A little off topic, but what's going on with UVA basketball?

[uvacavs1]

Speaking of the College of William and Mary, I love that wonderful place.

My older sister has a couple of degrees from there. Not sure how long SpartanOfYore that you have been connected to the Tribe, but I attended many sporting events there as a boy in the early to mid 80s.

I remember watching Tribe football greats like John Cannon and Mark Kelso. Coach Jimmye Laycock was just starting his career I believe. Wow, what a good man - still there - very rare these days.

In basketball, I remember meeting players like Keith Cieplicki and Tony Traver. The head coach in those days was Parkhill.

Great times for a kid. My sister would take me down to met the players and get autographs and such.

She also would sometimes let me hang out with her really sweet, very attractive and way smart sorority sisters -

hmmm....maybe this is when I developed my intense fondness for women with both beauty and brains .

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Yeah by no means am I ready to bail on Tony Bennet. Tht is a bit extreme. Given his age, and the age of other aging coaching legends there are not too many coaches I'd reather have than TB.

Totally agree with DSH and Spartan tht one and done's has ruined college basketball. They should make you do at least 2 years.

With that being said, I don't see that happening. So if you dont land a one and done-er every now and then you are essentially saying we are not trying to win a national championship.

I don't love it either. Just like I don't like that my Smart phone makes me basically at work 24-7.... but I still have a cell phone!

Do we really want to see carolina and Duke 360 dunking on our heads for the next 5 years. Buzz is trying to land them too. Imagine if va tech starts landing them. I bet some will re-evaluate then.

Youtube Zion Williamson who will no doubt go to Duke, NC or kent. Do we really want to pin our competitve hopes on Jay huff developing?

We are at the stage now where we need to decide do we want to win the national championship and be a major player or are we fine with a elite 8 birth every 5th year.

I say we go for it. The window is small and its gotta start now!

"So if you dont land a one and done-er every now and then you are essentially saying we are not trying to win a national championship."

I agree that that is the perception - that all of the recent national champs have featured one-and-dones.

However - the fact is, only two of the last eleven national champions have had one-and-done players. Kentucky in 2012, and Duke two years ago. I was surprised myself when I learned that.

So, maybe I need to back up a bit on the statement I made earlier concerning the necessity of recruiting OAD's. It appears that winning a national title with an ever-changing cast of characters is a greater challenge than winning with a group that grows and develops together over two or three years.

Of course, the greater the collective talent level of that group that stays together, the better a team's chances will be. But I am of the opinion that while having elite, one-and-done caliber talent might help in knocking off the Kentuckys and Dukes during the regular season, so far, stocking up on that type of player has not proven to be a shortcut to cutting down the nets.

 

[mbonape1]

"So if you dont land a one and done-er every now and then you are essentially saying we are not trying to win a national championship."

I agree that that is the perception - that all of the recent national champs have featured one-and-dones.

However - the fact is, only two of the last eleven national champions have had one-and-done players. Kentucky in 2012, and Duke two years ago. I was surprised myself when I learned that.

So, maybe I need to back up a bit on the statement I made earlier concerning the necessity of recruiting OAD's. It appears that winning a national title with an ever-changing cast of characters is a greater challenge than winning with a group that grows and develops together over two or three years.

Of course, the greater the collective talent level of that group that stays together, the better a team's chances will be. But I am of the opinion that while having elite, one-and-done caliber talent might help in knocking off the Kentuckys and Dukes during the regular season, so far, stocking up on that type of player has not proven to be a shortcut to cutting down the nets.

Agreed... but the one and done is a relatively new thing. Really only 5-10 years or so. Duke is the most recent example of winning with the OAD. You may see it happen more moving forward. Rumor is UVA is in the running for Michael Porter who just decommited from Washington after their coach was fired. Porter is the #1 recruit in the class of 2017. 6'10 220lbs scorer who is apparently best friends with Kyle Guy. long shot but would be a huge win and certainly a OAD player. Below is a great article on it.

http://www.streakingthelawn.com/201...ketball-dad-hired-missouri-washington-release

I'm totally fine with getting premium players to stay 2-4 years. No quarrels there. Having a OAD guy to put us over the edge every now and then won't bother me personally.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Speaking of the College of William and Mary, I love that wonderful place.

My older sister has a couple of degrees from there. Not sure how long SpartanOfYore that you have been connected to the Tribe, but I attended many sporting events there as a boy in the early to mid 80s.

I remember watching Tribe football greats like John Cannon and Mark Kelso. Coach Jimmye Laycock was just starting his career I believe. Wow, what a good man - still there - very rare these days.

In basketball, I remember meeting players like Keith Cieplicki and Tony Traver. The head coach in those days was Parkhill.

Great times for a kid. My sister would take me down to met the players and get autographs and such.

She also would sometimes let me hang out with her really sweet, very attractive and way smart sorority sisters -

hmmm....maybe this is when I developed my intense fondness for women with both beauty and brains .

I started there in the fall of 1980. I have a lot of fond memories of following Tribe basketball, believe it or not. Bruce Parkhil was the head coach until 1983, when big brother Barry (himself a Wahoo legend) took over. The Tribe was actually decent all four years I was in school, and had what is in my opinion the best team in school history in '82-'83. The two guys you mentioned were an awesome guard tandem. Cieplicki was drafted by the Lakers, and Traver had NBA range on his shot - sadly, in the days before the NCAA had a three-point line. I actually guarded Cieplicki in a pickup game for one possession, when I got switched off on him. He immediately hit my man I had just left for a layup. That team also had what's been lacking on every Tribe team since - good, athletic inside players. Brant Weidner was at center, and he was one of the very few (might actually still be the only) W&M players to actually play in the NBA, although it was only for a couple of ten-day co tracts. We also had Kevin Richardson and Herb Harris. Remember Michael Strayhorn? He was a super-smooth wing player. Parkhill somehow managed to get guys like that every year - something all subsequent Tribe coaches seem to have struggled to do.

That W&M team went 10-0 in the ECAC South, the forerunner of today's CAA. They also demolished a Wake Forest team that was ranked in the top twenty. The Hall was rockin' that night! And then of course, disaster reared its ugly head in the conference tournament, as the boys lost to hated JMU by two in the final, after having the lead and the ball in the last minute. This was the year after JMU had taken eventual champion UNC to the wire in the NCAA first round. The Tribe then got sent to VPI for its first-ever NIT game, where they lost by four or five to finish 20-9.

I think one or two Tribe squads since have won more games, but given the talent and the one- and two-point losses they had to excellent teams, I put the '83 team at the top. But let's face it - any coach that finishes above .500 for a season at W&M deserves a medal. It is a really hard place at which to succeed. And as long as the school remains in a conference with schools that honestly don't come class to observing the same academic standards, I'm afraid the Tribe will never make the promised land of the Big Dance. It's just too much to hope for a three-day miracle of sustained hot three-point shooting in the CAA tournament. Though we came oh-so-close three years ago. DANG IT! That's another one that leaves a permanent scar.

I had brief, casual conversations with Barry Parkhill a couple of times at W&M when I just ran into him on campus. He seemed like a really nice, genuine guy. About ten years ago, I emailed him at his position at UVa to inquire as to the fate of University Hall, since JPJ had been open a year or two. I figured I'd be lucky to hear back at all. I think he answered the next day, with a detailed, informative response. He also had fond memories of his time at W&M. He's just one of the good guys, apparently.

I used to go to all the home football games, too. Those were the days when the program was trying to figure out if they were going to continue to struggle to hang with the big boys, or go the 1-AA route. Sense and reason prevailed, as it was the latter. My first two years, we were still playing schools like Oklahoma and UNC almost every game, and going 2-9. My senior year thevteam finished 6-5, which I believe was Laycock's first winning record on the Reservation. If there is any justice in the world, that man will win it all before he rides off into the sunset.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Speaking of the College of William and Mary, I love that wonderful place.

My older sister has a couple of degrees from there. Not sure how long SpartanOfYore that you have been connected to the Tribe, but I attended many sporting events there as a boy in the early to mid 80s.

I remember watching Tribe football greats like John Cannon and Mark Kelso. Coach Jimmye Laycock was just starting his career I believe. Wow, what a good man - still there - very rare these days.

In basketball, I remember meeting players like Keith Cieplicki and Tony Traver. The head coach in those days was Parkhill.

Great times for a kid. My sister would take me down to met the players and get autographs and such.

She also would sometimes let me hang out with her really sweet, very attractive and way smart sorority sisters -

hmmm....maybe this is when I developed my intense fondness for women with both beauty and brains.

I mean this with the utmost respect. There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful woman with exceptional intelligence. (Sadly, if they are either, they usually look at me an laugh!)

