Virginia officially announced Sylvan Landesburg will not be returning to Virginia. In fact, the sophomore from Flushing, NY will not even finish the semester. Landesburg plans to "pursue his professional aspirations." It's a case that seems eerily similar to that of the Hoo formerly known as Roger Mason Jr (now just Roger Mason). Some projections have Landesburg going late in the second round of the NBA draft while others have him going undrafted. Mason also made the jump early and ended up going in the first-half of the second round. He toiled for years as a journeyman in the NBA, but to his credit, he stuck with it and had a breakout year last season for the Spurs. Former Virginia star Sean Singletary was also drafted in the second round (42nd pick by the Sacramento Kings) and in October of 2009, he was waived by the 76ers. He currently plays in Spain. So, based on some recent history, Landesburg definitely has his work cut out for him - then again, knocking down 500k a year in Europe isn't necessarily chump change nor the worst thing in the world.
More to come...
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No, Tristan Spurlock was far from a misfit - it simply appears UVa was not a good fit for him. In other words, a miss-fit. By all accounts, his decision to leave is solely due to basketball and where he fits in moving forward. Hoo fans have speculated the move for months, and, quite frankly, it comes as no big surprise. As a top-100 rated recruit and a player expected to come in and get immediate playing time, the fact he played very little this past season made it a natural for fans to speculate his departure. Despite the constant talk about his future, Spurlock contends he finalized his decision last night, and it stemmed from the fact Coach Bennett saw him as power forward while he envisioned himself as a wing player.
Spurlock came to Virginia after having a couple of contentious relationships with previous coaches, but in this case, the freshman out of Word of Life Christian Academy has proven a model citizen. He continues to say all of the right things; singing the praises of UVa, and the fans (not too often anyone compliments Virginia fans) as well as showing unwavering respect for Bennett. Spurlock has shown a great deal of class throughout the entire ordeal (unlike senior Calvin Baker, he never griped about playing time), and he has handled the transfer with a sense of maturity far beyond that of most freshman. It's hard for Hoo fans not to like him.
Some people will likely wonder why Bennett fought so hard to keep him committed to the Cavs if he wasn't a good fit for his system. First and foremost, that assumes Bennett knew right away that Spurlock was not a player well suited for his system, and there is no indication of that being the case. Even more importantly, keeping Spurlock was a necessary PR move for the new coach - it was an early win that showed he could come in, pick up the pieces, and start the program moving forward. Losing Spurlock would have signaled that the wheels had fallen off and that Bennett was working with a program stripped down to its foundation. Ultimately, Bennett has reworked the program - breaking it down to the foundation in order to install his system and philosophies with the intent to build it back up from there. Yet at the time, keeping Spurlock was a key pickup for Bennett and helped maintain the positive outlook that came with his arrival.
Many UVa fans will be disappointed not to have had the chance to see what could of become of Spurlock - it was an intriguing story to say the least. It will certainly come as no shock to see Spurlock do well somewhere else, and given the fact he is leaving on good terms, most Virginia fans will likely be rooting for him. We here at the Society wish him all the best.
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Realistically speaking, it was hard to expect much more. Today's game against Duke caused headlines to use such adjectives as "pesky" or describe Duke as "holding off" the Hoos. The last time these two met, it was a blowout and Virginia had no chance from the start. UVa kept it close for 3/4 of the game until a late run helped the Dookies notch a 57-46 win over the Cavs.
Another hard-fought, well-balanced effort from Virginia, though sadly, after two solid efforts, Sammy Zeglinski was noticeably absent. Zeglinski scored a team high 21 points yesterday in the win over BC, yet failed to get on the board against Duke. Imagine how 9 points from him (his season average) would have changed the game.
As we said before, in light of the 9 game losing streak, the best "realistic" ending to the season was two competitive losses against the league's top-two teams and a win over Boston College. Given the circumstances, we'll take it. Virginia ends the season with a shred of dignity in tact and a small glimmer of hope that better days are ahead. So crank up the rumor mill and let the guessing games begin - the Hoos' offseason soap opera now takes center stage.
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For Virginia fans, it probably feels good to smile - even if it is only a slight grin. At the very least, you can't help but feel happy for these guys who, in the face of adversity, continued to play hard and battle. It's only fitting that Virginia got off the snide with a well-balanced effort. As a team, the Hoos refused to roll over (even when it would have been easy and understandable to do so), and it was a team effort that lead to Virginia's 68-62 win over Boston College in the opening round of the ACC tourney. Five guys scored in double figures lead by a very strong outing from Sammy Zeglinski. He finished with a team-high 21 points while Jeff Jones pitched in 14 (going 3-5 from beyond the arc). Jerome Meyinsse continued his strong play and put up 12 points. After a slow start made it look as if Mike Scott was still stuck in his funk, the junior forward played very well in the second half and finished the game with a double-double. Mustapha Farrakhan added 10 points, including a strong layup and one down the stretch.
