come to practice and he’s going full speed ... he’s trying to beat somebody’s brains out. He doesn’t know any other way.”

For the game, Singletary scored 22 points (his 54th straight double-figure game, most in UVa history), had 10 assists, only one turnover, and three steals, the last of which was rather memorable.

“I don’t remember the other ones,” Singletary said of his previous 199 thefts. “Because it’s postseason play, it would be up there.”

True to his character, he didn’t want all the credit.

“Hey, if Jamil [Tucker] doesn’t knock down shots and if Mamadi [Diane] and Lars [Mikalauskas] don’t come to play, then we’re not even in the situation to win the game,” Singletary aptly pointed out.

Diane (14 points), Tucker (11), and Mikalauskas (10) were responsible for part of the Cavaliers’ staggering 41 points off the bench and ignited yet another second-half CBI comeback to keep the season alive.

But, when it came to white knuckles time, there was no question that No. 44 would answer the bell.

Eight points in 25 seconds and the game-winning steal. What more could a player do?

“It’s amazing to see him do these things, especially the steal at the end of the game,” Diane said. “I’m worried about coming off screens and I look up and Sean has the ball. I couldn’t believe it happened.”

Well, yes, he could.

“That’s when Sean really flourishes, late in the game in tight situations,” Diane added. “It’s not out of the ordinary.”

No sooner had Singletary scored on the layup, he and the rest of the joint erupted into a wild celebration. He was pumping his fists, surrounded by Diane and Mikalauskas. Freshman Mustapha Farrakhan was running wildly out on the court. The Jack had turned into a madhouse.

“I could tell no difference in the crowd tonight and the 15,000 that had been in here,” Leitao said. “Sean just continues to rewrite a a story that’s already a best-seller in the annals of Virginia basketball.”

The steal was about the only thing that could overshadow Singletary’s banked in shot from Bonusphere.

Even though he had taken only 10 shots in the game leading up to the trey, he noticed that Johnson was giving him a slight opening, all that Singletary really requires.

“Lars set me a nice little screen and gave me room, so in my mind it was going in,” Singletary said. “If you’ll look at the film, you can see that I called ‘bank.’”

Appropriate for a guy who has been ‘money’ ever since he walked in the doors at UVa.

Now, for Singletary and his pals, it’s on to the CBI’s version of the Final Four.

Now, Debbie it’s your turn to beat OD-Who?

 

Cavalier comeback unseats Monarchs
Sean Singletary fashions a fabulous final flurry to sink ODU and ensure a winning season for UVa.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- When Bruce Springsteen comes to John Paul Jones Arena in another month, he'll be lucky to have an encore like Sean Singletary's.

Virginia fans might have thought they had seen Singletary at his finest when he played his final regular-season home game, but that was mild when compared to his last-minute heroics Monday.

Singletary scored eight points in the final 30 seconds as the Cavaliers rallied for an 80-76 victory over Old Dominion.

"In the end, everybody can have who they've got and I'll take Sean Singletary," UVa coach Dave Leitao said. "He continues to rewrite a story that's already a best seller in the annals of Virginia basketball."

Virginia (17-15) clinched a winning season and reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational. The Cavaliers were awarded a home game Wednesday against Bradley.

Old Dominion (18-15) led 75-72 before Singletary banked in a 3-pointer with 22.4 seconds left. Then, as the Monarchs were holding for a last shot, Singletary stripped the ball from Brandon Johnson near midcourt, raced downcourt for a layup and was fouled.

Singletary then converted the free throw to extend UVa's lead to 78-75 with 4.3 seconds remaining.

He finished with a team-high 22 points, matched a career high with 10 assists and did not have a turnover after being called for a charge on Virginia's first offensive series.

The Cavaliers were in a desperate state before Singletary's final 3-pointer. In a game of H-O-R-S-E, it might not have counted if Singletary hadn't called "bank."

"Go back and play the tape back and you'll see that I called it," Singletary said with a wink.

He knew the shot was long as soon as he released it, but he also knew that it was on line and had enough arc to go in off the glass.

"I'd give him the same shot again," Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor said. "He missed it so bad he made it.

"If he'd shot that ball from just about any other angle that poorly, it wouldn't have gone in. He's just fortunate enough, it was straight away. If it had been from the side, it would have been an air ball."

If the 3-pointer was a stroke of luck, the steal was nothing but skill. His victim, Johnson, was the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year and ranks sixth in Division I in steals.

"I was thinking of going to my right hand," Johnson said, "but he played that well. When I decided to cross over, he was ready for it."

It was the third steal of the night for Singletary, who has seldom been more indispensable.

After leading a second-half comeback in which the Cavaliers turned an eight-point halftime deficit into a 57-51 lead, Singletary took a seat with 9:18 left. When he returned with 7:37 left, Old Dominion had pulled into a 59-59 tie.

It was similar to Virginia's previous game, when Singletary picked up his second foul with 4:30 remaining in the first half. Leitao sat him down for the remainder of the half and Richmond responded with an 11-2 run.

On Monday, Singletary picked up his second foul with 15:08 remaining in the half, but Leitao rolled the dice and sent him back to the floor after a short break.

He had little choice because the Monarchs had raced to a 10-0 lead, causing Leitao to call time out after only 2 minutes, 29 seconds.

The Cavaliers quickly made up that deficit but the lead seesawed on a night when Virginia shot 50 percent from the field and Old Dominion shot 50.9. UVa previously had been 0-9 when its opponents had shot 50 percent or better.

"That was one of the more gut-wrenching games I've been involved in for a long time," Leitao said. "I think, a couple times, they probably thought we had them dead to rights. And we thought they had us dead to rights a few times."

John Paul Jones Arena was at less than half-capacity for the second game in a row, but Leitao had no complaints about the crowd of 6,460.

"I could tell no difference between the crowd today and if 15,000 had been in here," Leitao said.

 

Virginia is saved
Sean Singletary puts on a game-stealing show in the final 22 seconds against ODU.
By MELINDA WALDROP | 247-4634
March 25, 2008
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE - He made the play in a split second. But it had been forming inside Sean Singletary's head for days.

