Reviewing the Non-conference Hoops Schedule in Two Parts: Part I
Friday, October 02 2009 by Ben - 0 comments
Folks, October is here. We're just a month and a half away from the Virginia's first game. Can time POSSIBLY MOVE ANY SLOWER?! I have not been this stoked for a basketball season since 2007. I am excited and terrified to see what the team has in store. We could be awesome; we could be terrible. I JUST DON'T KNOW. STOP LOOKING AT ME! We're going to take a look at what I think will be fun, exciting non-conference schedule. There are some toughies in there, but I think it will allow Tony Bennett to truly see what he's got to work with this season. The first four games of the season are Longwood ,...
How Big Would a Road Win Be?
Saturday, February 21 2009 by Tim - 3 comments
As I sit down and prepare to watch the Hoos take on North Carolina State down in Raleigh in just a few minutes, I’m struck by how important this game could be for the men’s basketball team this season. First, some caveats. I understand that there’s no chance this team makes the NCAAs (outside of an insanely unlikely run through the ACC tournament). I also understand that even the NIT is unlikely. But all of those things are things I wasn’t expecting several weeks ago anyway, so I’m still not expecting them now. What I AM concerned about is the growth of this young team. The Clemson game was a bit...
Super Bowl Sunday At Duke
Friday, January 30 2009 by Tiki - 3 comments
Why do we keep playing all these highly ranked teams right after they lose to Wake Forest? First we play UNC just 4 days after their second straight ACC loss. Now, we get Duke 4 days after they lose on a last second backdoor layup. Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit unfair? Maybe if Duke was coming off a blowout win, they would lose focus, and look past us to their game at Clemson next Wednesday night. But no. We are going to get a 100% focused Duke team that has been listening to the ferret yell and scream and curse at them for the past few days. ...
BBall Preview - UMD
Tuesday, January 20 2009 by MelbourneHoo - 2 comments
We play UMD tonight 8 PM at the Comcast center. It always seems like there is that one guy on every team that has been there forever.. I hear that Sean Singletary was that way to our opponents and I thought that Julius Hodges was at NC State for the better part of a decade. When it comes to the twerps - that guys is Greivis Vazquez, and the worst part is he is only a junior. Vazquez has averaged 17 points or more the past two seasons and is their leader. I don't like him. He is an all around good player and UMd will win or lose on his shoulders. After all, here is a guy that does not know the "i"...
A Nationally Televised Game from JPJ
Wednesday, January 14 2009 by Tiki - 1 comments
This Thursday night, the 1-1 Hoos take on the 0-2 Tar Heels on ESPN. Yep, you read that right. We’re still ahead of them in the ACC standings. The Heels got beat by Boston College at home, and then by Wake Forest on the road. Both of those teams shot the hell out of the ball. BC shot 46% for the game, including 38% on 3s. Wake shot 48% for the game, and 43% from downtown. In both games, UNC shot under 40%. UNC also lost the turnover battle in both games. Basically, those two games are outliers for UNC. They usually force a lot of turnovers,...
Marriott Cavalier Classic Preview
Sunday, December 28 2008 by Tim - 1 comments
Virginia hosts the Marriott Cavalier Classic women’s basketball mini-tournament beginning today at 2pm. The schools participating are Louisiana Tech, Rider, UMBC and, of course, Virginia. The Cavaliers hold a 6-2 combined record against the other three schools; they’ve never played UMBC and the two losses were both against Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech takes on UMBC today at 2pm, followed by the Hoos taking on Rider at 4:30pm. The losers of the above games will compete in the consolation game tomorrow at 4:30pm. The winners will take the floor at 7pm tomorrow. The game against Rider today should...
Hampton Pirates
Tuesday, December 23 2008 by Tiki - 0 comments
Coming off one of the most boring basketball games I’ve ever witnessed, the Hoos get back to action tonight against the Pirates from Hampton College. Hampton comes into the game with a 5-4 record, including a 1-0 record in the MEAC. Their best win is over Jim Larranaga ’s squad from George Mason. Their worst loss is probably Delaware at home. Hampton plays one of the slowest offenses in the nation, averaging just 63 possessions per game, good for 308th place. Their offensive efficiency isn’t much better, as they average 91.1 points per 100 possessions, this good for 287th...
Longwood Preview
Wednesday, December 17 2008 by Tiki - 5 comments
Following a 15 day layoff due to final exams, the Virginia basketball team returns to action tonight against the independent Longwood Lancers. Longwood comes into the matchup 5-5, with wins over such powerhouse schools as James Madison and Gardner-Webb, and losses to more highly regarded programs such as Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Longwood’s last game was the matchup with the Hokies on Sunday, a 22 point loss for the Lancers. The Cavs come in with a 3-3 record, riding a 3 game losing streak. The losing streak began with against Liberty, which is a bad loss. Following...
Liberty Preview
Tuesday, November 25 2008 by Ben - 1 comments
Tonight at 7PM the men's basketball will face Liberty University in a match up of TeeJay (when did the spelling change?) Bannister's two former collegiate teams. Live audio available (from Liberty) here . The Flames are currently 0-1 in the Big South (1-1 overall) after getting pasted by UNC-Asheville, 84-56. The Flames have been downright frigid on offense, notching a 78 PPP mark that Ken Pomeroy ranks as 326th in all the land . However, they haven't turned the ball over too much. So, there's that. Liberty returns one starter, Anthony Smith, from a squad that went 16-16 last year. He's a good...
Radford Preview
Friday, November 21 2008 by Tiki - 0 comments
I am sitting in the Charlottesville Red Roof Inn, nursing the last remnants of my hangover. Tonight will be my first venture into JPJ this season, and I'm psyched to see this team with my own eyes for the first time. This is going to be a quick preview because I need to start drinking soon, in order to make sure I've got a decent buzz by gametime. Radford is the second Big South team we will have played this season, and despite VMI's upset over Kentucky, this team might be the tougher one. Coach Brad Greenberg, brother of Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, has the Highlanders on the right track...