Without Sylven Landesburg, guys like Farrakhan, Jones, and Zeglinski needed to step up offensively and all three answered the call. The new-look offense also affords these guys the opportunity to get more involved offensively, and without Landesburg in the last two games, Jones has especially blossomed. The disparity in pure talent and scoring ability between Landesburg and the rest of the crew likely makes it difficult for the supporting cast to find a good, comfortable role that allows them to be consistent contributors. Now the players are far more balanced and even which makes it easier for them to be more comfortable on the court and to simply play. To be honest, this particular team might be as good or even better without him. Bennett's system calls for a balanced, deliberate, and well-executed approach on both offense and defense - it's vital that everyone gets involved on both ends of the floor. It's a a style of play that actually helps teams with less pure talent stay competitive with just about anyone - as long as everyone gets involved and executes their assignments, the team has a chance. Of course, getting involved offensively generally leads to more energy and passion defensively. With one player serving as such a focal point offensively, it makes it far more easy for guys to struggle finding a rhythm and to simply check out - that leads to breakdowns. Without Landesburg (at least in the last two games) it appears everyone looks more comfortable and can get more involved which enables the group to gel more and play more cohesively.
Yesterday, the Hoos committed a season-low five turnovers, and unlike their recent trip to Chestnut Hill, Virginia rebounded extremely well and kept BC from getting a ton of second-chance points. Today UVa faces number-one seed Duke - a tall task indeed though not impossible (see: Big East Tournament). In order for Virgina to pull off the major upset, another well-rounded effort is absolutely in order. Protecting the ball and owning the defensive boards will once again prove vital. On top of having 4-5 guys in double figures, the Hoos will likely also need someone like Will Sherrill or even Tristan Spurlock, what a made-for-tv story that would be, to go Kyle Kuric (see: Louisville over Syracuse to close down Freedom Hall) on the Dookies.
Regardless of today's outcome, the Hoos notched a much-needed win over BC in order to avert complete disaster. For the players and the fans, it feels good to win again. Yesterday featured a few first-round surprises, and with few expectations and virtually no pressure, Hoo knows, Virginia might just make it interesting. From the Society's perspective, a win yesterday is really all we asked for, so at this point, we're playing with house money...as long the team goes all in, we'll either leave fairly satisfied or stay to play another hand.
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Certainly the last thing Virginia wants to do is close out the season on a 10-game losing streak. UVa's current nine-game skid serves as the worst since the 1961-62 squad. Furthermore, a loss today at noon against Boston College would forever join the Hoos with the 1981 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as the only other ACC school to finish a season with 10 straight losses. Not good. Despite the fact Virginia's season is effectively over, these are the types of things every teams wants to avoid and this is not how these kids want to get in the record books. This is not how they want to be remembered. Quite frankly, Virginia fans also don't want the Hoos' complete collapse to be the lasting memory that carries them through the offseason. For what it's worth, a win today will serve as reason enough to no longer use "complete" when describing UVa's late-season collapse. Small and largely insignificant to be sure, but we're feeding on crumbs here.
No question Virginia's chances today are rather slim. First off, the ACC tourney is an event that has not treated the Hoos all that kindly in recent years (especially in the Gillen era). Furthermore, BC waxed UVa earlier in the season and, in fact, mercifully ended the Cavs season last year in, you guessed it, the first round of the ACC tourney. Sylven Landesburg is gone, and Calvin Baker has left the team, so to say the Hoos are undermanned is a huge understatement.
Heck, for all intents and purposes, the season is over. Tristan Spurlock is already (at least publicly) stating his desire to return. Coach Tony Bennett is already making sure the press and fans know Landesburg is welcome to return and that the suspension only applies to this season. This team has already begun to look ahead to next year, so in some respects, it could be argued even they have cashed it in for the year. From a fan's perspective, this year is definitely done. The "As the worlds of Spurlock and Landesburg turn" soap opera is about the only shred of entertainment value this squad provides. The only true excitement surrounding the program stems from the hopes and dreams pinned to one of the more highly-regarding incoming freshman classes to arrive on Grounds in years. The fan focus is on the future and not the present.
