Beating Hokies gives Cavs 'sweet taste'
By John Galinsky / Daily Progress staff writer
December 3, 2003

Funny how one game can change the perception of an entire season.
Going into Virginia’s regular-season finale against Virginia Tech last Saturday, even some of the Cavaliers said they were at least mildly disappointed with how things had gone in 2003.
Their ACC championship aspirations had been snuffed out by a series of close losses. They had finished .500 in league play and, once again, had failed to secure any of the top four bowl slots in the ACC pecking order.
While UVa’s 35-21 triumph over the Hokies didn’t change those facts, it sure made them easier to swallow.
“This feels so good,” said senior safety Jamaine Winborne. “It’s been a crazy season, a lot of ups and downs. I know a lot of people had doubts after we lost to Maryland. Now I think people know we might not have won the ACC - that was our goal coming into the season - but we’re still coming out with our heads high.”
The Cavaliers were 5-5 after their 27-17 loss at Maryland on Nov. 13, but they closed the regular season with impressive victories over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. If they can defeat Pitt in the Continental Tire Bowl, they will finish 8-5 - almost matching last year’s 9-5 mark.
“We’re trying to salvage the season,” said junior defensive end Chris Canty. “We didn’t do everything we wanted to do this year, but we can leave with a sweet taste in our mouths.”
Former UVa coach George Welsh said he was told that the most important things he could do every year was beat North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers defeated both of those rivals this season. The victory over the Hokies was their first since 1998.
“I don’t want to say it would be fine if we lost all the other games as long as we won this one,” Winborne said. “But this is the one we really, really wanted.”

Alumni support. Angelo Crowell finished his collegiate career last year as one of the best linebackers in UVa history, but he went 0-4 against Virginia Tech. Still, he had to take some satisfaction in the small role he played in ending that losing streak.
Crowell called freshman linebacker Ahmad Brooks early last week and offered encouragement and words of advice.
“He told me how important it was to win this game,” Brooks said. “He also said some stuff about what Kevin Jones likes to do and what his tendencies are.”
Brooks must have been listening. He made nine tackles as the Cavaliers held Jones, one of the nation’s leading rushers, to 75 yards on 25 carries.
“It was intense, just like everyone said it would be,” Brooks said. “We’ve got bragging rights in the state again. You could tell everyone really wanted it bad.”

Honor roll. Three Cavaliers received ACC player of the week honors for their performances against the Hokies: senior quarterback Matt Schaub, sophomore tight end Heath Miller and freshman linebacker Kai Parham.
Schaub (who shared the offensive back honor with Maryland tailback Bruce Perry) completed 32 of 46 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. Miller had 13 catches for 145 yards to earn the offensive lineman accolade for the second straight week, while Parham was named rookie of the week after making nine tackles, six unassisted.

 

Cavaliers look to sell 30K tickets
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
December 3, 2003

After taking 22,000 fans to last year’s inaugural Continental Tire Bowl, Virginia coach Al Groh was asked what he’d like to do for an encore when the Cavaliers return to Charlotte later this month.

Groh, smarter than your average whip, didn’t even have to think about an answer.

“Thirty,” said the coach with an instant response. “I think 30,000 is a very realistic goal to achieve.”

If the early response is any indication, the Wahoo Nation may reach or even surpass that goal. Only two days after the bowl invitation was announced, Virginia had sold 12,300 tickets as of closing time Tuesday.

That’s 2,000 tickets ahead of last year’s UVa bowl ticket sales after two days. In fact, the school’s ticket office was so flooded by orders on Monday that it caused problems with the entire university’s telephone system.

Dick Mathias, in charge of the school’s athletic ticket department, has decided to extend hours for sales from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday. The office will also be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday and the phone numbers are 800-542-8821 or (434) 924-8821.

UVa’s travel image

It is important for Virginia’s fans to make a statement in the postseason. For years, fairly or unfairly, UVa was branded as a school that didn’t travel well to bowls.

Last year’s turnout in Charlotte opened a few eyes. Even Gator Bowl officials, which have always seemed to frown on Virginia as a candidate for its game, noticed the difference and admitted that the perception of the Cavaliers’ ability to travel had changed.