With six seconds left in a tie game, Singletary, Virginia's senior point guard, shadowed Old Dominion's Brandon Johnson, the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year, and the Monarchs' single-season steals leader, as Johnson crossed halfcourt.

"If you look back on the film, you'll see that he likes the crossover, and he's real deliberate with his moves," Singletary said.

As Johnson attempted to switch the ball his right hand to his left, Singletary stuck out his hand and stole the ball, then sprinted downcourt for the defining play of Virginia's 80-76 victory in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. His layup off the steal and free throw after Johnson's futile foul gave Virginia a 78-75 lead with 4.3 seconds left before two late free throws from Calvin Baker sealed the victory.

As Johnson attempted to switch the ball his right hand to his left, Singletary stuck out his hand and stole the ball, then sprinted downcourt for the defining play of Virginia's 80-76 victory in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. His layup off the steal and free throw after Johnson's futile foul gave Virginia a 78-75 lead with 4.3 seconds left before two late free throws from Calvin Baker sealed the victory.

"I keep saying that everybody can have who they got, and I'll take Sean Singletary," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. "... He gave us a chance, and he's given this team and this program a chance for four years."

The Cavaliers, who trailed 74-70 with 1:10 left, will face Bradley at 7 p.m. Wednesday at John Paul Jones Arena in the semifinals of the inaugural tournament, formed to compete with the NIT for teams that don't make the NCAA field.

"My college career is winding down, and the energy and the feeling you get playing in this gym — you don't want this to be over," said Singletary, who scored 22 points and had 10 assists. "You've just got to go out there and give it all you got, leave it all on the floor."

With 22 seconds left, Singletary banked in a 3-pointer off Lars Mikalauskas' screen at the top of the key to tie the game at 75.

"He missed it so bad he made it," Monarchs coach Blaine Taylor said. "... If he'd shot that ball from about any other angle that poorly, it wouldn't have gone in, but he was just fortunate that it was from straightaway. If it had been from the side, it would've been an airball."

After Singletary picked Johnson's pocket on the Monarchs' ensuing possession, the Cavs fouled Jonathan Adams to prevent a tying 3. Adams made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second, but he was called for a lane violation to give U.Va. the ball. Baker was fouled on the inbounds play.

U.Va. (17-15) trailed by 10 again early in the second half after a fallaway jumper from Brian Henderson, a senior averaging nine points per game who poured in a game-high 26. But a 12-0 run gave the Cavs a 43-41 lead and set up a back-and-forth showdown for the final 16 minutes.

With the Monarchs (18-16) up by four with 1:10 left, Singletary went to work. First, he drew a foul on a baseline drive and made two free throws. Then, after Henderson made one of two foul shots, Singletary let fly the 3 he knew was probably too long but had plenty of arc.

"In my mind, I was confident that anything I put up was gonna go in, so I just needed to get the ball off," Singletary said.

His teammates were also certain of the outcome for the three-time all-ACC first-team selection and the only logical choice to have the ball with the game on the line.

"Name me somebody (else)," said Mikalauskas, one of four other Cavaliers in double digits with 10 points. "I don't know anybody, really, in college basketball."

Bradley beat Ohio 79-73 behind guards Andrew Warren and Jeremy Crouch. Warren scored 16 of his game-high 22 points and Crouch had 13 of his 15 points in the second half.

 

Cavaliers overtake Monarchs
Singletary's eight points in 25 seconds helps erase four-point deficit
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008 - 12:00 AM Updated: 12:30 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The legend of Sean Singletary grew last night, if that's possible.

In the final minute, with his college career seemingly about to end, the University of Virginia's all-ACC point guard took down Old Dominion with a flurry that sent electricity surging through the crowd of 6,460 at John Paul Jones Arena.

"It was crazy," U.Va. junior forward Mamadi Diane said.

Singletary, a 6-0 senior, scored eight points in 25 seconds to help Virginia (17-15) erase a four-point deficit. And when the final horn sounded, the Cavaliers celebrated a stunning 80-76 victory in the quarterfinals of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.

Virginia (17-15) will play the Valparaiso-Houston winner tomorrow in a CBI semifinal at the JPJ. Tickets are $10 for reserved seats, $5 for U.Va. students.

"In the end, I keep saying it: Everybody can have who they got, and I'll take Sean Singletary," said his coach, Dave Leitao. "He just continues to rewrite a story that's already a bestseller in the annals of Virginia basketball."

After 6-10 sophomore Gerald Lee sank a jumper to push ODU's lead to 74-70, some fans started toward the exits. But Singletary was fouled on a drive and hit both free throws with 29.6 seconds left to make it a two-point game.

Two seconds later, Monarchs senior guard Brian Henderson went to the line for two free throws. Henderson, a Varina High graduate, had scored a career-high 25 points, and he was a 85-percent free-throw shooter.

ODU (18-16) could not have asked for much more, but Henderson went 1 for 2 from the line.

Then Singletary took over. With 22.4 seconds left, his 3-pointer from the top of the key kissed the glass and dropped through the hoop.

"You didn't hear me? I called 'bank,'" Singletary said with a sly smile afterward.

Monarchs coach Blaine Taylor said: "I'd give him the same shot again. I mean, he missed so bad he made it."

No matter. The score was suddenly 75-75, and the roar from the fans rivaled the loudest heard in the JPJ's two seasons.

"I could tell no difference between the crowd today and when 15,000 people have been in here," Leitao said.

Virginia supporters had more to cheer. When ODU point guard Brandon Johnson, near midcourt, tried a crossover dribble on Singletary, No. 44 poked the ball free.

Singletary tracked it down, dribbled in and rose for a layup. Johnson contested the shot, fouling Singletary, but the ball fell through to make it 77-75. Singletary added the free throw, and after ODU's Jonathan Adams went 1 for 2 from the line, Virginia guard Calvin Baker hit both ends of a one-and-one with 3.1 seconds left to seal the victory.

"The steal was something that you want to be able to tell your children about 10, 20 years from now, because he's truly amazing," Leitao said.

Virginia was anything but amazing early, as the Monarchs raced to a 10-0 lead. The Wahoos battled back, only to see ODU answer and take a 37-29 lead into halftime. A 12-0 run early in the second half put U.Va. up 43-41, but Old Dominion responded again. Back and forth the teams went in a game in which there were seven lead changes.

"A couple of times, they probably thought we had them dead to rights," Leitao said, "and I know we thought that they had us dead to rights a few times."

Singletary had help. Three Virginia reserves scored in double figures: Diane (14 points), sophomore forward Jamil Tucker (11) and junior center Laurynas Mikalauskas (10). Freshman guard Jeff Jones hit two treys and contributed 10 points, his first game in double figures since Dec. 22.

In the end, though, the story was Singletary, as it has been so many times since he enrolled at U.Va. in 2004.

"When I look back on my career, this'll probably be one of the bright spots," he said.

 

U.Va. star takes over late to spoil ODU's upset bid
By Rich Radford
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 25, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE

Seems there’s a bit of magic left in that genie’s bottle the University of Virginia refers to as Sean Singletary.

With Old Dominion poised to pull off the upset Monday night in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational, Singletary turned in a game-saving play followed by a game-winner as the Cavaliers came from four points down in the final minute to win 80-76 at John Paul Jones Arena.

Virginia (17-15) will host Bradley (19-15) in a semifinal game at 7 p.m. Wednesday .

The late surge started when Singletary, who earlier this season became Virginia’s first 2,000-point career scorer since Bryant Stith 16 years ago, made a pair of free throws with 29.6 seconds remaining. After ODU’s Brian Henderson made 1 of 2 foul shots for a 75-72 lead, Singletary threw up a prayerful 3-pointer from the top of the key that was answered when it banged off the glass and fell, tying the game.

ODU (18-16) passed on calling a timeout and headed up court intent on taking a potential game-winner on what it thought would be the last possession.

It never happened.

Singletary stripped ODU’s Brandon Johnson near midcourt with eight seconds remaining and was fouled by Johnson as he made the breakaway. Singletary’s free throw gave the Cavaliers a 78-75 cushion with 4.3 seconds left.

Following a timeout, ODU inbounded to Jonathan Adams, who was fouled near midcourt. Adams made the first free throw, then attempted to intentionally miss the second, but was whistled for a lane violation.

Two free throws by Calvin Baker capped Virginia’s scoring.

“I’d give him the same shot again,” ODU coach Blaine Taylor said of Singletary’s 3-pointer. “He missed so bad that he made it. He shoots it from the side and it’s an air ball.”

Virginia coach Dave Leitao could do nothing more than concur, but was glad Singletary was wearing orange and blue.

“Everybody else can have who they’ve got,” Leitao said. “I’ll take Sean Singletary. He continues to re-write a story that’s already a best-seller.”

ODU’s valiant effort was thwarted as much by their late-game showing at the foul line as Singletary’s heroics. Johnson missed the front end of a one-and-one with a 74-70 lead and 35.7 seconds to play. Henderson’s failure to make the first of two free throws with 27.5 seconds remaining took some of the shine off his career-high 26 points.

“If this ends differently, we’re talking about the game Brian Henderson had,” Taylor said. Henderson was 10 for 17 from the field and 5 for 9 from the 3-point line. He had 16 at the break when ODU held a 37-29 lead.

But this was a game in which the lead would change seven times in the second half as both teams answered each other’s runs.

Singletary would finish with a game-high 22 points, but the Cavaliers’ cause had plenty of help as Mamadi Diane had 14, Jamil Tucker had 11, and Jeff Jones and Laurynas Mikalauskas had 10 each.

ODU sophomore forward Gerald Lee, playing on a hyper-extended left knee, had 16 hard-fought points and fellow post Frank Hassell had 10 points.

Following Singletary’s game-tying 3-pointer, ODU didn’t call a timeout, something Taylor said they’d discussed during the previous day’s practice.

“We had a play poised to go,” Taylor said. “We had Brian running off a double screen in the right corner. Sean made a nice play.”

Singletary said he’d been trying to set Johnson up for exactly what happened. “He made a retreat dribble and I was playing him to one side,” Singletary said. “I knew he was going to cross over and I just put my hand down there and he put the ball on my hand.”

 

aGAIN, THE STAR IS SINGLETARY SCHEDULE
Date published: 3/25/2008
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
CHARLOTTESVILLE--

Sean Singletary is determined to end his career at Virginia on a positive note.

The Cavaliers' star senior point guard scored eight points in the final 29.6 seconds last night as Virginia rallied for an 80-76 victory over Old Dominion in the College Basketball Invitational East Region championship game in front of a crowd of 6,460 at John Paul Jones Arena.

Cavaliers head coach Dave Leitao said last night's game was "gut-wrenching," but that Singletary was the difference-maker.

"In the end, I keep saying, 'Everybody can have who they've got and I'll take Sean Singletary,'" Leitao said. "He just continues to rewrite a story that's already a best-seller in the annals of Virginia basketball."

The Cavaliers (17-15) will host Bradley (19-15) in the CBI semifinals tomorrow at 7 p.m.

They needed heroics from Singletary to advance past the Monarchs (18-16), and he was more than willing to deliver.

He banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 75 with 23 seconds left.

"I'd give him that same shot again," Monarchs head coach Blaine Taylor said. "He missed so bad, he made it. If he had shot that ball from about any other angle that poorly, it wouldn't have gone in. If it had been from the side, it would've been an air-ball."

After his 3, Singletary stole the ball from Monarchs' guard Brandon Johnson at half-court and converted a three-point play to give the Cavaliers a 78-75 lead with 4.3 seconds remaining.

Singletary said he waited patiently for Johnson to use the crossover dribble because he noticed that's what he does on film. He said Johnson is very "deliberate" with his moves.

"When he took the retreat dribble and I was playing on one side, I knew he was going to crossover," Singletary said. "I just put my hand down there and put the ball right in my hand."

Singletary then took off down the court, and was fouled by Johnson. He made the free throw as Virginia completed its comeback from a four-point deficit with 30 seconds remaining.