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Agreed... but the one and done is a relatively new thing. Really only 5-10 years or so. Duke is the most recent example of winning with the OAD. You may see it happen more moving forward. Rumor is UVA is in the running for Michael Porter who just decommited from Washington after their coach was fired. Porter is the #1 recruit in the class of 2017. 6'10 220lbs scorer who is apparently best friends with Kyle Guy. long shot but would be a huge win and certainly a OAD player. Below is a great article on it.

http://www.streakingthelawn.com/201...ketball-dad-hired-missouri-washington-release

I'm totally fine with getting premium players to stay 2-4 years. No quarrels there. Having a OAD guy to put us over the edge every now and then won't bother me personally.

Looks like the current draft rules were instituted in 2005.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/16237629/ten-years-nba-one-done-rule-no-less-controversial

I haven't read the article yet, but I'd like to.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

I mean this with the utmost respect. There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful woman with exceptional intelligence. (Sadly, if they are either, they usually look at me an laugh!)

Dude.....when I think of all the time I wasted at W&M studying.....it makes me kind of sad.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

My fondness for W&M waned over the last decade or so because of the excessive bent toward political correctness. That seems to have abated some of late, to a more measured and thought through approach.
Just my perception. I think they had instilled some leaders that were just not a good fit.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Dude.....when I think of all the time I wasted at W&M studying.....it makes me kind of sad.

LOL!!!

 

[uvacavs1]

I mean this with the utmost respect. There is nothing more attractive than a beautiful woman with exceptional intelligence. (Sadly, if they are either, they usually look at me an laugh!)

Dinwiddie, I think I saw somewhere that you enjoyed stories about posters. Well, here is one of my favorites that relates to the above topic.

I was quite wild in my youth as was my father was before me (I attribute that ride into bacchanalia to my mostly Irish ancestry lol).

I also was sometimes sort of a male chauvinistic pig back in those days (I have two lovely daughters now so have thus repented ).

Anyway, I used to enjoy playing Jeopardy immensely. None of the girls I ever dated could come close to defeating me, so after awhile I would move on.

After a few months after meeting my wife (a Yankee whose Mom had been born in Italy) she finally agreed to play me in Jeopardy. I was laid back in my chair expecting another easy victory. As the score was close towards the end, I sat up and got serious. Well, she won and I literally fell out of my chair onto the floor.

She stood up, looked down at me and said "so I beat you in Jeopardy, what's the big deal?" and walked out of the room.

Two months later, I took her to one of my favorite places in the world - Stratford Hall - Home of the Lees (birthplace of Robert E. Lee) and, with that Great House in the background, asked her to marry me.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

I love it, my friend. (How many years have you been married?) And, what would have happened if you had won?

Isn't it amazing how we all change? (Or a good woman changes us!)

I think the poster named "street" has a pretty good proposal story. Hopefully he will share it with everyone.

I'm one of those lucky guys that you sometimes hear about. I met my future wife when I was young, and I knew that we would marry after only two weeks after meeting. I was only 15, she was 16. She was working in a candy apple stand, the kind you would see at a state fair. I never asked her to marry me, we just knew. And four years later, we did. That was 1973. She and I do not know a life without each other.

She is the sweetest, nicest, most caring person you will ever meet. Bleeding Navy will attest to that.

I only half joking say that my "friends" are lined up 25 deep, waiting for me to kick the bucket. In fact, I don't turn my back on most of them!

Another irony, my first date with my wife was to a high school football game. She doesn't share my obsession with high school sports, but she has willingly joined me, or told me to "just go", (so she could stay home warm and have the tv to herself!)

I'm sure everyone on here has interesting stories like you shared cavs1. I hope they will share with us?

 

[SpartanOfYore]

I love it, my friend. (How many years have you been married?) And, what would have happened if you had won?

Isn't it amazing how we all change? (Or a good woman changes us!)

I think the poster named "street" has a pretty good proposal story. Hopefully he will share it with everyone.

I'm one of those lucky guys that you sometimes hear about. I met my future wife when I was young, and I knew that we would marry after only two weeks after meeting. I was only 15, she was 16. She was working in a candy apple stand, the kind you would see at a state fair. I never asked her to marry me, we just knew. And four years later, we did. That was 1973. She and I do not know a life without each other.

She is the sweetest, nicest, most caring person you will ever meet. Bleeding Navy will attest to that.

I only half joking say that my "friends" are lined up 25 deep, waiting for me to kick the bucket. In fact, I don't turn my back on most of them!

Another irony, my first date with my wife was to a high school football game. She doesn't share my obsession with high school sports, but she has willingly joined me, or told me to "just go", (so she could stay home warm and have the tv to herself!)

I'm sure everyone on here has interesting stories like you shared cavs1. I hope they will share with us?

A candy apple stand?! Seriously? Did you all live in a Norman Rockwell painting, or what?

