Much ado about nothing?
Jeff White
Mar 26, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE—More than 10 days have passed since Dave Leitao was let go at Virginia, and breathless reports surfaced yesterday about a coaching candidate’s alleged under-the-cover-of-darkness visit to John Paul Jones Arena late Tuesday night.

If such a visit took place—and I’ve been assured by an absolutely impeccable source that it did not —the coach in question was someone other than Texas’ Rick Barnes.

“Rick was here Tuesday on campus. Left at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday to go recruit in Seattle.“

That was the word I got this afternoon, via e-mail, from Scott McConnell, an assistant athletics director for media relations at Texas.

McConnell also said that, as far as he knows, U.Va. has not requested permission to talk to Barnes. A former coach at Clemson, Barnes came close to taking the Virginia job many years ago.

 

On the coaching carousel
Jeff White
Mar 26, 2009

That guy I spotted walking into Crozet Pizza with high-ranking U.Va. officials the other night?

Well, the BP sign near the four-way stop obscured my view, and the clatter of a passing train distracted me, but I think it might have been Tubby Smith. Or maybe Rick Barnes. Or possibly Jeff Capel. Or even Trent Johnson.

Or perhaps I dreamed all that.

More than 10 days into U.Va.’s search for Dave Leitao’s successor as men’s basketball coach, the names and rumors are flying around at a dizzying pace. I’ve been told or been e-mailed or read on message boards or blogs that Tubby is the guy ... that Tubby isn’t interested ... that Capel is the likely choice ... that Capel is too unproven ... that Trent Johnson is the dark-horse candidate ... that Rick Barnes has toured John Paul Jones Arena ... that John Thompson III might be interested ... that John Calipari is in the mix ... that Jay Wright is a candidate for the job ... that Sean Miller is on the list, and so on and so on and so on.

Some of this chatter no doubt contains elements of truth. But as a wise friend noted today: “Information’s getting created because there’s a lack of it.” My friend lives in Charlottesville and has contacts who are usually privy to inside information about U.Va. sports, and “they know nothing [about the search],” he said.

And that’s how Craig Littlepage and others directly involved in the search, including his No. 2 man Jon Oliver, want it. U.Va. is working with a search firm out of Atlanta, and if the process goes as planned, I’m told, nobody will know whom Littlepage and Co. have chosen until that coach starts notifying his employer and soon-to-be-former players.

So, what have I learned, after working the phones and the laptop for more than a week? Not as much as I’d like to know. But I’m convinced Tubby Smith still heads Virginia’s wish list and that he’s still a possibility, his comments to the media in Minnesota nothwithstanding last weekend.

I’ve spoken to people who know Smith from his days as a Virginia Commonwealth University assistant coach, people who’ve stayed in touch with Tubby through the years, and they don’t believe he’s made up his mind. He has deep roots in this region, and the challenge of coaching in the ACC appeals to him. Now, whether it’s appealing enough for him to leave Minnesota after only two seasons, we’ll have to see.

Finally, my sense is that fans and media members may be higher on Capel than U.Va. officials are. My read on this one may be wrong, but Capel’s youth and inexperience concern at least some of the key decision-makers in the process. Personally, I believe Capel would be a brilliant hire, but it’s not my call, obviously.

UVa Insider, The Column - Doug Doughty

Some time ago, I quit archiving my UVa Insider columns because I was convinced I could find whatever I wanted with a simple google search.

So it was that I went looking for a column that I swear I remember writing in the spring of 2005, the last time that Virginia was looking for a new men’s basketball coach.

(Long story short, I couldn’t find the column).

My recollection is that I suggested the Cavaliers take a look at then-Memphis coach John Calipari.

Four years have elapsed and Calipari is still the Memphis coach. Virginia is looking again, having shown the door to its 2005 choice, Dave Leitao.

Virginia probably could have had Calipari in 2005, at which point he was making an estimated $1.035 million per year. Leitao got $900,000 that same year.

From the few Calipari-related stories I was able to find, he received a pay raise to $1.3 million after his first Final Four trip in 2006, got bumped to $1.8 million in 2007 and now makes somewhere in the range of $2.5 million.

He also gets a $2.5-million annuity if he stays past 2009-2010.

So, the Cavaliers probably don’t want to get in a bidding war for Calipari, not that they’d even want him, although he has worked his magic in the hometown of UVa’s major benefactor, Paul Tudor Jones.

Some would say that Calipari, who first came to prominence at Massachusetts, does not have the most pristine reputation. The Minutemen, led by Marcus Camby, were ranked No. 1 in the country and reached the Final Four in 1996 before finishing 36-2.

However, their spot in the record books was later vacated after they were found guilty of NCAA violations.

