Greetings from Charlottesville, where Virginia Tech and No. 2 UVa will tip off in about an hour and a half. No word yet on the status of London Perrantes but once I hear something definitive, I'll pass it along. I'll be back with starters and notes later on.

As always, have at it folks...

Bringing his team back from being down 18...hit 3 consecutive 3s! We hoos see you Paul!

Does anyone know what channel the game is on today for the NYC area?

Warrants for rape and assault on 2 separate women the night after the Miami game.

This post was edited on 2/26 8:59 AM by hoodaves

Today is DA's senior day. VSTV has a great piece on DA and his time and contributions to Hoos Hoops. Love ya DA and hope your senior day is memorable!



http://virginiasportstv.com/cue/1Sla

With Virignia's home finale coming up this Saturday afternoon, we've previewed the matchup between Virginia Tech and second-ranked Cavaliers. Check it out at the link below and then sound off with your prognostications.


Preview: Virginia Tech at No. 2 UVa

The 2016 class is off to a solid start. Three 3 star recruits, a 5.5. a 5.6, and a 5.7.

Am I the only one with a tad bit of fear that JA's 3pt accuracy won't be near the same once he returns? He made such a huge leap from last year because he worked endlessly on his shot. That tells me he's earned his 3pt skills this year and that he's not a naturally gifted long range shooter. I'm wondering if all the down time (not shooting) during his injury will bring him down several notches from long range right when the postseason gets going. What're yalls thoughts?

The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football recruiting info! The Cavaliers will be hosting their third Junior Day event of the year tomorrow afternoon in Charlottesville and we'll give you a glimpse of some of the names we've heard that are expected to be in town. We'll also touch on a few new offers that are out this week, including one to an in-state running back in the class of 2017 that ended up being a seven-offer day. And we'll touch on why we think the Wahoos will be a factor in his recruitment for a long time to come.


As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!


Visitors expected this weekend

It's the last home basketball game of the season and with it, one last opportunity for the football staff to bring in prospects for a visit prior to the start of spring ball next month. And UVa is expecting to host a number of targets tomorrow when the second-ranked Cavaliers host rival Virginia Tech.

The first prospect we'll list is a name from the past, as reclassified wide receiver Trevion Armstrong is expected to be in the house tomorrow. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Trinity standout has started to pick up some momentum in terms of offers. At this point, we can't honestly say where UVa will or won't make a push but the fact that he's taking another visit is interesting all on its own.

The Cavaliers are also hoping that three-star defensive back Andrew Pryts is in town tomorrow. You won't find many three-star prospects with his offer list and UVa was one of the earlier schools to jump in the fray. Needless to say, though, that the Cavaliers need to find some staying power in a recruitment that will be tough to win.

Three-star New Jersey offensive lineman Liam Smith will also be in attendance. The 6-foot-5 tackle has an offer from UVa in addition to UConn, Duke, Miami, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Wake Forest, among others.

He won't be the only O-lineman in the house. UVa is also expecting to host Jacob Buccigrossi, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle from Pittsburgh (PA) North Hills. He's a guy that sources have said the Cavaliers might be trying to add early, so don't be surprised if he joins the current three commits in 2016 at some point soon. Whether or not he's ready to end his recruitment, word we've heard is that he like the school a great deal.

Three-star wide receiver Tyree Rodgers. Harmon, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound wideout from Palmyra (NJ) has picked up early offers from ODU, Rutgers, and Temple. Johnson, meanwhile, is a 6-foot, 180-pound athlete from Potomac (MD) who has offers from BC, Iowa, UNC, and Wisconsin in addition to UVa. Finally, Rodgers is a 6-foot, 192-pound standout whose lone offer right now is from Temple.

New Jersey will be well represented if Smith, Harmon, and Rodgers as well Camden teammates Jamal Holloway make it down. Hawkins is a 6-foot-3, 193-pound four-star Rivals250 receiver with a laundry list of offers while Holloway, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end, has offers from Michigan State, ODU, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, and UVa.

Johnson won't be the only Bullis school prospect in Charlottesville. His teammate, four-star linebacker Cameron Brown, is also expected to be in attendance.

In addition to UVa legacy recruit Julian Okwara, a four-star outside linebacker from Charlotte.

We fully expect more names to be added to this list between now and tomorrow, with various players confirming their plans now that the weather had cleared up throughout the region. If we hear more names, we'll add them here.


A couple of new offers out

Considering that so much attention in the 2015 cycle was on UVa's search for more help on the line, there's no doubt that the focus on offensive tackles shifted into the class of 2016. And currently, there are a number of top targets at that position that the staff has already clearly defined.