Certainly Groh has higher aspirations for his football program and he would be the first to remark that he can’t take the Cavaliers where they want to go unless the fan base offers its support in the postseason.

Joys of the Tire Bowl

For those who made the easy drive to Charlotte last season and experienced an overwhelming victory over Big East runner-up West Virginia, they fully understand the enjoyment of the Continental Tire Bowl. For those who didn’t make the trip, there’s a second chance.

“I’d like to see the momentum continue,” Groh said. “Our fans really rallied behind the team last year. None of us knew what to expect by going to a new bowl, but when everybody got there, they found out it was really a great game to go to.”

The coach pointed out how the city of Charlotte embraced the Virginia program and its fans. The city closed down several blocks downtown for a party and pep rally on the eve of last year’s game.

“Just the fact that fans can park their car and walk to the stadium, a big-league stadium right downtown, is a luxury,” Groh said. “It can be a turnaround trip, if that’s what fans want it to be. Get the ticket and put the rubber to the road and you’re there.”

Even a one-night trip requires minimum organization.

Virginia even picked up a lot of fans that were unaffiliated when they arrived at the stadium, which impressed the Cavs’ coach.

“We would like for Charlotte to be a Virginia town again,” Groh said.

After all, two of the top Wahoo players hail from Charlotte: tailback Alvin Pearman and defensive end Chris Canty. Both missed last year’s bowl game due to injuries but are expected to contribute significantly to this year’s game.

This should be one of the more compelling bowl matchups with standout offensive players on both sides of the ball: Matt Schaub, Heath Miller, Pearman, and last year’s bowl MVP tailback Wali Lundy.

Pittsburgh offers up the nation’s top receiver, Larry Fitzgerald and the Big East’s top passing quarterback, Rod Rutherford.

The Panthers lost the Big East title in the final game, a home loss to Miami on Saturday night, which turned up the heat against Coach Walt Harris. Rumblings from Pitt fans have hinted at Harris’ inability to take the program to the next level.

Perhaps the chief criticism of Harris is his record in big games. In seven seasons, Harris’ Pitt teams are 2-20 against opponents that finished the season in the AP’s top 25. In only three seasons, by comparison, Groh has seven wins over top 25 teams.

Only two of the teams that the Panthers defeated this season (Boston College 7-5, Virginia Tech 8-4) had winning records and both are unranked. Of Harris’ 44 career wins, 15 have been against teams from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference or other mid-majors, while 11 other wins have come against Rutgers and Temple.

Groh believes it is significant that his team battled back from adversity and a series of close losses to win its last two regular season games.

“I’m very happy for our players. I’m very appreciative and very proud of them,” Groh said. “That’s two years in a row they’ve done it.

“The phrase I used to identify this team earlier was that collectively and individually they can take a punch, get staggered a little bit, but you can’t knock ‘em out,” Groh said. “There’s no glass jaws out there. This was two Novembers in a row that after having been in a positive position early in the year, we really had our backs against the wall.

“You could certainly - if you want to think in this vein - see the scenario where things could go south for us,” Groh said. “In each case, they bowed up, saw the future and stepped up against some significant opponents.”

All that’s left is to do it one more time on Dec. 27.
 

Looks like cold winter for hoops in Virginia
By BOB MOLINARO, The Virginian-Pilot
© December 3, 2003

A salute to George Mason.

Not the Virginia patriot, the Patriots’ men’s basketball team.

In its college basketball preview issue, Sports Illustrated projects Mason’s place in the next NCAA tournament, predicting it will be the 53rd team selected to the 65-team field.

Let’s hope the ranking doesn’t go to the Pats’ heads.

Likewise, we trust Hampton University can contain its excitement over S.I.’s projection of the Pirates as the 64th-rated team in the tournament.

George Mason and Hampton, the magazine contends, are most likely to represent their conferences in the tournament.

For now, this is the best spin you can put on the state of college basketball in the commonwealth, where the two most touted teams in the state are expected to finish outside the nation’s top 50.

In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s no real hype for the University of Virginia right now. Can’t imagine why not. Unless it was that 16-16 record the Cavaliers put together last season.