Calipari later coached the New Jersey Nets before surfacing at Memphis in 2000. ACC fans will remember that he was thought headed to N.C. State in 2006 before withdrawing his name at the 11th hour.

At Memphis, which belongs to Conference USA, Calipari has shown it is possible to become a perennial major power without belonging to one of the major conferences. It could be argued that he has succeeded with athletes who don’t bring the strongest academic credentials, although they apparently meet NCAA guidelines. They have to.

Who knows if any of the innuendo bothers Calipari, but if he were to get the job done at Virginia – or a school with the academic profile of a Virginia – it’s possible that his career would be considered in a completed different light.

Would I hire Calipari? If the search organization employed by the Cavaliers found out that Calipari was interested in talking, I’d certainly talk to him. Maybe the money would be prohibitive, but he would have a lot to offer Virginia and it would have a lot to offer him.

IN CASE YOU’RE interested, Calipari turned 50 this year. I turn 57 next week, so I can talk about age.

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith is 57 (he turns 58 on June 30), so he’s a young man, by my standards. A keen observer of the UVa men’s basketball scene told me Thursday that he thinks Smith is too old and that he (the keen observer) would like to think the next coach will be around for 10 years.

I’ve talked to other contacts, former Virginia players and other college coaches, who think that Smith is the absolute best fit for UVa. Given his mid-Atlantic roots, it’s a part of the country to which he could retire, or ease gracefully into retirement.

But, in multiple Minnesota media outlets this week, Smith has said he is staying at Minnesota. Where does that leave the Cavaliers? Waiting for Oklahoma to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament so they can talk to Jeff Capel? Seeing if assistant AD Jon Oliver’s ties can get Trent Johnson to make a jump from LSU?

Johnson, 52, has been a success everywhere he’s been but I’m still not sure he’s the home run that Virginia needs after making two NCAA trips in 13 years. We’re continuing to get votes on last week’s UVa Insider poll, which gave readers the option of voting for one of 12 possible targets.

Of the 705 votes that had been cast as of this afternoon, three had gone to Johnson. He could be the best coach of the bunch but he’s not going to open up the checkbooks.


 

Sooner time: Now
David Teel
March 27, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENN.

As a Duke freshman in 1994, Jeff Capel started at point guard for a team that lost the national championship game to Arkansas. He was disappointed, certainly, but not devastated.

"I remember thinking, 'You know, hey, man, we'll get back here at least once, twice, during (my) career. I'll have another chance to win it,' " Capel said. "We never got close. The furthest we got during my last three years was the second round.

"You certainly don't want to take it for granted, and you have to be able to hopefully lay everything out there on the line. You don't want to look back … and think about what could have been."

Capel will impart that message to his Oklahoma Sooners tonight before they face Syracuse in an NCAA tournament South Regional semifinal.

This is the first Sweet 16 for Oklahoma's players and the first as a coach for Capel, a 34-year-old whose rapid career ascension — "really abnormal" in his words — has not escaped University of Virginia officials searching for Dave Leitao's replacement.

Degrees of interest won't be determined until the Sooners conclude their season, but suffice to say Capel's seven years, four at VCU and three at Oklahoma, make him a natural candidate. As do his ties to the state and the ACC.

Capel has compiled a 147-73 record, 29-5 this season. But it's his playing pedigree that most impresses the Sooners.

"I don't think you can imagine how much the respect factor plays in," assistant coach Mark Cline said Thursday.

"That's the main reason I came here," said guard Willie Warren, the Big 12 freshman of the year. "I thought Capel was great at what he did. He knows what it takes to get to the next level. He was in the Final Four. If we listen to him, we should be able to get it done."

Funny thing is, coaching was the last profession Capel envisioned. He'd seen the daily strain on his father, also named Jeff, a Wake Forest assistant before landing big-whistle gigs at Fayetteville State, North Carolina A&T and Old Dominion.

But when back and stomach ailments curtailed his playing career, young Jeff returned to Duke, where coach Mike Krzyzewski created a position for him. The bug bit.

From there, it was on to ODU in 2000 to join his dad's staff. The reunion was short-lived — the Monarchs fired the elder Jeff following the 2001 season — and young Jeff moved up I-64 to work for VCU's Mack McCarthy.

"I never went on the road and recruited," Capel said. "I was the third (ranking assistant) at both places. My year at VCU, it was February. I'm conducting a study hall and the AD (athletic director Dick Sander) comes down and wants to talk to me. … And about 20 minutes later, he offers me the job as head coach."

A chorus of "say what?" echoed throughout the profession. VCU, an accomplished Colonial Athletic Association program, had hired a 27-year-old kid with no recruiting experience. He was Division I's youngest head coach.

Really abnormal, indeed.