"The steal is something you might be able to tell your children about 10, 20 years from now," Leitao said. "He's truly amazing."

Singletary started the comeback with two free throws to pull Virginia within 74-72 with 29.6 seconds left.

He said the flurry ranks right behind his game-winning shot in an overtime win over Duke last season as one of the memorable moments of his career.

"When your college career is winding down and the energy and the feeling you get playing in this gym, you don't want that to be over," Singletary said of his motivation for the CBI. "You've got to go out there and give it all you've got."

After they went ahead 78-75, the Cavaliers fouled ODU forward Jonathan Adams, who made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Virginia guard Calvin Baker was then fouled and converted both free throws for the final margin.

Singletary led Virginia with 22 points, 10 assists and just one turnover.

"He gave us a chance," Leitao said. "He's given this team, this program a chance for four years. We've been able to ride him and his shoulders for a very long time."

The Cavaliers also rode four other players who scored in double-figures last night, led by junior swingman Mamadi Diane's 14 points.

The Monarchs, who jumped out to a 10-0 lead and were ahead 37-29 at halftime, were paced by guard Brian Henderson's 26 points, including five 3's. Center Gerald Lee added 16 points.

 

Singletary banks in victory
Squad overcomes late deficit to capture win from ODU Monarchs
Anders Sleight, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

For Virginia men's basketball fans, it seems like the magic of senior guard Sean Singletary will never end -- and most hope it never will. The Cavaliers continued their postseason run with an improbable 80-76 win last night against Old Dominion in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. Singletary added to his endless list of feats last night as he scored 22 points, added 10 assists, three steals and led the Cavaliers to an enthralling come-from-behind win. The Cavaliers will continue their CBI run Wednesday night at 7 at John Paul Jones Arena.

With Virginia trailing by 3 points and facing possible defeat, Singletary knocked down a clutch 3-point jumper to tie the game with 23 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Singletary confronted Old Dominion senior guard Brandon Johnson at mid-court, stole the ball, converted a break-away layup, drew a foul and completed the 3-point play. Singletary's heroics gave Virginia a 3-point lead with four seconds to play, and sophomore guard Calvin Baker iced the game a second later at the free-throw line. Virginia trailed by as many as 10 points in the game and defeated Old Dominion despite allowing the Monarchs to shoot 50.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

"That was one of the more gut-wrenching games that I've been involved with for a long time," Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. "In the end everybody can have who they have, and I'll take Sean Singletary. He continues to rewrite a story that's already a bestseller in Virginia basketball history. He's truly amazing."

Virginia began the game without a lot of energy, which allowed Old Dominion, eager from the start, to grab the early advantage. The Monarchs jumped out to an early 10-0 lead less than 2:30 into the game. Their strong play and Virginia's complete lack of energy and production in the opening minutes forced Leitao to call a timeout following a converted Old Dominion 3-point attempt.

Leitao's attempts to reverse Virginia's unproductive trend, however, did not exactly succeed. The Monarchs continued to limit Virginia offensively with their tough pressure zone defense. To make matters worse for Virginia, Singletary drew his second foul just over five minutes into the first half. Singletary's early foul trouble forced Leitao to limit the senior guard's minutes in an effort to avoid additional fouls.

The Cavaliers, however, slowly began battling back once Singletary re-entered the game. Thanks to Singletary and freshman guard Jeff Jones Virginia worked its way back into the game and trailed by 4, 20-24, with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening half.

For the remainder of the half, Virginia made progress offensively, but Old Dominion continually answered Virginia's offensive production. The two teams traded baskets over the final eight minutes of the half. With about 35 seconds remaining in the half, the Monarchs knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to give them a 37-29 lead at halftime. The Cavaliers shot just 39 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3-point range in the period, compared to 50 percent and 55.6 percent respectively for the Monarchs.

Virginia began the second half firing on all cylinders. Junior forward Mamadi Diane dropped in an acrobatic put-back shot for 2 and knocked down a 3-pointer on Virginia's next trip down the court. During the next four Virginia possessions, sophomore forward Jamil Tucker, Diane and Singletary brought John Paul Jones Arena to life and tied the game at 41 with 16:19 remaining in the game. Virginia's run also forced Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor to call two timeouts in the first four minutes of the second half. Taylor's attempts to kill Virginia's momentum and energy, however, were unsuccessful as Diane continued Virginia's momentum by connecting on yet another 3-point attempt. Diane's basket gave the Cavaliers a 46-44 lead with 15:09 to play.

Unfortunately for Virginia, the Monarchs were unwilling to surrender their lead without a fight, and during the next four minutes Old Dominion battled back and tied the game at 51 with just less than 11 minutes to play.

For the next five minutes neither team could pull away; the teams traded baskets and the lead continuously. John Paul Jones Arena was alive with energy as each Virginia basket drew scores of cheers. Even occasional Old Dominion cheers could be heard from the significant Old Dominion fan population. Two straight Monarchs' baskets, however, put Old Dominion ahead and the onus on Virginia. The Monarchs led by 4, 68-64, with 3:25 to play and also led by 4, 74-70, with 1:12 remaining.

"I think tonight was a fine show for all the people that observed," Taylor said. "I tip my hat to Virginia for hanging in there. We put ourselves in position to win and we were one play away from walking away as winners."

 

The epic epilogue, by Sean Singletary
Paul Montana, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor

With 35 seconds left in the game and Virginia down by 4, I had my column essentially written. CBI this, CBI that. Not much about the game itself, since after all, it is the CBI. The 7,000-some empty seats at JPJ will attest to that.

In one fell swoop, Sean Singletary erased Old Dominion, and my column to go along with it, with 8 points in 26 seconds. No, that's not a typo.

It's too bad that it was the CBI, because a sold-out crowd at JPJ should have witnessed this circus ending, not the 6,460 who showed up. If you didn't make it to the game -- and considering the attendance in the student section, I feel pretty safe in saying you didn't -- you missed the best ending to a Virginia men's basketball game since the Duke game last year. Ignoring the difference in the quality of the opponent, this one was even better.