This week, the Hoos made a move on the nation's top center prospect when UVa offered four-star Keystone State standout Connor McGovern. The 6-foot-5, 290 pounder from Lehman (PA) Lake Lehman Senior has offers from Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State, and Pitt. A Rivals250 prospect, he'll be a tough get for the Cavaliers but he's a player that can make the interior of your line much, much better in a hurry.

The Cavaliers also offered Laurinburg (NC) Scotland County linebacker Jonathan Smith this week. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside backer also has early offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, and West Virginia, among others.

Big day/week for 2017 running back

Speaking of new offerees, there probably isn't a recruit having as good a week as 2017 Cox running back Khalan Laborn. The talented sophomore picked up seven offers in one day this week and it was UVa that got the train running. FSU, Ohio State, Arizona State, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee were all schools that followed suit.

This is a recruitment, much like the other uber-talented kids from the 757, that we expect the Cavaliers to be a factor in for the next couple of years. He's someone who is obviously very familiar with a lot of the guys UVa has signed and recruits currently on the board. While we're not saying the Hoos have the lead or anything for the 5-foot-10, 185-pound back, we definitely see them being a major factor in his recruitment.

That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!

Well, what's the word, play or no play?

What are we doing wrong?

Going into double OT fun game to watch

I know 1 game is too small of a sample size to make a definite statement, but last night gave us a look at what we could be defensively 2-3 years down the road.

Wake could simply never get into a rhythm on offense, and a big part of that was we always had 3 guys who are 6'5, athletic, and rangy on the floor together at all times (except for mop up at the end) on the perimeter. I know we'll lose Malcolm sooner than the others, but we've got Thompson & Stith waiting in the wings...both who fit that profile.

Our defense hasn't slipped a bit with Justin out, and he's arguably our best individual defender. Obviously London is our best game manager, but I saw an element last night that we don't normally see with him out there, because Hall & Shayok are simply bigger and more athletic.

This week's power rankings. As always, very funny. Particularly enjoyed his "writeup" of Duke.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ncaa-college-basketball-rankings-kentucky-wildcats-duke-blue-devils-villanova-virginia-cavaliers-gonzaga-bulldogs-wisconsin-badgers-arizona-kansas-jayhawks-iowa-state-cyclones-notre-dame-fighting-iris/

UVA had only 6 hits led by a 2 run home run by Thaiss and 2 hits by Smith. Kirby was the winning pitcher and allowed 5 hits in 6 innings. Bettinger pitched the last 3 innings and gave up 4 hits and 1 run.

From UVa:

Virginia Baseball Knocks Off Hartford, 5-1
Kirby fires six shutout innings, while Thaiss

Behind six shutout innings from starting pitcher Nathan Kirby (Jr., Midlothian, Va.), the Virginia baseball team downed Hartford, 5-1, Friday afternoon at The Ripken Experience's Ebbets Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Matt Thaiss (So., Jackson, N.J.) hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Cavaliers (8-0) an early three-run cushion.

Ranked as high as No. 1 nationally, Virginia was forced to alter its regularly scheduled weekend round robin tournament because of inclement weather and field conditions in Charlottesville. UVa will play Seton Hall at 3 p.m. Saturday and Cornell at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Kirby (3-0) worked six innings, giving up four hits and four walks in earning his third win in as many starts in 2015. He struck out 10 for his third career double-figure strikeout performance. Alec Bettinger (So., Woodbridge, Va.) tossed the final three innings to earn his first career save.

Starter Kyle Gauthier (1-1) took the loss for Hartford (2-2), after allowing five runs (four earned), five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in six innings.

Pavin Smith (Fr., Jupiter, Fla.) went 2-for-4 for UVa and now has hits in all eight of his college games. Adam Haseley (Fr., Wintermere, Fla.) scored a pair of runs and drove in a run for the Cavaliers, who totaled six hits. David MacKinnon had three hits for Hartford, which finished with nine hits but left a dozen runners on base.

UVa took control early with a three-run first inning. Ernie Clement (Fr., Rochester, N.Y.) tripled to left-center to open the frame and Haseley promptly drove him home with a single up the middle. With two outs, Thaiss launched a shot to right field that caromed off a storage building behind the wall for his third homer of the season.

The Cavaliers pushed the lead to 4-0 in the third inning as Haseley drew a one-out walk and scored when Smith sent an opposite-field double to left to bring the runner around to score.

UVa took advantage of a Hartford error to add its final run in the fifth inning. With two outs, Smith reached on a fielding error and he scored when Towns lined a double down the left-field line.

Hartford had runners on base in every inning but finally capitalized with two outs in the ninth inning when MacKinnon singled to left-center to bring home Sebastian DiMauro.