Four winning seasons, an NCAA bid and near first-round upset of Wake Forest later, Capel was headed to Oklahoma to replace the now-infamous Kelvin Sampson, who had bailed to Indiana.

"It's always scary when you go to a new area," Cline said. "But recruiting is about relationships and people getting to know you. … I don't think it's any fab formula. It's just working hard and being good people. I think kids see that and parents see that and high school coaches see that.

"You just don't find many people out there better than Jeff and his family. He's sincere and brings his family virtues to the basketball program."

Capel and his wife, Kanika, an accomplished attorney and fellow North Carolinian, are expecting their second child. Their daughter, nearly 2, is named Cameron, after a certain ACC arena.

And it's the ACC that first linked Cline to the Capels. Cline was a starting forward at Wake Forest in the late 1980s when older Jeff was a Deacons assistant coach and young Jeff was a ballboy.

"I was probably the worst ballboy ever because all I wanted to do was shoot during timeouts or at halftime," Capel said.

Cline has coached under father — he's now a Charlotte Bobcats assistant — and son and has no issues working for a boss 15 years his junior. He admires how the son has evolved professionally, tinkering with strategy and motivational techniques, while resisting the trappings of ego and wealth.

"He's the same as he was in the seventh grade," Cline said.

Capel and his staff have recruited effectively in Oklahoma and Texas, signing acclaimed prospects such as Warren and sophomore forward Blake Griffin, this season's no-duh choice for national player of the year. The Sooners' class for next season includes two high school All-Americans and a nod to Capel's southeastern connections: guard Steven Pledger of Atlantic Shores in Chesapeake.

Capel, too, was a star, and 15 years ago, with less than four minutes remaining in the Southeast Regional final against Purdue and Glenn Robinson, he was swarmed in the left corner. Duke was nursing a six-point lead, but Capel unleashed an outrageous behind-the-back pass to Tony Lang for a layup.

These Sooners have similar freedoms.

"It's different now because I think these kids today are more sensitive, a lot more sensitive than they were back in my day," Capel said. "I don't know if any of these guys could play for the guy that I played for. But it is important to have freedom of expression and allow these guys to be able to make plays.

"One of the things I try to tell them, if you're going be a basketball player, you're going to have to be allowed to make mistakes. You're allowed to miss. We don't want to miss too much, but I don't want guys being afraid, playing afraid to make mistakes."

Like most former athletes, Capel still fancies himself a player, bum back and extra pounds aside. Consider the Sooners amused.

"When the guys are in layup lines, he's … doing a couple of moves like he's still got it," Warren laughed.

And like most athletes-turned-coaches, Capel enjoys his players' accomplishments more than he did his own.

"Probably my two favorite moments as a coach … this is one of them," Capel said after Oklahoma defeated Michigan in the second round, "and then my team at VCU when we won our conference tournament. Just at that level, to get to the NCAA tournament.

"For me, that one was a little bit more personal, being my second year and there having been so many questions about my hiring."

Thursday, on the eve of coaching his first regional semifinal, against Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim no less, Capel recounted his journey.

"I guess I was destined for this," he said. "God chose me for this for some reason. And He's guided me every step of the way."

The Capel file
JEFF CAPEL

BORN: Feb. 12, 1975.

HOMETOWN: Fayetteville, N.C.

COLLEGE: Duke.

NOTABLE: Four-year starter at Duke from 1994-97, averaging 12.4 points and 3.4 assists per game. ... Made a 30-foot shot at the buzzer to force overtime in a classic 1995 home game against North Carolina. ... Father, Jeff Capel Jr., was ODU's head coach for seven seasons.

Year-by-year
Season School W-L Postseason
2002-03 VCU 18-10 No postseason
2003-04 VCU 23-8 NCAA 1st round
2004-05 VCU 19-13 NIT
2005-06 VCU 19-10 No postseason
2006-07 Oklahoma 16-15 No postseason
2007-08 Oklahoma 23-12 NCAA 2nd round
2008-09 Oklahoma 29-5 NCAA Sweet 16
Overall 7 seasons 147-73 (66.8%)
 

Could Grant’s be headed for Florida rather than Alabama?
By Tim Pearrell
Published: March 27, 2009

Is Anthony Grant now a candidate-in-waiting for Florida?

Just Wednesday, the Virginia Commonwealth University basketball coach was being given the on-campus VIP treatment at Alabama, a school in search of a coach. Yesterday, attention shifted to a scenario that could land Grant back at Florida, where he served as an assistant and is held in high regard by the athletic director.

In Alabama, The Birmingham News reported that during his day-long courtship in Tuscaloosa Grant was offered the Alabama job at a salary of more than $2 million per year and given a five days to inform Tide officials whether he would accept.

Grant did not talk with VCU athletic administrators yesterday, and there was no announcement from him, VCU or Alabama.

