#5 VIRGINIA SUFFOCATES #7 NORTH CAROLINA, 56-47, IN BATTLE OF TOP 10 TEAMS
Two top 10 teams entered into John Paul Jones Arena looking to erase the bitter blowout
losses suffered in the ACC/BIG10 Challenge.
Both teams were embarrassed but they knew that those games had no bearing on the challenge
at hand: an early ACC clash of heavyweights.
The #5 Virginia Cavaliers were still stingy as ever on defense but they were anemic on
offense. This was the first of five straight games at the comforts of home in JPJ. The #7 North Carolina Tar Heels were not the high-flying, super scoring teams from the past but they were still a
threat to break out and score triple digits on a given night.
The ferocious defense vs the high octane offense was the storyline going into the game.
Both defense actually set the tone as the first points were scored by Carolina three minutes into the game. The Cavaliers could not hit the hoop from short or from far away. Finally, Mamadi Diakite
hit three free throws at the 14:37 mark. Nearly five and a half minutes had elapsed, but Virginia took the lead and the crowd was able to cheer.
Both teams continued to find points few and far between. The Cavaliers started to separate
themselves with a modest 12-4 run over a seven minute stretch. The Cavs led 17-9 before the Tar Heels returned the favor. A quick 7-0 run drew the Tar Heels to within a point (17-16) with under two
minutes left.
Virginia stymied the run and closed with a 7-2 advantage , holding a 24-18 lead at the
half.
The second half provided more offense and energy following the first half where both teams
struggled to shoot in the low 30% range.
The offense didn’t wait as long to get going after half. Carolina’s Leaky Black hit a
jumper within the first minute and Virginia responded with a three pointer by Tomas Woldentenase and hit seemed to loosen the basket for everybody.
Both teams traded baskets with Virginia maintaining a single digit lead for majority of the
second half. Eventually Virginia was able to completely lock up the Tar Heels and hold them without a field goal for nearly eight minutes. During this span, Virginia was able to win with solid inside
scoring, great extra effort and success at the free throw line.
The Hoos expanded the lead from four points to 17 (55-38). The Tar Heels put together a 9-1
run but fell short of making an real threat to the lead.
Virginia’s 56-47 was their fifth in a row over the Tar Heels. The bench was the story as
the Cavaliers got 25 points and over 58% shooting from the reserves. (Woldetensae 11 points, Francisco Caffero 10 points and Justin McCoy 4 points).
UVA’s defense stifled the Tar Heels into 1 of 14 shooting form the 3pt line and 37% for the
game. The Cavs collected 37 rebounds whereas Carolina gained 32.
Virginia was not scorching the nets at 33% from the field and 35.7% from behind the three
point arc. Their six makes was a big advantage to UNC's one.
Diakite was game high scorer at 12 tied with Cole Anthony who led the Tar Heels. Anthony
entered the game averaging 20 points a game.
Tar Heels fall to 6-3 while Virginia improves to 8-1. Both teams still have a work to do
offensively however, the identity of a great team is finding ways to win even if you are not your best.
EMSPORTS.org 12/07/2019
CLEMSON WINS 2019 FOOTBALL ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Charlotte North Carolina
The time has come. All the hard work from early morning,
winter workouts to the long, hot sweat-drenching days in the summer has culminated into the championship game on the first Saturday in December.
The invincible Clemson Tigers, number 3 team in the College
Football rankings, were attempting to win their fifth consecutive ACC title.
The new guys, the Virginia Cavaliers, entered season the 23rd
ranked team in college football and massive underdogs (28 points) to their neighbors to the south.
Each team was not only representing their independent
divisions but also grabbing the prime time audience as the ACC’s best were ready to engage in a battle for conference supremacy.
The Cavaliers received the first kickoff and drove down the
field into the redzone. However on third down a Bryce Perkins’s pass was overthrown and intercepted by Clemson’s Nolan Turner resulting in a touchback.
Clemson made quick work in scoring the opening touchdown.
From the 20, the Cavs defense allowed Clemson’s offense to drive 80 yards in 4 plays with Trevor Lawrence hitting Tee Higgins with a 19 yard scoring toss.
Virginia answered with a successful drive. A Bryce Perkins
combination of passing and running led to a 20 yard scoring strike to Hasise Dubois for Virginia’s first touchdown.
Clemson responded like a champion and after picking up a
first down, Trevor Lawrence hit Justin Ross in stride with a 59 yard bullet. The score made it 14-7 Clemson in the first quarter.
Virginia’s offense moved the ball but was forced to punt. The
Tigers took the possession deep in their own territory and drive inside the Virginia 30 yard line. The Tigers settled for a 47 yard field goal from B. T. Potter and increased the lead to 17-7 with
over 13 minutes left in second quarter.
Another Virginia punt gave Clemson solid field position and
Trevor Lawrence led the team on another quickstrike score. After a remarkable catch by Higgins, Travis Etienne broke several tackles on a 26-yd scoring jaunt and
the Tigers now led 24-7.
The Tigers are flexing their muscles as they took another
punt and turned it into an 83 yard drive capped by Tee Higgins catching a seven yard pass from Lawrence. The new score was now 31-7 and Clemson looked to be cruising.
Virginia showed some mettle. They stopped and forced a punt
on Clemson’s opening drive after the halftime break. Once they got the ball back, Virginia kept up the fight. With deft passing and solid receiving, Virginia found the endzone in 85 yards. Perkins to
Terrell Jana from 18 yards away gave the Cavaliers a boost and closed the score to 31-14.
Clemson was not rattled as Lawrence connected with Higgins on
a beautiful 54 yard pass that led to an 11 yard reception for his third TD of the game. The connection gave Lawrence four passing TDs for the game.
Virginia attempted to stay in the game with a little
trickeration. On fourth down, the Cavs tried a fake punt but punter Nash Griffin’s pass only netted two yards but needed five. Clemson quickly converted the great field position into a lightning
strike score as Lyn-J Dixon sped in from the 23 yard line to give Clemson a 45-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Virginia made another solid drive that produced more points.
The Cavaliers were thwarted on third down in the redzone and completed the drive with a Brian Delaney field goal of 35 yards.
The Tigers answered with their own short field goal and
pushed the lead back to 48-17. The field goal set a new ACC record of points by one team in a championship game while Trevor Lawrence set a championship game record with four touchdown
passes.
Clemson intercepted a pass from Bryce Perkins and set-up
short field inside the Cavalier 10 yard line. The Tigers with nearly all backups rushed into the endzone when second string signal caller, Chase Brice, bulldozed in from the four yard line. The new
score was 55-17 and Clemson had proven their prowess. With another touchdown to end the game, Clemson won going away 62-17 and claimed their record fifth consecutive ACC Championship Game title,
cementing their hold on the ACC.
Game Notes:
Trevor Lawrence was 16/22 with 302 yards and four touchdowns.
Tee Higgins caught nine passes at 182 yards and three touchdowns (ACCCG records - yards, touchdowns)
Clemson set ACCCG record with 31 points in a half, 63 points in a game, 408 passing yards and 621 total yards.
Virginia’s Bryce Perkins surpassed Kurt Bennett as single season record holder for passing yardage at UVA, 3,215
yards.
Virginia recorded the most yards, 387, in a single game versus Clemson this year.
Hasise Dubois caught a career-high 10 passes for 130 yards. The 130 yards were a season high allowed by the Tigers.
by EMSPORTS.org 12/07/2019
THE #1 UVA MEN'S SOCCER ADVANCES TO COLLEGE CUP,
BEAT SMU 3-2 IN OT
The Virginia Cavaliers have played excellent all year. The
men’s soccer team has faced many worthy opponents who have come close to ruining their season. In the NCAA quarterfinal match with the #8 seed SMU Mustangs, the challenge was greater but the reward
was sweeter.
The Cavs were not only the #1 seed but also the heavy
favorites. As their basketball brethren can attest, it is not easy being the hunted.
The Hoos were pushed to the limit but the excellence and
skill exhibited by their playmakers made all the difference.
Daryl Dike, the dynamic forward assisted on the first goal.
SMU responded and tied the game. Dike was able to inflict his presence on the SMU defensive backfield that led to a penalty kick attempt.
Joe Bell took the honors to serve the penalty kick against
the SMU goalie and put the Hoos ahead 2-1.
The Mustangs would not fold. The visitors continued to attack
and on a set piece, SMU snuck a header into the near post to make the match even.
Each team took aim at each other but no avail. Fellow Hoo,
Joe Bell, an all-ACC performer as was Dike, made sure his teammate would not go down in vain. Bell, taking his second PK of the game, was blocked by the SMU goalie. However, he recovered and with one
swing from the left leg, the native New Zealander, struck the back of the net in the Golden Goal session. His deft strike sent the Cavaliers into their 13th College Cup, soccer’s equivalent to the
Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
With the 3-2 win, Virginia advances to Cary, NC, in an
matchup next weekend versus Wake Forest or UC-Santa Barbara. The men from Charlottesville will attempt to capture their eighth national championship and the program’s first since 2014.
EMSPORTS.ORG 12/06/2019
CAVALIERS CLIP THE HOKIES, 39-30. THE HOOS CLAIM THE COASTAL, CAPTURE THE COMMONWEALTH CUP TO FACE CLEMSON IN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
photo from 247sports.com
Virginia took the opening kickoff and on the legs of Bryce Perkins, the Cavaliers ran their way into the endzone. A 39 yard QB sprint from Perkins gave Virginia a
6-0 lead after the missed PAT and ignited the scene for a great back and forth game.
The first points the Hokies had surrendered in over nine quarters. The Hokies defense stalled out and Virginia then drove the field. However, Virginia gave it back
on an interception from Perkins. The Hokies converted a field goal after entering the redzone and cut the lead in half, 6-3.
As the quarter was winding down, the Hoos took their next possession again the distance. The magic of Bryce Perkins found a seam and found paydirt from 67
yards out. With the run, the Hoos took a 13-3 lead into the second quarter.
VT had a drive early in the second half with promise but in a third-down completion from Hendon Hooker to Tra Turner, the ball was jarred loose by Jordan Mack and
recovered by the Mandy Alonso.
Both teams traded punts until the Hokies got a strong return from Deshawn McClease. After a few runs and passes, the Hokies got a face mask penalty that moved them
to the five. A ferocious Cavalier pass rush forced the Hokies to settle for another short field goal.
Both teams stalled out in the remaining minutes of the half. A Hail Mary heave from Hooker was intercepted by Noah Taylor on the last play of the
half.
Virginia Tech made a statement with an opening drive of 75 yards. The Hokies came out smashing Virginia in the mouth and it paid off. Hooker faked a
handoff and kept the rock on a 34-yard run to score the tying touchdown.
After trading punts, Virginia Tech added to their momentum and score with another long scoring drive of 71 yards that was capped by a Deshawn McClease one-yard dive.
This gave the visitors their first lead of the game at 20-13 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter.
The Cavaliers answered in the ensuing drive with an impressive 79-yard scoring that was orchestrated by Perkins' arm. A pass from Perkins to Kemp of 25 yards gave
the home new life and the score was tied again 20-20.
Virginia Tech took the lead back with a 61-yard long range middle from Hooker to Turner that gave Hokies momentum and a new 27-20 lead.
The back and forth affair continued with Virginia taking another possession 75 yards. This time, the Cavs opened the fourth quarter with a mix of timely runs and two
big passes moved the ball inside the redzone. The Cavaliers were able to score on a 2yd Wayne Tualapapa run to knot the score at 27.
Another possession and another score for Virginia Tech. After a 41-yard kick return, the Hokies mounted a drive that ended in a 47-yard field goal from Brian Johnson
giving VT a 30-27 lead.
The Hoos answered the call again. With a 67 yard strike from Perkins to WR Hasise Dubois, the ball reached the eight-yard line. The Hokies defense stiffened and the
Hoos converted the possession into three points on Brian Delaney 25-yard field goal. The Cavaliers had now come back from behind three times and always found a way to even up the
score.
Virginia’s defense stepped up and forced a Hooker interception. The big play was what the Cavs needed to turn the tables on their arch-rivals. The Cavaliers
pounced on the opportunity and turned the drive into a 48-yard field goal by Delaney to lead 33-30.
Virginia’s defense made the biggest plays back to back. The ensuing possession, the Cavaliers defense sacked Hooker on three straight plays with final play a strip
fumble that was recovered by Eli Hanbeck that sent the crowd in a frenzy and had the stadium erupting with euphoria. The game was essentially over and after a final Hooker incompletion, pandemonium
was in the air and the home crowd flooded the field and The Streak was Over! 15 years of frustration and disappointment had turned into a past memory for those long suffering Cavaliers and
their fans.
Bryce Perkins was double trouble for the Hokies. He scored twice in the ground and once in the air. He accounted for a total of 475 all-purpose yards (311 passing
and 164 rushing) and one interception. Hendon Hooker was nearly as effective. He also passed for 311 yards (1 TD), rushed for 44 yards (1 TD) but two interceptions and a critical fumble were his
downfall.
Highlights:
Virginia wins Coastal Division for the first time. They were the first wire to wire champ in Coastal history (since 2004).
Bud Foster’s last matchup with Virginia was not so sweet. This lunch pail defense gave up most points to Virginia, in Charlottesville, since 1896.
Most points Virginia has scored in a victory in this rivalry since 1998 (42-23)
The Commonwealth Cup is with Virginia for the first time since Virginia Tech joined the ACC. This also gives the Hoos another point in the Commonwealth
Clash.
The win places Virginia in the ACC title game versus the Atlantic Division Champs, the #3 Clemson Tigers, on Saturday, Dec. 7th in Charlotte, NC.
EMSPORTS.org 11/29/2019
VIRGINIA SLIPS PAST ARIZONA STATE, 48-45 TO CAPTURE THE HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF CLASSIC TROPHY
The University of Virginia has enjoyed trememdous success in recent years. The team has been near perfect when participating in games in November. That success has been highlighted
during "in-season" tournaments that decorate college basketball as Thanksgiving holiday shows up on the calendar.
Virginia was involved in a tussle with the Arizona State Sun Devils. These Wildcats had a star in PG Remy Martin and were very competitve in the PAC-10 conference.
These two teams were battling for the Air Force Reserve Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut.
Virginia and their profound defense were going to get a great challenge from the Sun Devils who were scoring over 88 points a game on the season. The Cavaliers were only allowing about 41
points a game and had only given up 50 points to one opponent thus far on the season.
Virginia jumped out to an early lead 10-2 and looked to be pulling away but ASU settled down and closed the lead to 10-8. The Cavaliers applied the pressure and the offense picked up the
load. The Cavs raced out to a 26-16 lead with under a minute to play. That is when Remy Martin came alive. The dynamic guard scored five points including a buzzer beating
three-pointer at the end of the first half. The Sun Devils continued their scorching shooting and the heat was burning the Cavaliers' defense.
By the time Coach Bennett called a timeout, the Sun Devils had executed their own "cavalanche" scoring 19 consecutive points from the 1 min mark of the first half up to the 13:32 mark in the
second half. With a 35-26 lead, the boys from Tempe looked to take down the defending NCAA champs.
Then Virginia's veterans calmed the waters and a young 1st year flashed his immense talent. The Hoos got the message from the coaching staff following the timeout and the Packline Defense
showed its muscle. Spanning the last 13 minutes of the contest, the Cavaliers held the Sun Devils to 10 points in the remainder of the game.
Remy Martin who was on fire, only scored two more points in that span. He was leading scorer for the game with 21. On the other end of the spectrum, Casey Morsell, the starting 1st
year guard, finally woke up from his poor shooting and made all the buckets when they needed them. Morsell scored the last 7 points for the Cavaliers including the game winning 3pt with 62
seconds left to play.
The Cavaliers then let their defense carry them to victory blocking two shots in the final seconds of the game.
Morsell led the way with a career-high 19 points and Mamadi Diakite added 15 points and Braxton
Key led the way with 8 rebounds.
The Sun Devils got 10 points from Romello White and Rob Edwards each. Edwards also led the
team with six rebounds.
Each team struggled from the field with Sun Devils shooting about 40% and UVA just under 37%
With the victory, the Cavaliers move to 6-0 on the season and bring home another trophy to put into their collection. The Sun Devils drop to 3-2.
EMSPORTS.org 11/24/2019
Virginia remains unbeaten with victory over University of Massachusetts, 58-46
Virginia took their perfect record on the road to face the Massachusetts Minutemen at the
Mohegan Sun for the Air Force Reserve Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. The Minutemen also entered the contest sporting an unbeaten record at 5-0.
Both teams got off to a quick start at 4-4 before Virginia locked in on defense and gave
UMass fits. The Cavaliers’ offense then got into a flow. Over the next 14 minutes, the Cavalanche buried the Minutemen under a 25 - 8 run. The Minutemen regrouped and turned the tables around by
finishing the half on a 11-0 run to bring the score to a 29-24 Virginia lead.
Virginia started slow after the break and UMass cut the lead to 29-26. Virginia then found
their rhythm and pushed the lead to 43-31 with under nine minutes to play.
Virginia maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the game and UMass could never
muster enough of an attack to threaten the double-digit advantage.
Virginia was led by Braxton Key’s 16 points and 14 from Kihei Clark. Jay Huff added 10
points and tied Mamadi Diakite with eight rebounds for game high. UMass got 14 points from Carl Pierre, 12 from CJ Weeks and 10 from Tre Mitchell.
Virginia, improves to 5-0 with the hard fought victory and moves into the championship game
to face St. John’s or Arizona State. UMass dropped their first game of the year and now stand at 5-1.
EMSPORTS.org 11/23/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
Virginia douses and snuffs out the Liberty Flames, 55-29
Virginia welcomed all the brave who were present on Military Appreciation Day. The annual day of appreciation was the home contest versus
Liberty Flames.
The neighbors along 29 South were looking for revenge from last year’s loss but also a chance to lock up a bowl berth with a win. Virginia
went on defense and wasted no time flexing their muscle and forcing a quick three-and-out.
In their first possession, Perkins spearheaded a nine-play drive which finished on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Perkins to Terrell
Jana.
Liberty answered with back to back touchdowns to take a surprise 14-10. Liberty was driving again until the Virginia defense stepped up
and under a massive pass rush forced QB Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert into an ill-advised throw that was intercepted by Devante Cross.
Cross gave the Virginia team new life and the took advantage with a touchdown scoring drive. Lamont Atkins scores his first career
rushing TD to give Virginia a 17-14 lead. Virginia forced another three and out that gave the offense another chance to pad the lead. With a strong rushing attack, the Cavs matriculated down the
field. A big run of 33 yards from Atkins put the team in the redzone. Mike Hollins capped the drive with a three-yard rush into the endzone to put Virginia ahead 24-14.
