Virginia must set its sights on Florida State; Cavaliers football schedule released; other UVa sports updates
VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
Florida State at Virginia, 7 tonight ESPN2
The Cavaliers battle the No. 22-ranked Seminoles tonight on Senior Night and I hope the players have put the North Carolina game behind them better than the fans. Numerous fans are upset with the way the game Saturday against the Tar Heels was officiated and some have even written letters and emails to ACC commissioner John Swofford and head of officiating John Cloughtery. Cloughtery stirred up controversy earlier this season when he said North Carolina just doesn't foul much, as if it is Gospel truth.
The players need to focus because while it is looking as if Virginia will make the NCAA tournament, at least one more win would be great and help lock up its berth, especially if it came against the top-25 ranked Seminoles. If the Cavs were to lose the rest of their games before the ACC tournament, they would end the regular season and ACC tournament on a four-game losing streak and would hold only one top-50 RPI win, over Michigan, way back in November (this number could inflate depending on how well Miami and Oregon finish, two teams hovering around the top 50 in RPI). That is not the final impression you want to leave on the selection committee. I'm sure it's not how seniors Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski (and to a lesser extent, Assane Sene, though he won't be able to play) want to go out on their home floor.
A win would also be important to help lock up the fourth spot in the ACC regular season standings. The top four get a bye in the first round of the ACC tournament, which starts next Thursday in Atlanta. Virginia's ACC record is 8-6, while Miami and N.C. State are 8-7, and Clemson is 7-7. If Virginia wins out (its last game is Sunday at Maryland), it would get to 10-6 and finish fourth. One win would mean the Cavs finish no lower than fifth, because they would win the tiebreaker with Miami and State by virtue of beating those teams. The catch comes with Clemson, however. Virginia split its two head-to-head meetings with the Tigers this season. If Clemson were to win out and get to 9-7 and Virginia goes 1-1 and finished 9-7, Clemson would actually get fourth place because it will have a better record against FSU, Duke, and UNC (they will have beaten FSU twice). Clemson hosts Virginia Tech today at 9 p.m. and then travels to play the Seminoles on Sunday at noon.
Now, on to the game. Florida State built a 13-point lead in the second half in the teams' first meeting in Tallahassee on Feb. 4 before UVa stormed back to take a one-point lead with about three minutes left. Seminoles' sharp-shooting guard Michael Snaer made a clutch, 25-foot 3-pointer with about two minutes to go and time winding down on the shot clock to help push the 'Noles to an eventual 58-55 victory. Snaer has made big shots all year, with that being just one. He also hit the game-winning 3 at Duke earlier in the season and also made a buzzer-beating 3 in Tallahassee to snare a victory over Virginia Tech. Snaer hit two 3s vs. Virginia last game and finished with eight points. Okaro White (13) and Xavier Gibson (10) led the Seminoles in scoring. For UVa, Mike Scott and Joe Harris each finished with 16 points. Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 10 points and had two 3s. Harris made three 3-pointers and the team finished with six 3-pointers. Zeglinski had just one. Jontel Evans' contribution of eight points and five assists in that contest should not be overlooked. It was his aggressiveness and penetration that helped Virginia claw its way back into the game after it was down 13 points.
Florida State is coming into this game after two consecutive ACC losses, one at home to Duke and another at Miami. The Seminoles are locked into third place in the ACC, so it is tough to tell how much motivation they will be bringing into tonight's matchup. They are are also going to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament so they don't have to be fighting for anything from that aspect. I'm sure their coach, Leonard Hamilton, doesn't want to go into the ACC and NCAA tourneys on losing streaks, but hopefully tonight they will play a little lackluster and then win against Clemson on Sunday (which could help ensure Virginia gets fourth place, as well).