The scenario that could put Grant in Florida starts at the Univeristy of Kentucky, where a decision on coach Billy Gillispie's future is expected today, according to espn.com. If the Wildcats and Gillispie part ways, as is widely anticipated, there is a possibility that Florida coach Billy Donovan could be persuaded to take the Kentucky job, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Donovan turned down Kentucky two years ago. Instead, he signed with the NBA's Orlando Magic -- and then did an about-face, returning to Florida just as the Gators were set to hire Grant.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley had flown into Richmond to meet with Grant when Foley got word that Donovan was having second thoughts.

Grant was Foley's top choice then, and a source said that has not changed.

Florida represents Grant's dream job. Before being hired at VCU three years ago, the Miami native spent 10 seasons in Gainesville as Donovan's assistant and helped the Gators to the first of consecutive national championships.

In Florida, The Gainesville Sun reported that a source said Foley "wants assurances that Grant would be available if Donovan was to leave" before granting permission for Kentucky to talk to Donovan.

Grant has not returned repeated messages since he talked with Alabama officials on Sunday.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani, through a school spokesperson, declined to talk about Grant's situation.

Two longtime Rams fans, meanwhile, seemed resigned that Grant is likely to leave. VCU is 76-25 in his three seasons, with three Colonial Athletic Association regular-season titles and two trips to the NCAA tournament.

"I think the feeling is sooner or later he's going to leave us," Rick Childers said. "I've seen every game he's coached. He's a great coach. I think he will do well wherever he goes. I wish him all the best in the world. I'll be a fan of his forever."

Said Jim Gossip Sr.: "However this thing breaks, VCU will be fine moving forward. This is an absolutely great situation. It is coveted by a lot of people."

 

Virginia looks to start a new roll
By Jay Jenkins
Published: March 27, 2009

For the third straight weekend, Virginia’s baseball team will tackle an opponent that enjoyed a trip to the College World Series a season ago.

After upending Florida State in the lone game held during a soggy weekend at Davenport Field, the Cavaliers (21-2, 5-2 ACC) collapsed in the final two games against Miami, suffering their first two losses of the year.

While the closing stages of conference play appear promising on paper, No. 8 Virginia faces a daunting task tonight against No. 5 North Carolina (19-4, 5-3) on the road.

The Tar Heels, the preseason favorite to win the ACC, boast the nation’s 11th-best earned run average (3.17) and rank fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.2).

Considered to have the deepest pitching staff in the league, UNC is led by Adam Warren and Alex White. The two have combined for 49 victories in their careers.

“North Carolina has always been known for great pitching. It just so happened for the last three or four years that they have not only had great pitching but they have also had a great offense,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “That’s why they have been in the College World Series in Omaha for three years in a row.

“This year on the mound they are better than they have been. They have three top-flight starters that have all gained College World Series experience under their belt, and they have some tremendous relievers.”

The Tar Heels did showcase some flaws, however, as they lost a weekend set at home to Duke. It marked the first series loss for UNC coach Mike Fox since 2007.

“I have said this all year but the league is a lot deeper this year,” O’Connor said. “Duke has a great team and we saw that last weekend, but I’m certain will get North Carolina’s best effort this weekend.

“You know when you face North Carolina that you have to be able to match them on the mound.”

Virginia, of course, has been even better on the mound this season. Only two teams (Texas and Arizona State) have a better ERA than the 2.39 mark posted by pitching coach Karl Kuhn’s staff.

“We have had a number of guys step up do the job this season,” O’Connor said. “This weekend will present a new challenge, but I expect our players to perform at a high level and rise to the challenge.”

The Cavaliers’ offense, which ranks in the top five nationally in batting average, runs, hits and stolen bases, has been equally impressive.

Timely hitting, however, was lacking at times during the weekend series with Miami — UVa stranded 27 runners in the three-game set.

“To beat a quality opponent in this league, that’s just not going to cut it,” O’Connor said. “That’s unfortunately what it came down to.”

For a youthful team that will likely have only two juniors (Tyler Cannon and Franco Valdes) on the field tonight, the challenge of playing a national powerhouse on the road could be monumentally telling.

“I’m not that concerned about it, it’s just a question mark,” O’Connor said. “That is always the big question mark with a young team, how they react ... that’s the ups and downs of a college baseball season.

“I think they’ve got a lot of character in them. It means a lot to them obviously. I think they’ll handle it the right way.”

Rookie catcher and designated hitter John Hicks said after the Miami series that the players in Virginia’s clubhouse are not leaning on their lack of experience as a crutch.

“I have never heard any of us say anything about how young we are,” the Goochland product said. “It doesn’t make any difference to us. We are all pretty good ball players. Age doesn’t matter to us. We just want to come out and produce every day.”