Never have I seen a player take over a game -- or at least the last 30 seconds -- the way Singletary did. Let me take you second-by-second through what happened, beginning with 35 seconds remaining in the second half, because unlike the ending to the Duke game, this one probably won't be on YouTube.

35 seconds. Old Dominion's senior Brandon Johnson -- who did not have a particularly memorable last 35 seconds, as you will soon find out -- misses the front-end of a one-and-one. Mamadi Diane grabs the rebound. Score: ODU 74, UVA 70.

35 to 30 seconds. Diane outlets to Singletary, who pushes the ball up court. With ease, he puts the ball in his left hand, drives baseline and draws a foul on Old Dominion's sophomore Gerald Lee with 30 seconds on the clock. Do you even need to ask if he made both free throws? Score: ODU 74, UVA 72.

30 to 28 seconds. Off the second free throw, Old Dominion in-bounds to redshirt senior Brian Henderson, who had a monster 26-point night on 10-17 shooting to lead all scorers. Two seconds later, he is fouled by Calvin Baker for Virginia's 10th team foul, putting Old Dominion in the double-bonus. Henderson, an 85.4 percent free-throw shooter coming into the game, steps up for his only two shots from the foul line of the night, but misses the first. The second falls, but of course now it's a one-possession game. ODU 75, UVA 72.

28 to 23 seconds. Virginia in-bounds to Singletary, who hustles the ball back up court once more. Old Dominion, offering a 2-3 zone as it had most of the night, is all over the senior stud. Junior Lars Mikalauskas sets a screen, and Singletary uses it to take a dribble to the top of the key. He gets off a fadeaway from about 22 feet with two players in his face and puts it in the bank. Literally. The ball clangs off the window of the backboard and in.

I fall out of my chair. Tailbone X-rays were negative.

The three "probably at any other angle, would have missed," Dave Leitao said. "But he banked it straight on."

Singletary said he called bank. I believe him. (Wouldn't you?) Score: ODU 75, UVA 75.

23 to 7 seconds. ODU in-bounds to the aforementioned Johnson. Johnson slowly dribbles up court, and at half-court, Singletary begins to dog him. Old Dominion coach Blain Taylor elects not to take a timeout, noting "we had discussed in practice yesterday, that if we were in that position we were not going to call a timeout." The ball swings around and comes back to Johnson.

Leitao's thoughts at this point: "I looked up, there's 22 seconds on the clock, 20, tie score, just hoping to get that stop," he said, noting that Virginia had a hard time defensively in the previous few trips. With the lackluster defense before this possession, "I wasn't 100 percent sure that we were going to get it, so I was a little concerned," he said.

6 seconds. Johnson has the ball in his left hand. He takes a step back, takes a dribble, then attempts to crossover to his right, but Singletary knows it's coming. He slaps it away from Johnson and comes up with the steal.

Johnson is "real deliberate with his moves," Singletary said. "When he took the retreat dribble, and I was playing him on the one side, I knew he was going to cross over, so I just put my hand down there, and he put the ball right in my hand."

"The ironic part about the steal is he took the ball from the Defensive Player of the Year who leads the Colonial Athletic Association in steals," Leitao noted. How fitting.

6 to 4 seconds. With Johnson chasing behind him, Singletary puts it into the high gear we are all so accustomed to seeing. He gets to the basket, leaps into the air, hangs, gets slapped by Johnson and -- you guessed it -- finishes the layup, and one.

"I was trying to foul him, make him earn it at the free-throw line," Johnson said. "He got the shot off, I fouled him, and luckily it went in, another bank shot."

4 seconds. Singletary nails the free throw for point number 8 since the 30-second mark. UVA 78, ODU 75.

The rest ... well, not much else to tell. Virginia smartly puts Old Dominion junior Jonathan Adams on the line instead of giving the Monarchs a chance to tie with a three. Adams makes the first but is called for a lane violation on the second. Baker is subsequently fouled and makes both free throws. Final score: UVA 80, ODU 76.

Many sportswriters -- myself included -- have given the CBI a hard time for being ... well ... the CBI.

Then again, I would show up to watch Sean Singletary play a game of horse, never mind suit up for another game at JPJ. He just might do something that makes your head spin.

"Everybody can have who they've got," Leitao said. "I'll take Sean Singletary. He continues to rewrite a story that's already a bestseller."

Sure, the final chapters of the story were not as exciting as we had hoped coming into Singletary's senior season.

On the other hand, yesterday's game makes for one hell of an epilogue.

 

Cavaliers reach CBI final four
By Andy Bitter
Published: March 24, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Cavaliers were thinking overtime at best. Get a defensive stop, secure the rebound, hear the horn and win it in the extra five minutes.
Sean Singletary didn’t want to wait that long.
The guard had one of the more memorable final minutes of his illustrious career, banking in a game-tying 3-pointer before getting a steal and converting it into a three-point play with 4.3 seconds left to lift Virginia to a miracle 80-76 win against Old Dominion in the College Basketball Invitational’s second round Monday.
“I keep saying that everyone can have who they’ve got, and I’ll take Sean Singletary,” UVa coach Dave Leitao said of the senior, who scored eight of his team-best 22 points in the final 29.6 seconds. “He just continues to re-write a story that’s already a best-seller.”
Virginia (17-15) will host Bradley in the CBI semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Braves (19-15) beat Ohio on Monday to win the Midwest region.
Old Dominion (18-16) had the back-and-forth game all but locked up, taking a 74-70 lead when Gerald Lee hit a jumper from the free throw line with 1:12 left. Virginia missed a 3 at the other end and ODU grabbed the rebound, needing only a few free throws to put the game away.
But Brandon Johnson missed the front end of a one-and-one. Singletary came down and got fouled, making both free throws to pull UVa within 74-72 with 29.6 seconds to go.
Virginia immediately fouled ODU’s Brian Henderson, who scored a career-high 26 points. But the guard only made one of two from the line, giving UVa a shot, down by just three. Singletary took advantage, coming off a high screen and banking in a 3-pointer to knot things at 75 with 22.5 seconds remaining.
“I’d give him the same shot again,” ODU coach Blaine Taylor said. “He missed it so bad he made it.”
The Monarchs’ plan was to hold for the last shot, but just as Johnson neared the half-court line, he tried a crossover dribble to his right side. Singletary reached in and poked the ball away.
“He was real deliberate with his moves, and when he made a retreat dribble and I was playing him to one side, I knew he was going to cross over,” said Singletary, who had three steals. “I just put my hand down there and he put the ball on my hand.”
Singletary corralled it and made a mad dash to the hoop. Johnson fouled him from behind, but the UVa guard still got the layup out of his hand. Once it dropped, Singletary pumped his fist several times toward the ground as the crowd of 6,460 went crazy.
“Anything can happen, especially in the postseason,” Singletary said. “And when you put a lot into it, things like that happen.”
The free throw made it 78-75. Virginia fouled ODU immediately to avoid any look at a game-tying 3. Jonathan Adams made the first free throw to trim the lead to two. He tried to miss the second but was whistled for a lane violation, giving UVa possession. Guard Calvin Baker was fouled and hit both free throws to seal the win.
In addition to Singletary, four other Cavaliers reached double figures, led by Mamadi Diane’s 14. Jamil Tucker added 11, making three second-half 3-pointers to help UVa erase an eight-point halftime deficit.
Singletary tied a career-high with 10 assists.
It marked the first time since 1995 that Virginia won back-to-back postseason tournament games. Granted, the ‘95 team did it in the NCAA Tournament. The CBI isn’t quite the same, but it’s not shabby.
“Georgetown is a good team, but they are not playing anymore,” said UVa forward Lars Mikalauskas, who scored 10 points. “We’re still playing and we still … have a chance to finish the season as champions.”
 