Ultimately a win or loss won't really mean much of anything. The program won't be damaged beyond repair, and a dark cloud won't hang so heavy that it ruins next season as well. Yet, maybe that's just it. Nobody gives Virginia a chance today, and to be honest, outside of the die hard wahoo fans, nobody really cares. All the story lines point to next season and many are ready to get on with it already. Despite all that, the game must be played, and a Virginia win would help - even if only slightly. Sure, it sounds trite, but it's the truth - today the Hoos are playing for pride. When all the chips are down, does this squad have the character to find a way to win. Is coach Bennett building a program that fights against all odds? Can the Cavs head into the offseason having stopped the bleeding? A loss today and Virgina's season will be tattooed with "10 consecutive losses" and will be primarily remembered for the dubious feat. A win today coupled with a competitive outing against Duke changes things - the story now shifts to the fact UVa finished on a bit of an upswing and showed some signs of life. A win and two hard-fought losses against the league's top two teams.
A gut check, playing for pride, backs against the wall, fighting to the end....pick whatever cliche you want, Virginia just needs to play for something. A win and a small glimmer of hope - well that's something, and something is better than nothing.
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For the first time in several games, the Hoos gave an effort worthy of at least a golf clap. Yes, in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, Virginia fans are in the business of looking for moral victories. Saturday's hard-fought 74-68 loss to ACC regular season co-champion Maryland qualifies. Keep in mind, Sylven Landesburg missed the game after being suspended for the remainder of the season. In addition, Mike Scott played only 15 minutes and tallied just two points. So, with that type of storyline, conventional wisdom suggests the game should have been a blow out. However, the short-handed Hoos competed, played hard, and even when facing a 14-point deficit, failed to fold. The Cavs posted a gutsy performance and a handful of unlikely heroes stepped up and played well
- Jerome Meyinsse posted a near-perfect senior night and capped off what has been a very nice season from the senior center. It could easily be argued Meyinnse is the only player on this year's squad who has exceeded expectations. Sammy Zeglinski has certainly shown progress but has faded as of late. On the other hand, Meyinsse has continued to improve throughout the season - hitting his stride down the stretch. He went out in style on Saturday and led UVa in scoring with 17 points. Even with the loss, if nothing else, you have to at least feel good for a guy who has worked hard both on the court and in the classroom.
- Speaking Zeglinski, he and Jeff Jones finally showed up. Zeglinski shot 50% from beyond the arc and tallied 14 points while Jones was a blistering 4-6 from downtown en route to a 16-point outing. Mutsapha Farrakhan chipped in 8 points and Will Sherrill added a solid contribution off the bench with 9 points. Interesting to see all of these guys step up with Mike Scott having an off night and Landesburg out for the year. Wonder how much their inconsistency is due to having Landesburg carrying so much of the focus offensively? Michael Jordan succeeded only when the Bulls surrounded him with guys who could contribute and knew their role within the system. It's clear these guys have yet to truly figure out how they fit in (night after night) to an offense that runs through Landesburg nor has the group been able to develop any sort of consistent chemistry.
- Coach Tony Bennett picked a fine time to garner his first career technical foul. With just over 38 seconds remaining and UVa down by one, Bennett slammed his jacket on the floor in protest of a tough blocking call. Replays showed Meyinsse did lean/slide slightly to the right as Maryland's Sean Mosley barreled into him. However, with time winding down on the shot clock, Mosley lowered his head and went to the hoop with little regard for anyone or anything in his way - a player control foul certainly was not out of the question. No doubt it was a tough call (especially after Gary Williams had just finished getting in the ear of the officials regarding a previous charge called on star Greivis Vasquez) though Bennett's technical proved a back-breaker.
- Speaking of Greivis Vasquez, did anyone else notice his first name appears to be a combination of his father's name Gregorio and his mother's name, Ivis? Hoo knew.
- So, an already bizarre season just got a little weirder Saturday morning with the announcement of Landesburg's season-ending suspension. Early reports are that Landesburg wasn't going to class which only further adds fuel to the "leaving for the pros" fire. Skipping class seems to fit the M.O. of a guy who has checked out and started looking ahead to next season - why go to class when you won't be there next year? What's the point? Regardless of what might eventually happen, the one thing that is clear right now is Bennett's commitment to doing things according to the established rules. It is obvious Bennett is establishing a new culture, and in light of the various suspensions throughout the year, it appears he runs a tighter ship than his predecessor.
