ADVERTISEMENT

Michigan State doesn't seem like Michigan state right now

I assume its Valentine being out. Could be Izzo's dad just died. Bottom line is that Oakland almost beat them, and Iowa is currently beating them by 14 late in the first. Hopefully they'll take a few losses to minimize the chances we get them early in the tourney.

Btw, I know that Oakland's PG is a good player, but the board is WAY WAY WAY overestimating Oakland's talent based off a close game with MSU without Valentine. It will be a double digit win for us, mark it down.

Was checking out the upcoming NFL draft sites and saw typical mistakes

When it comes to Virginia and Virginia Tech. Do any of these guys proof read their work?

Drafttek.com has the #36 wide receiver as our former Canaan Severin and has him listed as his school Virginia Tech, but when you click on his bio it clearly is the Virginia website with his bio. Just really crappy journalism or reporting. Continue to hear ESPN guys call our basketball team Virginia Tech and then change it mid stream.

This has been an issue for several years now with at least one of our guys being listed as a Virginia Tech former player on different websites. It's like they think Virginia Tech is the automatic assumption when they see a state kid is being drafted.

A few hoops thoughts ...

Gotta love December RPI numbers. ESPN's RPI rankings have us going from 45 to 17 with yesterday's win -- and with tOSU's win over KY and with various other results of course.

We're not even completely healthy yet (LP's recovery from the absence, MS banged up) nor had much time with the current players together (DT starting, DH playing quite a bit, JR seeing a few minutes). We won 9 of 10 to start the season despite that, including two top 15 wins.

It's really nice to have inside and outside scoring options as well as plentiful offensive "help". Deepest UVa team in terms of offense since ... ?

IW is starting to occupy that "do things that don't show up" role that Mitchell, Anderson, and Atkins performed at various points in their respective careers. Will be fun to watch him grow this season and step up even further next year as it seems most of our bigs do.

Although the players that have not seemed to get a lot better seem to be bought in to doing what they can do to help the team. I admire EN and MT for not hanging their heads and for contributing best they can. We all hoped they would do more/be better by this stage of their careers, but they have little spurts on given nights that absolutely are the difference between winning and losing a game here or there. To borrow an Australian phrase, good on them.

Sophomores are getting really good OTJ training for next season. A couple are playing big, important roles. AN will obviously be just fine, so it will be interesting to see what heady young players from next year's class will be able to do (if they can get on the court at all).

How big does DT's transfer now look in helping the continuity of the program? That sense that the program will just chug along regardless of who graduates is starting to feel more justified.

Something different I noticed watching live Tuesday night

During the extended timeouts, the coaching staff huddles away from the players for a very long time. You almost start to wonder if they are even going to talk to the players. The players are on their stools and milling about. There seems to be some organization about what they are doing, too. At what seems to be at the last minute, the coaches break their huddle and go over to the players to instruct. I do not think I have ever seen this routine before. I think this may be a new twist for I think I would have recognized it watching live games in years past. Can anybody shed light on this and also, what are your opinions of the technique?

I have been winning money at every turn

Everyone close to me that bets owes me. Friendly bets, 5-10-20-25 dollar bets. I mean, it's gotten ridiculous. I am so hot that I tried to give someone a chance to win 20 back by telling them they could put it against UVa to make the final four. They wouldn't do it. I said ok put the 20 in my hand. Used to be you would get laughter if you proposed that bet and lose your 20 dollars.

Technical vindication!!!!

The ESPN science guy just did a comparison of Curry to LaBron. One aspect he covered was the shooting angle and angle of height on Curry's shot compared to Lebron's. Lebron's jumper is at a max of 45 degrees, while Curry's was between 50 and 55 degrees, meaning Curry's arc to get to the rim is much higher. Per the science guy, at the greater height Curry has a 19 per cent increase in the area in which the ball has to go through the hoop compared to Lebron's area! So for those who have wondered why I constantly harp on Malcom's flat shot, and Nolte's compared to his freshman year, you increase your chances of making the basket greatly with the increase in arc created by a higher release point and greater angle on the release. It is pure physics. Just compare Brogdan's last 3 with LP's game winner - LP's was significantly higher and went in despite his being fouled, while Malcom's was flatter and had to be nearly perfect too go in. Luckily they both went in.

Ok, I am going to open myself up here for criticism, darts, and maybe good natured ribbing

I left my seat last night and walked up to the upper concourse to watch from near the exit. I had parked at the park and walked over because I got there early and was meeting a friend. My plan was to bolt for the doors and catch the first trolley so I could get to the interstate on time. At around the 1:30 mark when Gill forced up the errant shot and looked as if he had been fouled, I got emotional and left the building.Once outside I started running, I guess it is between one and two miles. I was going to get to my car and get out before everyone. I was convinced UVa was going to lose. I feel my phone vibrating as I am running, I pay no attention. I hear someone scream. One old man drives by and beeps repeatedly and raises a thumbs up with a broad smile. I then feel something eerie in the air. I get to the car and look at the first text, it says YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!! That is when I got in my car and started making phone calls. I see the first trolley coming so I went ahead and got to driving. So, if you saw a forty-ish looking man running away from the JPJ down Leonard Sandridge and Massie last night in a dark blue UVa hoodie near the end and just after the game, that was me.
  • Like
Reactions: Hoos#1 and gpopron

We ran the OOC gauntlet

Granted, the win against Cal was not pretty, but it falls into the category of a good team always finds a way to win, even on an off night. What we did to Cal yesterday was sort of like what Duke did to us last year. I have to believe that was one long trip back to Berkeley for those players.

But, we always questioned where we would be at this point with such a tough OOC schedule. Well, now we have the answer. Wins against WVA, Villanova and now Cal. One loss against a really good GW playing at home in front of an electric crowd. I can live with these results. 10-1 at this point is better than I thought. I had hoped for 11-0, but figured 9-2 was a best bet. Even more important than winning these games now, just imagine how this will help us come March. We have already experienced a typical Tourney run in the last three games and weathered the storm. That develops confidence, and confidence results in wins.

Great time to enjoy Christmas!
ADVERTISEMENT

Filter

ADVERTISEMENT