Spring position battles heat up
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 25, 2008

Virginia’s equipment managers dusted off and passed out shoulder pads Monday for the first time since a heartbreaking loss to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl.

With the equipment addition for the third spring practice, Virginia coach Al Groh said he was hopeful that he’d gain a better idea of the progression of players fighting for numerous vacant positions on the team’s depth chart.

For now at least, it appears that one of the best battles will ensue at the outside linebacker spot opposite senior Clint Sintim that was vacated by Jermaine Dias.

Groh established the pecking order to start by virtue of the depth chart during the pre-bowl practices last December.

“Those players get a chance to start on the top and once they get at that position for the first play of spring practice, then from that point on every play and every session is competitive,” Groh told reporters Monday. “On that basis, the two most veteran players, Aaron Clark and Denzel Burrell, started over there in Jermaine’s spot.”

Burrell, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, and Clark (6-5, 250) combined for 21 tackles last season, and they will have to fend off a host of players, which includes sophomores Jared Detrick and John-Kevin Dolce and redshirt freshman Aaron Taliaferro.

Some of those players, from what Groh called a “distribution standpoint,” may work this spring behind Sintim.

“We just divided them up so that we had it equal there,” he said. “Here through the early going, at any of these flip-flop positions like safety or outside linebacker, we just want to play left and right as opposed to strong or weak, closed or open, or any of the different formulas that can be used to designate players.”

Groh that would give “them a much better exposure to all the jobs and then we can rank them one, two, three, four, five.”

The oncoming challengers at linebacker, including those in the middle, have a bonus, being able to learn daily from long-time starters Antonio Appleby, Jon Copper and Sintim.

The returnees are “veteran models,” Groh said.

“Those three players are very experienced players and they provide a very good model of how to work, how to prepare, how to do the drill right, how to fit on this particular play,” he added. “If those [challenging] players never saw themselves on tape, if they just saw the veteran players, they would probably have a pretty clear picture of how to play.

“It is more the model, I would say, than leadership.”

The finer details

At times last year, Virginia running back Keith Payne appeared unstoppable.

He scored a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 219 yards on 58 carries. But at other times the redshirt freshman struggled, specifically with blitz pickups.

Groh was asked Monday what was holding back the bruising running back, who sources confirmed has not practiced yet this spring while focusing on academics.

“It is more of an across-the-board thing than this specific thing will elevate his game,” Groh said. “In a general sense, it would be really the precision of what we are doing. This is not just take the ball and run.

“It’s a coordinated thing between the blocking scheme, the reaction of the defense. Those things just have to be more precise.”

Getting Rich

It was assumed last year that Vincent Brown would use his post as a graduate assistant at Virginia as a springboard into a full-time job in the business.

Former UVa defensive coordinator Mike London made that possible, hiring Brown, a former NFL linebacker, on his staff at the University of Richmond.

Coincidentally, that move opened the door for a former Virginia linebacker to return.

Rich Bedesem, who played in 41 games during a career that ended in 2004, was named the Cavaliers’ graduate assistant for defense earlier this year.

“I wouldn’t say that we would have placed a bet on it when he left,” Groh said, “but we certainly weren’t surprised when he contacted us and told us he was interested in pursuing it.”

Bedesem, 26, grew up around the sport. His father, Richard, played quarterback at Temple and Villanova and worked as the offensive backfield coach at UVa in 1981 under coach Dick Bestwick. His grandfather was also the head coach at Villanova.

“Rich has a significant coaching background in his family,” Groh added, “so it probably was something he was thinking about for a while.”

During his career, Bedesem was beset by several injuries, but managed 140 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in his career.

“He played in somewhat a similar fashion to Jon Copper,” Groh said. “He had a real good sense of the game and you could tell he was intrigued with it and why things worked and why we wanted to do things.”

Extra points …

Groh said inside linebacker John Bivens, who had knee surgery late last season, is working on a “limited” basis in practice. … Speculation continues to swirl about the potential return of defensive end Kevin Crawford, who is sitting out the final semester of his one-year academic-related suspension. Groh said Crawford has been diligent in attempting to bring the return to fruition.

… Sunday’s afternoon practice is one of two opportunities for fans to attend a spring session. The decision to only open a pair of practices was dictated, Groh said, by the Easter holiday and an upcoming high school coaches clinic at UVa.

 

UVa takes on ODU in Dominion showdown
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 25, 2008

NORFOLK - Lyndra Littles awoke Monday around 7 a.m. - far earlier than she expected or preferred - to a chipper voice in her hotel room.