Uvacavs - back in '95, I drove from Yorktown over the bridge to Gloucester, then up.....17, I think it was?.....across the two peninsulas. Beautiful, rural scenery almost the entire way. Strange to my highlands-accustomed eyes, as the topography resembled a billiard table, but beautiful nonetheless.

After negotiating the crazy traffic in the Montross-Lerty metroplex area, I arrived at my destination - Stratford Hall. I'd read about the house since I was a kid, having been very interested in R.E. Lee and the Civil War. It lived up to expectations. I had to see the angels in the back of the fireplace that captivated Lee as a child. There's a school building in Roanoke that's always reminded me of Stratford, with the same twin open, brick cupolas. Forest Park Academy, if you do a Google Image search.

I imagine that was a stunning setting for your proposal. Tragically, more and more of those old, historic properties become endangered all the time. At least Stratford Hall is a National Historic Landmark, so unless funding changes and that program goes away, it should be safe.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

My fondness for W&M waned over the last decade or so because of the excessive bent toward political correctness. That seems to have abated some of late, to a more measured and thought through approach.
Just my perception. I think they had instilled some leaders that were just not a good fit.

Oh, I have a friend who's daughter just graduated from W&M, and he can't stand what they did to her thought process. He's forbidden his son from even visiting the place.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Oh, I have a friend who's daughter just graduated from W&M, and he can't stand what they did to her thought process. He's forbidden his son from even visiting the place.

I'm glad to hear you say that, but only because it tells me that my opinion of W&M has some real validity.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

My fondness for W&M waned over the last decade or so because of the excessive bent toward political correctness. That seems to have abated some of late, to a more measured and thought through approach.
Just my perception. I think they had instilled some leaders that were just not a good fit.

VCU is no better. Did you see the madness up here when Trump was elected back in November? Total chaos! Cars with Trump stickers were vandalized and Trump supporters were deemed "racists" and nothing was done about it from the administration... They say that VCU is a diverse school but in actuality, when your opinion differs from the majority, you are often ridiculed and are made to be the bad guy. My political views and morals often clash with the school's but I just try to look past them and enjoy the good!

 

[uvacavs1]

I'm glad to hear you say that, but only because it tells me that my opinion of W&M has some real validity.

Dinwiddie, yes while I loved the campus and the sports at William and Mary, even as a 10-12 year old boy, I noticed how my sister changed. I said even back then "what the heck did they do down there to my sister - that school really brainwashed her". She left home with strong Christian family values of hard work and patriotism and returned from College as a some sort of socialist, strange liberal hippie, feminist Nazi and so on.

She remained that way for awhile - then she got a great job, got married, had a child, built a nice home - and returned to her senses and the respectable values in which she was raised lol.

 

[uvacavs1]

I love it, my friend. (How many years have you been married?) And, what would have happened if you had won?

Isn't it amazing how we all change? (Or a good woman changes us!)

I think the poster named "street" has a pretty good proposal story. Hopefully he will share it with everyone.

I'm one of those lucky guys that you sometimes hear about. I met my future wife when I was young, and I knew that we would marry after only two weeks after meeting. I was only 15, she was 16. She was working in a candy apple stand, the kind you would see at a state fair. I never asked her to marry me, we just knew. And four years later, we did. That was 1973. She and I do not know a life without each other.

She is the sweetest, nicest, most caring person you will ever meet. Bleeding Navy will attest to that.

I only half joking say that my "friends" are lined up 25 deep, waiting for me to kick the bucket. In fact, I don't turn my back on most of them!

Another irony, my first date with my wife was to a high school football game. She doesn't share my obsession with high school sports, but she has willingly joined me, or told me to "just go", (so she could stay home warm and have the tv to herself!)

I'm sure everyone on here has interesting stories like you shared cavs1. I hope they will share with us?

Awesome stuff DP! Don't kick the bucket just yet, my friend .

We will have been married for 20 years this upcoming summer. She definitely deserves a medal for putting up with me ha. My wife tolerates my love of sports as well.

Spartan, yes it was indeed beautiful. It was Christmas time at Stratford Hall and the Great House's windows were illuminated by candlelight in the background.

Thanks! I will take look into Forest Park Academy.

 

[shauntclair]

Something no one has said here. UVA waS a top 25 rated team by the AP for the entire regular season and made the NCAA tourney. This, in and of itself, makes the actual premise of this thread rather ludicrous. Now, there's no question they faded towards the end of the year. Folks may want to address the reasons for that instead.