Liberty returned ensuing kickoff into the Virginia territory but was unable to convert when Alex Probert missed a 43-yard field
goal.
The second half started with good field position after Seneca Milledge returned the kick 41 yards to set up the next offensive
possession. Perkins mixed the run and pass to perfection and hit Joe Reed with a 7- yard passing toss to up the lead to 31-14. The key play was a well-executed fake punt when backup QB Brennan
Armstrong hit LB Charles Snowden with a trick pass that took the ball to the seven-yard line leading to the TD pass.
The teams exchanged punts but the Virginia punt went out at the one-yard line. Virginia turned Liberty’s horrible punt into a short TD
drive. Bryce Perkins scrambled around the end for a two-yard run for a touchdown.
The Liberty Flames would not back down and with some strong running from Frankie Hickson they moved into the redzone. From the six-yard
line, Calvert threw a strike caught one-handed by Antonio Gandy-Golden. The lead was cut to 17.
Virginia took the next possession and proceeded to cover 81 yards for another rushing TD. PK Kier hit the hole to the left for 31 yards
then finished in the next play with a scoring run of two yards and give Virginia the 45-21 lead.
Liberty struck back with big pass play of 47 yards to CJ Yarbrough. They were able to get in the redzone but after a third down
incompletion, the Flames settled for a 35-yard field goal.
Virginia answered with a 29-yard field goal following the kickoff. The try extended the lead to 48-24.
A change at QB did not slow down UVA on offense. Brennan Armstrong was also successful behind center. He orchestrated a drive that
concluded with a TD strike to Dontayvion Wicks of 44 yards to go up 55-24.
Liberty was able to make one more strong drive and added a 31-yard field goal as time expired to close the scoring at
55-27.
Virginia dominated on the scoreboard and on the stat sheet. Virginia gained 499 yards and kept the call for over 38 minutes. They also
win the turnover battle as they intercepted two passes of Calvert and committed zero turnovers.
Liberty threw for 313 yards but were only able to produce 79 yards on the ground. Virginia showed more balance by passing for 272 and
rushing for 227.
Game Highlights:
- Virginia rushed for 3 touchdowns and over 200 yards for the first time this season.
- Devante Cross has 3 career interceptions, all versus Liberty and against Stephen Calvert.
- Virginia scored in each quarter, and scored 28 unanswered points when Liberty led 14-10 in second period.
Liberty returns home to face New Mexico State, a team they defeated in New Mexico in October. Virginia closes out the regular season with
a mammoth Commonwealth Clash against arch rival Virginia Tech. The game will decide the winner of the ACC Coastal Division.
EMSPORTS.org 11/23/2019
photo by Burlington Free Press
The #7 Cavaliers survive upstart Vermont Catamounts and win 61-55
The #7 Virginia Cavaliers made another home defense on a cold November night. In the on-site match up in this year’s Air Force Reserve Hall of
Fame Tip-Off Classic, the undefeated Vermont Catamounts visited JPJ.
Both teams came in with suffocating defenses and this game shaped up to be a “first one to 50” wins type of battle. Offense was
optional early on but the defense never took a break.
The Catamounts came out the gates quick and caught the national champs by surprise. A quick 7-0 spurt in just under three and a half
minutes, quieted the home crowd and forced Virginia to take a long, slow breath to find out what was going on.
Then the defense stepped up and after a Mamadi Diakite three-pointer, the fans came alive and the team went on a 16-3 explosion over a
10-minute span.
The Cavs made the lead stand up and it could have been bigger until Anthony Lamb drained a three at the buzzer. Virginia led 24-18 at the
half.
The Anthony Lamb show was just beginning. He scored 25 points alone in the second half which included 7 of 14 from behind the three point
arc for the game (six 3s after halftime). His lightning quick release and hot shooting propelled the Catamounts into a lead at 34-31. The 16-7 run gave the visitors momentum until the Cavaliers tied
it on a Diakite triple.
At 34-34, the game became a back and forth affair with the offenses heating up. Both teams took a lead then gave it back. After three
free throws from Lamb to give Vermont its final lead at 49-48 lead, the mettle and mental grind that made the Cavaliers the tough minded national champs, was put on
display.
A critical 8-0 run proved to be the difference. The Cavs held the Catamounts scoreless for over three and a half minutes to maintain a
comfortable cushion which proved to be more than enough.
The teams both scored 37 points apiece in the second half but Virginia won 61-55.
Virginia improves to 4-0 as Vermont suffers their first lost and drops to 4-1.
Quick Stats:
Anthony Lamb led all scorers with 30 points. Stef Smith added 13. The leaders for the Cavaliers were Diakite with 19, Kihei Clark with 15 and
Braxton Key contributed 14.
The Cavaliers outrebounded the Catamounts 30 to 28 and held them to only 38% shooting from the field while shooting over 46% themselves. Vermont held the edge in three point shooting making 12 compared to UVA’s 8. They also recorded 12
assists to Virginia's 11.
EMSPORTS.org 11/19/2019
by virginiasports.com
No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers Lock Down the Columbia Lions, 60-42
The visiting Columbia Lions were looking to pull off the upset at John Paul Jones over the 9th ranked Virginia Cavaliers. The
Lions were hoping to tear through the Cavaliers and hope their performance was as strong as their roar. However, when a lion is in unfamiliar territory, the safety of the home "den" is no where
to be found.
Instead, the Cavaliers turned the Lions' roar into a whimper, as their trademark Packline Defense was on full display in the first half
and throughout the afternoon.
The offense jumped out to a 10-0 lead, before the visitors finally score with under five minutes played in the game. The Cavaliers
were not going to stop there. After Columbia was able to close the lead to 12-7, Virginia picked up the intensity and also the efficiency. A 19-10 run over the final 12 minutes, staked
the Cavaliers to a 31-17 halftime lead. The fans were entertained to another classic performance of the Cavaliers holding an opposing team to under 20 points in a single half.
The second half started out a little slower but Virginia was just finding its groove, when it methodically doubled up the Lions on a
24-12 run that increased the lead to 55-29 with under six minutes to play. By this time, Columbia was all but done and Coach Bennett began substituting at wil to rest his starters and give some
of the reserves some well earned playing time.
Columbia was able to chip away but eventually they were not going to overcome the huge deficit and the final score indicated that the
Cavs had a comfortable lead.
Mike Smith lead the way in scoring for the game with 16 points. No other Lion was in double figures. Virginia was paced by
Mamdi Diakite and Jay Huff, who both had 13 points. Kihei Clark was a contributor with 10 points and a game high 5 assists. Virginia's defense limited Columbia to under 30% shooting from
the field and 3pt line.
Viriginia will now prepare for the undefeated Vermont Catamounts on Tuesday, Nov. 19th. The Lions will head back home to New York
but must visit the St. John's Red Storm on Wednesday, Nov. 20th.
by EMSPORTS.org 11/16/2019
11/14/19
Men’s Basketball Signs Abdur-Rahim, Beekman and
McCorkle
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.
- Virginia men's head basketball coach Tony Bennett has announced the signings of guards Jabri Abdur-Rahim
(Short Hills, N.J./Blair Academy), Reece Beekman (Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville High School) and Carson McCorkle (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) to National Letters of Intent with the
Cavaliers.
The 6-7, 205-pound Abdur-Rahim
averaged 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds during his junior season at Blair Academy in 2018-19. Abdur-Rahim was named New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Blair Academy to the Prep A
state championship. Abdur-Rahim was also named first-team all-state and second-team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.2 rebounds en route to third-team all-state honors
during his sophomore season at Seton Hall Prep as the team finished 24-3.
Beekman, a 6-2, 165-pound point
guard, averaged 21.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 10.2 assists as a junior for Scotlandville in 2018-19. He was named first-team all-state from USA Today and the Louisiana Sports
Writers Association. Beekman has earned back-to-back Most Outstanding Player honors at the Louisiana State Tournament and is a two-time All-District 4-5A selection. Beekman averaged 13.9 points, 4.3
rebounds and 5.1 assists as a sophomore in 2017-18.
The 6-3, 173-pound McCorkle
tallied 15.9 points per game en route to AP and NCISAA 4A All-State during his junior season at Greensboro Day School. McCorkle shot 55 percent from the field, 49 percent from 3-point range and 89
percent from the free throw line. McCorkle guided Greensboro Day to the NCISAA 3A state championship and was named the News & Record Private School All-Area Player of the Year. McCorkle averaged
10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists during his sophomore season in 2017-18.
"We are excited to welcome Jabri, Reece and Carson into the
Virginia men’s basketball family,” Bennett said. “These young men are talented, versatile and highly-competitive. They come from great families, who understand the value of a degree from the
University of Virginia. We look forward to them joining our program next fall.”
VIRGINIA CRUISES PAST JMU 65-34
Charlottesville VA- Virginia improves to 2-0 Mamadi Diakite had career highs of 19points and 13-rebounds
for the Cavaliers cruise pass JMU 65-34 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville VA. jay Huff who had 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and steals off the bench. Matt Lewis would end up
leading the Dukes with 14 points and 10- rebounds. EM-SPORTS 11/10/19
Halftime—Virginia 31-23. 3-Point Goals—James Madison 8-31 (Lewis 4-9, Jacobs 2-5, Banks
2-7, Flowers 0-1, Christmas 0-2, Parker 0-2, Wooden 0-2, Harvey 0-3), Virginia 4-25 (Key 2-3, Diakite 1-3, Clark 1-5, Palumbo 0-1, Nixon 0-1, Coleman 0-1, Morsell 0-5, Stattmann 0-6). Fouled
Out—None. Rebounds—James Madison 35 (Lewis 10), Virginia 47 (Diakite 13). Assists—James Madison 6 (Lewis, Parker 2), Virginia 11 (Clark 6). Total Fouls—James Madison 11, Virginia 10. A—13,524
(14,5
by virginiasports.com
CAVALIERS CLING TO WIN, 33-28, OVER GEORGIA TECH ON HOMECOMINGS WEEKEND
The Virginia Cavaliers returned home to start a season-ending three game homestand. Their first opponent in this stretch was the
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. These Yellow Jackets were visitors on Homecomings Weekend in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers lost a heartbreaker to the GT in Atlanta in overtime last season. With the impressive win at UNC a week ago, the Hoos
were looking to exact some revenge and continue to increase the lead they had in the Coastal Division.
In a back and forth affair, the Cavaliers and Yellow Jackets traded punches. GT struck on their first possession with a long touchdown
pass from James Graham to Ahmarean Brown for 59 yards only to have UVA answer in front of the home crowd with a corresponding touchdown drive finished by Wayne Tualapapa from two yards
away.
Both teams continued to play stellar offense, as each traded additional touchdowns in the first quarter to tie the score at 14-14
leading into the second quarter. Virginia scored folowing a Joey Blount interception.
The Cavaliers took the lead at 17-14 on a field goal by Brian Delaney, but GT was determined not to go away. The Yellow Jackets offense
led a quick strike drive in 37 seconds take a 21-17 lead when Graham hit Malachi Carter with a 25-yd scoring strike. It seemed to knock the wind out of Virginia's sails and quickly quiet the
crowd. The Cavaliers looked to be heading to the locker rooms in a deficit until they got great field position on the ensuing kickoff. That gave Perkins and company enough of an boost to drive
half of the field in 33 seconds and score a crucial go ahead TD when Perkins scrambled in from three yards out, just before halftime.
Leading 24-21, Virginia was able to tack on another field goal as both teams slugged it out in the third quarter. The lead was
27-21 and both teams were looking to put the other away. As both defenses tightened up, the offenses struggled to get back the offensive rhythm from the first
half.
The Cavs were able to take another long drive into the endzone on their first possession of the fourth quarter. The man with the
nose for the endzone, Wayne Tualapapa, bullied into the endzone for his 2nd rushing TD of the game. The Hoos two-point conversion attempt failed thus the score stayed 33-21.
With the time becoming a factor, the Yellow Jackets had to score twice. They were able to get in the endzone with over five minutes
left when running back Jordan Mason scored from the eight yard line and made the score closer at 33-28. With all their three timeouts, Georgia Tech was still in the game and that is when the
Cavaliers proceeded to shut the door.
The Cavaliers were able to squeeze and grind the time of possession and sealed the deal with a 3rd down pass from Perkins to Billy
Kemp. The final drive took teh last 5:30 off the clock and the completion ended the Jackets’ comeback hopes and put a bow on Virginia’s Homecomings celebration.
The win makes Virginia now 7-3 and 5-2 in the Coastal. Georgia Tech falls to 2-7 and 1-5 in the ACC Coastal
Division.
GAME NOTES:
Bryce Perkins accounted for 258 yards passing and a second straight 100-yd rushing game (106 yds)
Wayne Tualapapa scored two more rushing touchdowns and now has 11 for the year, onone of the best in the ACC.
James Graham had his best game of the year, career high 229 yards with two passing, one rushing touchdown.
The win gives Virginia a guaranteed winning record for the year in addition to the ACC.
Virginia has a bye week before facing commonwealth foe, Liberty University.
Georgia Tech returns home to play Virginia Tech, in the first of three games at home to finish the season.
by EMSPORTS.org 11/09/2019
virginia defeats north carolina to lead the acc coastal
photo by virginiasports.com
On the first Saturday in November, Virginia and North Carolina met for the 124th time in the South's Oldest Rivalry, a series that began in 1892. This was Virginia's record-setting sixth
night game of 2019, however, this marked the first night game in series history to be played at Kenan Stadium between UVA and UNC.
Virginia had won the last two meetings in this series. UNC Coach Mack Brown is back for his second tenure with UNC. Coach Brown was back for his second tenure with the Tar Heels after coaching them
nearly two decades ago. He had faced Coach Mendenhall when he was coaching Texas and Mendenhall was the coach at BYU.
This game was all about the offense. Each team put up over 500 yards and neither team had a turnover.
After both teams punted on their initial possessions, North Carolina took an early 3-0 lead but Virginia answered with a scoring drive the include some trickeration. On fourth down, the
Cavaliers ran a fake punt which resulted in a first down. The shift in momentum help continue the drive which was capped by a Bryce Perkins touchdown run from the one-yard line. The
Cavaliers took a 7-3 lead into the second quarter.
Both teams played with great energy and kept the defenses off-balance. The scoring picked up in the second quarter. Virginia increased their lead to 10-3 with a successful field goal from
Brian Delaney of 21 yards. The Carolina accepted the challenge and reeled off back to back scoring drives with touchdown passes of 47 yards from Sam Howell to Dyami Brown and then 34 yards from
Howell to Brown again. The home team was ahead 17-10 and looking to run away from Virginia.
With Bryce Perkins back in control, the Cavaliers marched down the field in less than two minutes and grabbed the momentum back with a six-yard scoring pass from Perkins to Hasise Dubois that
helped tie the score at 17-17 prior to halftime.
Bryce Perkins had put on his Superman cape and that TD before the half on the first of four consecutive scoring drives from the end of the second half throughout the third quarter. To begin
the second half, Perkins turned a broken play into a spectacular touchdown run of 65 yards. This began a stretch in the third quarter of four consecutive scoring drives alternating between both
teams, as they went back and forth trying to outduel each other.
Perkins set a school record with 490 all-purpose yards (30-39 on 378 passing yards and 24 carries for 112 rushing yards) and tied a career record with five total touchdowns. Terrell Jana was his
favorite target with career-high in receptions (13) and receiving yards (146).
UNC Freshman QB Sam Howell was nearly as superior. He was able to nearly match touchdown for a touchdown with Virginia. He completed 15 of 29 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns.
While both teams lit up the scoreboard for three quarters, the defenses made enough stops to pitch shutouts in the final quarter. Virginia’s defense made two stops in the last five minutes,
specifically a fourth and three inside the six-yard line. The final series was also a turnover on downs and the bend but not break performance paid off.
The win gave Virginia bowl eligibility for the third straight year for the first time since 2005. The Cavaliers sit atop the ACC Coastal Division 4-2 (6-3) overall while UNC falls to 3-3 (4-5)
overall in the Coastal.
EMSPORTS.org 11/02/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
Virginia dominates the Blue Devils, 48-14
The Virginia Cavaliers returned home after two tough losses on the road. Their woes were made even worse after losing eight days ago at Miami and not scoring a single touchdown. Today was a
battle of Coastal Division co-leaders and a lot was riding on this game.
The return home was just what the doctor ordered as the Cavaliers dominated the Duke Blue a Devils by a score of 48-14.
Bryce Perkins threw an ill-advised interception on the first drive of the game, into the endzone. How are, the defense picked up the offense with turnovers and kept the Blue Devils from crossing
the 50-yard line in the first half. The Cavaliers did a great job of getting touchdowns not field goals when they got in the redzone. Perkins accounted for two touchdowns in the ground and
Brian Delaney booted a 33-td field goal to give the Hoos a 17-0 halftime lead.
Duke was hoping to make a dent in the deficit but the turnover bug struck again. On the first snap of the second half, Duke fumbles and Charles Snowden recovered for the Cavs. Brian Delaney
converted another field goal. After another great defensive stand (fourth down stop), the Cavs bust down the door with another rushing TD from Wayne Tualapapa.
Up 27-0, Virginia was in full control. Duke finally answered with their best drive of the game. This time QB Quinton Harris hit a 36-yard passing TD to WR Scott Bracey to break the shutout. The
excitement was short lived. On the ensuing kickoff, the electric kick return of Joe Reed for a 95 yard, got the Hoos back into the endzone and the game was by all intents and purposes, over.
The Hoos and Blue Devils made wholesale changes and after trading a couple of touchdowns, the final horn sounded. The Cavaliers had provided the home crowd a statement victory.
Cavalier stats:
• Perkins became 1st Virginia QB ever with three rushing touchdowns in a single game.
• Tualapapa finished with career high 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns
• Virginia recorded five turnovers and only punted three times.
• 48 points are the highest total ever for a Coach Mendenhall team against an ACC opponent.
• The Cavaliers held their seventh straight opponent to under 300 total yards for the game. The first team to accomplish this feat since the 1995 team.
• Joe Reed returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the fifth time in his career. Reed is the UVA career leader in all time kick return yardage.
• Reed is now tied for No. 9 in FBS history and tied for No. 3 in ACC history with five career kick returns for touchdowns.
• Duke has now lost five consecutive matchups to the Cavaliers and have never beaten UVA under Coach Mendenhall.
