Coach Tony Bennett’s first season in Charlottesville was a fairly tumultuous one. Suspensions of both the academic type and attitudinal type were handed down early and often. The Wahoos lost nine in a row late in the season, and won eight consecutive games early in the campaign. I know Coach Bennett would rather not have has such a heinous losing streak, that’s for sure, but the winning streak most certainly rejuvenated a very downtrodden fan base. Virginia finished the season 15-16 overall, and 5-11 in the ACC with one win
in the ACC Tournament. So, that only gives the Hoos five more wins than last season, but only one more win in the much-less-potent ACC.
It’s really hard to place much of the blame on Coach Bennett for this subpar season (though I do think he lost the Maryland game with that ill-timed technical foul when Maryland was only up one point with about 40 seconds left to go in the game. The game was clearly starting to turn in Virginia’s favor! But I loved the intensity and he was furious with the officials for the horrible job that they had done in most of that game). That being said, he recruited none of these players. His system is very difficult to learn, especially for guys like Sylven Landesberg who scored at will in high school, and who rarely played a lick of defense. Landesberg’s decision to not go to class made it very easy for Coach Bennett to suspend him. Half the battle in college is just showing up, right? And not showing up to art class? Come on Sylven, if you think that you are ready to star in the NBA you are dead wrong. Landesberg is not a good enough ball-handler to play the point in the NBA, not a good enough shooter to play the two-guard, and totally unprepared to play either forward position in the NBA. Come on Sylven, use your head and get your ass back to Virginia.
One of the absolute positives was the second half emergence of academic all-star Jerome Meyinsse. Jerome turned into a solid offensive option later in the season. I really wish that he had two more years to grow under the tutelage of the Virginia coaching staff. He will be missed. Another positive (in my opinion) was the growing minutes of Hampton native Jontel Evans. Evans could not hit the broadside of a barn shooing the basketball, and did not finish well on his drives to hole, but his defensive tenacity was outstanding at times in the second half of the season. I love a guy that brings a football mentality to the basketball court. Remember Matt Blundin, anyone? He wasn’t an All-ACC hoops player, but he brought a ton of energy to the game. And, if Evans stays enrolled at UVA, he will provide valuable minutes as a back up at both of the guard spots. His energy and attitude is infectious.
One of the great mysteries of the 2009-2010 hoops season was the spotty and highly enigmatic play of forward Mike Scott. He had a very painful and somewhat debilitating ankle injury, but his effort and follow-through was not there on a game-to-game basis. He certainly has all the tools to be a Travis Watson type of player for the Hoos, but a lot of the time Scott took ill-advised shots and lost his place on the basketball court. Sometimes he was too far under the basket, or too far away. He has a nice mid-range jump shot, but does not drive to the hoop particularly well. And Scott often gets his shot altered by larger, more athletic players. If he works hard on his jump shot, Scott could really give Virginia a serious scoring option next season every single game.
Speaking of next season, Coach Bennett has been busy recruiting guys that can play his style of hoops. Smart, athletic, tenacious team players.
Virginia has six guys coming in here next semester and they are from all over the United States. I bet it’s a hell of a lot easier to get kids to come play at the JPJ in the ACC than it was to get kids to move to the boonies at WSU. Here’s an early look at this first class. He’s got seven scholarships available to give, but I think that he will only use six at this time. It’s certainly possible that he takes another kid, but six is already a huge class! It’s also possible that one or more players on the current roster become academically ineligible, or decide to transfer. Also, note the fact that there is no one coming in taller than 6’9”. Virginia has not had a truly top-flight center since Olden Polynice in the early eighties! Go Hoos!
1- Akil Mitchell, Charlotte, NC 6-7, 215 forward (raw talent with a very long wing-span, might redshirt)
2- Joe Harris, Chelan, WA 6-5, 200 guard (Mr. Basketball in the state of Washington)
3- James Johnson, Wildomar, CA 6-9, 220 forward (3.5 GPA, player of the year in his conference in CA)
4- K.T. Harrell, Montgomery, AL 6-4, 205 guard (Gatorade player of the year in Alabama)
5- Will Regan, Buffalo, NY 6-8, 220 forward (first player to commit to Tony Bennett at UVA and a very strong student)
6- Billy Baron, Worchester, MA (not signed yet) 6-2, 185 guard (His dad is Rhode Island’s head coach, I love coach’s sons)