Virginia Tech? C’mon now, unless Marcus Vick takes over at point guard for the Hokies, football remains a 12-month obsession in Blacksburg.

Then there are all the other Division I programs — Norfolk State, Old Dominion, James Madison, William and Mary, VCU, VMI, Liberty, Radford and Richmond — striving to make a breakthrough, working to create the kind of season that fans will want to invest in emotionally.

For starters, these teams could try to win more than they lose, no sure thing if recent history is any guide.

Maybe you haven’t noticed, but college basketball in Virginia has shrunk from the spotlight. It’s one thing not to be mentioned in the same breath with hoop havens like North Carolina, Kentucky or Indiana. It’s another when somebody has to hold a mirror under the collective noses of Virginia basketball.

What we need to shake things up, and to shake off the coming winter doldrums, is a team that can surprise us. The whereabouts of that cold-weather comforter is unknown. Of the programs cited in this space, only George Mason, Hampton, VCU and Richmond are coming off winning seasons, with the Spiders but a single game above the break-even mark. And none of the teams are what you’d call buzz-worthy.

Maybe Virginia really is turning into football state. But if so, is that because of the bowl-bound programs at Tech and U.Va.? Or because the basketball being played around these parts no longer is as diverting as it once seemed?

At one time, both U.Va. and Virginia Tech were players on the national basketball stage. If you don’t believe that, ask somebody who remembers those days. Your grandfather, for example.

Nobody expects to see the appearance of another Ralph Sampson. Or even a Mark West or Kenny Gattison at ODU.

That doesn’t mean we can’t hope for the emergence of a surprising little team to help us recall the days when Virginia produced interesting basketball.

Could ODU be that team?

What about Norfolk State?

Well, the Spartans have already lost to Division II Virginia Union, but ODU came within a possession or two of upsetting nationally ranked St. Joseph’s.

With the Colonial Athletic Association wide open, it doesn’t have to matter that the Monarchs were picked to finish far off the pace or that their players are greener than the Grinch. The season is very young. Dreams are still in play.

The bar, after all, has been set relatively low. Not just for ODU, but for all our state teams.

Among S.I.’s top 20 teams, 18 states are represented. Virginia is not among them. Maybe the commonwealth just can’t do any better.

It’s too soon, however, to punt.
 

Jones opts for NFL
Tailback Kevin Jones says the Insight.com Bowl will be his last game for Virginia Tech.
By Randy King

Kevin Jones has been waving goodbye to opposing defenses all season. The junior tailback will say so-long to Virginia Tech following the Hokies' Dec.26 appearance in the Insight.com Bowl.

In a decision that shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, Jones has decided to forego his senior season and will declare himself eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft, his father, Thomas Jones, confirmed Tuesday night.

Jones will officially announce his decision today in a 1 p.m. news conference in Blacksburg.

"It's true, Kevin is coming out," said Thomas Jones, speaking via telephone from the family's Chester, Pa., home. "We thought about this the whole year and he let us know that he feels like he's ready to come out.

"We didn't want to prolong it. Kevin wanted all the attention put on the team and the bowl, not whether he was staying or leaving."

Jones, whom ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has projected as a first-round pick in April's draft, has enjoyed a fabulous final season for the Hokies (8-4). With the bowl game left, the 6-foot, 221-pound Jones has established a school record for rushing yards in a season (1,494), plus set a Tech single-game rushing mark of 241 yards against Pittsburgh. Jones, who has run for 20 touchdowns, is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the best running back in college football, and was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate for much of the season.

Despite not becoming a full-time starter until this season, Jones stands third on the school's all-time rushing list with 3,322 yards.

"I never doubted that Kevin could do this," said Thomas Jones, who has served as his son's football mentor. "Kevin had the playing time to do it this season. He never really had a chance to show he could do this until this year. I thought he should have been playing a lot sooner his freshman year. Not knocking [ex-Tech back] Keith Burnell, but I thought Kevin should have been in there. With Lee Suggs [ex-Tech back] coming back last year, you just had to juggle and see what happens.

