UVA MEN'S HOOPS
The Virginia men's basketball team hosted a pesky Morgan State team on Wednesday and won, 75-57. It was Virginia's first game since beating Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 8. Coach Tony Bennett was not very pleased with the effort after the game.
It was the Cavaliers' eighth straight win, but he told The Daily Progress, "I thought [the overall performance] was poor. I thought we were undisciplined. I thought we weren't sound and didn't respect the game in stretches. Guys did some good things, but the game is meant to be played a certain way for us ... I think our guys lost their way a little bit in that game in my honest opinion."
From Bennett's remarks, you would think the team would have lost or barely won. The Wahoos were still in control for much of the game, though Morgan State did take a brief, 21-18 lead during the second portion of the first half. Paul Jesperson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark the Cavaliers to a 15-0 run that helped put Virginia in front to stay. UVa built a healthy lead before Morgan State cut it back to single digits at 59-50 with 6:54 to play, but the Bears got no closer.
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| UVa sophomore guard Paul Jesperson |
Darion Atkins and Jesperson both recorded career highs in points with 17 and 11, respectively. Jesperson made 3 of his 4 3-point attempts. Akil Mitchell added 15 points, 12 boards, and seven assists. He was three assists shy of a triple-double. Only two triple-doubles have occurred in Virginia's history and both belong to Ralph Sampson. Double-doubles are becoming frequent for the 6-foot-9 junior, who has improved his game drastically from last season, as has Atkins. And lately, you can tell that Jesperson is starting to find his way a little bit, too. His points per game average is 4.6, up from 1.5 last year. It is easy to forget that the coaching staff's original plan was to redshirt Jesperson last season, but because of transfers and injuries, he was forced to play. So everyone knew he was not quite ready, so it makes sense that he just starting to come around now. Hopefully, he is a factor for the rest of the season.
Virginia shot 46.3 percent from the field but Bennett was most upset with the defense, which usually holds teams around 50 points. The two games before this one, UVa held its opponents to under 40 points. But the Bears shot 46.7 percent and Dewayne Jackson went off for 32 points on 11 of 15 shooting. The 32 points tied a record for most by an opposing player in JPJ. According to the AP, both Clemson's K.C. Rivers and Penn State's Talor Battle scored 32 points. Jackson's 19 first-half points were the most scored by an opposing player in the first half at JPJ.
The Wahoos were also a bit sloppy with the ball, committing 16 turnovers.
I think it is telling that the Cavaliers were criticized by Bennett, even after an 18-point win. It shows that he is pushing this team and realizes how good it can be but that the players must shape up as the games get tougher when ACC play rolls around. An 18-point, ragged-looking victory isn't enough anymore. And this was also the kind of game that, in past years, I could have seen UVa losing or barely winning but the fact that the Cavs still almost won by 20 makes me feel optimistic.
Next up for UVa is Old Dominion on Saturday in the inaugural Governor's Holiday Hoops Classic at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum. NBC Sports Network will televise the contest. Normally, the Monarchs would be a solid opponent and an RPI-booster, something much needed come tournament selection time. However, that appears to not be the case this year. The Monarchs are 1-10. They have several close losses, though, so on a neutral court, where there could be a laissez-faire type atmosphere and possibly as many ODU fans as UVa fans, the Cavaliers need to be on alert for an upset. ODU has single-digit losses to Holy Cross (1 point), Texas San Antonio (9), VMI (5), Murray State (7), William & Mary (9), and Central Florida (4). Their win was over Morgan State, 72-61.
Earlier in the day, at 3 p.m., George Mason plays Richmond in the classic, a matchup that will also be televised by NBC Sports Network. Next season, the classic schedule calls for Hampton vs. JMU and Virginia Tech vs. VCU. Governor Bob McDonnell said on the classic's website, http://www.governor.virginia.gov/governorsClassic/, "As a father who has had children attend UVa, Virginia Tech, ODU, JMU, and VCU, I'm definitely staying neutral in this one!"