- Props to the announced crowd of 13,431 who showed up to catch the Hoos' last home game of the season. Virginia fans have certainly earned a reputation for being a bit fair-weathered (a fair assessment in some cases) though Saturday's showing was extremely strong in light of the circumstances (an eight-game losing streak to be exact). Juxtapose that against the game two days earlier in Chestnut Hill when less than 4,000 people showed up to catch Boston College host the Cavs. The two teams have extremely similar records and both are struggling, yet Virginia's fan support proves miles ahead. Maybe UVa fans are looking beyond this season and buying into Bennett's efforts to rebuild the program for long-term success.
On the court, this season has been underwhelming to say the least, yet the one thing that has not been lacking is drama. Various story lines have run throughout, and it's scary to think what might happen next. Remember to keep your hands inside the ride at all times because the roller coaster that is Virginia basketball is not ready to return to the station and shut down for the year.
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Yesterday's argument was that a win against Boston College could help provide a shred of hope, and from a statistical standpoint (especially in conference), a victory over the Eagles would help tell the story of progress. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that includes changing perspective in order to find or even manufacture a silver lining. Unfortunately, the lowered expectations and new focus were not met with different results. Last night the Hoos dropped their eighth straight contest - a 68-55 loss to BC. Once again the Hoos fell behind early and never recovered - talking about this squad is really starting to sound like a broken record. It's the same stuff night in and night out.
- Welcome back Mike Scott. After getting blanked the last two games, Scott finally showed up and nearly posted a double double. Sylven Landesburg also returned to action and notched 13 points as well. Jerome Meyinsse, as he has done all season, played beyond expectations and chipped in 12 points. So, those three accounted for 70% of Virginia's 55 total points. That's not enough offensive distribution to be competitive. Sammy Zeglinksi missed every shot he took, ended the night with a goose egg and has all but disappeared. Same goes for Jeff Jones. Mustapha Farrakhan notched 8 points, and normally that would be a respectable contribution, but when nobody else shows up, it's far too little.
- Houston, we have a problem. Losing eight straight is no small feat and there is no doubt something has gone terribly wrong with this squad. Blame it on lack of overall talent, chemistry problems, fatigue, transition to a new system, or whatever else you want to identify, but regardless of the causes, it's getting ridiculous. The wheels have fallen off and now the Cavs can't even manage to dig deep and find enough pride to be competitive against (let alone beat) another ACC bottom feeder.
- Chalk this season up as a loss in the name of change - at least, that's what Hoos fans hope to be saying 2-3 years from now if and when the program has once again become competitive. At this point, Virginia is staring at the real possibility of finishing the season on a 10-game losing streak, which will make it difficult to discern much of anything from this season. Finding true signs of lasting progress, wholesale change, or the building of a foundation for success still remains a big question mark.
- This summer is shaping up to be just as full of intrigue as last summer. Questions abound regarding freshman Tristan Spurlock, and the recent commitment from Billy Baron only adds fuel to the fire. Six commits with only five available scholarships means something has got to give - will Spurlock transfer, is Landesburg bolting for the NBA, or are all of the recent lineup changes not our of sheer desperation, but instead, Bennett's way of having everyone tryout/audition for their scholarship. Hoo knows, but at this point, it appears there are just as many questions after Bennett's first year as there were last summer when he was entering his first year in C'ville. Ideally things should start (even if in only small ways) to be coming together instead of becoming more unsettled.....again, maybe you have to deconstruct this thing and build it back up in order to accomplish real change.
Oh the life of a Virginia hoops fan......are we having fun yet?
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An oxymoron? Yes. A must-win game? Probably not. A chance to halt the skid and show one more sign of progress? Absolutely. The idea that how Virginia finishes the season will carryover to next year is probably a bit much. To think that the Hoos will carry any momentum into next year from mini-winning streak to end this year seems unlikely - does anyone ever really look back at the last couple of games of any given season as a source of inspiration? However, if the Cavs end up losing out - finishing the season on a dreadful 10-game slide - that would likely leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth and set the tone for a long offseason. While UVa's season is likely all but over (barring a surprise run and invite to the NIT), tonight's contest against Boston College does present an opportunity to help solidify that things are moving in the right direction.
Coach Bennett has cautioned that rebuilding Virginia's basketball program is a work in progress - a task that will take some time. The optimists here at the Society were hoping he was sandbagging, but, sadly, he wasn't. The reality is Hoos fans should be looking for signs of progress and any expectations beyond that are likely too much. To be fair, early success in conference play got most fans a bit distracted and the focus shifted to pipedreams of postseason play and challenging for a spot in the top-half of the ACC. Bennett did his best to temper expectations, but Hoo nation is starved for success, and a brief stint as the league leader was like tossing a bucket full of chum in shark-infested waters.