"This year, just getting the ball, I knew he was going to have a big year. I know some people were doubting it, but not me. Some of these runs he had this year, I don't see guys making those ... like that [62-yard] touchdown against Boston College, how many guys could have made that run? They would have gotten hit right there on the line of scrimmage and been done with it."

Jones, blessed with speed, power and strength, met with Tech coach Frank Beamer and running backs coach Billy Hite before making his decision, Thomas Jones said.

"Coach Beamer and Coach Hite confirmed that Kevin would be a first-round pick," Thomas Jones said.

"Plus, I talked to some of the players and coaches whom I'm close with on the [Philadelphia] Eagles, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenny Jackson, who is the [Steelers'] wide receiver coach, recruited Kevin out of high school for Penn State. I talked to Kenny last week and he told me that Kevin was very high up on their board. He confirmed that Kevin is going to be a high draft pick, a first-round pick."

Thomas Jones said his son made up his mind to leave college shortly after the Hokies' 35-21 loss to Virginia last Saturday.

"When sitting back after the loss, I think Kevin just figured it was time to move on," Thomas Jones said. "When you look at it, you've got to go. I love Tech, the whole family loves Tech, and we want them to win and all. I wish he could go back, but the stuff is laid out in front of you on the table nowadays, and with the chance of injury, you just can't pass it up."

Jones, who joins quarterback Michael Vick, cornerback Ike Charlton and tailback Shyrone Stith as early NFL entries from Tech, is "suited for the pro game," Thomas Jones said.

"You get a big line in front of Kevin and give him a seam, and he's going to hit that thing," Thomas Jones said. "As his confidence level gets up sky high, then you're going to see some things from him."

Kevin Jones might be leaving Tech, but he will return one day, Thomas Jones guaranteed.

"Kevin will definitely be back to finish work on his degree," Thomas Jones said. "My wife [Tracey] is going to make sure he gets his degree. She's the one who will go to whip on that. Me? I've done my job, man."

 

Gophers present challenge to UVa
By Andrew Joyner / Daily Progress staff writer
December 3, 2003

Exams arrive for UVa students within the next two weeks. The first exam for the Virginia men’s basketball team arrives tonight.

After posting solid but not overly impressive wins against Mount St. Mary’s, Virginia Tech and High Point, the Cavaliers host Minnesota at University Hall.

The game is not the marquee matchup of the Challenge as neither Minnesota nor Virginia were among the preseason favorites in their respective conferences and, of course, the TV slot is not the most ideal.

Still, Minnesota is clearly the Cavaliers’ stiffest competition of the early season, a fact certainly not lost on UVa coach Pete Gillen.

“We’ll see if we are ready. They have a good team and a good coach. We’re excited and looking forward to the challenge,” Gillen said. “They will be by far the best team we have played so far. It will be a big test.”

After the win against High Point on Sunday, some UVa players expressed a desire to indeed face that “challenge” of which Gillen referred. Others admitted to have watched a couple of Minnesota’s games during the Preseason NIT on television as part of their preparation.

“A couple of guys have been watching them play in the early games. It’s something we’re definitely looking forward to,” said sophomore forward Derrick Byars. “We lost the ACC/Big 10 Challenge to Michigan State last season. There is a lot at stake if you really think about it so we are just really looking forward to it.”

Virginia has managed to win its first three games despite the fact that it has yet to outrebound an opponent. Minnesota, however, has outrebounded each of its three opponents with freshman and former Duke signee Kris Humphries leading the way with 10.7 boards a game.

While the Cavaliers have essentially managed to hide that weakness in the early going, Gillen knows it will not be as easy to mask tonight.

“We have to be more physical and more aggressive. At times we are getting pounded. Minnesota is a big physical team and they are going to knock us onto I-64 if we’re not more aggressive and physical and take the pounding better,” Gillen said.

Such responsibilities are cleary the chores of junior Elton Brown and freshman Donte Minter, the Cavaliers’ only two real post players. Minter’s contributions so far (10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds a contest) have been somewhat of a pleasant surprise while Brown’s have been a tad disappointing after much of the offseason was focused on a new and improved Brown after he shed some 25 pounds in the offseason.