It also continues to irk me that everyone is so certain Russel Westbrook will surpass Oscar Rbertson's single season triple doubles record. I certainly see this happening. No question he's an incredibly gifted individual but everyone conveniently forgets that Robertson did it in an era with fewer games and no 3 point shot.

I don't think Shaka regrets the move to Texas. It was the next logical step but anytime you take a step up, there's a learning curve that has to be endured and overcome. Nick Saban, Jim Laranhega and Pat O'Brian come to mind immediately. You go next level, you play next level teams and Coachs. Players are more talented and, suddenly, the Coachs are as smart as you. Shaka is too driven to fail. He'll be fine. Although, I fully understand how VCU fans would miss "havoc". Win or lose, it's a beautiful thing.

 

[southbottomU]

Since we are off topic. Here's an interesting tidbit. Salem just won it's 12th straight state championship in Forensics. I'm sure they will raise money for rings. They have more State titles than football.

 

[southbottomU]

If UVA gets a post player that is a threat with his back to the basket, it will make the perimeter players a lot better. One of the basic plays in today's basketball is throw to the post, defense collapses, ball comes out and perimeter player shoots the three. If they don't collapse, inside player shoots and scores, or gets fouled. This what was missing from this year's Virginia team.

 

[ClarkeFan83]

VCU is no better. Did you see the madness up here when Trump was elected back in November? Total chaos! Cars with Trump stickers were vandalized and Trump supporters were deemed "racists" and nothing was done about it from the administration... They say that VCU is a diverse school but in actuality, when your opinion differs from the majority, you are often ridiculed and are made to be the bad guy. My political views and morals often clash with the school's but I just try to look past them and enjoy the good!

I didn't see it but my daughter did. At one point she found herself driving down Broad Street stuck in a group of rednecks in 4 wheel drive pickup trucks with Confederate flags all over them. She found a spot to turn off and let them be on their way. Those idiots were just looking for trouble. We are staunch Conservatives in my house, but feel that everyone has a right to show their ignorance. Just be nice to folks, that's all I believe.

 

[shauntclair]

Since we are off topic. Here's an interesting tidbit. Salem just won it's 12th straight state championship in Forensics. I'm sure they will raise money for rings. They have more State titles than football.

congtatulations to them. I think what makes me happiest here is that Salem sees education as far more than GW Bush mandated SOLs. Well done.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Our daughter graduated from CNU. She wasn't brained washed, but definitely altered her views. I'm sure it was to just "get along". She worked three jobs when she graduated, and it didn't take long for her values to return to the way she was raised.

I was listened to the radio years ago and the discussion was about why college students were by and large, not conservative. One of the guest erupted with, " how the hell can you even expect them to be conservative. What do they have to conserve? A beat up, piece of shit Voltswagon, and the cloths on their back. Wait until they are struggling with a mortgage, two car payments, and a child that needs braces. Let's see how liberal they are then!"

Sounds a lot like what our daughters have experienced.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Something no one has said here. UVA waS a top 25 rated team by the AP for the entire regular season and made the NCAA tourney. This, in and of itself, makes the actual premise of this thread rather ludicrous. Now, there's no question they faded towards the end of the year. Folks may want to address the reasons for that instead.

It also continues to irk me that everyone is so certain Russel Westbrook will surpass Oscar Rbertson's single season triple doubles record. I certainly see this happening. No question he's an incredibly gifted individual but everyone conveniently forgets that Robertson did it in an era with fewer games and no 3 point shot.

I don't think Shaka regrets the move to Texas. It was the next logical step but anytime you take a step up, there's a learning curve that has to be endured and overcome. Nick Saban, Jim Laranhega and Pat O'Brian come to mind immediately. You go next level, you play next level teams and Coachs. Players are more talented and, suddenly, the Coachs are as smart as you. Shaka is too driven to fail. He'll be fine. Although, I fully understand how VCU fans would miss "havoc". Win or lose, it's a beautiful thing.

Same here Shaunty! I think Shaka may take the Georgetown job in the coming days. If he doesn't, I'd be surprised. More pay, a storied history and he doesn't have to compete with football and those boosters. If he goes to Gtown, I think he wins a national championship within 3-4 years. Texas IMO has lost it. You're competing with Baylor, Kansas, Press Virginia, Oklahoma, Ok State, TCU is on the come up... That's a hard conference. You're beat up before March even starts. As far as HAVOC goes, you're darn right we miss it. This new coach we halve is bringing it back. VCU's offense will be uptempo and they will press. If we had did this for the past 3 years, we would have at least made the Sweet 16 once!