EMSPORTS.org 10/19/2019
Virginia stays undefeated with win over odu 28-17
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY
Sports
The buzz was still in the air from the monumental win the Cavaliers enjoyed over Florida
State last week. Now ranked 21st in the AP Poll, the Cavs has to re-focus at home against in-state foe, the Old Dominion Monarchs.
Uva scored 28 unanswered points after the first quarter to pull away from the upset bid and
win 28-17.
ODU was no stranger to being an underdog (27 points against UVA) nor pulling an upset over a
Commonwealth rival (beat VT last year). They would have their hands full on this warm Saturday night.
It seems that ODU didn’t get the message they were to be an easy win at the home of the
Hoos. Instead, ODU played like a team that was ranked and the favorite.
Led by the arm and feet or Stone Smartt, the QB gave the team a lift. The Monarchs drove down
to the UVa 4 yard line before they had to settle for a Nick Rice 21 yard field goal. The Monarchs defense continued the trend and stifled the Cavalier offense. After three plays and negative yardage,
the Cavaliers punted and gave ODU prime field position.
This time Smartt and his crew passed their way down back into the redzone. Smartt was able to
shake the Cavalier defense and dive into the endzone with a 10 yard scramble. The touchdown put the Cavalier crowd into a big hush and the upset murmur was growing.
The Cavaliers tried to breakthrough but minimal yardage and another punt backed up the
Monarchs. ODU was staring at a lot of field to cover but were not intimidated. With a few mix of passes and runs, Smartt marched the team near midfield when he found Matt Geiger down the sideline.
Geiger took the pass and in 47 yards he was celebrating another TD with a somber UVA crowd in shock.
The Cavaliers were staring a 17-0 deficit but kept grinding. In ensuing drive, Joe Reed
nearly broke the kickoff return all the way. His 57 yard return gave the Cavs great field position. With the momentum and new energy, Perkins guided his team to their first score. His quick feet
provided an eight yard rushing score and the home crowd wake from their slumber. The Cavaliers finally got a much needed score and went into the half down 17-7.
Virginia struggled in the second half until the defense made the key play of the game. ODU
backed up near their endzone., a scrambling Smartt was under pressure and threw a pass that found Zane Zandier. Zandier looked like a rumbling TE but the linebacker scored on the pick six from 22
yards away and the tide had turned for the Cavaliers.
ODU was struggling and their offense was under immense pressure. The Cavaliers had made the
Monarchs sweat. When the Cavs got the ball back, they complete a few passes and were ready to score, but DE Keion White blocked the attempted Brian Delaney FG attempt and ODU has the lead still.
Virginia’s defense rose to the occasion has the offense was unable to turn the corner. ODU
was stuffed deep in their territory in a fourth and 1. Virginia quickly capitalized off the defense’s stellar play and Wayne Tualapapa crashes through the defense with a 7 yard slash and run.
The Cavaliers took their first lead and time was running out on the Monarchs. The defense got stronger as the game became closer to the end.
Virginia turned up the heat and ODU melted under the pressure. After another ODU
punt, Virginia went back to work. With an aerial attack, Perkins found Joe Reed in the flat and Reed made a quick move, left his defender sprawling and raced untouched 25 yards into the endzone. The
Cavaliers has put some much needed breathing room between them and ODU. The fans were breathing a huge sigh of relief but the game still needed a final touch.
The Cavaliers got that tough compliments of a relentless defense led by Charles
Snowden. He helped stifle any hopes ODU had of a comeback with 2 sacks in ODU’s last two possessions. The Hoos pitched a second half shutout and pushed their record to a perfect 4-0.
The Clipboard:
Both teams were a little anemic on offense. ODU 270 total yards and Virginia only 244.
Neither team eclipsed 70 yards rushing respectively for the game.
Defensively, the Cavaliers recorded a total of six sacks on Stone Smartt. Snowden recorded
a career-high 15 tackles and had two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Keion White of ODU matched both those totals from his defensive spot.
The only turnover proved to be costly as it was a defensive TD for Virginia.
The Cavaliers defense held the Monarchs' offensive to less than 50 yards in the second
half (a paltry 49 yards to be exact).
by EMSPORTS.org 9/21/2019
The Virginia Cavaliers Raise the Championship Banner
It was a night to remember. The University of Virginia held a formal celebration for the Men’s Basketball Champions in John Paul Jones. The arena was nearly packed
as well over 10,000 of Hoos closest family, friends and fans made the trip to Charlottesville to formally celebrate the Night of Champions and the Raising of the Banner for the NCAA
Champs.
A team which had only one 30 win season in their long history, prior to the 2013-2014 season, had now nearly 30 wins a per year in every season up to the present since
then.
Under the leadership of Coach Tony Bennett, the 2018-2019 season was a season to remember. This program was just one season removed from the most memorable upset in NCAA
history. The UMBC Retrievers has done the unthinkable as the first #16 seed to defeat a #1 seed. The loss will forever be a part of the annals of NCAA history but not bigger than the aftermath: The
Story of Redemption. The Cavaliers turned their darkest moment into a driving force that produce the the brightest light paving the path to their first ever National Championship in Men’s
Basketball.
“Every champion must endure suffering.” This phrase was repeated by Coach Bennett as he harkened back to how the team suffered at the hands on embarrassment and
the wrong side of history in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Rafael Nadal spoke the comment at the 2019 US Open (which he won) but it aptly fits the champion Hoos as they showed grit, perseverance and
humility in the face of criticism and pressure. The team once again earned another #1 seed for the 2019, but this time they did not stay in the valley but rose to the top of the
mountain.
As the night unfolded, the night was full of energy and emotion. After Coach Bennett spoke, Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy and De’Andre Hunter all shared the stage and during a
conversation with Dave Koehn, the Voice of Virginia Athletics. Each spoke of how nervous and excited they were to be a part of the same recruiting class and fulfill a dream, to bring home a national
title. They spoke of living out the good and bad times and then how they elevated on the foundation built by earlier teams.
Each member and staff were then honored with their commemorative wristwatch and a audacious championship ring that could be seen from space. It was the perfect symbol
and reward for a program that had been built by Coach Bennett for a decade. The fruits of his labor and the young men who went the extra mile to live up to the five pillars were beat displayed in the
celebration with the fan base that had embraced the pace and loved every minute of it.
Congrats to the 2018-2019 Virginia Men’s Basketball Team, for joy finally came in the morning on this special night of celebration.
by EMSPORTS.org 9/13/2019
The #25 Cavaliers defeat the Florida State Seminoles in a late night classic, 31-24
This second Saturday in September was shaping up to be as exciting a football Saturday that Charlottesville had ever witnessed.
On the heels of the Friday celebration for the Men’s Basketball raising their championship banner, the #25 Cavaliers hosted perennial ACC powerhouse Florida State Seminoles. These Seminoles were not
as flashy or dominant as the previous versions, but they were still dangerous. This team was loaded with speed, talent and potential but none of that was going to sway Virginia from the task at
home. In front of nearly 58,000 enthusiastic fans, the Cavaliers were poised to Defend their turf and Rock the Scott (Stadium).
Virginia received the opening kickoff and with a promising drive moved into the Florida State redzone. The drive turned sour after an errant Bryce Perkins pass was intercepted. Each team traded
punts before Virginia broke through with a long drive and a field goal from Brian Delaney that traveled 49 yards to put the Hoos up 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Seminoles struggles were on offense but defense kept them in the game. The Cavaliers secured their own muffed punt but with backs to the end zone, the offense was not able to move very far from
the shadow of the end zone. A poor punt by Nash Griffin gave the ‘Noles life and they scored in three plays on a short field. QB James Blackman pass to TE Gabe Nabers was a successful 10 yard
touchdown and gave the visitors a lead with user nine minutes left in the second quarter.
It was vital for the Cavaliers to regain momentum and grab back the lead. They were able to do both. In six plays and 75 yards, the Hoos mixed passes and runs to get into the promised land with
Wayne Taulapapa’s three yard dash to push the lead to 10-7 for Virginia. Florida State’s answered the touchdown with one of their own. In less than three minutes, the Seminoles went 87 yards with the
final pass a touchdown from Blackman to RB Cam Akers for three yards. Virginia could not answer before the half and a desperation pass from Perkins to Reed was intercepted deep in the
Seminoles’ territory.
Seminoles took opening second half kickoff and then punted only to have Virginia return the favor. The next possession saw positive returns for Florida State. They were able to work down the
field and convert a long, 53 yard field goal by Ricky Aguayo. The Hoos now facing a 17-10 deficit in the third quarter proceeded to match the Seminoles.
In a quick passing attack, Perkins led the team 75 yards spanning the end of the third quarter and start if the fourth. On a second down pass play, Perkins hit WR Joe Reed with a beautiful pass in
corner of endzone and the score was tied at 17 afer Delaney's PAT kick. With Florida State feeling the momentum slipping away, the hurry offense made plays and forced Virginia’s defense to
react and not attack. A well led attack with timely passes and strong running got Florida State the lead again. This time Keyshawn Helton was the recipient of a Blackman 17 yard toss. Down but not
out, the Hoos made up the deficit with a finely orchestrated 75 yard, 12 play drive that saw Tualapapa get his second TD. The extra point was no good and with that Florida State held a thin one-point
advantage.
The Cavaliers defense made the stops and a forced punt allowed the Cavaliers’ offense to get the lead back. With Perkins’ arm and Joe Reed’s legs, the Cavaliers made Florida State’s defense
work and sweat. The Seminoles were flagged for a targeting which gave Uva the ball 1st and goal inside the 10. Two runs later and Tualapapa was celebrating with his 3rd rushing TD. The magic of Bryce
Perkins was on display for the subsequent two-point conversion. With the moves of Houdini and some intuition, the Cavalier QB made moves to slip out imminent danger and finally waltz into the end
zone, giving the home squad a 31-24 lead to the the roar of over 60,000 obsessed Wahoo fans.
However, there were 2 minutes and 36 seconds left and Florida State has more than enough time to score. The high flying, quick pace Seminole offense has shown to be dangerous all night. This
last drive would be no different. The Seminoles started at their on 25 yard line and proceeded to pass their way up the field. However, something strange happened on the way to the end of the
game. On fourth down, Blackman fires a pass broken up by CB Nick Grant, but a flag was tossed and Florida State was awarded a first down. That was not all. Coach Mendenhall profusely argued the
call and his antics supplied Florida State with another 15 yard penalty. The Seminoles has moved 30 yards with no time elapsing. The Blue Wave Cavalier defense answered the call again. The Seminoles
were down to their last play when an incomplete pass seemed to seal their fate. However, another flag and yet again another 15 yards for Florida Star who was creeping ever so close to the
redzone.
As the anticipation increased, so did the anxiety on the faces of each fan in Scott Stadium. The Seminoles were on the verge of another fourth down with just 13 seconds left. A pinpoint pass from
Blackman to Helton on third down earned a 1st and goal from the 4 yard line with four seconds left. In helter-skelter fashion, the Seminoles played super hurry up and reminiscent to Warrick Dunn in
1995, this endzone was the stage for a frenzied finale. Cam Akers to a direct snap around the right side and as he closed in on the goalline, he was stopped twice by Virginia defenders with time
expiring. It happened again, a goalline stand and a tremendous victory as a sea of people in orange and blue embraced these undefeated Hoos in the belly of Scott Stadium.
The Clipboard:
- Blackman was phenomenal with 22-37, 234 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions
- Perkins played spectacular in second half with 16 consecutive completions and a passing TD to go along with the key two-point conversion.
- First time a ranked Virginia team (#23 AP in 2007) has won since destroying the Miami Hurricanes in the final game in the Orange Bowl, 48-0.
- Keep away, time of possession: UVA 39:44 > FSU 20:16
- Both teams combined for 19 penaties, 180 total yards and five personal foul penalties (All Florida State)
by EMSPORTS.org 9/14/19
photo by virginiasports.com
Virginia manhandles William & Mary in home opener, 52-17
Friday night lights is a
natural phenomenon that engulfs countless fans of football in the fall every year. In this Friday, the Virginia (1-0) Cavaliers decided to make their mark as they opened up their 2019 home schedule
with the visiting William and Mary Tribe (1-0).
The Tribe are in the first year under the helm of new head coach Mike London. Yes, that same Mike London who once roamed the sidelines as the head ball coach for the Cavaliers. They won their
first game last week over the Lafayette Leopards, 30-17.
The last two time these team men met at Scott Stadium was the opening game in 2013 as London led UVA to a 19-16 comeback victory over the BYU Cougars, Mendenhall’s former team.
Hoos started off right. A quick three and out by the defense and Bryce Perkins went to work. He was a perfect 4 for 4 on the drive culminating it with a 40yd touchdown pass to Joe Reed. The defense
was just as effective on the next series. After the Tribe recorded a couple of first downs, then the Cavalier Defense made a statement.
An rushed throw by Tribe QB Hollis Mathis found the waiting arms of CB Nick Grant. The Cavalier cornerback took the ball on a sprint and raced down the home sideline nearly untouched for a pick six
of 85 yards.
The next drive after a Tribe punt was finished with another TD. The offense showed a few more mixes of power runs and timely passes. Bryce Perkins added the final blow with a seven yard touchdown
scamper to put them up 21-0 as the first quarter was coming to a close.
The offense didn’t slow down. Perkins Drive the team methodically down the field and then Perkins found his big target, Terrell Chatman, with a 15-yard strike in the middle of the end zone pushing
the score to 28-0.
William and Mary caught a break on the first mistake by UVA. The Tribe punted and what looked to be another Cavalier possession turned into a fumble as Chuck Davis bobbled the punt allowing the Tribe
to recover inside the red zone. With their best position all
game, the Tribe was unable to penetrate the Virginia defense and settled for a 40-yard field goal.
Just when it looked as if the momentum was slowly shifting it wasn’t. The kickoff went deep into the end zone but no touchback because Joe Reed has other plans. With a burst of speed and a quick cut
to the left, Reed weaved his way through the defense and left all defenders in his dust. 100 yards later, the Cavaliers were celebrating another touchdown and the crowd was in a frenzy.
The Cavaliers were on the move again but this time an ill-advised throw by Perkins in the red zone led to his first interception allowing the Tribe a chance to catch its breath and stop any
further damage. Virginia had one more chance to score but an errant field goal attempt kept the score at 35-3 in favor of the Hoos at the half.
Virginia opened up the second half with ball first and time consuming scoring drive. The feet and arm of Perkins did most of the damage but the score honors belonged to 1st year running
back Mike Hollins. On his first ever carry as a Hoo, Hollins sliced through a tired Tribe defense for a 9-yard touchdown.
After Virginia forced a three and out, the Cavaliers were not as effective on offense. Bryce Perkins threw his second pick of the game in a third and long situation. William and Mary moves the ball
but were unable to capitalize, missing on a 35 yard field goal attempt.
The Tribe defense struck again. This time the quarterback was Brennan Armstrong. After a few first downs, Armstrong was hit on a blitz and his pass fell in the hands of Tribe linebacker
Arman Jones, who returned it 47 yards for the Tribe’s first touchdown.
Virginia found their footing after stumbling on previous possession. The hard running of Mike Hollins got the Cavaliers inside the 10 yard line where they settled for a field goal by Brian Delaney
from 34 yards.
William and Mary put together their best drive with an answer to the field goal by Virginia. In seven plays, covering 75 yards, Albert Funderburke bulldozed in from the two yard line for another
Tribe TD.
The Hoos seamlessly moved 64 yards into end zone with Mike Hollins converting a one yard rush for the last yard. With his second TD, Hollins increased the lead to 52-17.
Aside from a few miscues the Virginia offense was sensational racking up 511 yards. Their 52 points was the most points since beating Temple 51-0 in 2005. Perkins was responsible for two
passing touchdowns and one rushing. He also threw his first two interceptions of the year. Brennan Anderson, the understudy was also very efficient. He completed 9 of 10 passes (1
interception) for 103 yards.
First year running back Mike Hollins led the ground attack. He chewed up 78 yards and scored his first two career touchdowns.
Joe Reed was the leader with 58 yards receiving and an entertaining 100 yard KO return for a TD (4th of his career).
The defense also was very impressive if not dominant. The Tribe was held to 193 yards total offense and just 10 points were scored on the Cavaliers' defense. Zane Zandier was the leader
with 9 total stops and the entire unit finished with five sacks and 12 tackles for loss plus the interception for a TD by Nick Grant (1st career interception).
The Hoos will now have an extra day to rest and prepare as they will welcome in the vaunted Florida State Seminoles on next Saturday night, primetime under the lights.
by EMSports.org 9/6/2019
Joe Harris, USA Men's National Basketball Team
jJoe Harris is fan favorite of all of Wahoo Nation, in making his name on the International Basketball level. Harris, professionally of the Brooklyn Nets, is making himself as a name as a
sharpshooter and overall great leader with the US National Men's Team. Harris was originally participating in the US Select Team, a group of professionals who were preparing the senior team for
the 2019 FIBA World Cup Tournament in China. After several rounds of cuts, the USA team recognized how valuable Harris would be to the team and now he is on the Senior National Team.
Harris has made great strides as a professional leading the NBA in three point shooting percentage at 47.4%. Harris is a knockdown, long distance sniper who also provides size on the
perimeter and solid defense.
Harris will get a chance to prove his mettle and continue to showcase his skills as the USA is the favorite going into this tournament. In the style of the world famous World Cup that soccer
fans have loved for decades, the 2019 FIBA World Cup will take place from Sept. 1 - Sept. 15.
The USA has started preparations and are expected to be on the top of the medal podium when the dust clears. Joe Harris will be an integral part of their success.
by EMSPORTS.org 8/23/2019
Hunter, Jerome and Guy Selected in 2019 NBA Draft
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former Virginia stars De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy were selected in the 2019 NBA Draft Thursday (June 20) night.
Hunter was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fourth overall pick and is expected to be traded to Atlanta. Jerome was picked 24th overall by Philadelphia and is expected
to be traded to Phoenix.
Hunter became UVA’s highest first-round selection since Ralph Sampson was selected first overall by Houston in 1983. In addition, UVA has two players drafted in the same draft
for the first time in school history.
Guy was selected by New York with the 55th pick of the second round as the Cavaliers had three NBA draft selection for the first time since 1987 when Olden Polynice (Chicago),
Andrew Kennedy (Philadelphia) and Tom Sheehey (Boston) were selected in the first, second and fourth rounds, respectively. Guy will head to Sacramento as part of a trade.