Brown is averaging 12 points and 4.3 rebounds a game but has shown a tendency to struggle in the first half, only to respond in the second half. A prime example was last Friday against Virginia Tech when Brown had just three points at the half only to notch 13 points after intermission. At this point, a full game is the aim according to Gillen.

“I’m not sure what it is. I’d just like to see him be a little more physical and aggressive. He’s one of the strongest guys in the building. He can bench press 310 or 320 pounds. I told him that he’s going to get banged every day and he needs to keep swinging,” Gillen said. “I think in the second half he gets more determined.”

Added Brown: “I think a lot of it is trying to get adapted to the game and get in the flow of the game.”

When it was brought to Gillen’s attention that tonight’s late start time could in someway assist Brown, Gillen could only muster a laugh.

“He shows up late sometimes. He did some good things but I think he’s capable of playing better,” Gillen said.
 

DAN HODES
Whine Cellar: “Chokies” Have Made a Habit of Fading
Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Welcome to the Whine Cellar, where we were ecstatic to hear that Virginia Tech got the nod to represent the Big East in the Insight Bowl against a Pac-10 team yet to be determined. Since that team is Cal, let a good ol’ grad of THE University of Virginia be your guide to that fine institution of higher learning.
Name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or Vippie Sue.

School Slogan: In commercials, one sees “We Are Working”. The commercial cuts off before they say “for Virginia graduates.”

Location: Blacksburg, VA. While Bleaksburg is in the middle of nowhere, it is only an hour or so from the thriving metropolis of Roanoke.

Hey, did you hear Virginia Tech’s library burned down?: Shame was, half the books hadn’t even been colored in yet.

Yes, that is a turkey: A Hokie actually is a castrated version of that bird you ate last Thursday. They are sentimentally called the Gobblers, which is apt because they usually die a few weeks before Thanksgiving. See also “Chokies”.

For a state that likes to execute people, this is nothing: Hokies coach Frank Beamer occasionally slaps his wide receivers when they get out of line.

Maurice Clarett’s only mistake was that he didn’t redshirt: Quarterback Mike Vick, who loved Virginia Tech so much that he invoked a little-known NFL rule to leave after his sophomore season.

Top Current Hokie: Running back Kevin Jones, who was modest enough to take Vick’s number immediately upon arriving, then angrily complain when the school had the gall to retire the No. 7 of its best player of all-time.

Insight Bowl Prediction I: Lots and lots of trailers.

Insight Bowl Prediction II: Cal’s rising (four wins in last five), Tech’s in its typical end-of-season slide (three losses in last four, lone win being overtime squeaker against Temple). Bears 35, Hokies 21.

Now, on to other news, from the medical world: Say what you will about Cal’s men’s basketball team, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen any squad have its first three games be decided by a total of four points. I imagine Ben Braun’s health insurance premium has gone up exponentially.

The Good News from a 1-2 start: Leon Powe’s still good, and players generally don’t declare for the NBA during their freshman season.

The Bad News: Who are you guys, and what have you done with Amit and Richard?

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the basketball season just yet: After all, the women look to have one of their most exciting teams in years.

Before you send angry e-mails: Yes, the men will make Haas a dangerous place to play. Yes, they will improve to 1-1 in the Big West tomorrow night. And yes, they will make the tournament again, and probably be a much more dangerous foe than they were the previous two years.

And speaking of the tournament, let’s hear it for the only fall team still playing in one: There is no excuse not to attend the women’s volleyball Big Dance at Haas this weekend, unless you happen to have a Vegas trip planned.

As if the team needed any more inspiration, there it was, courtesy of the scheduling folk: If the Bears win their two games at home, the regionals are in Honolulu.

Finally, the two sweetest words in the English language—De Fault!: Kansas Jayhawks, No. 1 in the nation.
 

Unsettled Brown Looks to Get Out of His Flunk
So Far, Cavalier Gives Himself Failing Grade Despite 12 Points Per Game
By Jim Reedy
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, December 3, 2003; Page D13

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Dec. 2 -- Asked for an assessment of his play in the first three games of the basketball season, Virginia forward-center Elton Brown barely needed to think before answering.

"Terrible," he replied, with characteristic bluntness. "For me, I haven't played good at all."

That might be a little harsh. With averages of 12 points and 4.3 rebounds, "mediocre" may be appropriate, but Brown holds high expectations for himself as he replaces four-year starter Travis Watson as the Cavaliers' first option inside.

"If I had to grade myself right now, I got an 'F,' " he said. "I have an 'F,' but yet I'm still averaging [decent numbers]. If I ever play a 'C' or a 'B' game or an 'A' game, it's going to be trouble."

Brown, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior, still has plenty of opportunities to raise his grade, starting Wednesday night when Virginia (3-0) hosts Minnesota (2-1). But so far this season he is shooting 44 percent from the field and 61 percent from the line with the fewest rebounds per minute of any Cavalier taller than 6 feet 3.

"I'd just like to see him be a little more physical, a little more aggressive," Virginia Coach Pete Gillen said. "He's one of the strongest guys in the building. He can bench press 310 pounds, 320 pounds. I told him, 'You're going to get banged every day. Just keep taking it, keep swinging.' "

Brown remains confident the work he put in this offseason will pay dividends. He did everything he could to prepare for a larger role, transforming his body by adding muscle and losing about 30 pounds. He had shown polished scoring skills in his first two seasons, but now he wants to become more than a finesse player. He wants to play tougher, to earn respect around the ACC and shed his reputation as a player who pouted whenever a play, an official's call or a coach's decision didn't go his way.

"My main downfall last year was being content at where I was at, and where I was at wasn't good," Brown said. "I still was tired when I played. . . .

"I figured at the end of the season, the way I felt last year -- I didn't want to feel like that again. I wanted to honestly [feel] like I put my all into the season, I gave 100 percent, I did everything I could have done to make this team better. My first two years, I didn't do that."

Brown drew added motivation from seeing Watson, one of the most productive post players in Virginia history, get passed over in the NBA draft before landing in the European leagues.

"I realized if Travis was as good as he was and he couldn't make it to the NBA, then who says I can make it?" Brown said.

But in Virginia's wins against Mount St. Mary's, Virginia Tech and High Point, Brown has struggled with the physical defense and frequent double teams that come with being the main threat in the post for the Cavaliers. Other times he's been too anxious, still adjusting to the relative quickness of his new body.

"I can't afford this Wednesday," said Brown, who could face Jeff Hagen, Minnesota's 7-foot, 262-pound center. "It's a big game. I know for a fact [when] Wednesday comes, I'm going to be really pumped up and I'm going to have a good game."

Cavaliers Notes: Gillen remains concerned about the back injury that sidelined junior forward Devin Smith for two games and limited him to a combined 36 minutes in Virginia's two games last weekend. Smith is feeling better, Gillen said Sunday, but "we're just holding our breath that we can keep him healthy."
 

Cavs being taken to boarding school
The lack of a dominant rebounder has become early weakness for U.Va.
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Dec 3, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE - None of Virginia's first three opponents - Mount St. Mary's, Virginia Tech or High Point - had a dominating big man. None was an especially tall team. Yet check out the rebounding totals:

Opponents 124, U.Va. 114.

Virginia is allowing 16.3 offensive rebounds per game while pulling down half that many. The Cavaliers' best effort on the boards came Sunday against High Point, a game in which each team grabbed 39 rebounds. The prospect of replacing Travis Watson, the ACC's leading rebounder in 2001-02 and'02-03, worried Virginia coach Pete Gillen, and his concerns were well-founded.

"We just have to be tougher," Gillen said. "It's a physical game."

U.Va. (3-0) plays host tonight to Minnesota (2-1) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. ESPN2 will televise the game from University Hall. The Go- phers' star freshman, 6-9, 236-pound Kris Humphries, averages 10.7 boards, and 6-8, 225-pound senior Michael Bauer averages 6.7. Minnesota also has a 7-0, 262-pound center, Jeff Hagen, though he's questionable because of an ankle injury.

"They'll be by far the best team we've played so far," Gillen said.

Humphries, a former McDonald's All-American who originally signed with Duke, is "a 6-9 wrecking machine," Gillen said.