I'm looking for Scott, and maybe even Zeglinski, to have big games for the Hoos. It is their time to shine and Scott has been rock solid all year and I think it is about time 'Z' breaks out and has a great game. It would go a long way toward erasing some of his dud efforts this year. The key will be for Virginia to move the ball quickly and cleanly in the offense. The Seminoles are a good defensive team because they are long and athletic. Tiring them out would help Virginia as the game wears on. I know the Hoos are going to bring it on the defensive end, and the fans will be pumped given this is the final home game of the season, Senior Night, and there's a potential NCAA bid on the line. Locking down Snaer will be key on 'D.' And hopefully Virginia does a good enough job on the rest of the 'Noles where no one else goes off and has a career night (as Deividas Dulkys did against UNC when he hit eight 3-pointers and had 32 points). FSU is a tough-nosed team but, perhaps with less on the line for them tonight, it will lack that extra 'umph' and the Hoos can get an awesome victory.
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VIRGINIA FOOTBALL
Virginia released its 2012 schedule Monday:
Sept. 1 vs. Richmond
Sept. 8 vs. Penn State
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 22 at TCU
Sept. 29 vs. Louisana Tech
Oct. 6 at Duke
Oct. 13 vs. Maryland
Oct. 20 vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 3 at N.C. State
Nov. 10 vs. Miami
Nov. 15 (Thurs.) vs. North Carolina
Nov. 24 at Virginia Tech
The Cavaliers' non-conference slate will take a step up from last season. Richmond is similar to William & Mary last season, but Penn State, TCU, and Louisiana Tech are a step above Indiana, Southern Miss, and Idaho. The game at home vs. the Nittany Lions should be interesting. Obviously, Penn State will be starting a brand new regime under Bill O'Brien. It will be the first time in several decades PSU won't be led out on to the field by Joe Paterno. I really have no idea what to expect in that one. It could be good year for Penn State or it could struggle under a first-year coach. And we probably won't know by just the second week of the season. The Lions face Ohio at home in their first game so I don't know if that is a good litmus test. I think the name, "TCU" speaks for itself now. The Horned Frogs beat UVa, 30-14, in 2009 at Scott Stadium. The program won the Rose Bowl two years ago and finished 11-2 last season with a Poinsettia Bowl win over another of Virginia's 2012 opponents, Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are a program on the rise as well and play in the WAC. They finished 8-5 last season overall and won the WAC title.
Virginia's ACC schedule, on the other hand, took a step down from last season. Wake Forest replaces Florida State and Virginia gets Miami and UNC at home. The Cavs do have to travel to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, but still, I think it is more favorable this season. Virginia hosts its first Thursday night ESPN game since 2006 when the Tar Heels travel to Charlottesville for a contest in mid-November. The last time the Cavs hosted a Thursday night game was in 2006, also against UNC. That should be an exciting game and is the final game before the Hoos visit Blacksburg which means that Virginia gets some extra rest/preparation time for the Hokies so that could be beneficial as well. Right now, I see anywhere from 6-8 regular-season wins but I'm not going to look into it too much until the summer.
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OTHER UVa SPORTS UPDATES
Women's basketball: The Virginia women have had a pretty good season, a little bit like the Virginia men, actually. They sit 6th in the ACC this season and have beaten the teams in the ACC below them but were unable to beat the teams above them. They're 21-9, 9-7 ACC and playing in the first round of the ACC tournament tonight at 8 against No. 11 seed Boston College. I think they will be able to make the NCAA tournament but they could probably solidify their spot by making sure they soundly defeat woeful Boston College.
Virginia baseball: The Cavaliers' season has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start by their standards. The pitching has been hit-and-miss and the team currently sits at 5-2-1. The Hoos lost a good deal of talent from last season's squad which made it to the College World Series such as Danny Hultzen, Tyler Wilson, John Hicks, John Barr, and Kenny Swab. Most recently, the Cavaliers dropped an 8-0 decision at home to Liberty on Tuesday in which they managed just two hits and committed four errors. The season is early, though, and coach Brian O'Connor has proven himself over the past several years, so I expect the team to start gelling and getting better midway through the season or so and I still expect this team to make the NCAA tournament. It probably won't be a threat nationally this year, but O'Connor is reloading at this point in his tenure rather than rebuilding so I think the team will still be solid.
Men's lacrosse: The defending national champions are ranked No. 1 and off to a roaring start at 4-0 with easy victories over VMI, Mount St. Mary's and Stony Brook, and a one-point win over No. 20 Drexel. The Hoos' next match will be an epic battle at home vs. No. 3 Syracuse, another national power. Should be fun. That game is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and is being broadcast on ESPN. My roommate Jack, a lacrosse fanatic, tells me the team is good again this year and the biggest loss was Adam Ghitelman, probably the best goalie in the country last season, but the team could make another run in the NCAA tournament this season.
Men's tennis: The Cavaliers lost in the National Team Indoor semifinals to Ohio State on Feb. 20, held at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Inn. It was the first home loss in six years for UVa, and it snapped their 94-match win streak (with the exception of losing in the NCAA outdoor tournament). Virginia was the four-time defending champion of the indoor title. Virginia is ranked No. 3 and I'm sure the Cavs will make another run through the ACC (it has still been forever since this team has lost a conference match) and into the NCAA outdoor tournament in the spring. Most recently, the Hoos beat Virginia Tech on Sunday and travel down to Mississippi to take on Ole Miss and Mississippi State next week.
Men's and women's swimming: Both Cavalier teams won ACC titles recently. It was the 15th for the men and 10th for the women. Their sights are now set on NCAA action in the coming weeks.
Florida State at Virginia, 7 tonight ESPN2
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| UVa senior forward Mike Scott virginiasports.com |
The players need to focus because while it is looking as if Virginia will make the NCAA tournament, at least one more win would be great and help lock up its berth, especially if it came against the top-25 ranked Seminoles. If the Cavs were to lose the rest of their games before the ACC tournament, they would end the regular season and ACC tournament on a four-game losing streak and would hold only one top-50 RPI win, over Michigan, way back in November (this number could inflate depending on how well Miami and Oregon finish, two teams hovering around the top 50 in RPI). That is not the final impression you want to leave on the selection committee. I'm sure it's not how seniors Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski (and to a lesser extent, Assane Sene, though he won't be able to play) want to go out on their home floor.
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| UVa senior guard Sammy Zeglinski virginiasports.com |
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| UVa senior center Assane Sene virginiasports.com |
Florida State is coming into this game after two consecutive ACC losses, one at home to Duke and another at Miami. The Seminoles are locked into third place in the ACC, so it is tough to tell how much motivation they will be bringing into tonight's matchup. They are are also going to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament so they don't have to be fighting for anything from that aspect. I'm sure their coach, Leonard Hamilton, doesn't want to go into the ACC and NCAA tourneys on losing streaks, but hopefully tonight they will play a little lackluster and then win against Clemson on Sunday (which could help ensure Virginia gets fourth place, as well).
I'm looking for Scott, and maybe even Zeglinski, to have big games for the Hoos. It is their time to shine and Scott has been rock solid all year and I think it is about time 'Z' breaks out and has a great game. It would go a long way toward erasing some of his dud efforts this year. The key will be for Virginia to move the ball quickly and cleanly in the offense. The Seminoles are a good defensive team because they are long and athletic. Tiring them out would help Virginia as the game wears on. I know the Hoos are going to bring it on the defensive end, and the fans will be pumped given this is the final home game of the season, Senior Night, and there's a potential NCAA bid on the line. Locking down Snaer will be key on 'D.' And hopefully Virginia does a good enough job on the rest of the 'Noles where no one else goes off and has a career night (as Deividas Dulkys did against UNC when he hit eight 3-pointers and had 32 points). FSU is a tough-nosed team but, perhaps with less on the line for them tonight, it will lack that extra 'umph' and the Hoos can get an awesome victory.