Her teammate and roommate, center Aisha Mohammed, was in the midst of relaying the details from Virginia’s easy late-night win over UC Santa Barbara in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament during an international call to her father in Nigeria.

Nearly every citizen in Mohammed’s native country will have no understanding of the magnitude of tonight’s contest at the Ted Constant Center.

In addition to a pseudo state championship, fourth-seeded Virginia (24-9) and fifth-seeded Old Dominion (30-4) meet tonight with a date in the Greensboro Regional, a trip to the Sweet Sixteen and a likely dance with top-seeded Connecticut hanging in the balance.

For the two most storied women’s programs in the commonwealth, the 31st-ever meeting rekindles history among two coaches that have accounted for 1,177 victories and brings the career of Virginia point guard Sharnee Zoll full circle.

As a rookie in 2005, Zoll traveled halfway across the country to make her NCAA Tournament debut against Old Dominion on the campus of Minnesota. Virginia won with ease, 79-57, as the point guard dished out six assists and scored 10 points.

“There are a lot of ironic things about this game [tonight],” Zoll said. “These two programs have a lot of history and I think that’s what makes this game a lot of fun. We are at their place. They played at our place last year. There is a lot of history and we are both essentially at home, which makes it a lot more fun.”

It is, however, obvious that it is anything but a “home” game for Virginia after the reaction the Cavaliers received as they charged onto the court for warm-ups Sunday just minutes after ODU advanced with an 82-62 win over 12th-seeded Liberty.

“It was kind of funny. We came out and we were getting booed,” Zoll said. “I was like, ‘We don’t even play you guys.’ There really were ODU fans booing us.”

After being shipped to the Women’s NIT the past two years, Zoll is not complaining.

“I really think it’s going to be a great environment,” she said. “That’s what you play for. You want environments like this. It is going to be a hostile crowd and we are excited and ready for it.”

A bigger question lies for Virginia: Will leading scorer Monica Wright be ready?

Wright, a sophomore, missed all 10 shots from the field and scored just six points in Virginia’s 34-point rout on Sunday over UCSB.

“I was just trying to get in a rhythm but stuff like that happens and you just have to focus on defense and rebounding,” said Wright, who had five boards and two assists and snapped a nine-game streak of scoring in double figures.

“My teammates came out and played phenomenal and when you are playing at a high intensity like that you don’t even worry about scoring. You just think about what you can do next.”

ODU, which has won a nation’s-best 25 straight at home, should present a test for Mohammed and Littles in the paint. The Monarchs blocked eight shots and won the rebounding battle by 11 against Liberty.

“They play at a high level,” Littles said. “They are very intense. They are very physical. Megan Pym is very intense herself, and I think it is going to be a good

contest down there for me and Aisha to challenge and match their intensity.”

The fact that Virginia and Old Dominion, two of the nation’s best teams in RPI, are meeting in a game in the second round “speaks volumes” in its own right for the sport, Cavaliers’ coach Debbie Ryan said.

“It is obviously a very exciting time for women’s basketball and the TV exposure has definitely helped that in a lot of ways, along with the support that the athletic departments and schools have put into women’s basketball.

“Wherever there is money, interest follows.”

 

U.Va.'s Mohammed 'an aggressive beast'
Dave Fairbank
March 25, 2008
NORFOLK
 

She has been a Tiger, a Vaquera, a Cavalier, and depending on whom you ask, a creature not to be trifled with.

Virginia's Aisha Mohammed will command much attention in the interior rugby scrum between the Cavaliers and Old Dominion in tonight's second-round NCAA tournament game.

That's to be expected, given that she is 6-foot-3, sturdy, athletic, relentless and capable of carrying two people at a time across the court — she swears that she was just kidding around one day during practice — without so much as the first session of weight training.

"She is a beast," Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said slowly, for emphasis and as a courtesy to the lip-readers in the audience. "She is an aggressive beast. She is a southpaw beast. She has the ability to get up and down the floor. She is a monster on the glass."

Mohammed arguably is the difference maker for a Virginia program that climbed back into the upper tier of the ACC and returned to the national discussion following a two-year absence from the NCAA tournament.

The Cavaliers have several gifted players in wing Monica Wright, point guard Sharnee Zoll and forward Lyndra Littles, but Mohammed is the hub.

Mohammed absorbs, relishes actually, some of the pounding that Littles used to endure around the basket. She is an imposing defensive presence, and she makes opposing defenses play the Cavaliers honestly inside, which often provides open shots and driving lanes for her teammates. She also is quite capable of cleaning up the debris around her.

"I think I play like boys," Mohammed said, when asked to describe her playing style. "Growing up, I played street ball, and it was always with boys."

Those streets were in Lagos, Nigeria. She is the fourth of five children in a family in which size and athletic ability come naturally. Her father stands 6-3, her mother 6-4. Her three older brothers are all taller than she is, and her 17-year-old sister is 6-1.

Mohammed played several sports as a youngster, but her size, athletic gifts and natural strength dovetailed nicely for basketball.

She played for a school team — the Tigers — and eventually became good enough to play internationally for Nigeria. She followed a Nigerian teammate to Central Arizona College, a highly successful junior-college program.

She was a JC All-American for the Vaqueras (Spanish for "cowgirl," essentially), which went 61-1 in her two years. She did not compete for the school's rodeo team, as a favor to the horses and cows she might have roped and wrestled.

Mohammed did, however, catch the eye of Virginia coach Debbie Ryan, who rarely recruits junior-college talent.

"Besides bringing a great cultural experience to our team," Ryan said, "she brings strength and agility to the post. She's learned to run the floor for us, to play better defense. She's just a force inside."

Still, it took Mohammed an extra year to get onto the court for the Cavaliers. She suffered a left knee injury playing for Nigeria in the 2006 World Championships and sat out the entire 2006-07 season.

"It was really difficult sitting down, watching my teammates play," Mohammed said. "But I think it happened for a reason, for me to watch a big conference and see how they play. I had been playing in international games and in junior college, and this is different. Sitting down helped me see how they play, so I learned a lot last year."