 

[southbottomU]

If Shaka goes to gtown, Ill take a bet concerning him winning a national title in four years.

 

[shauntclair]

Same here Shaunty! I think Shaka may take the Georgetown job in the coming days. If he doesn't, I'd be surprised. More pay, a storied history and he doesn't have to compete with football and those boosters. If he goes to Gtown, I think he wins a national championship within 3-4 years. Texas IMO has lost it. You're competing with Baylor, Kansas, Press Virginia, Oklahoma, Ok State, TCU is on the come up... That's a hard conference. You're beat up before March even starts. As far as HAVOC goes, you're darn right we miss it. This new coach we halve is bringing it back. VCU's offense will be uptempo and they will press. If we had did this for the past 3 years, we would have at least made the Sweet 16 once!

Shaka seems like he is the type of individual that wants to fulfill his commitments and loves the challenge of his Conference. But the fit of GTown/Shaka would be like turning down a gift from God. We'll see what happens. GL to him regardless.

 

[YeahRightLOL]

As discussed in another thread, the biggest blow to Virginia's 2016-17 season was the dismissal of Austin Nichols after the second game, back in November.

I have to disagree on that. I've heard college coaches say that whenever you take a transfer, you might just be inheriting someone else's problem. I think what hurt even more was that Tony Bennett got a committment from a blue-chip center from Lynchburg who then changed his mind and now is riding the bench for Kentucky. And another good big man, right here in Charlottesville, went to Duke, because UVa didn't have a scholarship open for him, whatever that means! Virginia has recently given scholarships to players who are never going to be good ACC players, thus they don't have available ones for better players who might have come here, like the Parade High School All-American 6-8 player for Florida who played for Christchurch School east of Richmond, and who's mother graduated from UVa.

You can't convince me that Tony Bennett's deliberate, slow-paced, cautious style of offense isn't hurting his recruting. I know, Jay Huff is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he's a 6-11 guy who only had 3 scholarship offers, to UVa, East Carolina, and Wofford.

 

[mbonape1]

@FireAllCoachesEveryDay Tony Bennet now has 6 schollys available for 2017. We will see what happens.

@DanvilleSportsHead and @shauntclair Your right Shaka to Georgetown is perfect. A young AA coach with recruiting tenacles throught the DMV. Perfect fit! I am a little embarrassed I didn't make that connection until you mentioned it. Is this close to happening?

That would also add a lot of pressure to UVA in terms of recruiting.

Uva needs a few "undebatable" recruiting wins asap! People that can immediately contribute at the very least.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

@FireAllCoachesEveryDay Tony Bennet now has 6 schollys available for 2017. We will see what happens.

@DanvilleSportsHead and @shauntclair Your right Shaka to Georgetown is perfect. A young AA coach with recruiting tenacles throught the DMV. Perfect fit! I am a little embarrassed I didn't make that connection until you mentioned it. Is this close to happening?

That would also add a lot of pressure to UVA in terms of recruiting.

Uva needs a few "undebatable" recruiting wins asap! People that can immediately contribute at the very least.

I'm hearing they contacted him and Brey from ND but neither will be hired. I think Shaka needs to take it or risk being fired next March. I've always felt like the Texas job was a step down from VCU. Of course you're in one of the best conferences in all of America, but it's extremely hard to win at a football school even with all of the resources Texas has.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

I have to disagree on that. I've heard college coaches say that whenever you take a transfer, you might just be inheriting someone else's problem. I think what hurt even more was that Tony Bennett got a committment from a blue-chip center from Lynchburg who then changed his mind and now is riding the bench for Kentucky. And another good big man, right here in Charlottesville, went to Duke, because UVa didn't have a scholarship open for him, whatever that means! Virginia has recently given scholarships to players who are never going to be good ACC players, thus they don't have available ones for better players who might have come here, like the Parade High School All-American 6-8 player for Florida who played for Christchurch School east of Richmond, and who's mother graduated from UVa.

You can't convince me that Tony Bennett's deliberate, slow-paced, cautious style of offense isn't hurting his recruting. I know, Jay Huff is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he's a 6-11 guy who only had 3 scholarship offers, to UVa, East Carolina, and Wofford.

"I've heard college coaches say that whenever you take a transfer, you might just be inheriting someone else's problem."