Virginia has had eight players drafted in the NBA since 2012, including Mike Scott (2012), Joe Harris (2014), Justin Anderson (2015), Malcolm Brogdon (2016), Devon Hall (2018),
and Hunter, Jerome and Guy in 2019. Scott, Harris, Brogdon and Hall were second-round selections, while Anderson was selected 21st overall in the first round.
Hunter, Jerome
and led UVA to its first NCAA title in 2018-19. Hunter earned consensus
third-team All-America honors, and was the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC first-team and ACC Defensive Player of the honoree after his breakout season in 2018-19. He averaged
15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 52 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from 3-point range and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. Hunter racked up 10 20-point games, including a
career-high 27 points against Texas Tech in the NCAA championship game. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 71 career games.
Jerome averaged career highs
in points (13.6), rebounds (4.2) and assists (5.5) during his junior season in 2018-19. Jerome netted six 20-point games, including 24 against Purdue and 21 against Auburn in the NCAA Tournament.
Jerome registered three double-doubles and tied a school record with 14 assists at Syracuse. Jerome, who was two-time All-ACC honoree, totaled 1,011 points, 317 rebounds and 384 assists in 105
career games in three seasons at UVA.
by EMSPORTS.org
6/20/2019
by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
The Champs are Here! Cavaliers defeat defending
Lacrosse Champ Yale, 13-9
In
Charlottesville, the University of Virginia has had an historic seven weeks. In early April, the basketball team captured their first ever Men's NCAA Title. The Cavalier Lacrosse Team saw
and learned the lessons from their UVA brethren and decided to do the same.
Exactly 7 Mondays from the night of the basketball championship, the team led by coach Lars Tiffany secured the program's sixth NCAA title in Lacrosse. This was no easy feat
and it took some fortunate bounces and tremendous play to earn their newest hardware. The Cavaliers completed the trifecta, of sorts. They also won the ACC regular season title and the
ACC tournament championship.
First Round:
The
UVA Men, seeded #3 in the NCAA Tournament, hosted their first-round matchup where they dispatched Robert Morris, 19-10. They entered the quarterfinals looking at a familiar foe, the Maryland
Terrapins. The Hoos and the Terps had faced off nearly 100 times and Maryland was easily the most hated and longest despised rival for the Cavaliers.
They had many epic contests however the most recent one of importance was the 2011 National Championship in
Baltimore, MD. The Hoos prevailed that day in Maryland's back yard and a few years later the Terrapins left the ACC for the Big Ten.
Quarterfinals:
The
Cavaliers and Terps were neck and necks through most of the first three quarters. However, with 10:38 left in the fourth quarter, the Terrapins led 12-7 and look to be heading into the national
semifinals. The Cavaliers were down but not out and went on a furious scoring binge. The Hoos scored the last five goals in regulation to send the game into overtime. In overtime,
faceoff specialist, first-year Petey LaSalla won the biggest faceoff of the year. He found Matt Moore on the move and Moore did the rest. Moore's sudden victory OT goal just 45 seconds
into the extra period sent the Cavaliers through to the Final Four in Philadelphia with a 13-12 triumph.
The
Cavaliers went from the frying pan right into the oven has they were now facing their newest nemesis, the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils had a stranglehold over the series with the
Cavs. They had been victorious in 19 of the last 20 contests including nine straight. The Cavaliers had not vanquished the Devils since 2010 ACC Tournament.
Semifinals:
The
Cavaliers took an early 1-0 then 2-1 lead but the Blue Devils would not allow another goal in the first half. After a 4-0 scoring advantage in the second period, the teams traded goals in the
third quarter. Every time UVA made a move, Duke countered and they upped the ante. The Blue Devils jumped ahead 8-4 halfway in the third period and looked to be in control. Virginia
found new life an answered back with a quick 3 goal scoring spree before Duke closed the quarter with back to back goals. The fourth quarter was going to decide the fate of one of these teams,
the loser was going to rue the chance to be in the national final match.
Leading 10-7, Duke gave up the first score to UVA. Then answered with another goal. UVA pushed to deficit to one, with two quick scores and looked to have momentum.
Duke squelched the run with a goal and under two minutes to play, the Blue Devils just needed to play defense to win this match. The Hoos did not listen to conventional wisdom and has in the
past, they found a way to knot the score at 12 with 15 seconds left and head to overtime.
One
overtime was not enough as both teams wasted chances to end this contest however, in the second OT, Ian Laviano, the Cavs' leading scorer on the year, notched his 50th goal of the season of an assist
from Matt Moore (team leader in that category). With the clock showing 3:09 to play in the second OT, the final score was 13-12 in favor of Virginia. Finally, the Blue Devils had been
exorcised.
After such a magnificent win, the Cavaliers were starting to resemble that team from JPJ. Cardiac
Cavaliers or Comeback Cavs seemed to be a fitting description for the ability to pull the wins out at the end of these playoff battles.
National Finals:
Championship Monday on Memorial Day was the final stop for this Virginia team and a date with destiny. The Yale Bulldogs stood in the way of the Cavaliers completing the
journey to the top of the Lacrosse mountain.
The
Bulldogs had been here before and their claim to fame was their offense. The offense had scored 59 goals in the first three rounds of the tournament and were looking like a juggernaut after
dispatching the #1 team in the country, the Penn State Nittany Lions, 21-17 in the semifinals.
The
Elis (Yale's nickname) sported the one of the best players in the country in TD Irelan, a faceoff specialist who had won a mindboggling 75% of the faceoffs and was a finalist for the player of the
year award, The Tewaaraton Award. Yale took an early 1-0 lead before Matt Moore scored two goals to give UVA a 2-1 lead. Then Yale tied the game when all tourney player, Matt Brandau
assisted Matt Gaudet for the tying score.
Virginia then took over and scored the next four goals in the first half. The Virginia defense was phenomenal and thwarted every attack that the Yale offense attempted to
ignite. With the score at 6-2, the Cavaliers headed into the final 30 minutes with a lead and complete control.
The
Yale Bulldogs would not go down without a fight and in a blink of the eye, the Bulldogs scored two lightning fast goals and suddenly the mood shifted in the stadium. In less than 70 seconds,
the score was 6-4, Yale was jubilant and the Cavaliers were back on their heels.
UVA
collected their thoughts and responded in a grand fashion. With precision passing and great energy, the Hoos put together a 5-0 streak that knocked the Elis off their high horse and essentially
ended the chance of a repeat by Yale.
There
would be no great comeback or tense moments in this championship tilt. The Cavaliers had ascended back to the top of the sport with their scintillating performance. The final score of
13-9 was confirmation of the hard work and long road this team had traveled to be recognized as the Kings of Lacrosse. They started the season 1-2 and only dropped one more contest over the
final 17 matches of the season. That was to Duke in the regular season and they avenged that loss in the semifinals. The Cavaliers will look to be the favorite heading into the 2020
season. Their Sixth National Championship has a sweet taste to it and will be housed in Charlottesville, the new City of Champions.
by
EMSPORTS.org 5/28/19
Virginia drops another in the ACC Tourney, falling 10-3 to #17 Miami
The Cavaliers were looking to break even and gain a big win in the ACC Tourney versus Miami. The #17 Hurricanes had swept the Cavaliers earlier in the season and were the top seed in the pod
for this matchup,
The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead following a homer in the top of the first inning. The Cavaliers answered back and tied the score at 2 with some timely hitting. Both starting
pitchers performed admirable but Miami broke open the game with three runs in the fifth inning.
Trailing 5-2, the Cavaliers chipped away with one more in the sixth and drew closer. However, the Miami pitching got tougher and didn't allow another run. The offense for the 'Canes
tacked on five additional runs in the eighth inning to put the game away.
With the loss, UVA now holds out hope that their strong regular season and RPI will earn them an at-large bid into the NCAA tourney. The Hurricanes will advance to face UNC for a chance to
move into the ACC semi-finals on Saturday.
by EMSPORTS.org 5/25/2019
Virginia loses in pitcher's duel to #23 UNC, 3-2 in 10 innings
The Virginia Cavaliers' baseball team was riding high into the ACC Baseball Tournament in Durham, NC. The Cavaliers had won their last two ACC series (2-1) over the highly ranked Louisville
Cardinals and their arch-enemies the Virginia Tech Hokies.
With 5 wins in their last 7 games, the Hoos had placed themselves squarely in the conversation to return to the NCAA tourney after missing last year for the first time in Coach O'Connor's 15 years
at the University.
The Cavs got their first crack against their neighbors from the South, the #23 UNC Tar Heels.
In what turned into a pitcher's duel, also required extra innings to decide the fate of each team. UNC took an early 2-0 lead into the 7th inning and were cruising. However, the feisty
Cavaliers would not back down. After a Nate Eikoff homer to cut the lead to 2-1, the Hoos scratched another run across in eighth inning to know the score at 2.
Andrew Abbott came on in relief and was masterful. The Hoos threatened in the ninth inning with bases loaded and only 1 out. However, the Tar Heels shut the Cavs down and proceeded to
load the bases in the 10th inning where they scored the winning run on a hit batsmen from the pitch of UVA's Devin Ortiz.
With the agonizing loss, the Hoos drop to 32-23 on the season but still have one more chance for an ACC win against the #17th ranked Miami Hurricanes.
by EMSPORTS.org
by virginiasports.com
UVA Women's Basketball adds 2 new coaches
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women's basketball head coach Tina Thompson announced on Monday (May 13) the addition of Walter Pittsand UVA alumna Monica Wright to her coaching staff.
"With the addition of Walter and Monica, we have grown in the best way,"
Thompson said. "I am truly excited about these two, their energy and work ethic are just what we need. Welcome to the Hoo Family Walter and Monica!"
Pitts comes to Virginia after spending last season as an assistant coach and
recruiting coordinator at Jackson State. During his tenure with the Tigers, he helped develop two All-SWAC players and the Newcomer of the Year, Kaisah Lucky. His professional coaching career has
also included being the lead assistant for the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League, an assistant for the Texas Southern men's basketball team and an assistant coach for UNC Greensboro's
women's team. Pitts played collegiately at Alabama, receiving the Guy Lee Turner Defensive Award twice. He helped lead the Crimson Tide to a 1992 NIT bid and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993. He
went on to play professionally for four years in South America.
"I'm so very excited to add Coach Walter Pitts to our coaching roster," Thompson said. "What appealed to me most about Coach Pitts was his energetic personality! He has a love for the game that is not
measurable, being in the gym and developing kids is his passion. Most people that know him well would call him a 'gym rat' of sorts. He really enjoys the development side of the game, which is
also the part of the game I enjoy. He is committed to getting our kids better through mental and physical work. Our kids are workers by nature, so to have another member of our staff that mirrors
their intentions is a welcomed addition. Coach Pitts has a wealth of knowledge in the game of basketball, as a player and a coach at different levels. He will bring a diverse perspective to our staff
and a big personality. I am very much looking forward to him bringing all that knowledge to the Hoo Family enhancing our ability to grow."
Wright graduated as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer with 2,540 points, which
ranks third in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The three-time All-American was honored as the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and WBCA National Defensive
Player of the Year after averaging 23.7 points per game (ranked seventh nationally) and 3.7 steals per game (second in the NCAA).
After playing at UVA, Wright was the second overall pick in the 2010 WNBA draft.
Playing for the Minnesota Lynx, she was named to the 2010 WNBA All-Rookie Team averaging 11.1 points per game in her first season in the league. She won WNBA titles with the Lynx in 2011 and 2013.
During Minnesota's 3-0 sweep of the Atlanta Dream in the 2013 WNBA Finals, Wright averaged 11.7 points and 1.7 steals per game. Wright, who also spent time with the Seattle Storm during her five WNBA
seasons, served as secretary/treasurer for the WNBA Players Association during the 2015 season.
Wright spent last season as an assistant coach at Liberty after working at Incarnate
Word in 2017-18 as the women's basketball team's director of student-athlete development.
"The hiring of Coach Monica Wright for me was a no-brainer! She embodies all that is necessary to be a successful student athlete at UVA," Thompson said. "Not many have done it better than Monica.
She knows a side of the university that no one else on our staff knows and has accomplished the very things our girls aspire to. It is important to me that our kids have examples of what is possible,
that they can see, touch and talk to everyday. That way they will know if they are committed to the work, anything is possible. Monica is also a bright young coach, she has that thing that stars are
made of. Her body of work as a player is an example of that. Her energy and work ethic is one that our kids will take to immediately. Monica absolutely loves everything that is UVA, she bleeds
Virginia orange and blue. Like I said, a no-brainer."
Pitts and Wright will be filling vacancies on the coaching staff left by the
departures of La'Keshia Frett Meredith and Jama Sharp, who will not be returning for the 2019-20 season.
by virginiasports.com 5/13/2019
Tomas Woldetensae
Height:
6'5"
Weight:
195
Year:
So.
Hometown:
Bologna, Italy
Position:
G
Associates Degree:
Victory Rock Prep (FL)
Previous School:
Victory Rock Prep (FL)
GP28
PTS/G17.3
FG %46.7
3PT %47.6
FT %88.8
REB/G2.8
A/G2.5
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia men's head basketball
coach Tony Bennett announced Monday (May 13) the signing of guard Tomas Woldetensae (pronounced Thomas Woal-duh-TEN-sigh) to a National Letter of Intent with the national champion
Cavaliers.
"We are excited to welcome
Tomas into the Virginia men’s basketball family,” Bennett said. “Tomas is a talented guard who is a complete player. Earning a degree from UVA is important to Tomas and his family, and we’re looking
forward to him joining our program this fall.”
In 2018-19, Woldetensae
(Bologna, Italy) earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First-Team All-America honors after averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Indian Hills Community
College (Ottumwa, Iowa). Woldetensae (6-5, 195) shot 47 percent from the field, 47.6 percent from 3-point range and 88.5 percent from the charity strip for Indian Hills, which advanced to the second
round of the NJCAA National Tournament. Woldetensae, who was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches NJCAA All-America team, was the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference
(ICCAC) Player of the Year and member of the ICCAC all-league team.
Woldetensae averaged 8.8
points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists during his freshman season at Indian Hills in 2017-18. He shot 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 89.3 percent from the free throw line.
Woldetensae holds the school
record in free throw percentage (88.8%) and is third in 3-pointers (154). Indian Hills went 60-8 with a pair of regular-season conference titles and one postseason tournament title. Indian Hills
advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in each of Woldetensae’s two seasons at Indian Hills.
Prior to Indian Hills,
Woldetensae played two seasons at Victory Rock Prep in Bradenton, Fla.
JUAN THORNHILL GETS SELECTED IN NFL DRAFT
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia senior safety Juan Thornhill
(Altavista, Va.) was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs during Friday’s second round of the National Football League Draft. Thornhill was the 63rd overall pick and the first safety drafted out of
Virginia since Anthony Poindexter was taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round, 216th overall, in 1999.
Thornhill is the first Cavalier drafted by the Chiefs since 2008 when offensive lineman
Branden Albert was taken in the first round. Thornhill is the sixth Cavalier all-time to be drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Thornhill finished the 2018 season No. 3 in the nation and No. 3 in the ACC with six interceptions. He set a UVA single-season record for interception return yards with 141 and led
Virginia with 98 tackles. Thornhill was a first-team All-ACC honoree, an honorable mention All-American by College Football News and named to the Associated Press All-Bowl
team. Thornhill started in the Senior Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine. He was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after making six tackles and intercepting two passes
against No. 16 Miami. Thornhill also recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, blocked a PAT and returned it for a two-point score. He leaves UVA tied for No. 6 all-time at UVA with 13 career interceptions,
sharing the spot with Chase Minnifield (2008-11). Thornhill helped spearhead a UVA secondary in 2018 that finished No. 12 in the nation in passing efficiency defense (107.62), No. 16 in passing yards
allowed (183.0) and No. 20 in both team defense (330.5) and scoring defense (20.1).
NFL DRAFT 2019
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– Virginia senior cornerback Tim Harris (Richmond, Va.) was selected by the San Francisco 49ers during Saturday's sixth round of the National Football Draft. Harris was the
198th overall pick and the first cornerback drafted out of Virginia since Maurice Canady was taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round, 209th overall, in 2016.
Harris is the first Cavalier drafted by the 49ers since 2015 when Eli Harold was taken in the third round. Harris is the sixth Cavalier all-time to be drafted by the 49ers.
Harris appeared in 47 career games for the Cavaliers over six seasons. He started the last eight games on 2018 and made 36 tackles, broke up four passes and recorded two interceptions. Harris notched
interceptions at Virginia Tech in the regular season finale and against South Carolina in the Belk Bowl. His interception in the Belk Bowl solidified UVA's 28-0 shutout of the Gamecocks. Harris was
part of a UVA secondary in 2018 that finished No. 12 in the nation in passing efficiency defense (107.62), No. 16 in passing yards allowed (183.0) and No. 20 in both team defense (330.5) and scoring
defense (20.1).
by virginiasports.com
4/26/2019
Several other standouts from the Cavaliers' football team went undrafted but shall continue their journey in the NFL after signing free agent contracts.
Olamide Zaccheaus signed with Atlanta Falcons
Chris Peace signed with the LA Chargers
Marcus Applefield signed with the Baltimore Ravens
Jordan Ellis signed with the Cincinnati Bengals
by EMSPORTS.org 4/27/2019
Kyle Guy and Mamadi Diakite' Declare for the NBA Draft 2019
The Virginia Cavaliers have been living a charmed life with
the spectacular run they had during the NCAA tournament. They lived on the edge in a few games and made many of the fanbases' hearts stop with their cardiac ways of snatching victory from the
hands of defeat. Well in order to repeat from this year, next year will look strikingly different. After the announcements that Ty Jerome and De'Andre Hunter were leaving school early for
the NBA, two more Hoos have joined the declaration train. Sharpshooting specialist, Kyle Guy and the defensive intimidator, Mamadi Diakite', have officially submitted their names for the 2019
NBA Draft.
In
a move that is not entirely unexpected, both players were instrumental in the Virginia Cavaliers capturing the 2018-2019 NCAA Men's Basketball title. Both players were not projected to be
drafted in the latest ESPN Mock Draft, however their profiles have greatly increased with their outstanding play in the NCAA tournament.
Guy, the junior guard led the Cavaliers in scoring each of the past two years, including 15.4 points per game in 2018-19, and he scored
24 points in the team's national championship game win over Texas Tech on April 8. He led the team in 3pt field goals made and 3pt percentage. He also
was the best free throw shooter at 82% and his three consecutive free throws in the National Semifinal to beat Auburn, will go down as the most clutch free throws in UVA
History.
Diakite had a breakout 2018-19 campaign, establishing career highs in points per game (7.4), rebounds per game (4.4) and blocks (63). He surged in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 10.5
points, 8.2 boards and 2.7 blocks per contest. His game-tying basket in the Elite Eight led to UVA defeating Purdue in overtime, earning the Hoos a spot in the Final Four.
by EM-SPORTS.ORG 4/18/219
4/15/19
Hunter and Jerome To Enter 2019 NBA Draft
CHARLOTTESVILLE,
Va. – Redshirt sophomore
guard De’Andre Hunter (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior point guard Ty Jerome (New Rochelle, N.Y.) announced Monday (April 15) that they will forgo their remaining eligibility at Virginia and enter the
2019 NBA Draft.
Hunter and Jerome helped lead
the Cavaliers (35-3) to their first NCAA National Championship in 2018-19. Both players plan to sign with agents and intend to stay in the NBA Draft, which will be held June 20 at the Barclays Center
in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“De’Andre and Ty leave
Virginia with tremendous legacies,” head coach Tony Bennett said. “They were outstanding players and role models, and I’m so proud of the men they have become. We won a lot of games and
championships with De’Andre and Ty, and they are ready to realize their life-long dreams of playing in the NBA.”
Hunter earned consensus
second-team All-America honors, NABC National Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC first-team and ACC Defensive Player of the honors after his breakout season in 2018-19. He averaged 15.2 points and
5.1 rebounds, while shooting 52 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from 3-point range and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. Hunter racked up 10 20-point games, including a career-high 27
points against Texas Tech in the NCAA championship game. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 71 career games.
“I have been dreaming about
this moment for a long time and I’m excited to enter my name into the NBA Draft. My last three years at UVA have been magical and playing with this team has been amazing. I want to thank Coach
Bennett, my family and teammates for this opportunity. Ending my collegiate career as a national champion means the world to me.”
Jerome averaged career highs
in points (13.6), rebounds (4.2) and assists (5.5) during his junior season in 2018-19. Jerome netted six 20-point games, including 24 against Purdue and 21 against Auburn in the NCAA Tournament.
Jerome registered three double-doubles and tied a school record with 14 assists at Syracuse. Jerome, who was two-time All-ACC honoree, totaled 1,011 points, 317 rebounds and 384 assists in 105
career games in three seasons at UVA.
“I would like to thank Coach
Bennett and his staff for recruiting me and giving me the opportunity to play at this level,” Jerome said. “This is the hardest decision of my life because of how much I loved my teammates and my
three years at UVA. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for the NBA Draft and I’m excited to go chase this dream.”
Virginia has produced five NBA
draft selections under Bennett since 2012, including Mike Scott (Atlanta, 2012), Joe Harris (Cleveland, 2014), Justin Anderson (Dallas, 2015), Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee, 2016) and Devon Hall (OKC,
2016). Anderson was the last UVA underclassman selected in the NBA Draft after Dallas selected him 21st overall in 2015. Scott (Washington), Anderson (Atlanta), Harris (Brooklyn) and Brogdon
(Milwaukee) are currently playing in the NBA.
Virginia face Texas Tech for the national championship
Kyle guy's three free throws with 0.6 six seconds left in regulation sealed Virginia first trip to the national championship game. UVA trailed 31 - 28 at the half the Cavaliers
went on an 8-0 to start the second half and held Auburn scoreless for the first 5:46
on a controversy call, guy's got foul with 0.6 left in game Kyle got foul from the three-point line with three free throws he made all the free throws to win the game 63-62
• Double-figure scorers: Ty Jerome (21), Kyle Guy (15),
De’Andre Hunter (14)
• Diakite had a career-high five blocked shots
• Jerome matched a career high with nine rebounds
• Jerome had his eighth career 20-point game
• Jerome (six assists) is tied for sixth on UVA’s single-season
assist list with 194 EM-SPORTS 4/6/19
Bennett and Hunter Claim Top ACC Honors
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Tony Bennett was named the 2019
Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year and redshirt sophomore De’Andre Hunter (Philadelphia, Pa.) was named Defensive Player of the Year, the ACC announced on Monday (March 11).
Hunter, along with junior Kyle Guy (Indianapolis, Ind.) were named All-ACC First Team, and
junior Ty Jerome (New Rochelle, N.Y.) was named All-ACC Second Team. Hunter was also named to the All-Defensive Team.
UVA now has 26 All-ACC first team selections. The Cavaliers have had the defensive player of
the year in four of the last five years, with Hunter joining Isaiah Wilkins (2018), Malcolm Brogdon (2016), and Darion Atkins and Brogdon (2015).
Bennett earned his fourth ACC coach of the year honor, the third most all-time behind Dean
Smith (8) and Mike Krzyzewski (5). Bennett guided UVA to a share of the ACC regular-season title, giving the Cavaliers four in the last six years. UVA captured an ACC-record five ranked road wins,
tied for most all-time with UConn (1998-99) and had a school-record eight wins over ranked opponents in 2018-19.
Hunter spearheads UVA’s top-ranked defense that yields 54.1 points per game. He is averaging
career highs in points (15.2) and rebounds (5.2). He ranks third in in the ACC in field goal percentage (53.3%), seventh in free throw percentage (78.7%) and 13th in scoring (15.2). Hunter earned
Battle 4 Atlantis MVP honors and ACC Player of the Week accolades after averaging 19.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the tournament.
Guy leads the Cavaliers with 15.3 points per game. He ranks first in the ACC in 3-pointers
per game (3.2), third in 3-point percentage (45.1%), ninth in minutes (34.2), 10th in field goal percentage (46.3%) and 12th in scoring (15.3). Guy has scored 20 or more points in seven games and his
97 3-pointers this season rank fourth on UVA's single-season list.
Jerome is averaging career highs in points (13.5), rebounds (4.1) and assists (5.1). He ranks
first in assists (5.3), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.2), fourth in 3-point percentage (42.6%), 18th in minutes (32.7) and 21st in scoring (13.5). Jerome has three double-doubles this season,
including 16 points and school-record tying 14 assists at Syracuse. Jerome has handed out four or more assists in 22 games.
Joining Hunter and Guy on the first team were ACC Player of the Year Zion Williamson (Duke),
RJ Barrett (Duke) and Cameron Johnson (North Carolina).
Jerome is joined on the second team by Luke Maye (North Carolina), Ky Bowman (Boston
College), Coby White (North Carolina) and Kerry Blackshear, Jr. (Virginia Tech).
No. 1 seed Virginia (28-2) will play No. 8 seed NC State (21-10) or No. 9 seed Clemson
(19-12) in ACC quarterfinal action on Thursday, March 14. Tipoff at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. is set for 12:30 p.m.
photo by virginiasports.com
Cavaliers capture another ACC, come from behind to fly past the Louisville Cardinals on Senior Day, 73-68.
In a memorable regular season finale, the fans at John Paul Jones knew something special was about to happen. This is Senior Day 2019 and no one stood taller or larger than 4th year redshirt
senior, Jack Salt. Salt has been a key member of the Virginia teams the last four years and is the backbone of the team.
The number two-ranked Hoos hosted their cross division rival the Louisville Cardinals. With a win, Virginia captured another regular season title and looked to lock up the top seed in the ACC
Tournament.
The game opened up with a three point strike from Kyle Guy. Kihei Clark followed with another three pointer. Louisville answered with their own three pointer from Malik Williams.
Virginia continued the hot three point shooting they had at Syracuse making five of their first 10 attempts. At the under 12 minute timeout, Virginia held the lead at 19-14.
Louisville would not go away. They got a boost from sharpshooter Ryan McMahon who knocked down two three pointers to keep the Cardinals in striking distance. Jay Huff and Ty Jerome continued the
aerial assault from behind the three-point arc but Louisville also found success inside the paint and at free throw line.
Louisville was able to finish the half with a modest 6-0 run and draw the score to 36-33 Virginia.
Ty Jerome led all scorers with 13 points. Jordan Nwora led the Cards with 10 points. Both teams shot over 41% from three while Louisville shot 41% from the floor compared to 36% from
the Cavaliers. Each team was near perfect from the free throw line with Virginia having the only miss out of six tries. Louisville made all six of their attempts.
The Cards were the aggressor coming out of the locker room. Louisville opened with a quick 5-0 spurt to take their first lead of the game. Jerome answered back with two free throws to tie the
score at 38.
Louisville used long distance accuracy to take a 47-40 lead with three consecutive 3-point makes. The Hoos responded with a Kyle Guy triple and then Ty Jerome finished with a layup to bring the
score to 47-45 Louisville.
Louisville stymied the momentum and in back to back layups increased the lead to 53-49 at the under 12 minute timeout. The lead see-sawed back and forth with each team trading baskets. Ty
Jerome made two free throws, Jay Huff hit his third three-pointer and Jerome drilled a jumper in the paint to cap 7-0 run in a little over two minutes and bring the home crowd to their feet. Virginia
took a 68-62 lead into the under four minute timeout.
With the score at 68-64, Ty Jerome atoned for a missed three with a crafty steal on a fast break attempt by Jordan Nwora to limit any damage or chance for Louisville to get any closer.
Virginia finished the game with free throws and clinches another ACC regular season championship as they head into the ACC tourney as the #1 seed next week in Charlotte, NC.
Ty Jerome held game high scoring honors with 24. He was joined in double digits by Kyle Guy with 13. Three other Hoos chipped in nine apiece: De’Andre Hunter, Jay Huff and Braxton Key. The
team finished with only four turnovers and six blocks. Louisville shot well in the second half but could not hold onto the lead.
Nwora led the way with 19, Williams added 12. The Cards got 10 points each from Dwayne Sutton and Christen Cunningham. The Cards finished with 10 turnovers but outrebounded the Cavs 40-31. They
finished shooting 41% from the floor and but only 36% from the 3pt line. Virginia made only 40% of their shot but shot nearly 43% from behind the 3pt arc.
by EMSPORTS.org 3/9/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
The Virginia Cavaliers tame and control the Pitt Panthers, 73-49
The Virginia Cavaliers
hosted the Pittsburgh Panthers in another ACC home contest. The Cavaliers who just completely dominated Georgia Tech 81-51, were looking to complete a two-game homestand
sweep.
The Panthers, under first-year coach, Jeff Capel, were hoping for a major upset of the #2 ranked Cavaliers.
The
offenses both struggled in the first few minutes. Pitt opened the
scoring with a 3 from Jared Wilson-Frame. Virginia got on board following a Ty Jerome floater. Pitt answered with another layup before Jerome scored again in the paint.
Following the timeout, Virginia started to flex its muscle. Jay Huff scores on a reverse layup to start a modest 7-2 run capped by a
Kyle Guy three-point shot. Pitt called a timeout losing 18-10.
Virginia continued their offensive explosion and gave up little in the defensive end. During an 16-0 run that spanned nearly six and half
minutes, Virginia established complete control and forced the Panthers into multiple turnovers.
Virginia closed the half on a 12-7 finish leading 39-19. They only allowed six made field goals by Pitt (31.6 %) and forced 10 turnovers.
Virginia shot extremely well. 63% from the floor, 56% with the 3-ball and 80% from the free throw line.
Virginia's hot shooting continued after the break. Kyle Guy scored on a dribble dive to open up the lead to 41-19. Pittsburgh was more
aggressive and more efficient. They made three of their first six shots. At the 14:42 mark, Virginia had stretched the lead to 50-26 and were completely in control.
Virginia subbed in fresh bodies with an enormous lead and Pitt could not produce a real challenge. The lead never dipped below 22 points and
swelled to as high as 27 points.
With
about four minutes left, both teams had taken out a majority of the starters and allow some reserves to get some floor time. With under two minutes, the biggest cheer came when team manager Grant
Kersey entered the game. After a few more mop-up minutes, the game ended with Virginia rolling away with a73-49 Virginia
victory.
Virginia’s suffocating defense was relentless. The Panthers finished the game just below 39% shooting and only 32% from behind the three-point
arc They also made just 9 of 13 on free throws. They turned the ball over 15 times compared to 10 from Virginia. The Cavs shot a blistering 59% from the floor, 56% from behind the arc and 16-20 from
the charity stripe.
Kyle
Guy led all scorers with 17 points and 5-7 from the 3pt arc. Ty Jerome added 13 and De’Andre Hunter chipped in 12. For Pitt, Wilson-Frame scored 15 and teammate Au’Diese Toney had
12.
They
improved to 14-2 in ACC and 26-2 overall. Pitt now stands at 2-14 in ACC and 12-17 overall. Va heads to Syracuse in Monday. Pitt will stay in the road and entertain the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday,
March 5th.
Hot Takes:
* The Cavaliers' starters scored 48 points, Pitt scored 49 points total as a team.
* The Virginia Bench accounted for 25 points, Pitt's bench could only muster 11.
* Mamadi Diakite's 20 game streak of having at least 1 block came to an end.
by EMSPORTS.org 3/2/19
photo by virginiasports.com
The #2 Cavaliers demolish the visiting Yellow Jackets
The University of Virginia
Cavaliers returned home to an energetic crowd and new ranking. The #2 Cavs hosted the Georgia Yellow Jackets and it was a back and forth affair in the first eight minutes. The Cavaliers started the
scoring with a three ball from De'Andre Hunter. Georgia Tech would answer back with four straight points. After falling behind 11-7, the Cavaliers found
their shooting stroke and turned up the defensive heat. With a conventional three-point play from De’Andre Hunter, the Hoos busted out an 11-0 run to force a GT timeout and take an 18-11
lead.
With Virginia now in the lead and controlling tempo, they continued to push GT out of its zone defense. The Yellow Jackets switched to a man to man scheme, yet Virginia continue to make shots and
grew the lead to 28-15 at the 7:48 mark and another GT timeout.
The Cavaliers came out the break and continued to stretch the lead. With contributions from the bench in the form of Jay Huff, the Cavaliers made a quick 10-5 run and with GT out of their element,
the score was 38-20 at the next GT timeout.
Virginia finished the half with a three-pointer from Kihei Clark. A great defensive play from Jack Salt closed the door and the Cavs took a commanding 41-22.
Virginia was led by Hunter’s 14 points and Ty Jerome’s nine. Virginia shot over 53% from the field and hit 6 of 11 from behind the arc. GT was only 1-7 from three point land and only made nine of
their 28 field goals. Leading scorer at nine points was James Banks and with five points was Kristian Sjolund. Virginia made all three of their free throws and outrebounded the Yellow Jackets,
20-14.
Virginia sprinted out the gates after halftime and posted a 10-0 run before the under 16 minute timeout, increasing the lead to 51-24. Georgia Tech misses some point blank shots before finally
breaking the scoring drought five minutes into the second half.
Georgia Tech was outmatches and outmanned but they kept fighting. Braxton Key knocked down a three-pointer to give Virginia their biggest lead at 63-35. Georgia Tech then responded with a
respectable 11-4 run to close the gap to 67-46 with under seven minutes to play.
The Cavaliers sustituted the starters out with about five minutes and finished with several highlight reel dunks to put the icing on the cake of the 81-51 victory. Ty Jerome held game high scoring
marks with 19. Hunter added 18 and Kyle Guy chipped in 11.
The Yellow Jackets has three in double digits. Jose Alvarado with 12. Banks with 11 and Michael Devoe provided 10 points.
Cavaliers shoot 30-54 and 9-17 from the three-point line. The Packline D limited GT to shoot roughly 38% from the field and below 30% from behind the arc.
The win moves the Hoos into a tie for first place at 13-2 with UNC in the ACC. Uva is 25-2 overall and will stay home to face the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, March 2nd. The loss
drops GT to 12-17 overall and 4-12 in the ACC. They will host the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, March 3rd.
Hot Takes:
*Virginia eclipsed the 80 point mark for seventh time this season.
*Virginia outscored GT 18-7 in bench scoring.
*Virginia outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 41-21.
*Virginia scored at least 40 points and shot over 50% s from field and three-point line in each half
*Clark was perfect from the field and dished a game high six assists with 0 turnovers.
by
EMSPORTS.org 2/27/19
photo by virginiasports.com
The #4 Virginia Cavaliers hold off the pesky Notre Dame Irish, 60-54.
After the Cavaliers pulled off a mighty, gritty win on the road at the #8 UNC Tar Heels, they returned home to face the scuffling Notre Dame Fighting Irish. On
a day where the Virginia bench was limited and offense was a premium, the #4 Cavaliers grinded out a victory over the desperate Notre Dame Irish.
The Cavs held ND to anemic shooting from the field (34.5%) and three-point line (26.7%).
Kyle Guy scored a game high 22 points and De’Andre Hunter added 20 to help Virginia pull out a 60-54 victory. The team played outstanding defense and timely shooting
to keep the Fighting Irish from pulling an upset TJ Gibbs led the visitors with 17 points. John Mooney gave the team 11 with DJ Harvey scoring 10. The team turned the ball over only nine
times and grabbed 26 rebounds. The Irish were perfect from the free throw line shooting 8 for 8.
Virginia shot below their season average from the field and three-point line as well. The Cavs made only 37% and 34% respectively in these categories. They were able
to control the tempo with just eight turnovers and also collected 36 rebounds. They made 14-17 from the free throw line and this advantage between both teams was the difference in the
score.
Virginia will now head to arch-rival Virginia Tech in Monday while Notre Dame will hosts the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday, Feb. 19th.
by EMSPORTS.org 2/16/19
#2 Duke Blue Devils outshoot and outscore #3 Virginia, 81-71
Uva versus Duke Part II. The rematch of two of the best teams in all of college
basketball was finally here and the anticipation was almost impalpable. The #2 Blue Devils and #3 Cavaliers were tied at 8-1 in ACC and battling for a chance to move up in the national
standings.
Duke was not intimidated by the hostile home crowd nor the electric atmosphere. Duke raced out to an 8-0 lead before UVA scored with nearly three minutes gone. Duke was efficient and effective
from the three-point line hitting 8-11 with RJ Barrett making all five of his attempts. Zion Williamson was very impressive as well making 12 points and a couple of blocks. The Duke hit start
kept Virginia at bay and allowed Duke to push the lead to 31-17 before Virginia took back some momentum.
Kyle Guy started out as cold as a frigid December night with zero makes in his first five tries. However, he found the touch and scored eight straight points to close the half. The late surge
made it a 39-35 score at the half. Mamadi Diakite score seven points as second leading scorer.
Duke began the second half as they began the first with perimeter firepower and supreme accuracy. At each turn the Blue Devils made a backbreaking three-pointer to push back any Virginia
efforts.
Tre Jones who missed the first game, was essential in keeping Virginia’s offense oft-balance and lead the charge for the Duke attack. They outscored Virgina 17-0 in fast break points which
proved to be an obstacle too big overcome.
Duke made every big play down the stretch and continued to shoot extremely well from behind
the three-point arc. It seemed Virginia couldn’t grab a loose ball when they needed a break or get a rebound.
Virginia was never able to make enough stops and stymie Duke’s offense. Duke shot 13-21
(62%) from outside the arc because they were limited from inside the paint.
Ty Jerome returned from injury to lead the Hoos with 16 points as was Kyle Guy. De’Andre
Hunter chopped in 11. RJ Barrett showed his prowess leading all scorers with 26 points with a blistering 6-10 from the three-point line. Cam Reddish pumped in 17 points on 5-8 from three-point arc.
Zion Williamson has 18 and Tre Jones finished with 13. The Blue Devils scorched the nets at nearly 58% scored a season high 81 points against Virginia. The Cavs shot roughly 47% from the field and
42% from behind the 3.
Virginia win the rebound battle 29-25 but turnover the ball 14 times compared to nine from
Duke. Blue Devils (21-2) moves into a tie at 9-1 with the UNC Tar Heels into first in ACC. The Cavaliers are now 8-2 and 20-2 on the year.
by EMSPORTS 2/9/2019
by virginiasports.com
The #3 Virginia Cavaliers hold off the Miami Hurricanes, 56-46.
The Virginia Cavaliers were showing signs of fatigue. After winning their second straight road contest in the ACC, 66-65 in OT versus the #23 NC State Wolfpack,
the Cavs returned home to JPJ. However there was a different vibe in the air. Starting PG Ty Jerome was sitting out the first game of the year due to back spasms, and the Cavaliers were
trotting out a new lineup with 1st year PG, Kihei Clark, manning the position.
The game was not for the weak at heart but more for grind-it-out defense and patience. Both teams started slow and traded the lead as Miami went ahead 11-9 after a
Sam Waardenburg jumper. The home crowd was uneasy and rightfully so. This Virginia team had blown a big lead in Raleigh and did not look like their usual dominant selves. The team
lack some rhythm and turnovers were as abundant as points.
Virginia finally got a boost from the unlikely replacement in Clark, who hit a jumper to tie the game at 11. This was the start to a 19-10 run in the last 10
minutes of the half boosting the Cavaliers to a 28-21 lead.In that stretch, the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to one made field goal in nearly seven-and-half
minutes.
De'Andre Hunter scored 10 points to lead all scorers.
In the second half, Miami started with five consecutive points and stole back momentum as they also scored the last points before halftime. Virginia settled in and
began to flex their muscle on defense and on the glass. Everytime Miami attempted to crawl back in the game, the Hoos had an answer. The contributions were plentiful and came from many
directions. Mamadi Diakite was vital in helping control the boards and his timely jumpers allowed Virginia breathing room down the final minutes of the game. His defense was also a key
deterent in snuffing out the Hurricanes' interior plans. Kihei Clark and Kyle Guy continued to make back-breaking jumpers which also limited the amount of pressure that Miami continued to apply
throughout the second half.
Virginia was able to push the lead up to 11 points on a few occasions later in the contest and Miami was never able to recover.
Hunter led the Cavs with 14 points and six rebounds. Diakite also grabbed six rebounds and add 11 points. Kyle Guy contributed 10 points. Clark stuffed
the stat sheet with 9 points, six assist and five rebounds. Virginia snagged 42 rebounds and shot 42% from the field, only 33% from behind the three-point arc. Jack Salt and Braxton Key
were the biggest rebounders with 9 and 8 respectively.
For Miami, they were able to get most of their points from three guys. Chris Lykes pumped in a game high 16 points. Sam Waardenburg had 10 as well as Zac
Johnson. The shooting was paltry. The Hurricanes only made 34% of their field goal tries and even worse, 19% from the three-point line. They also grabbed just 24 rebounds.
They did a good job of handling the ball with only seven turnovers, which was half as much as the 14 that Virginia committed.
Virginia (20-1) will now rest for a full week as they prepare for the rematch with the #2 Duke Blue Devils, who provided the only loss on Virginia's record. The
game will be the College GameDay on Saturday, Feb. 9th. The Hurricanes (9-12) will look to clear their minds and get ready for a home date with Notre Dame on Wednesday, February 6th.
by EMSPORTS 2/2/2019
by virginiasports.com
The #3 Cavaliers suffocate the Demon Deacons, 68-45
The University of Virginia returned to JPJ to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday, January 22nd. The Cavaliers were smarting from their first loss of the season at the #1 Duke Blue
Devils. The Demon Deacons were trying build momentum following a loss at #9 ranked Virginia Tech.
The Cavaliers came out of the tunnel on fire. Mamadi Diakite started the scoring party with the first seven points of the game. When Diakite cooled off, De'Andre Hunter picked up the
pace and scored the next seven points for the Wahoos. The score was quickly 12-0 four minutes into the game. The score looked to be worst before Wake Forest was able to remove the goose
egg with a three pointer from Brandon Childress. The first bucket they made in the first 11 shots of the game.
The Cavaliers were hardly phased. Kyle Guy answered the Wake Forest triple with one of his own and the lead ballooned to 17-3. Following a much needed, WF timeout, the Cavaliers made
several substitutions but it didn't make Wake's case any better. The new Cavaliers continued to apply intense pressured on defense and the offensive prowess on Jay Huff went on full
display.
Huff knocked down his first shot which was a three-pointer. Then Huff converted a traditional and-1 with a beautiful finger roll as he was being fouled at the hoop. He then added
another highlight with a thunderous alley-oop dunk off a great assist from Ty Jerome. The score was 25-3 and there was no relief in sight for the Demon Deacons. The Cavaliers were looking
to blow the game out with the lead at 32-9 before Wake Forest found life after a 3 of 17 start from the field.
After a scorching start, the Cavaliers cooled off and went scoreless in nearly the last three minutes of the half. The Demon Deacons finally found a rhythm from the outside and were able to
knock down a flurry of shots in the last six minutes of the half. Sharone Wright, Jr. knocked down consecutive three point shots before Childress finished the scoring a personal 5-0 run.
The Demon Deacons finished the half on a 14-4 scoring spree to go into the half only down 36-23. Jay Huff led the Cavaliers with 10 points and the Cavaliers held the Wake Forest to 32% shooting
and 17 rebounds. Virginia shot 45% and grabbed 20 boards. Brandon Childress was the game's leading scorer with 11 points at the half.
Virginia started the second half with the same pressure as they began in the game. However, the offense was not hitting on all cylinders. Both teams started slow as they attempted to
find a flow. A technical foul from Wake Forest coach Danny Manning seemed to get the Virginia offense in gear as they ran off nine consecutive points with a few floaters from Ty Jerome and a
three-point dart from Kyle Guy. Wake Forest eventually ended their scoring drought with a three-point rainbow by Oliver Saar. The second half was filled with sloppy play and long droughts
of offensive ineptitude. The Cavaliers were mired in an 0-for-11 drought from the field before Jack Salt finished a great no-look bounce pass from Kyle Guy with a two-handed jam. Kyle Guy
then swished home a three-pointer from the top of the key and pushed back any attempt for Wake to gain momentum. Wake would answer with a lay-up off a Guy turnover and then a runout alley-oop
after a Diakite shot was blocked. This was the last reasonable threat by the Demon Deacons in the game.
Virginia displayed great versatility and it was best seen in the box score where five players finished in double digit scoring. Kyle Guy and Jay Huff both finished with 12 points.
Hunter had 11 as did Diakite and Jerome added 10. The Cavaliers shot under 39% for the game and only 33% from the three-point arc but they made 17 of 21 free throws. The defense was
outstanding forcing 11 turnovers and collecting 30 rebounds led by eight from Jack Salt. Wake Forest was led by Childress with 12 points and 11 from Oliver Saar. They barely shot 31% from
the field and just 25% with the 3-ball. They also made just 5 of 7 free throws but entered as the most productive scoring team from the free throw line in the NCAA.
UVA moved to 17-1 for the season and 5-1 in ACC play. It was their fourth win of 20 or more points over an ACC opponent this year and the eighth time they held an opponent under 50
points. Virginia will go back on the road to Notre Dame on Saturday, January 26th. Wake Forest falls to 1-5 in ACC and 8-10 overall. They will attempt to regroup and head home to
face the Boston College Eagles.
by EMSPORTS 1/22/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
#4 Virginia destroys commonwealth rival, the #9 VT Hokies, 81-59.
In the the first ever match up of the two Commonwealth giants as Top 10 opponents, Uva and VT took center stage in JPJ. The #9 Virginia Tech Hokies were entering enemy territory with a gaudy 14-1
record and boasting the highest ranking they had earned in nearly a decade. Their arch-rivals, the Virginia Cavaliers were use to battles with highly ranked teams but never with the Hokies at
this lofty position.
The #4 Cavaliers started out with fire in the eyes and in the nets. Virginia hit four of their first six three-point shots to separate themselves from VT. Virginia Tech was determined to
stay within striking distance and ith good free throw shooting helped offset the three-point precision of the Cavs.
This didn’t last long. For every small challenge the visitors from I-81 put up, the Cavaliers made quick work of the resistance. Virginia exploded on the Hokies near the halfway point of the
first half. After an Ahmed Hill layup closed the score to 21-14 in favor of the Hoos, Virginia responded with a 23-8 Cavalance over the next 10 minutes. The Packline D shone the brightest
as they forced Virginia Tech into contested shot after contested shot which was followed by multiple misses and rebounds for UVA. The Hokies went over five and a half minutes without a field goal.
The final blow was a buzzer beating three-pointer from Kihei Clark to pushed the lead to 44-22.
Virginia’s offense was none too shabby as they converted 71% of the three point shots. The team made 68% of their field goals as well. The Hokies were only successful on 7 of their 20 first
half shots (35%) and a measly 2 of 9 from behind the three-point arc. Virginia Tech did make six their nine free throw attempts.
The offense was spearheaded by Ty Jerome’s 12 points and Kyle Guy’s 11. The Cavs also received a boost from the bench led by the air assault of Kihei Clark's six points aand Jay Huff's three
points all from behind the arc.
The Hokies were led by Justin Robinson who scored seven points, whereas no other teammate had more than 3.
Virginia Tech played with more emphasis on scoring and efficiency. They were able trim the lead to 14, 48-34, following a modest 12-4 run, higlighted by Hill's 12 points during the run.
However, the Cavaliers regrouped and worked their muscle inside with close range buckets. De'Andre Hunter became the go-to force in the second half where he scored 12 points to match Hill and provide
ample breathing room for the Cavaliers.
Virginia Tech was no match for the offensive balance displayed by UVA. Walker and Robinson tried to pace the Hokies but to no avail. Robinson’s frustration boiled over and his
technical foul gave Virginia two more easy points. The lead swelled to a game high 25 when Kyle Guy hit both free throws to make the score 68-43. The final minutes allowed both benches to get
some floor time. The last few Cavalier buckets came courtesy of a dunk showcase by Jay Huff. Huff rocked the rim on consecutive possessions and brought the crowd to an absolute
frenzy.
Ty Jerome recorded his first double-double with 14 points and 12 assists. De’Andre Hunter took game high honors in scoring with 21 points. Kyle Guy provided 15 points. Nickeil-Alexander
Walker gave his team a boost with 19 points in 6-10 shooting. Ahmed Hill scores 14 points with 12 coming in the second half.
Virginia punished VT on the glass with 27 rebounds to only 19 for the Hokies. UVA was lights out from the field at nearly 59% while making 13-24 three-pointers and hitting all six of their
free throws. Tech shot much better in the second half to raise the game totals to 43% from the floor and 33% from behind the three-point arc. They were very good at the free throw stripe
making 14-17. Each team finished with nine turnovers on the night,
The undefeated Virginia squad at 16-0, will now set it sights on facing the #1 team in the country, the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday, January 19th. This is also the site
of the first College Gameday of the year. Virginia Tech now at 14-2, will look to get this game behind them and set to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons also on Saturday.
by EMSPORTS 1/15/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
The #4 Cavaliers open up ACC play with an impressive 65-52 win over the #9 Florida State Seminoles.
Virginia entertained the #9 ranked Florida State Seminoles in a battle of top ten teams in the ACC opener for both. The Seminoles brought a six game winning streak and 12-1 record into JPJ. They
were a high octane scoring team averaging 81.3 points a game. The Cavaliers were undefeated at 12-0, handcuffing teams to a tune of only 51.4 points allowed per game. These Hoos are looking to
open up 2019 like they finished 2018, with a win.
Ty Jerome opened the scoring with two made free throws. Florida State did not backdown from the challenge. They used a 8-2 run on the strength of two three-pointers, one each by MJ Walker
and Phil Cofer to take a lead of 8-4 prior to the first TV timeout. Virginia took advantage of the time to score a quick four points and tie the game at 8. Virginia fell behind 9-8 with
about 12 minutes left and then their defense turned up the pressure and the offense started to heat up the nets.
Virginia closed the half with a 34-14 to take a 42-23 lead. Kyle Guy didn’t miss from behind the three-point arc, making all four attempts. With game high 18 points, he paced the offense which
shot 44%. Florida State, meanwhile struggled from the floor and free throw line. The shot barely 35% from the floor, scoring only three points in the last five minutes of the half. During the
first half, Virginia held Florida State to two long stretches without a field goal (nearly 8 1/2 minutes and then over 6 1/2 minutes) respectively. During that time, Florida State only made
free throws but that was not a strong suite either. They converted only 8-15(53%) from the stripe. Virginia outrebounded Florida State 17-12 in the first half. Phil Cofer was leading
scorer at six for the Seminoles. Braxton Key was a force off the bench scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds the saw as Ty Jerome.
A new half but the same start. Kyle Guy knocked down his fifth consecutive three-point shot. This extended his team and career long record of 11 consecutive three-point makes with no
misses. He made his last six attempts in the previous game versus Marshall. The lead ballooned to 53-25 and began another nice scoring streak for UVA while the Seminoles continued to look
for answers. Virginia limited the Seminoles to nine points in the first ten minutes of the half. As well as the defense played, Virginia’s offense cooled but did more than enough to compliment
the defense. Virginia scored a total of 21 points off of the 16 turnovers from the Seminoles. By contrast, Florida State only score 10 points on the 11 turnovers of Virginia. Virginia made 16
of 18 (89%) free throws whereas Florida State 16 of 27 (59%) from the stripe.
Braxton Key was instrumental in keeping the offense above water with tough layups and strong rebounding. Key finished with a career high 20 points to back up Kyle Guy who scored 21 to lead all
players. Key also tied with De'Andre Hunter for team high in rebounds at six apiece.
Florida State didn't have any scorers in double figures. Phil Cofer lead his team with nine points and was followed by eight points by PJ Savoy. After opening up a lead of 63-36 with
under three minutes to play, both teams substituted freely. Florida State was able to take advantage of some sloppy play and turnovers from the reserves. They closed the game on a 15-2
run to make the final score respectable at 65-52 for a Virginia victory.
Each team will continue their journey through the ACC as Virginia travels to Boston College on Wednesday, January 9th. Florida State will look to regroup and prepare for home date with
instate rival, the Miami Hurricanes also on January 9th.
by EMSPORTS 01/05/2019
photo by virginiasports.com
#4 Cavaliers outshoot the Marshall Thundering Herd by a score of 100-64.
As the University of Virginia continued their homestand and looked to protect their 11-0 record, they had faced an array of teams with different styles and different personalities. There may
be none more diverse than the Marshall University Thundering Herd. Coach Dan D'Antoni wore a gree tee shirt that said "Hillbilly Ball" and his team took pride in their style of play.
This Marshall team boasted a high volume, streaky perimeter offense that boasted the motto “7 seconds or less!” That meant get a shot up in less than 7 seconds when you cross halfcourt. The
vaunted Packline D of Tony Bennett's team was about to face another challenge and an opponent who made the Sweet Sixteen in last year’s NCAA tournament. Virginia and Marshall were tied after 80
seconds into the game. That would be the last time the game was close.
Opening with 27-12 scoring outburst in the first 11 minutes of the game, Virginia had firmly established it would be a long day for the visiting Thundering Herd. Virginia hit an offensive
lull and a breakaway dunk by Taevion Kinney gave Marshall some much needed life but they still trailed 27-16.
Then Kyle Guy got the three point barrage started and his fellow Hoos followed his scoring lead. The reliable Cavalanche came in the form of a 17-0 run to increase the lead from 27-16 to 44-16
before a Thundering Herd three-pointer stopped the onslaught. Kyle Guy scored eight points during the streak and Virginia took a 50-25 lead into the half.
The second half began like the first half. Ty Jerome opened up the game with a three pointer and Kyle Guy opened up the second half with a three pointer. The jumper triggered a 25-10
onslaught that doubled up the score at 70-35 with a little over 13 minutes left in the game. With the game well in hand,
Virginia substituted freely and defenses became less a priority. Virginia's lead never dipped below 32 points and even got as high as 43 (93-50) when Francesco Baddocchi scored a layup with a
little over two minutes and 30 seconds to play. Walk-on manager, Grant Kersey, made a game ending, buzzer beater from three point land to give the Cavaliers their final score and complete the
victory at 100-64.
UVa outrebounded Marshall 45-23 but committed a season high 16 turnovers while only forcing 13.
Kyle Guy lead four Hoos in scoring with a game high and career high 30 points. He made seven of his nine three-point attempts and was a perfect 3 of 3 from behind the three-point arc. Jay Huff
added 14 with a team high eight rebounds off the bench. The team continued hot ahooting from free throw line connecting on 22-26 shots. Marshall was not nearly as effective. They made 18-23 free
throws but only converted on 36% from the field and a little over 27% from the three-point line.
Virginia was much better at both. Virginia shot at a clip over 52% from the field and 44% in three-point shots (12-27). Ty Jerome also added 14 while De'Andre Hunter chipped in 11. For
Marshall, leading scorer Jon Elmore had 14 points on 17 shots but well below is over 20ppg average. CJ Burks and Rondale Watson scored 11 and 10, respectively.
The Thundering Herd fall to 7-5 and will next face Conference USA rival Old Dominion University on January 3rd. Virginia will stay at home and await the #9 Florida State Seminoles on
Saturday, January 5th as the opener of ACC play for both teams.
by EMSPORTS 12/31/2018
photo by virginiasports.com
Cavaliers crush the Gamecocks, hoist the Belk Bowl Crown with 28-0 victory
The Virginia Cavaliers "Hoos" made the trip south to serve as “Home” team in the 2018 Belk Bowl. They did not act very hospitable at all. The "local" team, the University of South
Carolina Gamecocks were awaiting and they boasted the same record as UVA. Each team had 7-5 records and both were 4-4 in their respective conferences.
Each team picked up initial first downs on their first respective drives of the game. South Carolina was unsuccessful on 4th and 1 while Virginia has to punt when their drive stalled. Virginia
pinned SC with the punt and stopped them in 3rd and short.
Virginia took the ensuing drive following a 59-yard punt and drove the field with a mix of run and pass to finish with a 6-yd touchdown pass from Perkins to Zaccheaus. The drive covered 77 yards
in 13 plays and took six minutes and 31 seconds. The Gamecocks drove down the field as the second quarter progressed. The Gamecocks were able to move inside the VA 30-yd line but missed a 45-yd FG
attempt.
Virginia goes into ball control mode on the next possession. After a penalty, the Cavaliers’ offense control of the gridiron and the clock. In 14 plays to move 90 yards, the Cavaliers were
back in the end zone. The drive took eight minutes and 10 seconds from start to finish. The Cavaliers presented an array of plays that was capped by a nine yard sprint by Jordan Ellis. 14-0 Virginia
with 42 sec left.
Both teams traded punts early into the third quarter. As each team looked for momentum in the second half, Virginia took advantage of a short punt. With the ball inside the Gamecocks’ 40
yard line, Virginia methodically moved down the field and capped the drive when Perkins found Zaccheaus for their second TD connection of the day. This time the 10-yd pass put them up 21-0 going into
the final quarter. SC would not go away and threatened to score, driving deep inside Cavalier territory. As the Gamecocks approached the goalline, the Cavaliers' defense stiffened. Inside
the 10-yd line and on fourth down, a Jake Bentley incomplete pass fizzled out the best chance for SC to score.
Virginia was looking for the knockout punch, and started the fourth quarter started with a pop then a dud. With Brennan Armstrong in at QB, he took the snap and handed off to Perkins, who
completed a pass to Hasise Dubois. Unfortunately, Dubois was tackled and fumbled. SC recovered and looked to capitalizde with the new lease on life. However, the next pass attempt from Jake
Bentley was intercepted by safety Juan Thornhill. His 54-yd return placed the Cavaliers at the red zone. However, the field goal attempt was wide left and the score remained 21-0.
The Virginia defense made their presence felt again, forcing another another Gamecocks’ punt. Virginia made another successful drive that all but ended the hopes of the visitors from Columbia.
With the ball at their own 36-yd line, Virginia only took eight plays and exactly five minutes off the clock to score once again on the arm of Perkins and the hands and legs of Zaccheaus. In what was
a wild third down scramble, Perkins eventually found Zaccheaus in the end zone with a 12-yard dart. It was their third pitch and catch score of the day.
South Carolina tried to make a dent in the scoreboard. After their best play of the game, a 62-yd kickoff return, the Gamecocks setup shop. Virginia’s defense was solid and allowed a long fourth
down conversion. Virginia did not break and CB Tim Harris picked off an errant Bentley pass to end another drive. The Hoos turned the mistake into another time wasting, ground and pound drive. This
time they held onto the ball and completed the mission by running out the clock.
With a dominating 28-0 shutout, the Hoos easily played their best game of the year. Olamide Zaccheaus, with his 12 catches and 100 yards receiving, 3 TDs and added a 10 yard rush, took home
MVP honors. A proud Coach Mendenhall could only shed tears of joy and satisfaction for a season ending win and a defining victory over their SEC opponents. The Belk Bowl champs completed a
successful season with a their first bowl victory since the 2005 Music City Bowl. Virginia ties their best season record (8-5) since 2011 and provides a great springboard for 2019 while sending
the graduating players off on a great note.
by EMSPORTS 12/29/2018
photo by virginiasports.com
The #5 Cavaliers overwhelm the College of William and Mary, 72-40
As Christmas draws near, the Virginia Cavaliers returned home after a successful road victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Cavaliers were entertaining their commonwealth rival,
the College of William and Mary in another out of conference battle.
The Tribe entered the contest at only 4-7 on the year but they run a Princeton-style offense that is known to give even the best of defenses fits. They also boast a potent offense averaging
over 77 points on the young season. Their perimeter shooting, ranked 1st in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage a year ago, was still lethal and two of their best shooters were back
this season. However, none of that mattered midway through the first half.
W&M jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and held and early 6-5 lead before the Virginia offense unleashed a Cavalanche to that jumped started their offense. During the 20-2 run, the Cavaliers
kept the Tribe from scoring a field goal for over 6 minutes of play. The offensive spark gave the Cavaliers a comfortable 17- point lead and they looked to cruise into the half. However,
the Tribe showed fight and grit. They clawed back into the game with a 9-3 run to end the half and carry some much-needed momentum as they closed the lead to 34-23. The Hoos limited their
counterparts to a paltry 1-10 effort from the three-point line and made them uncomfortable throughout the half.
After the intermission, William and Mary found some life when they hit their very first three-point attempt of the second half and coupled with an opening jumper, Virginia had lost some momentum,
William and Mary had cut the deficit to only six while by scoring seven consecutive points to William and Mary.
After a brief timeout, Virginia corrected their mistakes and the onslaught began. For nearly nine minutes, the Cavaliers’ defense dominated and suffocated the team from Williamsburg. The
Cavaliers took complete control with a 17-2 run to effectively end any hopes of W&M pulling off the upset of the year.
De’Andre Hunter led the way with a team high 18 points. He was joined in double figures by Kyle Guy who contributed 16 points.
William and Mary received a great effort from their versatile big man, Nathan Knight who scored a game high 22 points and led his team with five rebounds, was the only constant force all game long
against the Cavaliers.
Virginia was getting impact from different sources. Ty Jerome, the starting point guard, collected a game high nine rebounds to go with his eight points. Kyle Guy was second highest
rebounder with seven, a career high for him.
The Cavaliers were able to restrict the perimeter firepower of the Tribe and forced them into under 33% from the field and exactly 10% from the three-point line (2-20). Virginia shot a robust
48% for the game and almost 39% from behind the three-point arc. The biggest difference in the game was Virginia’s accuracy from the free throw line. The Cavs converted on 19 of their 21
attempts, nearly 91%. W&M was far worse only making 6 of 16. Virginia also outrebounded W&M by a count of 42 to 24.
Now at 11-0, Virginia will return to the court to host their final out of conference game on December 31st. The Marshall University Thundering Herd will be the opposition. Meanwhile,
William and Mary fell to 4-8 on the season. They will battle against another in-state foe, the James Madison Dukes, on Friday, December 28th at home.
by EMSPORTS 12/22/2018
12/20/18
2019 University of Virginia Football Early Signing Day Recruits
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –The Virginia football program signed 21 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2019-20 academic school
year, head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced. The 21 student-athletes were part of the early signing period for football adopted by the NCAA in 2017.
Highlighting the class are four signees from the Commonwealth of Virginia, while student-athletes from nine other states or districts
also signed with the Cavaliers. UVA’s recruits come from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. UVA also has one signee from
Germany.
The following is a list of individuals who have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Virginia on football
grant-in-aid.
The next period for signing football student-athletes begins on Feb. 6, 2019.
Attached is the full recruiting class and player bios:
2019 Football Recruiting Class
Name
Pos. Ht. Wt.
Hometown
High School/Previous School
Josh
Ahern
LB 6-3
215 Burke,
Va.
Lake Braddock HS
Kariem Al
Soufi
OL 6-4
350 Paderborn, Germany Friedrich-Spree
Gesamtschule
Nathaniel Beall
III
WR 6-5
200 Houston,
Texas Strake Jesuit College Prep
Major
Williams
DB 6-0
176 Fort Myers,
Fla. Dunbar HS
Josh Ahern
6-3 • 215 • LB
Burke, Va. • Lake Braddock HS
Played linebacker and tight end at Lake Braddock High School for head coach Mike Dougherty … was a first-team all-region linebacker in
2018 as a senior after finishing with 183 tackles … also earned first-team All-Northern Virginia honors and second-team All-Met … 2017 first-team all-conference, all-region and all-area honoree …
helped lead Lake Braddock to the conference championship in 2017 and a third-place finish in the region after tallying 182 tackles … son of Michel and Pete Ahern …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Kariem Al Soufi
6-4 • 350 • OL
Paderborn, Germany • Friedrich-Spree Gesamtschule
Played offensive line with the Paderborn Dolphins for head coach Marc Droste, an American football team in Paderborn, Germany … attends
Friedrich-Spree Gesamtschule in Paderborn … started playing football in 2011 … previously played basketball and soccer growing up … son of Sabrin and Samer Al Soufi … father played professional
basketball in Syria … brother, Atef Al Soufi was a professional soccer player in Paderborn and Bielefeld … has a twin sister, Lara … has a younger sister, Luna …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com and 247sports.com … a two-star recruit by Rivals.com.
Nathaniel Beal III
6-5 • 200 • WR
Houston, Texas • Strake Jesuit College Prep
Played wide receiver at Strake Jesuit College Prep for head coach Klay Kubiak … was a 2018 unanimous first-team all-district honoree
after making 31 receptions for 691 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior … averaged 22.3 yards per reception as a senior in 2018 … in nine games in 2017 he made 25 catches for 590 yards and three
touchdowns … averaged 23.6 yards per reception as a junior …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247sports.com.
Jowon Briggs
6-2 • 286 • DL
Cincinnati, Ohio • Walnut Hills HS
Played defensive tackle at Walnut Hills High School for head coach Gerry Beauchamp … selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour
All-America Game at Camping World Stadium … a first-team all-state honoree after making 54 tackles and six sacks … named the ECC’s Defensive Player of the Year … earned first-team SWO District … as a
junior he made 47 tackles, three sacks and was named first-team All-ECC and second-team All-SWO District … also is a thrower on the track & field team … squats over 700 pounds … an ESPN Top 300
recruit … rated a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … rated the No. 60 overall recruit in the nation and No. 3 defensive tackle by Rivals.com … rated the No. 68 overall
recruit in the nation and No. 7 defensive tackle by 247Sports.com … rated the No. 82 overall recruit in the nation and No. 11 defensive tackle by ESPN.com … son of Dalila and Jowon
Briggs.
Chayce Chalmers
6-2 • 208 • DB
Gainesville, Va. • Stonewall Jackson HS
Played safety and wide receiver at Stonewall Jackson High School for head coach Carroll Walker … named first-team all-region as an
all-purpose defender … named first-team All-Cedar Run District as an all-purpose defender ...as a senior in 2018 he posted 60
tackles and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown … also recorded 1.5 sacks and blocked a punt … recorded six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown … as a junior in 2017 posted 77
tackles, one interception, one sack and one blocked punt … named first-team all-district as a junior and second-team all-conference defense as a sophomore … also runs indoor and outdoor track … as a
junior he qualified for the state indoor tournament in the 300m and outdoor in the 100m and 200m …a three-star recruit by
ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com … son of Jakia and Marvin Chalmers Jr. … father, Marvin, played wide receiver at Utah and Wake Forest … grandfather, Marvin Chalmers Sr. played shortstop at
North Carolina A&T.
Antonio Clary
6-0 • 200 • DB
Jacksonville, Fla. • Sandalwood HS
Played safety and wide receiver at Sandalwood High School for head coach Adam Geis … finished 2018 with 53 tackles, six tackles for loss,
three sacks and three interceptions … earned first-team All-Cedar Run District honors as a utility player in 2017 … all-conference honoree as a sophomore … also runs track at Sandalwood … a
three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Fentrell Cypress II
6-0 • 173 • DB
Rock Hill, S.C. • Northwestern HS
Played cornerback and wide receiver at Northwestern High School for head coach James Martin … made 31 tackles and recorded two
interceptions as a senior … also broke up 24 passes as a senior … played in the 2018 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas senior all-star game … made 48 tackles and four interceptions as a junior … also
broke up 35 passes as a junior … also runs track and won the 2018Region 4-AAAAA championship
in the 100 meters …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Tenyeh Dixon
6-0 • 185 • DB
Washington, D.C. • Woodson HS
Played defensive back at Howard D. Woodson High School for head coach Greg Fuller … his pick-six clinched a Turkey Bowl overtime victory for his Woodson team over
Ballou, 18-12, in 2018 … his pick-six sealed Woodson’s fifth Turkey Bowl win in six seasons …a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and
247sports.com.
Dorien Goddard
6-3 • 222 • WR
Greeneville, Tenn. • Greeneville HS
Played wide receiver and defensive line at Greeneville High School for head coach Caine Ballard … helped
Greeneville to the 2018 TSSAA 4A state championship with a 15-0 record with 78 receptions for 1,320 yards and 14 touchdowns … named region co-offensive player of the year in 2018 … he helped
Greeneville win back-to-back state championships … he leaves Greeneville with multiple records includingsingle-season receiving yards, career receptions, career receiving yards and career touchdowns…a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247sports.com.
RJ Harvey
5-10 • 182 • QB
Orlando, Fla. • Edgewater HS
Played quarterback at Edgewater High School for head coach Cameron Duke … accounted for 48 total touchdowns, including 25 rushing
touchdowns and 23 passing touchdowns in 2018 … passed for 1,787 yards and rushed for 1,376 yards as a senior … was 21-5 in his career as the starting quarterback … led Edgewater to a state semifinal
appearance in 2018 after his class went 0-10 in 2016 as sophomores …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247sports.com …son of Juliet and Robert Harvey.
Mike Hollins
5-10 • 214 • RB
Baton Rouge, La. • University Lab HS
Played running back and linebacker at University Lab High School for head coach Chad Mahaffey … led University Lab to back-to-back 3A
state championships in 2017 and 2018 … earned MVP honors of the 2018 state championship game after rushing 27 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns … also caught five passes for 47 yards and a
score in the state title game … finished senior season with 1,645 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground …a three-star
recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Ja’Quay Hubbard
6-6 • 330 • OL
Sharpsville, Pa. • Sharpsville HS
Played offensive tackle at Sharpsville High School for head coach Paul Piccirilli … two-time all-state offensive lineman … finalist for
Pennsylvania’s ‘Mr. Football’ … helped Sharpsville reach the District 10 championship game … also plays basketball … a four-star recruit by Rivals.com … three-star recruit by ESPN.com and
247Sports.com.
Nick Jackson
6-2 • 222 • LB
Atlanta, Ga. • The Lovett School
Played linebacker and wide receiver at The Lovett School for head coach Mike Muschamp … made 95 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks
and caused one fumble in 2018 as a senior … also made 26 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns … recorded 57 tackles, 3.0 sacks and caused one fumble as a junior in 2017 … made 26 tackles and
8.0 tackles for a loss as sophomore … also made 26 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 … will graduate with 72 career receptions for 1,224 receiving yards and nine touchdowns …
averaged 17.0 yards per reception for his career … a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Jonathan Leech
6-5 • 270 • OL
Hoschton, Ga. • Mill Creek HS
Played offensive line at Mill Creek High School for head coach Trent Slear … was a 2018 first-team all-county selection after helping
Mill Creek to an 8-4 record and a second-round appearance in the state tournament … attends the same high school as current UVA center Tyler Fannin …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Seneca Milledge
5-6 • 170 • RB
Fort Myers, Fla. • Dunbar HS
Played running back and cornerback at Dunbar High School for head coach Sam Brown … rushed 74 times for 678 yards and 10 touchdowns in
2018 … logged three games a senior with 100+ rushing yards … also caught 10 passes for 96 yards in 2018 … also made 34 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss and recovered one fumble as a senior … graduates
with 2,132 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns … rushed for 843 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior … also owns 17 career receptions for 348 yards and two touchdowns … was 26-of-55 passing for his
career for 427 yards and two touchdowns … played in the 2018 Rotary South All-Star Classic … took the 2A state title in the long jump in 2018 with a jump of 7.19 meters … was county champion in the
long jump and triple jump, and a district champ in the 100 meters … is cousins with fellow signee Major Williams … a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
D’Sean Perry
6-3 • 223 • LB
Miami, Fla. • Gulliver Prep
Played linebacker, defensive line and tight end at Gulliver Prep forhead coach Earl Sims … named the South Florida Conference’s 2018 Defensive Player of the Year … finished his senior season in 2018 with 89 tackles, 16.0
tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and three interceptions … helped Gulliver Prep to an 8-4 record and a playoff berth in 2018, losing in the regional semifinal … as a junior he made 53 tackles, 15.0
tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and recovered a fumble … graduates with 199 career tackles, 41.0 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks … on Team USA U19 and will appear in the International Bowl in Dallas,
Texas … also plays high school basketball … high school coach, Earl Sims, was a three-year letterwinner for Virginia (1998, 2000-01) at linebacker … attends the same high school as current
Cavaliers DE Mandy Alonso and ILB Dominic Sheppard …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and
247sports.com.
Ben Smiley III
6-4 • 280 • DL
Chesapeake, Va. • Indian River HS
Ben Smiley III played defensive line and offensive line at Indian River High School for head coach Glenwood Ferebee … helped Indian River to a 12-1 record and a
regional finals appearance in 2018 … named a first-team all-region honoree in 2018 … as a junior in 2017 he was first-team All-Tidewater after leading the Braves with 69 tackles, including 16.5
tackles for loss and 11 sacks … earned second-team VHSL all-state honors in 2017 … was also first-team All-Southeastern District and Class 5 Region A …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Hunter Stewart
6-3 • 220 • LB
Alexandria, Va. • Gonzaga College HS
Played linebacker and defensive end at Gonzaga College High School for head coach Randy Trivers … earned second-team All-WCAC honors on the defensive line as a
senior, helping Gonzaga go 9-3 and win the 2018 WCAC championship … as a junior he made 69 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two sacks …a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Zachary Teter
6-5 • 290 • OL
Lakeland, Fla. • Lake Gibson HS
Played offensive line at Lake Gibson High School for head coach Doug DeMyer… started 20 career games at right guard with a career blocking grade of 90 percent ... was part of an offensive
line unit that produced over 5,800 yards of total offense and 62 touchdowns over a the 2017 and 2018 seasons ... first-team all-county as a senior and second-team all-county as a junior ... also
wrestled and helped Lake Gibson win the Dual State Championship in 2018 … son of Joyaand Doug Teter… father, Doug, is the head athletic trainer for the
Detroit Tigers … has two younger brothers, twins Matthew and Deacon … a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Dontayvion Wicks
6-2 • 195 • WR
Plaquemine, La. • Plaquemine HS
Played wide receiver and quarterback at Plaquemine High School for head coach Paul Distefano … named second-team all-district in 2018 …
as a junior in 2017 he had 12 catches for 212 yards helping Plaquemine to the district championship … also plays basketball for Plaquemine … son of Latisha Wicks …a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
Major Williams
6-0 • 176 • DB
Fort Myers, Fla. • Dunbar HS
Played cornerback and wide receiver at Dunbar High School for head coach Sam Brown … made 31 tackles and broke up five passes in 2018 …
made four catches for 104 yards as a senior … as a junior recorded 30 tackles, broke up five passes, intercepted three and returned a fumble 58 yards …played in the 2018 Rotary South All-Star Classic…is cousins with fellow signee Seneca Milledge … a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com.
12/13/18
Bryce Perkins Wins 2018 Dudley
Award
RICHMOND – Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins was named the winner of the 2018 Dudley Award as the state’s top Division I collegiate player. The announcement was made at the annual
Dudley Award Banquet in Richmond on Wednesday night. The other finalists were cornerback Jimmy Moreland of JMU and defensive lineman Ricky Walker of Virginia Tech.
In addition to winning the Dudley Award, Perkins was honored by
the Touchdown Club of Richmond as the state’s Offensive Back of the Year. Also honored by the Touchdown Club of Richmond on Wednesday night were Bryce Hall (Defensive Back of the Year), Chris Peace
(Linebacker of the Year), Olamide Zaccheaus (Offensive End of the Year) and Lester Coleman (Co-Humanitarian Award winner).
Perkins is the ninth Cavalier to win the Dudley Award. Previous
UVA winners include quarterback Shawn Moore (1990), quarterback Matt Blundin (1991), defensive end Mike Frederick (1994), tailback Tiki Barber (1996), safety Anthony Poindexter (1997), wide receiver
Billy McMullen (2001), defensive end Chris Long (2007) and inside linebacker Micah Kiser (2017). With Kiser winning in 2017, UVA has back-to-back winners for the first time since 1990-91 with
quarterbacks Shawn Moore and Matt Blundin.
Perkins (Jr., Queen Creek, Va.) is No. 2 in the ACC and No. 16
in the nation with 188 points responsible for. His 3,314 yards of total offense is a UVA single-season record and it currently ranks No. 2 in the ACC and No. 18 in the nation. Perkins and Oklahoma's
Kyler Murray are the only players in the nation with at least 2,400+ passing yards and 800+ rushing yards. Perkins is the only ACC player with at least 20 passing touchdowns and nine rushing
touchdowns. Perkins also set a UVA single-season record with 31 touchdowns (22 passing, nine rushing) responsible for. He was clutch on third down passing (65 percent) and rushing, where he averaged
7.6 yards per rush with 15 first downs and four rushing touchdowns. Perkins rushed for 1,032 yards when you adjust for sacks. Perkins also earned honorable mention All-ACC honors.
The Dudley Award is named after former University of Virginia
standout "Bullet" Bill Dudley and has been presented annually since 1990 to the player of the year at a state school. Each football-playing school in the Commonwealth is allowed to nominate one
player. In 2004, a separate award was created for players at Division II and Division III schools. The Richmond Times-Dispatch sponsors the awards. A panel of 15 voters is used to
select the Dudley Award winner.
UVA Women's Basketball Adds Purdue Transfer Dani Lawson
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women's basketball head coach Tina Thompson announced on Monday (July 16) the addition of forward Dani Lawson (Cleveland, Ohio) for the 2018-19
season.
Lawson signed a financial aid agreement and has transferred to Virginia after playing last season at Purdue.
“We are excited to welcome Dani to UVA,” Thompson said. “We will be able to leverage her size and unique skills at the forward position. She has a great jumper, and will give us depth at the
forward position, adding a bit more diversity to our frontcourt. Dani is also a terrific student who will adjust well to the high academic expectations and standards at Virginia. We are excited to
get her on the court to continue to develop and add to her skill set.”
Lawson helped lead Hathaway Brown to an Ohio High School Division II State Runner-Up finish in 2017, becoming just the fifth player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points. The two-time
Cleveland.com All-Star was ranked 22nd at her position in her recruiting class by ESPN Hoop Gurlz. The 6-2 forward appeared in five games last season
for the Boilermakers having knee surgery in January and missing the remainder of the season.
Tina Thompson Named Virginia Women’s Basketball Coach
Courtesy of Virginia Athletics
Charlottesville, Va. – Virginia athletics director Carla Williams announced today (April 16) Tina Thompson as head coach of the Cavaliers’ women’s basketball program. Thompson comes to
Virginia after serving on the coaching staff at Texas the past three seasons. Prior to entering the coaching profession, Thompson had a college and professional career that gained her entry into the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2018 induction class.
Thompson’s background is one of the most impressive in the history of women’s basketball. She is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a four-time WNBA
champion and was the first player drafted in the history of the WNBA.
Thompson becomes the fifth head coach in UVA’s 44-year history.
“I am thrilled to have Tina Thompson as our new women’s basketball coach,” Williams said. “She is one of the best to ever play the game and she has experienced tremendous success at all levels of the
game. I am looking forward to working with her and supporting her vision for Virginia basketball.
“She has a strong commitment to and passion for developing confident, successful women. As a coach, she has proven to be a tremendous teacher and recruiter. I’m excited for the future of our
program.”
Thompson joined Karen Aston’s staff at Texas in May of 2015 as an assistant coach. She was promoted to associate head coach last September. During her tenure at Texas, she focused on the development
of the Longhorns’ post players. Texas recorded a 28-7 record in 2017-18, reaching NCAA Sweet 16 in Kansas City. The Longhorns went 84-21 (.800) during her three seasons in Austin. The 2016-17 Texas
team reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and the 2015-16 squad compiled a 31-5 mark on the way to a NCAA Elite Eight appearance.
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to become the next women’s basketball coach at the University of Virginia,” Thompson said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with such
a rich history. This program is in an exciting place with a hardworking group of young ladies. It is my intention to continue the winning ways coach Joanne Boyle has built with this impressionable
group.
“My sentiments mirror that of my 12-year-old son Dyllan. When I told him the great news he said, ‘Wait! Mom are you kidding? I mean wow. Isn’t that a good program? Correction. Great program! I am so
happy for you. We will do great things there!’ My response to him was that I could not agree more! I am excited about meeting my team, getting to know them and pouring into them.
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity Karen Aston and the University of Texas provided me. My experience there has helped to prepare me for this moment. I want to thank Carla Williams for this
coveted opportunity. I appreciate her courage and her outside-of-the-box thought process. Wahoowa!”
Thompson arrived at Texas after a trailblazing career in the WNBA, in which she began as the first overall draft pick in 1997 and ended as the league's all-time leading scorer in 2013.
Throughout her 17-year professional playing career, Thompson was a four-time WNBA champion with the Houston Comets (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), a member of the WNBA All-Decade team, an eight-time
All-WNBA team selection, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and the WNBA All-Star MVP in 2000.
After 12 seasons in Houston, the Los Angeles native returned to her hometown in 2009 as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks. She became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer on August 8, 2010, scoring
her 6,264th career point to pass Lisa Leslie -- a former teammate of Thompson's at the high school, college and professional levels.
Thompson ended her professional career with the Seattle Storm in 2013 and still stands as the league's all-time leading scorer with 7,488 points in 496 games played (15.1 ppg).
On the international level, Thompson has won two Olympic Gold Medals as a member of Team USA in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing). She has also participated in other professional leagues overseas.
Following the 2001 WNBA season, she played for Rovereto Basket in Italy and in 2003 she joined the Kumho Falcons of the Women's Korea Basketball League (WKBL). In 2006 and 2007, she played for
Spartak Moscow Region (Euro league) and in 2010 for the MCM Târgovişte in Romania.
In her first year in Austin, Thompson was heavily involved in the development of senior center Imani Boyette, who earned honorable mention All-America honors from both the Associated Press and the
Women's Basketball Coaches Association. In 2015-16, Boyette became the first player in program history to reach the combined milestone of 1,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds and 200 career
blocks. Boyette was the fourth player in school history to be drafted in the first round of the WNBA Draft, going to the Chicago Sky with the 10th overall pick in 2016.
Thompson was also responsible for the development of Kelsey Lang who was a 2016-17 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and top-30 finalist for the
prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Lang finished her UT career fifth all-time in games played (138), sixth in blocked shots (190) and 36th in scoring (1,086).
In 2018, Texas saw Ariel Atkins taken as the No. 7 selection by the Washington Mystics during the WNBA Draft.
Thompson played collegiately at the University of Southern California (1993-1997) where she helped USC compile a 77-37 record and three NCAA tournament appearances (1994, 1995, 1997), including an
Elite Eight appearance in 1994.
A three-time All-Pac 10 selection at USC, Thompson was a second-team All-American as a senior in 1997. She finished fifth on USC’s career lists in scoring (2,248 points) and (1,168 rebounds).
Thompson graduated from USC in 1997 with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology.
Thompson was born in Los Angeles as one of five siblings – and has two brothers and two sisters. She has one son, Dyllan, who was born in 2005.
Thompson’s enshrinement ceremony for the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will take place on Friday, September 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Springfield Symphony Hall in Springfield,
Mass.
11/10/17
Clark and Stattmann ink National Letters of Intent with the Cavaliers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia men's head basketball coach Tony Bennett has announced the signings of guards Kihei Clark (Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft Charter High School) and
Kody Stattmann (Bentley Park, Queensland, Australia/St. Augustine’s College) to National Letters of Intent with the Cavaliers.
"We are excited to welcome Kihei and Kody into the Virginia men’s basketball family,” Bennett said. “Both of these young men bring a lot skill, competitiveness and great character to our program.
Kihei and Kody understand the value of a degree from UVA and we are looking forward to them joining our program next fall.”
The 5-9, 155-pound Clark averaged 18.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds for Taft Charter High School as a junior in 2016-17. He earned all-conference and all-city honors and was named Taft’s
most valuable player after guiding the school to a 27-11 record. Clark averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds en route to team MVP and all-conference honors in 2015-16. Clark also handed
out a school-record 22 assists during his sophomore season as Taft posted a 26-8 record.
The 6-7, 178-pound Stattmann averaged 31 points to lead the Australian U17 Emus Men’s Basketball Team to a gold medal at the FIBA Oceania Championships in Guam. Stattmann also tallied 25 points
per game to lead the U18 Queensland North Basketball team to a silver medal at nationals. Stattmann plays his high school basketball for St. Augustine’s College and is also a member of the Queensland
Basketball League’s Cairns Marlins.
UVa hires Carla Williams as its next athletic director
Virginia has
hired Georgia deputy athletic director Carla Williams to succeed Craig Littlepage as the Cavaliers’ athletic director, sources said Saturday night.
A formal
announcement is expected Sunday afternoon.
Williams, who
was expected to become the next athletic director at Georgia, will be the lone African-American woman athletic director in the Power Five conferences. She also will be the first head of the Virginia
athletic department since Dick Schultz who is without close ties to the university.
Shultz, who
guided the department from 1981-87, came to Virginia from Cornell. He was succeeded by three consecutive directors with UVa connections: Jim Copeland, who played football for the Cavaliers and later
worked for the Virginia Athletics Foundation; Terry Holland, the school’s longtime head basketball coach; and Littlepage, who was both an assistant basketball coach and a UVa assistant athletic
director under both Copeland and Holland.
Littlepage has
been UVa’s athletic director for the past 16 years and became the first African-American AD in ACC history.
According to two
sources, finalists for the AD position were called to Boston for interviews with incoming UVa president James Ryan, the dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. UVa’s current president, Teresa
A. Sullivan, informed finalists of the decision Saturday afternoon.
Williams is a
1989 Georgia graduate who has overseen the Bulldogs’ football program as the top lieutenant for UGa athletic director Greg McGarity. According to sources, Virginia football alumni were pushing hard
for someone with a football background to move into the job.
Williams, a
former professional basketball player, not only oversees Georgia football but also its women’s basketball program, and she has supervisory responsibility for academic support services, business
operations, compliance, event management, external operations, facilities, human resources, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, student services and ticketing.
An All-SEC guard
for the Lady Bulldogs from 1985-89, Williams, née Green, played professionally in Spain in 1989. Williams joined Andy Landers’ Georgia women’s basketball staff from 1991-96 as an assistant coach. Two
of those teams reached the Final Four.
After a stint as
an assistant coach, Williams moved into athletic administration, serving as the school’s assistant director of compliance before climbing in the administrative ranks at Florida State, Vanderbilt, and
Georgia.
She was hired at
Vanderbilt University by former UVa assistant athletic director Todd Turner, who works with Korn Ferry, a consultant firm hired by Virginia to help with its search.
Jerry Ratcliffe is The Daily Progress' sports reporter 10/22/17
Virginia defensive sacked Jones twice, with both coming on the final drive of the game. Charles Snowden plays a major role and Jordan Mack who finished with a team- high 10 tackles for cavaliers.
The Cavaliers look to make it four wins in a row after beating Duke, 28 to 21.
Craig Littlepage Announces Retirement As Virginia Director Of Athletics
By: Kris Wright |
Craig Littlepage led Virginia athletics for 16 years. ~ Courtesy of Virginia athletics
After 16 years, 76 ACC Championships, and 13 NCAA National Championships, Virginia director of athletics Craig Littlepage announced his retirement on Tuesday. He will remain in his role until a
replacement is in place before transitioning to a role in the University President’s Office.
Per an official UVA news release, a national search for Littlepage’s successor will
begin in the near future.
“It’s hard to believe how fast the last 16 years as the director of athletics at UVA have gone,” Littlepage said in the news release. “Overall, to have worked and lived in Charlottesville and the
University community for 35 of the last 41 years is truly a blessing. After much thought and consideration, I realized this was the right time for me to step aside. There is a sense of great pride in
the accomplishments of our program since taking over as AD in 2001. When I reflect on the great coaches that have come here, the facilities, and talented student-athletes, I can move ahead knowing
the athletics program has a great foundation.”
That foundation and the athletic department’s “most successful era to date” per the news release came on the heels of an Athletics Task Force recommendation to create formal tiers for the
University’s 24 varsity sports. That Task Force was created by then University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III as part of the school’s 2020 long-term planning effort. The Task Force made
its proposal to the Board of Visitors in April of 2001 just four months before Littlepage officially was appointed as director of athletics following an interim role to fill in for the departing
Terry Holland.
The Task Force stressed that the department was not in distress, but that the rising costs of college athletics did not match the slower pace of revenue increases (that landscape changed
dramatically over the years with conference realignment and TV contracts). The recommendations included:
Adding women’s golf, while eliminating men’s indoor track and field.
Classifying sports into four tiers: top tier of football, men’s and women’s basketball; second tier of men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, rowing, men’s and
women’s swimming; third tier of softball, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball, women’s golf if added; fourth tier of baseball, wrestling,
men’s golf, men’s tennis, men’s cross country, men’s indoor track and field if retained.
Establishing a $100 million VAF endowment.
Raising student fees to meet the state average with increases going to athletics.
Redesigning the Department of Athletics’ academic advising and support services.
According to the news release on the recommendations, “the task force did not make a
recommendation about whether or not to build a new basketball arena, but expressed concerns about projected costs and possible overruns.”
Beginning his tenure in that climate, Littlepage ushered in a tremendous period of growth and success during the past 16 years. Starting in 2002, the department adopted the brand statement of
“Uncompromised Excellence” alongside 10-year goals for athletics. In 2013, those goals and the brand statement were extended for another 10-year period through 2022. Over those 15 years, Virginia has
won an ACC-leading 76 conference championships as well as 13 NCAA National Championships.
The most notable blemish on the strong resume has been the deterioration of the Virginia football program. Since reseating Scott Stadium in 2008, the Hoos have posted only one winning season in
2011. Attendance and season ticket sales have dwindled throughout that time period. Bronco Mendenhall is the third coach in charge of the program since 2008 as Al Groh finished out his tenure before
Mike London took over the job. The revenue hit from the extended period of football struggles has been offset by TV revenue, but remains a long-term issue for the department until the program turns
things around.
Over the first 10 years of the new brand statement, UVA also graduated 93% of student-athletes who completed their eligibility. Most recently, the 2016-17 ACC Academic Honor Roll featured 323 UVA
student-athletes, up from 232 in 2005. The overall 2017 spring semester GPA of 3.1 represented the highest in the department since 2003.
Fundraising also has grown over 16 years. From 2002-2012, the Virginia Athletics Foundation raised more than $350 million and the current All In For Excellence initiative is at more than $153
million. During Littlepage’s tenure, Virginia also raised $130 million to build the John Paul Jones Arena and $13 million for the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility in addition to many other
facility upgrades at the other sports’ locations.
The first African-American athletics director in Atlantic Coast Conference history, Littlepage was recognized for many of those accomplishments through the years. He was named the Black Coaches
Association’s “Athletics Administrator of the Year” in 2003 and 2006. He was also listed on Sports Illustrated’s list of the 101 most influential minorities in sports in 2003 and 2004. In 2005-06,
Littlepage served as the chair of the Men’s Division I Basketball Committee and administered its selection process and served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Collegiate
Athletics Directors (NACDA) from 2006-10.
“Virginia athletics are synonymous with excellence and integrity, and much of the credit for that belongs to Craig Littlepage, a class act in every way.” Val Ackerman, Big East Commissioner of and
former UVA women’s basketball player, said in a statement. “Legions of Wahoo student-athletes have Craig to thank for bringing them a one-of-a-kind life experience, and UVA supporters around the
country can take enormous pride in being associated with one of most accomplished and best-run operations in college sports. Craig’s long-standing contributions to basketball have also been a
tremendous service to the game. He’ll be greatly missed.”
“Craig Littlepage has been the steady hand at the helm of the University of Virginia athletic department for the last 16 years,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “His leadership and positive influence are well known, beginning with his days as a
student-athlete and continuing throughout his coaching career and his 25 plus years in athletics administration. Craig is one of the most highly respected individuals within the ACC, among his peers,
and across the overall landscape of collegiate athletics. Even more impressive is how remarkable he is as a person, which is why I’ve always described him as one of the true gentlemen in our
profession. Nora and I wish Craig and Margaret nothing but the best as they look ahead to this next chapter.”
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