White: Bennett's Frontcourt Options Limited
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 12/23/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- On the roster, Tristan Spurlock is listed as a guard/forward. But at 6-8, 217 pounds, he's one of the bigger players on UVa's basketball team, and the loss of Jamil Tucker means Spurlock is likely to be logging more time in the frontcourt.
First-year coach Tony Bennett announced Tuesday night that Tucker, a 6-9, 235-pound senior, had been dismissed from the program for academic reasons.
"We expect our student-athletes to perform to certain standards academically, and Jamil has not met those standards," Bennett said in a statement.
Tucker took a personal leave of absence before the season. After Thanksgiving, he started practicing with the team again, but he didn't play in any games while UVa officials awaited his first-semester grades.
For his career, Tucker made 43.8 percent of his 3-point attempts in ACC games.
"I was hoping to be get a chance to see that silky-smooth jump shot, but that won't be the case," Bennett said Tuesday night on his weekly radio show.
With Tucker's status resolved, Bennett goes forward knowing he'll have no more than four post players -- five, if Spurlock is included in that group -- available for any game this season. Assane Sene and Jerome Meyinsse are UVa's centers, and Will Sherrill and Mike Scott are the power forwards.
Scott, however, suffered a high-ankle sprain Dec. 5 and hasn't played since. Fortunately for the Cavaliers (5-4), they've played only twice since then -- losing to Auburn on Dec. 7 and beating New Jersey Institute of Technology on Monday night -- but Scott is doubtful for Hampton's visit to John Paul Jones Arena on Wednesday night.
With the 6-8, 239-pound junior in the low post, the Wahoos are "a different team," Bennett noted Monday night. Scott leads the team in rebounding and is second in scoring.
"He's progressing, and I don't think there's any major harm," Bennett said on his radio show. "It's just a matter of getting it strong enough and well enough to cut, to jump, to move."
If Scott can't go Wednesday night -- and he's more likely to return Dec. 30 against UAB -- Virginia probably will start Sherrill and Sene inside against the Pirates (2-9). Both played well in UVa's 68-37 rout of NJIT.
In 22 minutes, the 6-9 Sherrill totaled 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. The 7-0 Sene played a season-high 28 minutes and had 11 rebounds, 4 points, 2 blocked shots, 1 assist and 1 steal.
"It was great for me to be in there and playing a lot," Sene said. "I was doing what Coach needed me to do."
The announced attendance Monday night at JPJ was 7,264, but that figure represented the number of tickets distributed for the game. Because of the weather, the actual attendance was closer to 1,500, and the lack of buzz in the arena was noticeable.
"I don't want to say that that affected us early in the game, but you just have to create your own energy," Sherrill said, "and even in a game where it's a sold-out crowd, if the team doesn't have energy, you're not going to perform well. We did come out flat, but we kind of fought through that little adversity in the beginning of the game and started playing a lot better, especially on the defensive end."
Spurlock hadn't left the bench in Virginia's previous four games, but the freshman from Woodbridge played the final 5:05 against NJIT and scored a season-high 6 points.
His ability on the offensive end, though, has never been an issue. Defensive lapses have limited Spurlock's playing time at UVa.
He's been working to improve in that area and believes he's making progress.
"There were a couple times during practices where I felt like, 'Man, this might be too much, this might not be it,'" Spurlock said. "But never did I feel like I was going to just give up and quit. I'm not a quitter. I've never been raised to quit. So I just felt like I had to work that much harder, I had to push myself that much more."
 

One-on-one with Virginia’s Jarrett Parker
By Kendall Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
Dec 23, 12:14 pm EST

Jarrett Parker is living a dream at Virginia.

When he decided to join the Cavaliers three years ago, he wasn’t real sure if he’d ever reach the College World Series. But after getting to know his teammates, there was no doubt in his mind the feat would be accomplished.

Now Parker and the Cavaliers have the highest of expectations. They expect to make a return trip to Omaha and win the national title in 2010.

The last two seasons also have been special for Parker for other reasons.

More From Kendall RogersSnapshot: SEC ready for another strong campaign Dec 25, 2009 Snapshot: Southland hopes to build off solid campaign Dec 23, 2009 ADVERTISEMENT

After finishing his freshman campaign with a .264 batting average, Parker stayed in Charlottesville, Va., two summers ago and vowed to gain muscle. He did that and earned Rivals.com All-American honors last season by hitting over .350 with power.

Parker already has accomplished a lot in his Virginia career.

There’s still a national title to grab, though.

Rogers: The Cavaliers had a magical 2009 campaign. Can you look back at the campaign and reflect on everything that transpired?

Parker: It was just great. It was such an experience for a young team. No one expected us to go that for, so it was fantastic. We just kept winning and doing well. I think it really set the stage for us to know that we can come out this year and play with the best. Now we’re an experienced team with very high goals.

R: Most would agree you guys had the toughest road to Omaha. Did having that tough road give the team the motivation to finally get over the hump?

P: Yeah it did, but I really think everything started in the ACC tournament by taking down North Carolina, Clemson and Florida State. We won the tournament title and that really went a long way in boosting our confidence. Then we went to Irvine, Calif., and had to play San Diego State and pitcher Stephen Strasburg. After we stepped on the field and battled against Strasburg and actually beat him, we knew we could beat anyone in the country. That moment solidified our position that we could win against the nation’s elite teams.

R: Everyone knows the team got to Omaha, but what was your favorite memory of the postseason run before the College World Series?

P: It has got to be clinching Game 3 and the super regional in Oxford, Miss., against Ole Miss. It was such a crazy place to play. I’m not even sure how many fans were in the stadium, but it was a lot. They were diehard and trying to tear us apart every second of every game. It was fantastic to step on their home turf and beat them. It was just awesome. I’ll never forget that.

R: What was your favorite part of going to Omaha and playing in the CWS?

P: Not sure there’s really one thing or a particular instance that stands out when you go to Omaha. The whole thing was just surreal because you get there and realize how many teams would love to be there. We have a saying that Omaha is 1,186 miles from Charlottesville, Va. For that to finally come true was just awesome. Seeing all the people in the stands and the environment in and outside the stadium was something special and also something I’ll never forget.

R: What was it like for the program to finally get a trip to Omaha?

P: It definitely was like a dream for us and myself. I made a lot of strides from my freshmen to sophomore year, and getting to Omaha kind of showed that it paid off. It was great to be part of such a great team. All the hard work the coaches put us through paid off for the entire team.

R: You hit .264 as a freshman and hit over .350 on the way to All-American honors last season. What was the biggest reason for your improvement?

P: It was just that I stayed here the summer after my freshman year and focused on lifting weights. I gained 20 pounds and that did so much for me. It boosted my confidence and made me feel like a much better player. It made me feel like I could do many more things as a player. It was that really. I’m actually working right now on gaining 10 more pounds before the season starts. I was 186 pounds as a freshman and am around 212-214 pounds right now. I want to be 218-220. It’s actually good that we’re on holiday break right now because there’s no playing baseball and I don’t have to step on a field each day of the week. I can lift weights and eat the right food. In terms of the food I eat, it’s more just quantity and things like that. I have to get a good breakfast with eggs and carbohydrates. I also try to take some supplements. It’s not really being that strict, it’s just eating good food.

R: What’s the toughest part of being a student-athlete at Virginia?

P: Everything here definitely is a challenge. It’s one of the top academic schools in the nation, so it’s really tough. Not really sure if I can pick one thing out, but it’s a combination of many things that makes it difficult. We’re up from about 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. each day, and our coaches demand a lot of from us. We have good practices and the coaching staff likes to make it hard sometimes. That’s why we’re such a good team.

R: Talk about Coach Brian O’Connor. Is there something about him that perhaps some people don’t know?

P: I could talk about coach O’Connor all day long. He and the other coaches have demanded so much out of me. I never would’ve become what I am now if not for he and the other coaches. I don’t think people realize how much he expects from his players. He’s such a great coach, yet he demands a lot. He believes in the players and believes we can do anything we want with some hard work. It really shows on the field, too.

R: Who’s the most gifted player you’ve ever played with or against?

P: There are some out there you can point to like Stephen Strasburg, but I’d actually have to say my teammate, Danny Hultzen. To step in as a freshman last season and play each day as a position player and a Friday night pitcher was something special. He always stayed level and never was too up or down. To start ACC weekends as a freshman and do what he did really said a lot about his character and playing ability.

R: When you’re not studying or playing baseball, what exactly are you doing?

P: I’m usually just hanging out with my teammates. I’ve been with these guys for three years now and I love each of them to death. We have such good team chemistry. I just like having fun and joking around with them. That’s what I enjoy doing when we’re not studying or on the field.

R: Growing up, was there any play out there that you idolized?

P: I’ve always liked Ken Griffey Jr. He just has something about him that makes him special. He has swagger and how he plays the game is something to see. He just has an awesome confidence that is contagious.

R: Is there anything you’d change about college baseball?

P: Right now, I’m not real sure I agree with the transfer rule that is in place. I have a couple of friends that have done that and have had to redshirt a year. I think it cuts out a players’ ability to compete at a high level. I don’t think I agree with the rule.

R: We think the Cavaliers could win the national title in the spring. When you decided to play at Virginia, did you ever think someone would say those words?

P: I really did. Once I met all the guys in my class and the other players, I got a feel for who they are and how they play. I had and continue to have complete confidence in them. I knew we were all there for the same purpose, and that was to play with any team in the country. We obviously want to be the best team, too. Once I met my teammates I knew there was something special. I’m excited about the upcoming season.

Cavs tabbed No. 3 in poll
By Jay Jenkins
Published: December 26, 2009
» 3 Comments | Post a Comment
vote
nowBuzz up!

Coaching in a sport that offers countless polls and a regular season that boasts over 50 games, Brian O’Connor puts little stock in preseason findings.
The excitement or disappointment that can follow in the offering will remain something for others to draw conclusions with.
This week, however, Virginia’s baseball program accomplished a first that is believed to be the highest preseason standing in history — the Cavaliers were ranked No. 3 in the nation in the first poll to be released.
Trailing only Texas and Louisiana State, Virginia was slotted third in the Collegiate Baseball poll, tabbed as the “Fabulous 40” by the publication.
“That speaks volumes for what our program was able to accomplish last year,” said O’Connor. “It was truly a magical season, one that concluded with the program’s first-ever trip to the College World Series. I’m sure that had a lot to do with where we were picked in the poll.”
What returns this season for Virginia, O’Connor admitted, played a major factor in the voting process.
“We have a number of proven players back that have produced at the highest level,” he said. “The experience that they gained last year was very valuable to what we hope to accomplish this season.”
The Cavaliers, who went 49-15-1 last year and won the Oxford Super Regional to
advance to Omaha, return 23 of their 29 lettermen from last season.
The returning pieces include two of the team’s weekend starters on the mound. All-American Danny Hultzen and junior Robert Morey provide a strong 1-2 punch. Coupled with junior Tyler Wilson, the three combined for 21 wins and 254 strikeouts.
Virginia will need to replace Andrew Carraway and Matt Packer, a pair of hurlers that accounted for 24 percent of the team’s victories, made 50 appearances and logged a total of 151 innings.
“We will definitely need some pitchers to step up this season and fill some valuable roles as starters or relievers, but we saw positive signs during the fall from a number of our guys,” O’Connor said. “I hope that carries over into the spring.”
The offense, which hit .327 last season, returns its everyday lineup from last year and should get a boost from a deep recruiting class that was ranked among the best in the nation.
All-American outfielder Jarrett Parker leads the way, coming off a campaign that included 16 homers and 20 stolen bases.
Virginia will need the offense to return to form. Considered the
nation’s top baseball league, the Atlantic Coast Conference was represented well in the poll.
In addition to Virginia, Georgia Tech (No. 6), Florida State (7), Miami (12), North Carolina (13) and Clemson (16) were ranked.
“The ACC will be just as challenging as it has been in the past,” O’Connor said. “The league continues to get deeper every season, which is proven annually with the Major League Baseball Draft.”
Another one of the Virginia’s weekend opponents, East Carolina, was also ranked 18th in the poll. The Cavaliers and Pirates open the season with a three-game series on February 19.


 

Not just another move for London’s
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: December 27, 2009
» 0 Comments | Post a Comment
vote
nowBuzz up!

While Mike and Regina London are used to moving around from one coaching post to another, returning to Charlottesville is like coming home to their children.
Virginia’s new head football coach and his wife have seven kids, three grown and four younger children, but all of them pretty much think of Charlottesville as their home, especially the younger ones.
“My kids, that’s all they’ve known,” Regina London said recently. “When we left Boston College (to come to work for Al Groh in 2001), the oldest two were young. One of our youngest started kindergarten when we first moved to Charlottesville, and my last [Madicyn] was born in Charlottesville. So, they were all raised here.”
Except for an eight-month journey to Texas when London was on the staff of the NFL’s Houston Texans, most of the London children went through all of their elementary school days here.
A welcome change
Through three different coaching stints at UVa, one as a defensive line coach, the next as defensive coordinator, and now as head coach, the London’s have spent the majority of the last nine years in town, the family more so than Mike. Even though Mike London spent the past two years as head coach at the University of Richmond, the family only moved to Richmond a few months ago, August to be exact.
Now, they’re packing up once again.
“This will be move number eight in 12 or 13 years,” Regina said. “But this is the one move that we did all the previous moving for ... all for this opportunity.
“So, now we’re moving back to Charlottesville, a great place to raise a family,” the mom said. “I’m looking forward to coming back.”
Such is the life of a coach’s wife, a coach’s family. Throughout a career there’s usually plenty of moves and little security. Few coaches earn the right to call their own shots, to retire or to simply stay at one place for a long time.
For example, out of the 12 ACC schools, only three head coaches remain today that were in the same positions five years ago: Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen, and Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe.
Not only will returning to Charlottesville be a welcome move for the kids, but also for Regina.
“Many of my friends are here,” she said. “When we first moved here (to the Carrsbrook area), we spent four years in that neighborhood and met a lot of nice people. Then we left for Texas, then came right back into the same neighborhood, so I’ve had those same friends for about nine years.”
It has been a long journey to Virginia’s head coaching job, not only for Mike, but for the entire family.
Regina easily remembers the first time she laid eyes on her future husband, even though it was through a thick, glass window in Williamsburg. Mike was a young assistant at William & Mary and Regina worked at a bank down the street from the college.
“Mike came through the drive thru and he was cashing his recruiting check because he was getting ready to go out on the road recruiting and this was to cover his expenses,” Regina recounted. “I happened to be at the drive thru window at the time and I was thinking, ‘Hmmm, this is a nice check,’ not knowing it wasn’t his salary check.”
She couldn’t hold back a giggle thinking back on that day, then later finding out what assistant coaches at that level were paid back in those days.
“I thought he made money at the time, but he didn’t,” Regina said.
However, love overcame the paycheck. The flirtation through the bank window paid dividends for both.
She wrote down her number and slipped it to the assistant coach.
“I didn’t think he would call me, but he did and we hit it off,” Regina said. “Fortunately, I’ve always loved football, so when he said he was a football coach, I said, ‘Oh, wow ... I like football.’
“I didn’t know what coaching at the college level entailed,” she said. “I thought that he taught classes like in high school, but found out, that, no, it’s a full-time job. You just coach.”
Right now, that’s exactly what her husband is trying to do: learn the Virginia personnel, put together a coaching staff, recruit more talent, call, visit, and meet as many people as he can to gain support for his entire effort both on the field and in the classroom.
It is a full-time job.
Once again, Regina will handle the move, but she’ll be smiling a little more this time.
It’s the one move she’s been waiting for.