Virginia center Elton Brown matter-of-factly predicted before the season that, with Watson gone, he'd grab 10 to 12 rebounds a game. The 6-9, 250-pound junior from Newport News is averaging 4.3.

"He's done some good things," Gillen said, "but he's capable of playing better."

The Cavaliers' top rebounder is swingman Gary Forbes (7.3), a 6-6 freshman, followed by junior forward Devin Smith (6.5) and sophomore forward Derrick Byars (6.0). Point guard Todd Billet, a 5-11 senior, has 12 rebounds, to Brown's 13.

"We got to be more aggressive," Gillen said. "At times we're getting pounded, and Minnesota's a big, physical team, so they're going to knock us onto I-64 unless we're more physical and aggressive."

With 6-8, 235-pound junior Jason Clark academically ineligible this semester - and possibly for the entire season - U.Va. has only two true post players on its roster: Brown and 6-8, 234-pound freshman Donte Minter (10.7 ppg, 5 rpg). Freshman forward Jason Cain stands 6-9 but barely weighs 200 pounds.

Gillen hasn't played Brown and Minter together much, in part because the Cavaliers' sixth-year coach favors a quicker lineup. U.Va. has used the 6-5 Smith and the 6-7 Byars at power forward, and each has rebounded well.

"We're going to try to run [against the Gophers]," Gillen said. "They've got some big, corn-fed guys."

Minnesota is coming off an overtime victory over visiting Furman. Senior guard Ben Johnson led the Gophers with a career-high 32 points. Minnesota opened the season by beating Missouri-Kansas City in the Preseason NIT, then lost to Utah in the next round.
 

Cavs play host to Minnesota
Virginia faces first tough test of season, will meet Gophers in ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Sean McLernon
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

The trophy has sat in the ACC offices in Greensboro, N.C. for the past four years. The hardware and the bragging rights that go along with it have been defended by the ACC for each successive ACC-Big Ten Challenge -- even without much help from Virginia in the effort.

The Cavaliers have been unable to match the success of their fellow conference members in the Challenge, compiling a 1-2 record in the event. Looking to find more success this time around, Virginia (3-0) hosts a Minnesota squad (2-1) that reached the semifinals of last year's N.I.T. tonight at 9:30. The Cavaliers fell to the Golden Gophers, 74-62, in the first annual Challenge in 1999.

Tonight's matchup marks the first time Virginia will face an opponent that made it to the postseason last year. The Cavaliers' first three wins came against schools that combined for a 29-54 record during the 2002-03 season.

The Cavaliers know that Minnesota will give them the kind of competition they haven't seen yet this year.

"It's going to be a pretty good challenge," freshman forward Donte Minter said. "This is really going to set how we are as a team and hopefully keep us rolling."

Minter has had success in the post this season, currently ranking fourth in the team in scoring despite being eighth in minutes. The Golden Gophers should give Minter and Virginia more difficulty in the paint than the Cavaliers have seen. Six-foot-eight forward Kris Humphries is averaging 24.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for a Minnesota team that also features 6-foot-8 forward Michael Bauer and 6-foot-11 center Jeff Hagen in its regular rotation.

"We've got to be more aggressive," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "Minnesota's a big, physical team and they're going to knock us out on I-64 unless we're more aggressive and physical and take the pounding better."

Gillen specifically mentioned the importance of junior center Elton Brown -- Virginia's tallest player at 6-foot-9 -- rising to the occasion and toughening up when the Cavaliers take the court against Minnesota.

"I'd just like to see him be a little more physical and a little more aggressive," Gillen said. "He's one of the strongest guys in the building. He can bench press 310 pounds. I told him, 'You're going to get banged everyday. Just keep ticking, keep swinging.' He's got to be more aggressive, more physical and take the hits."

Tonight's game is Virginia's fourth of 11 non-conference games, nine of which will be at home. The Cavaliers won their first 10 home games last season before falling to Duke on Valentine's Day.

Virginia's last win in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge came in 2000 in its only home game during the competition, when the Cavaliers wiped out Purdue, 98-79. Virginia has been unable to find success in the annual matchup since.