Someone might have said that, but I doubt that many have. Transfers are part of the landscape in college ball. Three of the four Final Four participants feature transfers as starters, with UNC being the only exception. As far as the potential of transfers being a problem - I'd say no more so than with any other recruit. Any staff worth its salt is going to vet a transfer as thoroughly as they would a kid coming straight out of high school. Was Anthony Gill a problem, or Rick Carlisle from the '84 Final Four team? Or any number of other successful transfers all over the country? Unfortunately, people are just going to screw up sometimes, and it can be difficult to see that coming without a crystal ball.

If we want to play the "recruits we didn't get" game, Tony Bennett can get in line with literally every other coach in America. Nobody ever lands every fish they throw their line out for. Calipari and K are the two most fully invested in stockpiling OAD's, and each has one won title with that approach. They both also see a load of transfers out every year, because they both just keep on recruiting over all those four- and five-star kids they have riding the pines. Sasha Killeya-Jones and Javin DeLaurier never saw the court this year, and probably never will, if they stay at UK and Duke - there'll be a new load of OAD's arriving soon to push them further down the bench. How do you think they feel about their decisions now? And the Florida player whom you mentioned, Devin Robinson, was evaluated by UVa's staff, but not offered. There's a lot more that goes into Virginia's selection process than just a kid's on-court abilities. I don't know what that evaluation told Bennett, but he knows a whole lot more about what makes a good fit for UVa basketball than any of us do.

And Duke, lest I forget to mention it, with all of that stockpiled talent - including two, maybe three OAD's - made it exactly as far in the NCAA tournament this year as Virginia did. Lost in the round of 32.

Yes, it's fun to second-guess after the season's over, and point to every player that had a great season, or has five stars beside his name and go, "Wow, if only we'd had him!" But, I'm going to stay away from wild hypotheticals. So while I respectfully acknowledge your right to disagree, I'm sticking with the assertion that, of all the events involving players actually on Virginia's roster, the dismissal of Austin Nichols far and away made the most impact on the team's 2016-2017 season.

 

[uvacavs1]

Our daughter graduated from CNU. She wasn't brained washed, but definitely altered her views. I'm sure it was to just "get along". She worked three jobs when she graduated, and it didn't take long for her values to return to the way she was raised.

I was listened to the radio years ago and the discussion was about why college students were by and large, not conservative. One of the guest erupted with, " how the hell can you even expect them to be conservative. What do they have to conserve? A beat up, piece of shit Voltswagon, and the cloths on their back. Wait until they are struggling with a mortgage, two car payments, and a child that needs braces. Let's see how liberal they are then!"

Sounds a lot like what our daughters have experienced.

Again, outstanding discussions to all about UVA, VCU, big time college coaching decisions, and the state of college basketball itself. Nice work indeed to all.

DP some of us have a lot in common it seems (makes perfect sense since we all love sports). My niece just recently graduated from CNU. Fantastic institution, great sports for a D III school.

I went to visit her and watch some football games (some of our Essex kids played ball there). They throw a wonderful tailgate party just like a big time school - just on a slightly smaller scale. I almost reverted back to my wilder days but then those crazy college students started throwing an ax in the air to land on a big piece of wood - as an insane drinking game! That was a tad too wild for me - so I just watched - from a safe distance lol.

IMHO, one of the main reasons for the spectacular and rapid success of CNU is the exemplary efforts of it's President Paul Trible and his wonderful wife Rosemary. They also hail from the Northern Neck/Essex area. My family knew them back in the day as my Father was heavily involved in the local political scene. Mr. Trible was a brilliant young conservative politician.

Trible has saved his best efforts though with his current work in Higher Education. A place where freedom of thought is not only encouraged but expected. A place where respect for a diversity of ideas are taught no matter the political beliefs behind it.

This approach is in direct contrast to many of our American universities in these contemporary times where the misplaced ideologies of the Far Left rule the campus settings. As the Left have begun to suppress their student's freedom of speech, ideas and thought...unless it fits their narrow vision for future of our nation and world.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I have to disagree on that. I've heard college coaches say that whenever you take a transfer, you might just be inheriting someone else's problem. I think what hurt even more was that Tony Bennett got a committment from a blue-chip center from Lynchburg who then changed his mind and now is riding the bench for Kentucky. And another good big man, right here in Charlottesville, went to Duke, because UVa didn't have a scholarship open for him, whatever that means! Virginia has recently given scholarships to players who are never going to be good ACC players, thus they don't have available ones for better players who might have come here, like the Parade High School All-American 6-8 player for Florida who played for Christchurch School east of Richmond, and who's mother graduated from UVa.

You can't convince me that Tony Bennett's deliberate, slow-paced, cautious style of offense isn't hurting his recruting. I know, Jay Huff is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he's a 6-11 guy who only had 3 scholarship offers, to UVa, East Carolina, and Wofford.