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NFL PLAYOFF HUNT
The NFL season is coming down the stretch entering Week 16 and the playoff races are tight, especially in the jumbled NFC.
In the AFC, the Texans, Patriots, Broncos, and Ravens have all clinched playoff spots. The Colts (9-5) have all but wrapped up a playoff spot as a wild card. They face the lowly Chiefs on Sunday before playing the Texans at home in Week 17. This past week, the Colts lost to the Texans on the road 29-17. That victory clinched the AFC South title for the Texans.
The last wild card will go to either the Bengals (8-6) or the Steelers (7-7). Cincinnati plays at Pittsburgh this Sunday. A Bengals win clinches the last playoff spot for them, so the Steelers must win to stay alive. Earlier in the year, Pittsburgh won at Cincinnati, 24-17. In Week 17, the Steelers host the Browns while the Bengals host the Ravens. Pittsburgh has lost its last two games since Ben Roethlisberger has been back at quarterback after missing a couple games because of injury. Both losses hurt. Two weeks ago, the Steelers were defeated by the Chargers, a team that was on a four-game losing streak. Last week, Pittsburgh took a 24-17 lead on the Cowboys in the fourth quarter and seemed in control but lost in overtime when Big Ben through an interception to Dallas cornerback Brandon Carr, who returned it down to the 1-yard line, setting up Dan Bailey's game-winning kick.
In the NFC, the Falcons, 49ers, and Packers have all clinched playoff berths. An amazing eight (or nine?) teams are alive for three final playoff spots. I'm not going to focus, though, on the Saints or Buccaneers, who are 6-8 and need to win out and have lots of help to make the playoffs. The Redskins (8-6) are the current leader in the NFC East based on tiebreakers with the Cowboys (8-6) and the Giants (8-6). Washington and Dallas both control their own destinies. The Redskins travel to face the Eagles this weekend so they should win. Philadelphia would like nothing more than to try to spoil Washington's season but it looks like the Eagles, at this point, have given up on the season. Dallas hosts New Orleans on Sunday. Both teams need a win but the Saints MUST win, so the Cowboys need to be on their toes. Drew Brees and that Saints offense can score with the best of them, so Tony Romo and the Cowboys must be able to match them. If both the Redskins and Cowboys win, that will set up a Week 17 clash between the rivals in D.C. for the NFC East championship. Depending on what the Giants do, I think the same could be said for that Redskins-Cowboys game even if one of them wins and the other loses this weekend. New York is 8-6 but needs some help to win the division because it is technically behind both Washington and Dallas. The reeling Giants, losers of four of their last six, travel to face the Ravens on Sunday, another team that is struggling. New York finishes out its regular-season schedule by battling the Eagles at home.
Currently, the Seahawks (9-5) and Vikings (8-6) hold the two wild card spots. Minnesota is ahead of Dallas and New York based on tiebreakers. It was 6-6 two weeks ago, but victories over the Bears and Rams have launched the Vikings back into the conversation. They close out with a pair of brutal games, however, at Houston and home against Green Bay. Anything is possible, though, with Adrian Peterson, who has his sights set on 2,000 yards rushing and possibly the comeback player of the year and MVP awards. Seattle should close out strong and earn the first wild card spot the next two weeks. In their last two games, the Seahawks have beaten the Cardinals, 58-0, and the Bills, 50-17. The Seahawks are undefeated at home this year and their last two contests are at home. This weekend, they host the 49ers on Sunday night football in a monster game where the 49ers could clinch the NFC West. They close out hosting the Rams (6-7-1), who, like the Saints and Buccaneers, would need some help to make the playoffs.
In seventh place right now are the Bears (8-6), who are behind the Vikings but ahead of the Cowboys and Giants. The Bears have the same problem that New York has -- they haven't played well in recent weeks. After starting 7-1, Chicago has gone a terrible 1-5 over its past six games. Luckily for the Bears, they close out with weak opponents: the Cardinals and Lions, although both games are on the road.