In 2001, the contest against Michigan State was cancelled midway through the first half after water seeped up onto the court from the ice rink below at the Richmond Coliseum. Last year, the Cavaliers fell 79-72 in a rematch with the Spartans in East Lansing.

The ACC is already off to a 1-0 lead in this year's Challenge, thanks to a 71-53 Florida State victory over Northwestern Monday night.

Some of this year's premier matchups include last night's tilts of Indiana at Wake Forest and North Carolina vs. Illinois in Greensboro and tonight's contest of Duke at Michigan State.
 

Lagging attendance hurts basketball atmosphere
Joe Lemire
Cavalier Daily Sports Editor

I attended both preseason men's basketball games and the Mount St. Mary's and High Point games. No, I don't think I should be awarded a medal for this, but I know it is a rather unique claim. How can I be so sure of this? Well, in those four games the student section of U-Hall seemingly maxed out at 10.

The raucous fans from the Duke and Maryland games a year ago are clearly hibernating until the same matchups this year or, even worse, not planning on waking up at all in light of Virginia's poor projected finish.

Doing so, however, has created an embarrassing home court atmosphere. And that's unfair to this year's squad. Having seen the team in action, I am starting to get over my initial skepticism and embrace that the team will be exciting, if nothing else. When talent and athleticism are mixed with youth and inexperience, you get a team that's fun to watch because the unexpected is likely to reign supreme. Gary Forbes and Derrick Byars are showing signs of being scoring threats, Donte Minter impresses more and more each time down the floor, and the combo of J.R. Reynolds and Todd Billet provides a formidable one-two shooting threat.

The fans may not be coming in droves of frenzied excitement like in recent years, but at least we have a live band to rile up the few, accumulated faithful. Oh, wait. Scrap that. Having spent the better part of two years sitting a mere two feet from the pep band, I didn't think I would make this admission: I miss the pep band and the atmosphere they helped create.

It's appalling how quiet U-Hall has been. It feels like an empty, cavernous space with no noise and certainly no people to fill the void. Thus far, the fans have failed to even fill up the lower bowl of seating in the arena. In fact, for a few of the games, courtside seats went unclaimed.

It's been so quiet in U-Hall that I feel guilty talking to my friends for fear of disturbing the peace. At least the music over the PA system speakers rocks the arena. Oh, wait. Scrap that. Typically, one can only hear the music if everyone in attendance chooses to whisper.

Considering our horribly undemanding non-conference schedule, it may be hard to judge just how good Virginia is, and tonight's ACC/Big Ten Challenge game with Minnesota will provide a rare matchup against a strong opponent before the ACC schedule begins Dec. 28.

Every game this year will be exciting because I don't foresee Virginia having the killer instinct to blow any team out (as evidenced already this fall) but still being good enough to run the floor against anyone (at least at home). Coach Pete Gillen's rededicated commitment to an up-tempo offense will inflate scores and provide excitement from buzzer to buzzer.

Plus, every game will have its own unique subplots. Will Gillen exhaust his supply of timeouts before halftime? Will "The Mustachioed One", Jason Cain, and Brad Abel be able to co-exist? (Sorry, I couldn't resist the Biblical joke.) Will Travis Watson return to his old stomping grounds and drive up in his white minivan for old time's sake? Will Forbes back up his claim, "I don't have weakness?" Will Billy Glading start dishing out some lacrosse-style hip checks? Will Minter continue to prove that he is better than Nick Vander Laan in every facet of the game? Will the rest of the diminutive T.J. Bannister show up? Will Elton Brown play defense in consecutive possessions?

Brown is actually an interesting story in his own right. He's got a new weight, new attitude, new number and the same poor free throw shooting. The new number is likely attributed to his old number 42s being a little too wide around his trimmer torso.

Come for the high point totals or for the exciting freshmen athletes. Come to see if Billet will hit every shot on a given night or just come for the good seats likely to be available.

As much as I'm a fanatic about Virginia athletics and want the team to do well before a frenzied fan base, maybe it's in my best interest that attendance remain the same. I'd have a better chance of catching a free t-shirt...