For the past ten seasons Virginia Basketball has been waiting for a "Cash for Clunkers" program or a GM-type of a bailout. Well, we might just have returned from also-ran status with the addition of shiny, new-car smell coach Tony Bennett.
Can Coach Bennett rebuild this program to the Ralph Sampson days? So far the 2006 National Coach of the Year has been hitting the recruiting trail like a man on fire. Virginia has secured 2010 verbal commitments from two three-star recruits and two four-star recruits: shooting guard K.T. Harrell (Montgomery, Alabama); shooting guard Joe Harris (Chelan, Washington); power forward James Johnson (Wildomar, California); and power forward Will Regan (Buffalo, New York). All four of these guys were very heavily recruited and can flat out play ball, and Bennett is not done filling this class yet. The official signing day is not until November, but man, this is a fantastic class being assembled by Coach Bennett.
The Hoos open the regular season Monday, November 30, at the John Paul Jones Arena against Longwood. Both of former coach Dave Leitao’s recruits honored their commitments to attend UVA this Fall; Tristan Spurlock and Jontel Evans will be expected to step in right away and start contributing to help out returning and budding superstar Sylven Landesburg.
Now can Virginia make the NCAA tournament in 2009-2010? I think they can if the freshmen coming in are as good as advertised, and Assane Sene can stay healthy and continue his progression at center.
What do y’all think? Would you rather have had Tubby Smith instead of Tony Bennett? Maybe at first, but now that we have him I think we might have found a diamond in the rough. Can we win 20 games in his first season? Sure, why not. I know it’s a bit early for hoops talk, but I needed to get my head out of the toilet from all the emotional disturbance football has given me already in only the first two weeks. Go Hoos.