It is possible for all three NFC East teams to make the playoffs but it is unlikely. I think the same could be said for the NFC North teams, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago. In the East, if the Giants win out, they would be 10-6 and have a wild card. If the Redskins or Cowboys win out, they would be 10-6 and division champion while the loser of their Week 17 game would be 9-7 and could have the second wild card if the Bears and Vikings both lose their final two games.
Anyone's head spinning yet?
Here are my picks for the weekend. I did not pick NFL games last week. I went 4-1 two weeks ago and am now 48-22 on the year.
Saints at Cowboys, 1 p.m. FOX
Here is the dilemma. I am a little bit superstitious. I think when I pick the Cowboys to win, they lose, but when I pick them to lose, they win. So what to do here? The Saints lost three in a row before dismantling the Bucs 41-0 last week. Those were all losses to good teams, though -- the 49ers, Falcons, and Giants. The Saints have just one win all year against a team with a winning record, the Falcons in their first meeting. So they are capable of beating great teams. And I wouldn't call Dallas a great team. Brees and that offense can get the job done. Hopefully the Cowboys can slow the Saints down enough and keep their offense going, an offense that has looked better in the second half of the season and in the second half of games. After a shaky first half, Romo has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL the past few games.
Cowboys 31, Saints 28
Redskins at Eagles, 1 p.m. FOX
Like I said, I'm sure it would give Philly pleasure to damage Washington's postseason chances but I don't see that happening. In D.C., the Redskins pounded the Eagles, 31-6, which was the beginning of Washington's current five-game winning streak.
Redskins 24, Eagles 10
Bengals at Steelers, 1 p.m. CBS
Cincinnati has won five of six, with one of those wins coming against the Giants, 31-13. As we have seen, however, the Giants are capable of putting up some real stinkers. The Bengals' other victories came against lesser foes, the Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, and Eagles. I think the Steelers come through and get it done in a hard-fought game, bringing the wild card chase down to the final week, where the Steelers should have the edge facing the Browns, while the Bengals draw the Ravens.
Steelers 17, Bengals 14
Vikings at Texans, 1 p.m. FOX
Houston better have that fifth-ranked rush defense cranked up to its best with Peterson coming to town. The Vikings have mostly been dreadful on the road this year, but won at St. Louis last week, 36-22. Houston has lost just one game at home, to Green Bay, 42-24. I don't think AP will be enough in this one.
Texans 28, Vikings 17
Giants at Ravens, 4:25 p.m. FOX
An interesting matchup between two teams headed in the wrong direction. Like I said earlier, the Giants are 2-4 over their past six games. Baltimore, meanwhile, has dropped three straight but has not looked good since beating the Raiders 55-20 on Nov. 11. After that, the Ravens squeaked by the battered Steelers, 13-10, and the awful Chargers, 16-13 in overtime. New York is schizophrenic and tends to alternate good and bad outings but this is the time of year it usually starts to turn things around. Plus, the G-Men had a bad game last week so it likely they will turn it on this week, right? The Giants also need a win more badly than the Ravens, who have clinched a playoff spot.
Giants 24, Ravens 20
49ers at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. NBC
Seattle must win this game to keep alive its hopes of a division title, but even then, its chances are slim, because the 49ers host the Cardinals in Week 17. CenturyLink Field should be rocking Sunday night, however, as Seattle tries to improve to 7-0 at home this season. In these two teams' first meeting of the season, San Francisco prevailed in a defensive-minded battle, 13-6, by the bay. These teams have remarkably similar stats: passing yards (49ers: 26th, Seahawks: 27th), rushing yards (49ers: 2nd, Seahawks: 3rd), opponent passing yards (49ers: 5th, Seahawks: 3rd), and opponent rushing yards (49ers: 3rd, Seahawks: 10th). I like Seattle to take this one in a great, close game, but I like the 49ers to win the division by beating Arizona in Week 17.
Seahawks 20, 49ers 17, OT
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