The 2009-2010 Virginia Men’s Hoops Season gets underway Friday against Longwood University at 7:00. Basketball Preview: Will there be anymore attrition from this team? Who will help-out ACC Rookie of the Year Sylven Landesberg? Will Sene get his head screwed-on straight and become the best big-man the Hoos have had since Olden Polynice? Are Virginia fans still mad that Tubby Smith is not our head-coach? Will Tony wear a necktie, or go without one like he did at Washington State?
The Tony Bennett Era officially begins Friday at the John Paul Jones Arena here in Charlottesville. Gone is the often-grumpy Dave Leitao (63-60), whose on-court screaming became quite uncomfortable for fans, student-athletes, and the administration here at UVA. Virginia will be a little short of players for at least the first 3 games, as 7-0 Assane Sene, and 6-9, Jamil Tucker will not be available to play for Bennett. Sene has been suspened for conduct detrimental to the team, and Tucker has left the team for "personal" reasons. As Al Groh would say, "Next man up".
Virginia does not have a lot depth in the front-court this season, so look for the Hoos to run a great deal of three and four-guard sets against the vast majority of our opponents. As Coach Bennett looks for his magic rotation, we might see quite a few, and vastly experimental starting-fives. I have watched practice twice this season, and I think the first starting five will be: Zeglinski or Evans, Jones, Scott, Meyinsse and Landesberg. But I will tell you one thing, if they don’t hustle on defense (Landesberg included), they are not going to see the floor again anytime soon!
I think UVA has a chance to win more than the putrid-total of 10 games they won last season, but I just don’t see this team getting back to the NCAA’s anytime soon. A .500 record might be a bit more attainable if Landesberg remains healthy, and Spurlock is as good as advertised. Look for Virginia to make it to the first, or second-round of the NIT in 2009-2010. Prognosticators have picked the Hoos to finish either last, or second to las, in the highly competitive ACC this season. Coach Bennett’s defense-first system will take a bit of getting used to for the fans, as well as the guys on the team.
New to the team this season:
First Year #24 Tristan Spurlock (forward) 6-8*217 HS: Word of Life Christian School, Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
First Year #1 Jontel Evans (point-guard) (5-11*185) HS: Bethel, Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
First Year #11 Thomas Kody (guard) (6-3*183) HS: Langley, Hometown: McLean, Virginia (walk-on)
Fourth Year #10 Tom Jonke (guard) (6-0 *170) HS: Commack, Hometown: Commack, New York (former manager & current walk-on)
First Year #0 Doug Browman (guard) 5-11*182) HS: Montrose Christian School, Hometown: Midlothian, Virginia (walk-on)
Returning Lettermen:
Third Year #2 (6-4 Guard) Mustapha Farrakhan Harvey, IL (4.3 PPG)
Fourth Year #4 (6-2 Guard) Calvin Baker Newport News, VA (8.4 PPG)
Third Year #23 (6-4 Guard) Jeff Jones Chester, PA (6.5 PPG)
Second Year #15 (6-6 Guard) Sylven Landesberg Flushing, NY (16.6 PPG) *ACC Rookie of the Year
Third Year #22 (6-9 Forward) Will Sherrill New York, NY (0.1 PPG)
Fourth Year #45 (6-5 Guard/Forward) Solomon Tat Jos Plateau, Nigeria (0.6 PPG)
Second Year #13 (6-0 Guard) Sammy Zeglinski Philadelphia, PA (7.8 PPG)
Third Year #32 (6-8 Forward) Mike Scott Chesapeake, VA (10.3 PPG)
Fourth Year #55 (6-9 Forward/Center) Jerome Meyinsse Baton Rouge, LA (1.7 PPG)
Second Year #5 (7-0 Center) Assane Sene Saint-Louis, Senagal (0.1 PPG)