Leitao Nearing the Hot Seat?

Sunday, June 22 2008 by Tim

Is there another program in the country whose coaches are on the hot seat so regularly?

Probably, but its pretty annoying to this particular fan...

Anyway, Ben Allaire posted his thoughts on the subject (thanks to Vandy Hoo for the link).

I'll quote the same part of Ben's article that Vandy Hoo did:

Next season, the training wheels are off.

When Dave Leitao started at Virginia, he knew he had a solid backcourt—Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds, both of whom were recruited by his predecessor—to anchor the team.

With their graduations, the team comes completely under Leitao’s direction. These are his players. This upcoming season is a preview of what Leitao’s Virginia program will look like for years to come…if Leitao is around long enough.

I was following him right up to the "if Leitao is around long enough" part. I'll give Ben the benefit of the doubt and assume he just meant that other people would be attacking Leitao quickly after this year. But is even that the right attitude? How about we take a track that we should be giving him a little more time.

Regardless, Ben actually makes me feel pretty good about this team and its future by the end of his article.

Assuming we have a healthy team all season (I know, I know) here is a high level flyover of our team (I am duplicating where appropriate):

  • Centers
    • Senior Lars Mikalauskas
    • Senior Tunji Soroye (?)
    • Junior Jerome Meyinsse
    • Freshman John Brandenburg
    • Freshman Assane Sene
  • Forwards
    • Senior Mamadi Diane
    • Senior Lars Mikalauskas
    • Junior Will Harris
    • Junior Jamil Tucker
    • Junior Solomon Tat
    • Junior Jerome Meyinsse
    • Sophomore Mike Scott
    • Freshman Sylven Landesberg
  • Guards
    • Junior Calvin Baker
    • Junior Solomon Tat
    • Sophomore Jeff Jones
    • Sophomore Mustapha Farrakhan
    • RS-Freshman Sammy Zeglinski
    • Freshman Sylven Landesberg

Frankly, that looks like a good team this year and the makings of great teams over the next couple years. The older post players should be able to play the bulk of the minutes early, giving way to the new, true centers if they progress well over the season. We look very well stocked at the forward and guard positions. You could pick and choose 2 of from each of those lists and you'd have a decent team on the floor at worst and impressive at best.

If our upperclassmen can play just well enough to allow the younger guys to get in the groove, we could see some very exciting seasons beginning this year - and keeping Leitao very far from the hot seat.

Time will tell...

3 comment(s) and 0 trackback(s)

Tiki wrote on Sunday, June 22 2008

Zeglinski is still a freshman. He got a medical redshirt.

We certainly have a lot of talent. We're deep, as deep as we've been in years. The question is keeping that depth on the court. Is there any doubt that we would've been better last year if Tat, Harris, Zeglinski, and Soroye were healthy? Not to mention Singletary who was rarely at 100%.

Tim wrote on Sunday, June 22 2008

Thanks Tiki - I corrected that on the list. I keep forgetting that he got the medical redshirt.

Ben wrote on Monday, June 30 2008

Tim - Thanks for the link.

That is what I meant - I think other people will start speculating about his job- I'm actually hoping Leitao sticks around.

The more I see what he's done with the program, the more I think Leitao "gets it." Virginia is a peculiar institution especially about sports. As fans/alumni, want our athletes to be studious and Leitao is really bringing those guys around.

I do feel good about this roster. If Leitao can put it all together, I think they've got a shot at something special.