Mohammed averaged 12.9 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game. She ranked second in the ACC this season with 13 double-doubles and set a school record with 21 rebounds in a Jan. 26 overtime win versus Florida State.

"She's just relentless," said North Carolina all-conference forward Elana Larkins, whose ACC champion Tar Heels faced U.Va. twice this season. "We knew that she was a great rebounder. She has a great post presence, especially on defense. Like I said, she goes to the boards really hard. She's a great defender. She's really talented. I think she's done a lot for this Virginia team this year."

Mohammed is happy to be playing, particularly in the NCAA tournament. She understands how much it means to her teammates and her coach, who have grown up with the event.

"I think I'm just trying to contribute for my team," Mohammed said, "whatever they need."

No matter how people describe her.

 

NCAA Tournament notebook
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 25, 2008

It hit Sharnee Zoll on Senior Day.

It pulls at coach Debbie Ryan’s heart almost daily.

The thoughts of a pair of would-be seniors that are not along for the NCAA Tournament ride were rekindled throughout the program Sunday night once it was official that the next opponent would be Old Dominion.

The last time Virginia faced ODU, two reserve guards, Takisha Granberry and Denesha Kenion, were critical pieces in Virginia’s puzzle.

Granberry and Kenion combined for 22 points, on 9-for-13 shooting, as the Cavaliers opened John Paul Jones Arena in style with a 92-72 victory.

It was the last game that Granberry or Kenion would ever play at Virginia - the pair left school for undisclosed reasons and were not eligible to return - which crushed the team’s depth.

“I probably think about them almost every day,” Ryan said. “I felt very bad about the fact that they had to leave last year. It’s just hard to think about what could’ve happened last year, even with Aisha [Mohammed’s] injury.

“This would have been their senior seasons. They are both still in touch with me and they both still stay in touch with this program.”

Zoll said she gets emotional when thinking about the two players that entered with her during her freshman year.

“I have been trying not to think about it,” she said. “But it is always going through my mind.”

Virginia, which played in the Women’s NIT the past two years, would likely have made the NCAA Tournament last season with Granberry and Kenion, Zoll predicted.

“A lot of people don’t realize what we lost,” Zoll said. “We lost two potential starters, a lot of defense and offense and even experience. They didn’t play a lot their first two years, but the practice experience, the timing, system experience … that is a lot to lose with two people.

“People don’t realize that we had to go through with that.”

Granberry is listed on West Virginia’s roster, but had to redshirt this season after transferring and will possess one year of eligibility. Kenion was not listed on a roster this season.

“They are both still Cavaliers to us,” Ryan said, “but it is something that we had to go through.”

A rooting interest

Some of Virginia’s players were shocked earlier this season when Ryan invited - and secured - a coaching counterpart at the university to address the team before an ACC game against North Carolina.

Several players jokingly asked if Ryan knew coach Al Groh.

Virginia’s football coach chuckled at that.

“I think it is reversed,” Groh said. “I have about 15 percent as many wins as Debbie has in her career. So we are really admirers of what the women’s basketball team has done over a long period of time.

“That’s what real success is, to do it over a protracted period of time.”

Virginia’s football team set an NCAA Football Bowl Championship Series record in 2007, winning five games by two points or fewer, which helped Groh earn ACC coach of the year honors.

“Debbie thought it might be worthwhile for the kids to tune into some of the experiences that might have made that team what it was,” Groh recounted. “It was really fun doing it.”

Groh, also an avid supporter of the Virginia men’s tennis team, said he has enjoyed Ryan’s 24-win season.

“It’s been fun following their progress and we’ll definitely be rooting and following their progress,” Groh said, “and we’ll definitely be rooting and following them [at ODU].”

Two members of Virginia’s 2007 football team were in attendance Sunday night. Chris Cook and Nate Lyles, a pair of defensive backs, sat several rows behind the bench and cheered throughout the contest.

Off and running

After the first-half jockeying gave Virginia a nine-point halftime lead over UC Santa Barbara, Zoll relayed a message to her teammates in the locker room.

“Sharnee made a point of emphasis when we went back in to get the lead up to 15 points by the first media [timeout],” said Virginia

forward Lyndra Littles. “I think everybody dug down and we got four stops in a row at one point and we went down and capitalized at the other end.”

After letting the Gauchos cut the lead to six on two occasions, the Cavaliers pulled away and led by 12, three shy of Zoll’s goal, at the first media timeout.

“It just went on from there,” Littles said.

The Gauchos finished with just six second-half field goals, which was aided by two baskets in garbage time.

The forgotten one

During pre-game drills for Sunday’s game, Jayna Hartig flashed her long-range prowess, nailing several 3-pointers.

But when Ryan opened the floodgates for her bench and played her entire roster, Hartig remained on the sidelines.

An early-season foot injury sidelined the second-year wing, prompting the coaching staff to seek a medical redshirt for Hartig, who will have three years of eligibility.

Watching patiently, however, has not been easy.

“It is probably more frustrating than anything else because you want to help,” Hartig said. “You are just willing everything to go right, but it’s fun and it is a really good experience.”

While Zoll and former walk-on Tara McKnight have savored every moment of their final seasons, Hartig has slowly watched the campaign develop.

“This season seems like it is taking forever,” she said, “but the fact that there is so much excitement and the fact that we are in this tournament and we are doing really well helps with that.”

Hartig, who did play in one game this season, said watching from the sidelines has helped, a fact that Mohammed mentioned after redshirting the 2006-07 season with a torn ACL.

“You can see a lot more from the bench and you learn to look for certain things,” Hartig said. “It has been really helpful to learn more about your teammates and getting to know your style of play.”

Odd matches

Kristen London could hard believe it when the pairings were announced earlier this week.

The junior guard picked Virginia over an offer from Old Dominion in the recruiting process last year after playing two years at two different junior colleges.

“I actually smirked a little bit and gave a smile like, ‘OK,’” London said.

London said she was close to taking an official visit to ODU before she made her decision and was reunited, at least temporarily, with her father, former UVa defensive coordinator Mike London.

“I was about to visit,“ she said, “but I right before I did I went ahead and committed to Virginia.”