The weekend round-robin tournament, which also includes Seton Hall and Cornell, continues Saturday and Sunday.

The remainder of the weekend schedule (home team listed second):
Saturday (Feb. 28), 11 a.m. - Hartford vs. Cornell
Saturday (Feb. 28), 3 p.m. - Seton Hall vs. Virginia
Saturday (Feb. 28), 7 p.m. - Seton Hall vs. Hartford
Sunday (March 1), 11 a.m. - Cornell vs. Virginia

The Saturday and Sunday contests will take place at Griffith Field. Admission is free. Live audio will be available online at VirginiaSports.com for each of the Virginia games as part of the Cavaliers Live subscription package. Live statistics (GameTracker) will be available for all six games in the tournament. The audio and live stats also can be accessed through the Virginia Sports app, which is available through iTunes.

My grandkids are marooned in the VaBeach Tundra and can't make it to Cville. I have 4 seats in Section 307 Row R available at face value $50 each. If you're interested in 2 or 4 call 703-816-8788. I can meet you at a convenient pub Friday or Saturday. I don't want to sell them to scampers or Hokie thugs outside JPJ.

Keep calm and Darion.

Took his player out of the handshake line to make him apologize for clapping in the face of the opposing players in the last 10 seconds. I applaud the sentiment. Gloating from players is never a good thing. That said, his language in addressing the player was completely inappropriate, especially since the entire exchange was caught on camera. He actually told the kid "I'll f-ing kill you." Now, let's be real, he obviously meant it as a figure of speech for giving the University a bad name. I don't believe for a second he meant it literally. He apologized almost immediately through a university spokesman (whom I'm sure spent the prior 10 minutes yelling at the coach over a potential lawsuit). Coach stuck to his guns, though, in the post game press conference. Said that behavior is completely unacceptable, that this was the player's one mulligan and said there wouldn't be a second. And he implied this wasn't the first time sportsmanship had been an issue with this player.

Obviously I hope (and believe) that Bennett would handle that without a profanity laced tirade, but I can't really blame a coach for standing up for good sportsmanship.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12390602/vanderbilt-head-coach-kevin-stallings-apologizes-berating-player-tennessee-game?ex_cid=espnapi_public

March 3rd 2013 at Boston College, a 53-52 defeat. Boston College was 13-16 at the time.

That is a span of 69 games. Pretty good streak.

I saw the excitement from TB last night after transition baskets I believe he just might enjoy us running just not full time. Tony was clapping and pumping his fist he seemed ok with it in the FSU game as well when Shayok pushed the pace. I believe that is something that makes us even tougher if we push even more to get some early offense. It makes it hard on our opponent if they're not sure if we're going to run or slow it down. We've got the athletes now to do this. We don't have to be up and down like UNC but selective running when we have numbers or a team reeling adds pressure and allows for open looks on primary and secondary break. These guys are scary good and I believe will only get better!

which led to the overwhelming victory tonight without two key starters.

I'm not talking about the Pack line defense or the blocker mover offense. I'm talking about the core beliefs Bennett brought to the program such as humility, servitude, etc. This group of players just seems to have an inner belief in each other, in Bennett and his coaching that allows them to overcome difficulties. Bennett has truly established his "program" and culture.

Evan Nolte came up big tonight after all his struggles shooting the ball. Bennett obviously believes in him and I think we saw why. Atkins continues to step up his game and has become an important part of the offense.

The first years really are trying hard to fit into the program and the philosophy of the program. Wilkins made numerous big defensive plays, Shayok was on full attack mode all night, Hall is getting comfortable and not only scoring himself but making excellent passes to help others score.

Just an extremely impressive effort tonight by so many players.

The game was not on Shentel Cable in Lynchburg. Nor is any reruns that I can find. Does anyone have a recording available?
I will be glad to pay you for it. All things considered I think this game was/is a classic.

If recording is available for sale, email me at gpopron@yahoo.com or text me on 434.907.3147.

Ron Bryan

This post was edited on 2/26 7:11 PM by gpopron

From the SID:

"Virginia held Wake Forest without a field goal for a 9:23 span of the second half, the ninth time this season the Cavaliers have held an opponent without a field goal for a span of at least nine minutes"

The number of times holding teams scoreless for 5 minutes is impressive, but that's one third of our games with a 9-minute gap. Wow.

right now in terms of a jump shooter is .... Brogdon who is 5 for his last 27 from 3 (18.5%). That is a MAJOR slump. And in some ways it kind of makes me smile because you know he is going to break out of it soon, and probably when the games mean even more.

It is incredible how this team has won game after game even when they could not shoot very well, and how we have been able to weather more than one player being in an extended slump.