All great points. You're 100% on the young men from VES (Jones) and STAB (DeLaurier). Same exact scenario for the Stith brothers who are at ODU. To your point on pace, I definitely think that slow paced offense turns top talent away and will continue to cost UVa NCAA Tournament games. Now I like Tony Bennett. I think he's an elite coach but the teams he had in 2014, 2015 and 2016's Elite 8 team, one of those teams should've cut the nets down and been National Champs. If you look at every year, their offense clunked out. Michigan State two years in a row and Syracuse..When a team sped them up, they went into panick mood especially the Syracuse game in which UVA should've won to go to the Final 4. I will say that you can never look at a kid's offers and judge his talent. Frank Mason had Towson, VCU and George Mason offer him at Petersburg and he was hands down the best thing in major college basketball this year at Kansas. Troy Daniels for had an offer from Radford and Deleware and now he's making 3 million a year and hitting big shots for Memphis ! Stephen Curry.. need I say more? No high major offers and now he's the face of the NBA.

 

[mbonape1]

Speaking of off topic... Make sure you check out Megan Walker tonight on ESPN 2 @5pm for the McDonald's All American Game. Made in VA! She is one of ours!

 

[pawfan]

All great points. You're 100% on the young men from VES (Jones) and STAB (DeLaurier). Same exact scenario for the Stith brothers who are at ODU. To your point on pace, I definitely think that slow paced offense turns top talent away and will continue to cost UVa NCAA Tournament games. Now I like Tony Bennett. I think he's an elite coach but the teams he had in 2014, 2015 and 2016's Elite 8 team, one of those teams should've cut the nets down and been National Champs. If you look at every year, their offense clunked out. Michigan State two years in a row and Syracuse..When a team sped them up, they went into panick mood especially the Syracuse game in which UVA should've won to go to the Final 4. I will say that you can never look at a kid's offers and judge his talent. Frank Mason had Towson, VCU and George Mason offer him at Petersburg and he was hands down the best thing in major college basketball this year at Kansas. Troy Daniels for had an offer from Radford and Deleware and now he's making 3 million a year and hitting big shots for Memphis ! Stephen Curry.. need I say more? No high major offers and now he's the face of the NBA.

Mason had no grades until he went to Massanutten Military Academy for a boost.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Mason had no grades until he went to Massanutten Military Academy for a boost.

Correct but the talent was always there. When I saw him as a sophomore in high school I knew he could play MAJOR D1 ball.

 

[gtownfencecrew]

You do realize how young Texas was this year for Shaka right? Top 2 leading scorers were Freshmen, next 2 were sophomores. Young team. And currently Shaka has the #8 recruiting class according to the list I saw last night on ESPN at the McDonald's All-American game. Another year or two and they can compete for the Big 12. So whoever said he'll be fired next March......doubt it.

 

[mbonape1]

You do realize how young Texas was this year for Shaka right? Top 2 leading scorers were Freshmen, next 2 were sophomores. Young team. And currently Shaka has the #8 recruiting class according to the list I saw last night on ESPN at the McDonald's All-American game. Another year or two and they can compete for the Big 12. So whoever said he'll be fired next March......doubt it.

I don't think he'll be fired but he is certainly off to a rocky start at best. Needs to turn it around next year. Needs at least 20 wins for 17-18 season. I think he should have went to Georgetown.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I don't think he'll be fired but he is certainly off to a rocky start at best. Needs to turn it around next year. Needs at least 20 wins for 17-18 season. I think he should have went to Georgetown.

I agree but I'll go higher.. I think he needs no less than 25 wins if he wants to stay. He loss 20+ games this past year and lost to some very ugly teams along the way. I agree a million percent that he should have left for Georgetown. He's hated by Texas fans and he's one bad decision away from being fired. I don't think he envisioned this when he took this job over.

 

[mbonape1]

I agree but I'll go higher.. I think he needs no less than 25 wins if he wants to stay. He loss 20+ games this past year and lost to some very ugly teams along the way. I agree a million percent that he should have left for Georgetown. He's hated by Texas fans and he's one bad decision away from being fired. I don't think he envisioned this when he took this job over.

DSH Good Gauuud... 25 wins though?? LOL if that is the case he should have high tailed it out of there and went to GT for sure. I was gonna say at the very least a sweet 16 appearance. Given his conference and the recruiting class he had anything less would be insufficient. But you may be right. He was hired to turn TX into a basketball power. Not a bubble team.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Why the dislike of him in Tx?