Extra bases

Virginia reliever Neal Davis was unable to pitch last weekend against Miami with shoulder stiffness, but returned to log an inning Wednesday night in a 7-5 win over Towson. O’Connor said Davis traveled with the team to Chapel Hill, N.C., on Thursday. … Freshman left-hander Danny Hultzen (5-0), who will start tonight, is tied for third in the country in victories.

 

Tar Heels pose high hurdle for Cavaliers
No. 8 Virginia heads to Chapel Hill for weekend series against North Carolina, hopes to topple last year’s national runner-up
Abbey Lou Hendricks, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Published: Friday, March 27 2009

Junior closer Matt Packer has notched an ERA of 2.25 this season in 10 appearances. The Cavalier lefthander has only allowed 12 hits in 16 innings of action for the Cavaliers while recording 24 strikeouts. The Virginia baseball team will visit Chapel Hill this weekend to play a three-game series against North Carolina.

As expected, the Cavaliers (21-2, 5-2 ACC), coming off two losses to Miami but still considered one of the nation’s top 25 teams, beat Towson Tuesday 13-4 and Wednesday 7-5. The team showed less energy during the second victory, though, allowing the Tigers to score two runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Against No. 5 North Carolina, Virginia must stay sharp in all facets of its game. Although the Tar Heels (18-5, 5-3 ACC) have struggled during the past week, the Cavaliers cannot take them lightly. The Tar Heels had a 30-6 record in Chapel Hill last season and are still dangerous at home.

“North Carolina’s a great team,” sophomore centerfielder Jarrett Parker said.

Coming off its first series loss since an April 2007 series against Duke — which had not taken a series from North Carolina since 2001 — the Tar Heels will be eager to return to conference competition. North Carolina also dropped a 2-1 game against Charlotte Wednesday and will be looking for a win.

Coach Brian O’Connor said each team’s mental decisions, both offensive and defensive, could make or break the Cavaliers’ chances against the Tar Heels.

“When it’s two good baseball teams, it’s those little things that are the difference between winning and losing,” O’Connor said.

Averaging an impressive 10.2 runs per game, Virginia is playing better offensively this season than North Carolina. The Tar Heels, however, possess a tough pitching staff with a combined earned run average of only 3.03.

Virginia’s success, then, may come down to how well its starting pitchers can bounce back from a lackluster series against Miami. Even freshman lefthander Danny Hultzen, who averages 1.4 strikeouts per inning and tallied the only win against the Hurricanes, struggled slightly last weekend. Both freshman righthander Will Roberts and senior righthander Andrew Carraway, meanwhile, were overpowered by Hurricane hitters. To defeat the Tar Heels, Virginia needs to be able to count on Hultzen, Roberts and Carraway to keep men off base.
“A lot of guys are gonna have to step up,” Parker said. “We’re really gonna have to come together.”

The Cavaliers also hope to see sophomore rightfielder Dan Grovatt emerge from his week-long slump. Grovatt, who still leads the team in hitting with a .414 batting average, will seek to improve on his 2 for 15 combined batting performance since last Friday’s game against Miami. O’Connor rested Grovatt Wednesday against Towson to give the star outfielder time to recuperate.

Another player the Cavaliers will be counting on is Parker, whose .402 average is second best on the team. As the Cavaliers’ leader-off batter, Parker will look to take advantage of his team-high .509 on-base percentage and give Virginia’s sluggers chances to drive in runs.
One of those batters with the potential to plate Parker is sophomore second baseman Phil Gosselin, who will look to keep putting up big numbers for the Cavaliers. Since last Friday, he’s driven in nine runs and notched eight hits in 19 plate appearances.

Virginia’s game Friday begins at 7 p.m.

Cavaliers, Tar Heels Square Off in Top-10 Encounter
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/26/2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 8 Virginia baseball team battles a Top-20 foe for the third straight weekend when it takes on fifth-ranked North Carolina at the new Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., this weekend. The teams will face off at 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be broadcast by WINA 1070-AM and are available online with V Pass. The Saturday game will be webcast by ACC Select.

The two teams are familiar foes. North Carolina is the most frequent opponent of the Cavaliers in program history, with the teams playing 256 total games. UNC leads the all-time series against UVa, 165-87-4.

The teams split four games last year, with the Tar Heels winning two of three in Charlottesville before Virginia prevailed 8-7 in 11 innings in the ACC Baseball Tournament. The teams have split the last 10 meetings.

UVa is wrapping up a brutal ACC stretch in which it is competing against each of the league’s 2008 College World Series participants in consecutive weeks. Two weeks ago the Cavaliers played host to Florida State. Miami came to Charlottesville last weekend, and Virginia travels to North Carolina this weekend.

UVa is 2-2 in the stretch so far (1-0 vs. FSU, 1-2 vs. Miami). Virginia is the lone ACC school to face these three teams in consecutive weeks this year.

Dan Grovatt (So., Tabernacle, N.J.) leads the Cavaliers in batting at .414 – fifth in the ACC. Jarrett Parker (So., Stafford, Va.) ranks seventh in the ACC in batting (.400). He leads the ACC in triples (four) and total bases (67) and is among the top 10 in nearly every offensive category.

Virginia leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally in team batting average (.374 entering the week). The Cavaliers also are fifth in the country in runs (215) and hits (282).

The Cavaliers’ pitching staff ranks third in the country in ERA (2.39 entering the week). UVa also stands third in strikeouts per nine innings (10.4) and fourth in hits allowed per nine innings (6.65)

The defense also has been a strong point. Virginia ranks third in the ACC in team fielding at .969. Since committing a season-high five errors Feb. 27 vs. Fordham, the Cavaliers have made only 11 miscues since. UVa had a .949 fielding percentage in the first eight games, but has a .980 mark over the last 15.

Virginia is coming off two midweek wins over Towson. The Cavaliers won 13-4 on Tuesday before taking a 7-5 decision Wednesday.



 

McLean finishes 3rd at NCAA meet
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: March 27, 2009

In College Station, Texas, Virginia sophomore Matt McLean placed third in the 500 freestyle Thursday to lead the Cavaliers on the first day of the 2009 NCAA championships.

McLean clocked a time of 4:10.41, behind winner Jason Basson of Arizona (4:08.92) and second-place Michael Klueth of Texas.

McLean, the 2008 ACC swimmer of the year, earned his third career All-America honor. Last year, he earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free and also earned honorable mention accolades in the 200 free. He will also compete in the 200 free and 1,650 free later this week.

Virginia in ninth place after the first day of the NCAA Championships with 47 points

Texas is first (171), followed by Auburn (141).

The 500 free proved to be a strong event for Virginia. In addition to McLean’s third-place finish, fellow sophomore John Snawerdt took 10th overall, touching in 4:14.26, while junior Darren Ankosko placed 15th in 4:18.52.

Virginia’s 200 freestyle relay team of Scot Robison, Lee Robertson, Peter Geissinger and John Azar earned honorable mention All-America honors with a 13th-place finish, clocking a time of 1:18.69.

The 400 medley relay team of Eric Olesen, Ryan Hurley, Robertson and Robison also earned honorable mention All-America honors, marking the first such honor for a 400 medley relay since 2004.

 

McLean Places Third in 500 Freestyle
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/26/2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Matt McLean, a sophomore on the Virginia men’s swimming team, placed third in the 500 freestyle Thursday to lead the Cavaliers on the first day of the 2009 NCAA Championships. UVa earned 47 points and currently stands in ninth place with two days remaining.

McLean, a native of Sterling, Va., clocked a time of 4:10.41, behind event winner Jason Basson of Arizona (4:08.92) and second-place finisher Michael Klueth of Texas (4:09.32). His third-place finish is the highest of any Cavalier since Pat Mellors was third in the 400 individual medley at the 2007 NCAA Championships.

McLean, the 2008 ACC Swimmer of the Year, earned his third career All-America honor. Last year as a freshman he earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free and also earned honorable mention accolades in the 200 freestyle. He will also compete in the 200 freestyle and 1650 freestyle later this week.

The 500 freestyle proved to be a strong event for Virginia. In addition to McLean’s third-place finish, fellow sophomore John Snawerdt took 10th overall, touching in 4:14.26, while junior Darren Ankosko placed 15th in 4:18.52. It was the second honorable mention All-America honor of Snawerdt’s career and the first for Ankosko.

The 400 medley relay team of Eric Olesen, Ryan Hurley, Robertson and Robison also earned honorable mention All-America honors, marking the first such honor for a 400 medley relay since 2004. The Cavalier quartet finished 10th in a time of 3:08.90.

Virginia’s 200 freestyle relay team of Scot Robison, Lee Robertson, Peter Geissinger and John Azar earned honorable mention All-America honors with a 13th-place finish, clocking a time of 1:18.69.


 

Perfect Virginia looks to match No. 9 Maryland in Saturday tilt
Terrapins seek to stain Cavaliers unblemished record for second-straight season
Matt Diton, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Published: Friday, March 27 2009

Senior defender Chad Gaudet and the Cavaliers will play ACC rival Maryland Saturday at home. Last year, Virginia’s hopes of a perfect season were ruined by the Terrapins. It is time to polish the helmets and carefully wash the jerseys, as national television cameras will invade Charlottesville Saturday to capture a clash of ACC lacrosse titans, No. 1 Virginia and No. 9 Maryland, at Klöckner Stadium.

