VIRGINIA BASKETBALL
The men's basketball team had another disappointing effort on the road Saturday and lost to Clemson, 59-44. It was a close game for the most part and the Tigers led 24-20 at the half. The margin stayed between nine and five points for much of the second half.
Virginia has now lost two straight games for the first time this season and is 11-5 overall and 1-2 in the ACC after opening conference play with a win over North Carolina.
It was just another weak effort on the road for the Wahoos. Virginia made only 17 field goals and shot 35.4 percent from the field. Lots of rolls went Clemson's way, while Virginia got hardly any bounces. Senior Milton Jennings banked in two 3s (made 5 of 8 overall) for the Tigers on his way to a season-high 21 points. Joe Harris was the only UVa to score in double figures with 14 points but he again had an off game, making just 5 of 13 shots, 2 of 7 from 3. Akil Mitchell was second on the team in scoring with seven points, but I don't think he had any in the second half.
Jontel Evans started, and was again sloppy, turning the ball over five times, and he had just two points again, which is what he recorded against Wake. Teven Jones only saw 10 minutes for some reason. I think coach Tony Bennett is going to have to look at bringing Evans off the bench after a second consecutive uneven effort. He was clearly more comfortable coming off the bench against North Carolina and was effective in that role. He was even a step slow, I think, on defense today, and that is usually his strong suit.
Darion Atkins put in just two points and played just 15 minutes. I did not listen to the postgame radio show but I think I read on thesabre.com that Atkins was going to get looked at again with his shin issue. He was having some career games earlier in the season and needs to get back on track for 'Hoos to start playing better.
Evan Nolte (2 for 3 from 3, 24 minutes) and Mike Tobey (six points, 15 minutes) played pretty well again and I think they need to play even more minutes. They have been a couple of the better shooters on the team the last two losses, and we can always use more offense.
The refs didn't do the 'Hoos any favors, either. Clemson was no doubt more aggressive at going to the rim but it ended up shooting 27 free throws compared to just eight for UVa. Even with a few extra shots at the end of the game, this discrepancy just seems too high. Every time UVa would start to make a run in the second half, either a call or no-call would go against them, or an easy shot would be missed, or Clemson would make just the play it would need to keep the Cavs at bay. For instance, the Tigers' Trevor Booker blocked back-to-back shots by maybe Evan Nolte first but then Justin Anderson for sure during the second part of the second half. A basket would have cut the lead to five or four points I think.
After an exciting win over UNC, the 'Hoos have hit a wall, especially on offense. A week off is just what they need and they get that next. Their next game isn't until next Saturday when they host Florida State, which is 2-1 in the ACC and lost to North Carolina Saturday in Tallahassee, 76-72, the Tar Heels' first ACC victory.
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VIRGINIA FOOTBALL MAKES HIRE
The Cavaliers acted quickly to fill the spot vacated by Jeff Banks, the special teams and running backs coach who left for Texas A&M after a week on the job. The team hired Larry Lewis, who was Nevada's special teams coach this past season and was essentially Banks' mentor. Lewis has over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience.
Nevada sported the best punt return average in the Mountain West this past season. Virginia's punt return unit ranked last in the ACC. Lewis will also coach UVa's running backs. This past season, Lewis oversaw the development of the Wolf Pack's Stefphon Jefferson, who rushed for 1,883 yards and 24 touchdowns, both good enough for second among FBS teams.
To read more about Lewis, check out this Daily Progress article: http://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/article_2dd202ec-5d0c-11e2-808e-0019bb30f31a.html
The men's basketball team had another disappointing effort on the road Saturday and lost to Clemson, 59-44. It was a close game for the most part and the Tigers led 24-20 at the half. The margin stayed between nine and five points for much of the second half.
Virginia has now lost two straight games for the first time this season and is 11-5 overall and 1-2 in the ACC after opening conference play with a win over North Carolina.
It was just another weak effort on the road for the Wahoos. Virginia made only 17 field goals and shot 35.4 percent from the field. Lots of rolls went Clemson's way, while Virginia got hardly any bounces. Senior Milton Jennings banked in two 3s (made 5 of 8 overall) for the Tigers on his way to a season-high 21 points. Joe Harris was the only UVa to score in double figures with 14 points but he again had an off game, making just 5 of 13 shots, 2 of 7 from 3. Akil Mitchell was second on the team in scoring with seven points, but I don't think he had any in the second half.
Jontel Evans started, and was again sloppy, turning the ball over five times, and he had just two points again, which is what he recorded against Wake. Teven Jones only saw 10 minutes for some reason. I think coach Tony Bennett is going to have to look at bringing Evans off the bench after a second consecutive uneven effort. He was clearly more comfortable coming off the bench against North Carolina and was effective in that role. He was even a step slow, I think, on defense today, and that is usually his strong suit.
Darion Atkins put in just two points and played just 15 minutes. I did not listen to the postgame radio show but I think I read on thesabre.com that Atkins was going to get looked at again with his shin issue. He was having some career games earlier in the season and needs to get back on track for 'Hoos to start playing better.
Evan Nolte (2 for 3 from 3, 24 minutes) and Mike Tobey (six points, 15 minutes) played pretty well again and I think they need to play even more minutes. They have been a couple of the better shooters on the team the last two losses, and we can always use more offense.
The refs didn't do the 'Hoos any favors, either. Clemson was no doubt more aggressive at going to the rim but it ended up shooting 27 free throws compared to just eight for UVa. Even with a few extra shots at the end of the game, this discrepancy just seems too high. Every time UVa would start to make a run in the second half, either a call or no-call would go against them, or an easy shot would be missed, or Clemson would make just the play it would need to keep the Cavs at bay. For instance, the Tigers' Trevor Booker blocked back-to-back shots by maybe Evan Nolte first but then Justin Anderson for sure during the second part of the second half. A basket would have cut the lead to five or four points I think.
After an exciting win over UNC, the 'Hoos have hit a wall, especially on offense. A week off is just what they need and they get that next. Their next game isn't until next Saturday when they host Florida State, which is 2-1 in the ACC and lost to North Carolina Saturday in Tallahassee, 76-72, the Tar Heels' first ACC victory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA FOOTBALL MAKES HIRE
The Cavaliers acted quickly to fill the spot vacated by Jeff Banks, the special teams and running backs coach who left for Texas A&M after a week on the job. The team hired Larry Lewis, who was Nevada's special teams coach this past season and was essentially Banks' mentor. Lewis has over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience.
Nevada sported the best punt return average in the Mountain West this past season. Virginia's punt return unit ranked last in the ACC. Lewis will also coach UVa's running backs. This past season, Lewis oversaw the development of the Wolf Pack's Stefphon Jefferson, who rushed for 1,883 yards and 24 touchdowns, both good enough for second among FBS teams.
To read more about Lewis, check out this Daily Progress article: http://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/article_2dd202ec-5d0c-11e2-808e-0019bb30f31a.html
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