The recent slide has put things back in perspective, and tonight's game against BC presents a chance for Bennett and his squad to display another example of how they are slowly but surely building a foundation for success. A win against the Eagles would, first and foremost, put a halt to a very dejecting losing streak - no one likes to lose regardless of the expectations. Furthermore, a victory tonight would serve as UVa's sixth conference win of the season which would be more than either of the previous two seasons. A win tonight would also represent the Hoos' third conference road win of the year - a feat last accomplished in 2006-07 when Virginia advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
So no, the trip to Chestnut Hill will not impact the ACC conference championship nor will it have any bearing on NCAA seedings. However, it does have meaning to Virginia fans and to a Virginia basketball program looking to rebuild and return to its former status as a regular NCAA tourney team. It could serve as a sign of progress, a step in the right direction, and another brick in the foundation. Small wins and moral victories, that's what Hoo fans can reasonably expect, and a win tonight fits that description.
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Not even close. Without Sylven Landesburg, Virginia didn't stand a chance. Kyle Singler, John Scheyer and the rest of the Dookies got the memo. It appears the Hoos also read the writing on the wall and bought into their own demise before the game even started. Duke immediately opened the game with a 20-4 run and never looked back. Both teams knew the storyline and played their roles accordingly. The weekend produced a handful of upsets in college basketball, but sadly, this one went exactly as scripted. Not a whole lot to say about this one, but here are few random musings following the debacle.
- Entering the season, the Society thought the cupboard might not be all that bare and that Tony Bennett had inherited more talent than the 4th estate realized (given they predicted the Hoos to finish last). Landesburg's absence last night presented a good opportunity for some others to step up and prove their mettle. Jerome Meyinsse came to play and posted a career high 21 points. Yet, you know it's likely not a good sign when a guy who has seen very little action prior to this year scores nearly 50% of the team's points for the game. No one else could muster double figures. For the second game in a row, Mike Scott was shut out. Bottom line, the cupboard is bare, and this Virginia squad is remarkably devoid of ACC-caliber talent. Guys like Sammy Zeglinski, Mustapha Farakhan and Jeff Jones all show flashes which leads fans to think these guys could blossom into solid scorers and make Virginia a dangerous team. Zeglinski has done the best of the three, showed some nice improvement to start the season, but has seemingly disappeared down the stretch - only a sophomore, there's still time. Farakhan will likely finish out his career as a streaky hot and cold player while, by all accounts, Jones looks destine to be an overall bust. Mike Scott continues to improve year-over-year (statistically) but still seems to be continuing a pattern of fading towards the end of the season. Meyinsse has been a very nice surprise this season - had Cav fans been saying similar things about Zeglinski, Farakhan, and Jones, this season might have turned out a little differently.
- Recently, Doug Doughty of the Roanoke Times suggested he was "not going to let first-year head coach Tony Bennett off the hook" in terms of his role in Virginia's recent skid. Hey, the Hoos have lost seven straight, so certainly everyone involved in the program deserves some portion of the blame. Doughty notes the team has regressed - fair assessment - and that a coaching getting 1.7M a year should get the most out of his players. The latter view appears to be a slippery slope....Mike Scott has failed to make a basket in the past two games. Last time I checked, the coaches don't play the game (though the Hoos would likely get a big boost offensively if Bennett suited up - he looks like he can still knock it down). Can coaches get players to make shots? Last night marked the third time Virginia has failed to crack 50 points in a game - the last time that happened was 25 years ago. Again, it's sort of a chicken or the egg - some will blame coaching, and some will blame talent. What is more tangible is recruiting (many argue it's all about the Jimmies and Joes not the X's and O's), and even when faced with a shortened recruiting cycle, Bennett put together a class that exceeds anything assembled by Leitao. That combined with the fact UVa could still likely finish the season better than most expected gives the impression that coaching might not be the biggest issue.
- With all that said, Virginia does need to find a way to stop the bleeding. The Hoos made strides to start conference play, yet the recent slide has nearly wiped out the earlier accomplishments. Finishing the year on a 10-game skid (dropping the next two and bowing out in the first round of the ACC) would make for an extremely long offseason. If the Hoos can show some life and muster a couple of wins to end the season on a positive note, it would go a long way in providing the slight glimmer of hope Virginia fans so desperately need. For those lukewarm on Bennett, a couple of wins could help prove the coach can find a way to reverse the fortunes when the chips are down. For those convinced the squad is too undermanned, ending the season on a winning streak would show the team's got a little pride left. Either way, for the most part, we all want to believe, and we had reason, but now it appears to be slipping away. Just give us something to hold on to - any signs of life will do.
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