The Cavaliers (10-0), having already beat two of the nation’s top teams in Syracuse and Johns Hopkins, will look to kickoff their conference season strong against the Terrapins. They will also seek revenge: Maryland (6-2, 2-0 ACC) ended the Cavaliers’ run at perfection last season in College Park.

If the top-ranked Cavaliers wish to deliver some payback and extend their undefeated record to 11 games, offensive success will be crucial. This season, Virginia has not struggled to score, averaging more than 14 goals per contest. The Cavaliers have benefitted from strong seasons thus far from attack Garrett Billings and midfielder Brian Carroll, who have scored 26 and 17 goals, respectively. Senior attack Danny Glading also has contributed to the Cavaliers’ impressive play. Glading is tied for second on the team with 32 points and netted his 100th career goal during the Cavaliers’ previous game against Johns Hopkins.

Maryland, meanwhile, appears to present several possible matchup problems for the Cavaliers. With a distinct size advantage against Virginia, the Terrapins could have the edge if the game were to become physical — which is definitely a possibility considering the fierce nature of ACC competition.

Virginia coach Dom Starsia said he is aware of the challenge this year’s Maryland squad could pose.

“I think the first impression that any one fan is gonna have of Maryland is that they’re just huge for a college lacrosse team,” Starsia said. “It’s pretty unusual to have two kids ... who also happen to be 6-foot-5 and in excess of 250 pounds. It’s a very athletic team. These games are always the most physical ones that we play every year.”

If history is any indication, Virginia could use its speed and agility to successfully defeat its larger foe. Glading said he feels the Cavaliers also can use the teams’ difference in playing techniques to their advantage.

“I would say we play completely different styles of lacrosse,” Glading said. “They’re a little bit more deliberate. They do like to run up and down the field a little bit, but I would take pride in saying we’re a little bit quicker on offense ... It’s definitely gonna be a challenge. They’ve got huge guys, so we need to be moving smart, and we’ve got to be efficient.”

Virginia also must be aware that the Terrapins enter this weekend’s matchup with extra incentive. Maryland can clinch an ACC title with a victory against Virginia.

Helping the Terrapins will be sophomore attackers Grant Catalino and Ryan Young, who have led the Terrapins throughout the season. Catalino leads the Terrapins in goals and points with 18 and 32, respectively, while Young ranks second in goals with 12 scores.

Although the two teams have different styles of play, they both have reason to seek victory. Virginia looks to leave the game with its undefeated record and top ranking intact, while Maryland would like nothing more than for history to repeat itself and to once again hand the Cavaliers their first loss.

 

Major spring changes
By Norm Wood
March 22, 2009

After one of the most tumultuous offseasons of his coaching career, the start of spring football practice Saturday had to be a welcome change in Virginia coach Al Groh's world.

Groh had to replace four assistant coaches, including his son, Mike, who was U.Va.'s offensive coordinator for three seasons. Groh also had to say goodbye to 10 starters, including running back Cedric Peerman, tight end John Phillips, wide receiver Kevin Ogletree (early entry to National Football League) and linebacker Clint Sintim.

While the implementation of new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon's spread offense will be the biggest project of the spring, it won't be the only item on the agenda for Groh, who is entering a pivotal make-or-break season. Here's a look at 10 issues to be addressed in U.Va.'s spring practices:

1How long will it take to get players up to speed with all the changes?
U.Va.'s players will need to get used to the work habits of Brandon and new assistant coaches Latrell Scott (wide receivers), Bob Trott (linebackers), Chad Wilt (defensive line) and Ron Prince (special teams), who returns to U.Va. after spending three years as Kansas State's coach.

2Will Vic Hall split time on both sides of the ball this spring?
He'll spend the spring at quarterback, according to Groh. Hall, right, who played quarterback for the first time in college last November in U.Va.'s 17-14 loss at Virginia Tech, will work under center with scholarship players Marc Verica, Riko Smalls and Jameel Sewell, who returns to the team after a one-year absence. Hall played quarterback in high school at Gretna High, amassing 13,770 yards of total offense.

3With Sewell back, what's the pecking order at quarterback?
Though Groh said Sewell, left, enters spring behind Hall and Verica in terms of snaps received, one has to believe there's really no established depth chart. Verica completed 63.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,037 yards, eight touchdowns and a troubling 16 interceptions after being forced into the starting role when Peter Lalich was dismissed in September.

4Who will the quarterbacks target downfield?
U.Va. is in unfamiliar territory under Groh — no experienced tight end. Joe Torchia, right, who started two games last season, has to be considered the favorite to start. At wide receiver, Jared Green (12 catches for 144 yards last season), Kris Burd, Dontrell Inman and Staton Jobe lead an unproven group.

5Who might be the most important player on the field in the spread offense?
Keep an eye on running back Mikell Simpson, who Groh described as already having played in a spread-like role. In 2007, Simpson had 570 rushing yards, 402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He has fully recovered from a broken left clavicle sustained in November.

6How important will a little bit of a head start be for freshman Will Hill?
Hill, a Lafayette High graduate who enrolled in January at U.Va., is participating in spring practice. The Cavaliers have Matt Conrath (four sacks last season) back as one starting defensive end, but the other end spot is open. Hill will compete against Kevin Crawford, Zane Parr, Andrew Devlin and Tory Allen.

7Who will emerge at the suddenly uncertain linebacker positions?
With starters Clint Sintim, Jon Copper and Antonio Appleby all gone, some candidates need to step up. Denzel Burrell, left, (48 tackles last season), Aaron Clark and Cam Johnson will work at the outside linebacker positions. Woodside graduate Jared Detrick and Gloucester product Aaron Taliaferro also could factor in, with Taliaferro getting a shot at inside linebacker. Darren Childs, Darnell Carter, Terrence Fells-Danzer and Steve Greer are to be watched at inside linebacker.

8Will Prince do more than just lead special teams?
His last five-year stint in Charlottesville (2001-05) included three seasons as U.Va.'s offensive coordinator. This time, Groh said Prince, left, will be responsible for special teams. Last season, U.Va. was 70th in the nation in kickoff-return yardage (20.67), 72nd in kickoff-return yardage defense (21.61) and 92nd in punt-return yardage (6.59).

9Speaking of special teams, what's the deal at place-kicker?
Groh said Yannick Reyering, right, who was 6-for-11 on field-goal attempts last season, will kick in the spring. His future with the team will be evaluated before the season. He'll compete with walk-on Robert Randolph, who made three of four field goals last season, and sophomore Chris Hinkebein.

10How much will experience on both sides of the line help the Cavaliers?
It'll be huge, considering how much transition U.Va. is going through (spread offense; replacing three starting linebackers, a safety and a cornerback). U.Va. has four starters back on the offensive line, but Landon Bradley has to replace probable top-five draft pick Eugene Monroe at left tackle. Conrath and defensive tackles Nate Collins and Nick Jenkins form a good nucleus while the back eight matures in U.Va.'s 3-4 defense.

Team set to do damage against Duke
Virginia seeks to use win against James Madison as springboard for remainder of season schedule
Ben Gomez, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Published: Friday, March 27 2009

The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team appears to have gotten back on track following three losses this season against ranked opponents, defeating No. 19 James Madison 18-9 Tuesday night in Harrisonburg, Va.

There is no rest for the weary, however, as the Cavaliers (7-3, 1-2 ACC) face No. 4 Duke this weekend. The Blue Devils (8-2, 1-1 ACC) will be a tough conference test for the Cavaliers. The visitors will be seeking revenge after the Cavaliers knocked them out of the ACC Tournament last season.

On paper, the matchup appears to boast two fairly evenly matched ACC teams.

It will, however, mark one of the few times this season that the game’s leading goal scorer will start opposite Virginia. Duke senior attack Carolyn Davis leads the Blue Devils with 33 goals, while Cavalier senior midfielder Blair Weymouth has 29 goals this season. Besides controlling Weymouth, the Blue Devils also face the task of attempting to contain senior Ashley McCulloch. The midfielder, who has dished out 21 assists this spring, has played a large role in setting up the Cavaliers’ scoring opportunities. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, have their own do-it-all player as well: senior attack Caroline Cryer, who leads Duke with 18 assists and 27 draw controls.

The Cavaliers’ season started on a promising note with a victory against their first ranked opponent of the season — then-No. 3 Syracuse. Since then, however, Virginia has been in a slump, losing the last three of its six games. The Cavaliers were not as successful in their game plan against those three opponents. They lost or tied the draw control battle in several games and their shooting percentage was far below that of their opposition. The Cavaliers have only averaged 11 goals per game in the six-game stretch after averaging 17 nettings per contest in the first four games of the year.

Going into this weekend’s matchup, Virginia will look to improve its offensive production.

“We need to get back into that groove,” Weymouth said. “Right now it has been a little bit frustrating, but we have been having good practices so hopefully in the next games we can come out and be the team that beat Syracuse.”

This weekend also is an opportunity for Virginia to prove that it is indeed the team that possesses four All-Americans and is a viable contender for a national championship. For the Cavaliers to make a run in the postseason, they will need to regain their early season form, building off the momentum earned after the win against JMU.

“We are a very good team, and I think there are a lot of good teams,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “A lot of our games have come down to one goal; twice we were excited to have the win, but a one-goal game could have flipped either way. We just need to make sure we stay together, stay positive, and keep getting better.”