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VIRGINIA FOOTBALL
Virginia released its 2012 schedule Monday:
Sept. 1 vs. Richmond
Sept. 8 vs. Penn State
Sept. 15 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 22 at TCU
Sept. 29 vs. Louisana Tech
Oct. 6 at Duke
Oct. 13 vs. Maryland
Oct. 20 vs. Wake Forest
Nov. 3 at N.C. State
Nov. 10 vs. Miami
Nov. 15 (Thurs.) vs. North Carolina
Nov. 24 at Virginia Tech
The Cavaliers' non-conference slate will take a step up from last season. Richmond is similar to William & Mary last season, but Penn State, TCU, and Louisiana Tech are a step above Indiana, Southern Miss, and Idaho. The game at home vs. the Nittany Lions should be interesting. Obviously, Penn State will be starting a brand new regime under Bill O'Brien. It will be the first time in several decades PSU won't be led out on to the field by Joe Paterno. I really have no idea what to expect in that one. It could be good year for Penn State or it could struggle under a first-year coach. And we probably won't know by just the second week of the season. The Lions face Ohio at home in their first game so I don't know if that is a good litmus test. I think the name, "TCU" speaks for itself now. The Horned Frogs beat UVa, 30-14, in 2009 at Scott Stadium. The program won the Rose Bowl two years ago and finished 11-2 last season with a Poinsettia Bowl win over another of Virginia's 2012 opponents, Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are a program on the rise as well and play in the WAC. They finished 8-5 last season overall and won the WAC title.
Virginia's ACC schedule, on the other hand, took a step down from last season. Wake Forest replaces Florida State and Virginia gets Miami and UNC at home. The Cavs do have to travel to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, but still, I think it is more favorable this season. Virginia hosts its first Thursday night ESPN game since 2006 when the Tar Heels travel to Charlottesville for a contest in mid-November. The last time the Cavs hosted a Thursday night game was in 2006, also against UNC. That should be an exciting game and is the final game before the Hoos visit Blacksburg which means that Virginia gets some extra rest/preparation time for the Hokies so that could be beneficial as well. Right now, I see anywhere from 6-8 regular-season wins but I'm not going to look into it too much until the summer.
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OTHER UVa SPORTS UPDATES
Women's basketball: The Virginia women have had a pretty good season, a little bit like the Virginia men, actually. They sit 6th in the ACC this season and have beaten the teams in the ACC below them but were unable to beat the teams above them. They're 21-9, 9-7 ACC and playing in the first round of the ACC tournament tonight at 8 against No. 11 seed Boston College. I think they will be able to make the NCAA tournament but they could probably solidify their spot by making sure they soundly defeat woeful Boston College.
Virginia baseball: The Cavaliers' season has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start by their standards. The pitching has been hit-and-miss and the team currently sits at 5-2-1. The Hoos lost a good deal of talent from last season's squad which made it to the College World Series such as Danny Hultzen, Tyler Wilson, John Hicks, John Barr, and Kenny Swab. Most recently, the Cavaliers dropped an 8-0 decision at home to Liberty on Tuesday in which they managed just two hits and committed four errors. The season is early, though, and coach Brian O'Connor has proven himself over the past several years, so I expect the team to start gelling and getting better midway through the season or so and I still expect this team to make the NCAA tournament. It probably won't be a threat nationally this year, but O'Connor is reloading at this point in his tenure rather than rebuilding so I think the team will still be solid.
Men's lacrosse: The defending national champions are ranked No. 1 and off to a roaring start at 4-0 with easy victories over VMI, Mount St. Mary's and Stony Brook, and a one-point win over No. 20 Drexel. The Hoos' next match will be an epic battle at home vs. No. 3 Syracuse, another national power. Should be fun. That game is at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and is being broadcast on ESPN. My roommate Jack, a lacrosse fanatic, tells me the team is good again this year and the biggest loss was Adam Ghitelman, probably the best goalie in the country last season, but the team could make another run in the NCAA tournament this season.
Men's tennis: The Cavaliers lost in the National Team Indoor semifinals to Ohio State on Feb. 20, held at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Inn. It was the first home loss in six years for UVa, and it snapped their 94-match win streak (with the exception of losing in the NCAA outdoor tournament). Virginia was the four-time defending champion of the indoor title. Virginia is ranked No. 3 and I'm sure the Cavs will make another run through the ACC (it has still been forever since this team has lost a conference match) and into the NCAA outdoor tournament in the spring. Most recently, the Hoos beat Virginia Tech on Sunday and travel down to Mississippi to take on Ole Miss and Mississippi State next week.
Men's and women's swimming: Both Cavalier teams won ACC titles recently. It was the 15th for the men and 10th for the women. Their sights are now set on NCAA action in the coming weeks.
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