There were moments for cheering, moments for jeering and a few moments that left us shaking our heads. Here’s a look back at the 2006-2007 year in UVA sports.
Sports Moment of the Year
“The Shoot and Point”
 The baseball team gave us the UVA game of the year when they defeated Oregon State, defending national champs, 7-4 in game four of the Charlottesville Regional playoffs. Who cares that the Beavers went on to win the regional title? For five whole days Central Virginia actually cared about America’s pastime. |
For decades to come Wahoo faithful will be talking about Sean Singletary’s shot against Duke on the first day of February. His motion towards the nationally televised ESPN cameras told the world that Virginia basketball was back.
After tying the contest at the John Paul Jones Arena with 24 seconds left and completing an eight-point comeback in the final three minutes and 42 seconds of the second half, Singletary held for the final shot of overtime and then hit a falling, one-handed floater with a second left to defeat No. 8 Duke 68-66.
Just prior to being mobbed by his teammates, Singletary calmly turned to his right and gave a split second point to the ESPN sideline camera as if to say, “Yes, we are for real.”
Athlete of the Year
J.R. Reynolds, Men’s Basketball
The senior guard was challenged by Dave Leitao early on in the year. He graciously accepted the task by sparking memorable comebacks against Clemson, erupting for 40 points against Wake Forest and treating a national TV audience to a 28-point performance (with a bad hip) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Albany. Reynolds showed the college basketball world he was more then just a nice complement to Singletary.
Reynolds averaged almost 18 points a game and finished fifth in the conference in scoring as well as in the top 10 in free throws and three-point shooting.
Reynolds was honored with second team All Conference.
Game of the Year
Virginia Baseball v. Oregon State, June 2, 2007
A 13-inning, five-hour marathon that saw Virginia defeat the defending national champions 7-4. Virginia won despite losing both of its corner outfielders, Brandon Marsh and Brandon Guyer, to injury before the sixth inning.
Casey Lambert came on in relief to pitch six and two-thirds innings, striking out eight, while scattering five hits and a run.
Low Point of the Year
Virginia football’s loss to Western Michigan at Homecoming
The Cavaliers used three different quarterbacks, two in the opening half, and still only generated 10 points in a 17-10 loss to the Broncos on September 16, 2006.
“It’s like being caught in quicksand,” said Al Groh. “When you can’t score any points, you can’t kick it through, you can’t throw it in, and you can’t run it in, it makes it pretty hard to win.”
Coach of the Year
Dave Leitao, Men’s Basketball
Leitao not only improved a unit that earned a share of the ACC regular season championship and fell a last-second shot away from making it to the Sweet 16, but he also restored a proud basketball environment in Charlottesville.
Leitao was the ACC Coach of the Year.
Rookie of the Year
Monica Wright, Women’s Basketball
Awesome is an understatement. Unanimously selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, Wright was also a unanimous selection to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Most Improved Player
Jacob Thompson, Virginia Baseball
Hard to believe you can actually improve on a 10-4 freshman pitching season that included a 2.60 ERA, but Thompson pulled it off.
As a UVA sophomore, the righty improved to 11-0 in the Cavaliers regular season, while smoking opponents with a 1.35 ERA. Thompson will be a member of Team USA this summer.
Wes McElroy hosts “The Final Round” on ESPN 840. Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm