Virginia Cavaliers, 29-3; 16-2

Virginia Cavaliers

I'm still frustrated with the women's basketball program at Virginia who finished the season at 17-13, now waiting for an invitation to WNIT sometimes next week. I don't know if the team will be able to receive an immediate help from 6'3 Mone' Jones, 6'4 Debra Ferguson and 6'4 Shakyna Payne when they come to Charlottesville next year. If at least two out of 3 freshmen can alleviate the pressures on Sarah Imovbioh & Lauren Moses, then the team will be in a good shape and in a right direction. If not, it is going to be a long season for us all.

On other hand, I'm thrilled to see what Head Coach Tony Bennett has done for Virginia Cavaliers Men's Basketball team.  Last year, the team went 30-7, won the ACC Regular Season and ACC Tournament Championships. This year, the team won the ACC Regular Season Championship but was upset by North Carolina Cheaters Tar Heels in ACC Tournament. Well, in two seasons, 3 out of 4 ACC Championships are just great. Last year, they received No. 1 seeding and reached the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to Michigan State by two. This year, I think the team will receive No. 2 seeding.

We lost in ACC Tournament because I think the team was not used to have Justin Anderson back after he missed 8 games due to the injury & appendectomy. Not only that, I'm not sure if Landon Perrantes is 100% healthy after sustaining the broken nose a couple of weeks ago. Not only that, it is always difficult to play in Greensboro Coliseum where in the last 26 ACC Finals in Greensboro, Duke and UNC combined for 19 titles. Next year? Washington, DC's Verizon Center. It is about time that the ACC gets out of that shithole.

But I can say one thing:  Virginia Cavaliers will remain to be very good team next year.

Anthony Gill & Head Coach Tony Bennett

• The next year's edition will lose only one starter in Darion Atkins. 
• They practically return everyone else.  Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Justin Anderson, Evan Nolte and Landon Perrantes will return. 
• Not only that, the ACC Sixth Player of the Year Mike Tobey also will return. 
• Oh, yeah, freshmen Isaiah Wilkins, Jack Salt, B.J. Stith & Marial Shayok and redshirt freshman Devon Hall will return with plenty of their playing time under their belts.  
• Wait!  Darius Thompson, who was rated No. 4 as overall combo guard in 2012-13, will begin to play after his transfer from Tennessee Volunteers.
• The newest recruit of Virginia Cavaliers, a huge post player in 240 lbs, 6'9 Jarred Reuter will fill in nicely. Some people compared him to North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough.
• There is undecided recruit named Thon Maker, a 7'0 post player from Australia. Virginia is one of several schools on his list. Virginia already had an Australian player in Jack Salt. So Thon has another Australian teammate should he sign with Virginia.
• And most important of all:  We have Head Coach Tony Bennett and you do not. 

As you can see, Virginia is going to stay in Top 10 for a long time.  Get used to it, folks.  Go Hoos!

Cheers,

R-