11/12/02 - Power Shortage

A total of six potential starters or key contributors did not play for the Virginia men's basketball team on Sunday.

Against Duke or Maryland, that likely would have caused problems for Virginia coach Pete Gillen. Against exhibition foe Big Apple Basketball, however, it was more of an inconvenience than anything.

Senior forward Travis Watson, playing at times on the perimeter as a small forward, scored 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Cavaliers toppled Big Apple Basketball 84-60 before a sparse crowd of 1,712 at University Hall.

Sophomore Elton Brown had 23 points for the Cavaliers while Cal transfer Nick Vander Laan had 14 points and 24 rebounds. Rutgers transfer Todd Billet also added 13 points for the Cavaliers.

"I thought we played hard defensively and shared the ball. There were some good positives in our first exhibition game. … We saw some good things," Gillen said.

Billet, Watson, Vander Laan, Brown and freshman walk-on guard Billy Campbell comprised Virginia's starting lineup as a rash of both injuries and suspensions limited the team's roster.

Sophomores Keith Jenifer, Jermaine Harper and Jason Clark all served a one-game suspension for the always nebulous violation of team rules. Gillen would not elaborate on the nature of the violations and only would say that it stemmed from actions over the summer.

"It was decided over the summer they were not going to play those guys. It's just a violation of team rules. That's all I want to say. We decided that a while ago and we were going to stick to our guns," Gillen said. "It's a privilege to play basketball at the University of Virginia. If we lose, we have to do what's right. We don't have a lot of rules but we want them to go by the rules."

Sophomore Devin Smith and freshman Derrick Byars also did not play Sunday. Smith is still recovering and getting into playing condition after surgery to repair his meniscus in his left knee in September. Byars sprained his left ankle late last week and though he's no longer on crutches, Gillen said he could not have played. Both players could, and Gillen emphasized could, play in the team's final exhibition contest against the One World All-Stars next Sunday.

Junior point guard Majestic Mapp was not in attendance Sunday as he was visiting an undisclosed specialist in regards to his right knee that was recently experiencing more soreness. Mapp originally injured the knee in August 2000 and has missed the last two seasons. His comeback this season was derailed by the soreness and Gillen has put no specific timetable on if and when he'll return to the court.

As for the actual game played Sunday, Gillen fielded a lineup that might get its one and only use this season. The bulky frontline - the trio averages about 260 pounds and a little over 6-foot-8 per man - actually had Watson playing on the perimeter with Brown and Vander Laan playing power forward and center, respectively.

In what was likely a brief stint as a swingman, Watson connected on three of his six 3-point attempts and made several other outside jumpers.

"We certainly had a different group in there with the three big, strong guys playing together. We could play about eight guys. … Travis will play the power forward position but he's going to be inside and outside," Gillen said. "Nick or Elton will usually play the five spot. It will be a two-headed center. … I don't think that Travis will play a lot of three this year but we have different options."

Watson had enough inside power moves Sunday to show it's that area of the floor where he still excels best but he did enjoy his limited game as a small forward.

"I'm just trying to work on my versatility and this was a good way to show it. I wasn't down there banging a lot but I was still boxing out and going after the rebounds," Watson said.

As is often the case with an exhibition opener, the play at times could best be described as ragged, but as is even more the case, the UVa players were pleased just to play against somebody other than themselves.

"It felt good. After practicing for nearly three weeks, it's nice to play somebody else than your teammates. I thought we played well. We didn't have some of our big-time players playing but we still came out with the victory," Brown said.