Story by Scott German
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com
One would have a difficult time convincing the University of Miami basketball team that indeed Virginia is for lovers. Especially after The U finished up a disastrous four-day visit to the Old Dominion that began Wednesday with an 81-66 loss at Virginia Tech and concluded Saturday night with a 75-57 trouncing by Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena.
Sylven Landesburg scored 18 points to lead the upstart Cavaliers to their seventh straight win, and as importantly a 3-0 start in Atlantic Coast Conference play, leaving Virginia the only unbeaten team in league play.
In improving to 11-4 overall, Virginia is a perfect 3-0 against ranked teams this season.
Miami (15-3, 1-3 ACC) entered the nation’s Top 25 this past week. After a horrendous performance in Blacksburg, the Cavaliers expected to confront a dangerous Hurricane squad. Virginia, however, scored the game’s first six points to spark a near sellout crowd. The Wahoos led 33-21 at intermission and never allowed Miami closer than nine in the final half.
Malcolm Grant’s baseline jumper closed the deficit to 55-46 with 7:41 remaining, but a Sammy Zeglinski three-pointer sparked a 10-2 Virginia run the put the finishing touches on Miami. Mustapha Farrakhan had 13 points while Mike Scott and Zeglinski each scored 10 points for the Cavaliers. The most eye-popping stat in the contest may have been the team-leading seven rebounds snarled by Zeglinski and 5-10 freshman point guard Jontel Evans.
First-year Virginia coach Tony Bennett said maturity is the big difference between the 2009-2010 Virginia team and last year’s squad which posted a dismal 10-18 mark. “It’s maturity, the players are more experienced and more comfortable in the roles in which we are asking them to play,” stated Bennett.
Landesberg, who has gradually evolved into one the league’s premier players, agreed with his coach. “We’re older, more experienced,” said Landesberg. “I think the guys believe in the system, understand the importance of playing aggressive defense and playing within ourselves,” added Landesburg.
Miami coach Frank Haith said Virginia’s defense set the tone for the game. “They were aggressive from the opening tip, they denied us on each possession and made each shot difficult,” said Haith, who added he was not surprised by Virginia’s quick start.
“I thought all along Virginia was going to be good, I knew they were playing confidently, and that’s sure a factor,” concluded Haith, whose team’s 0-2 road trip to Virginia will land land them outside the nations elite 25 on Monday.
For Virginia, a possible breakthrough into the Top 25 is a possibility; just don’t expect any players to get overly excited about that – not just yet, anyway. The Cavaliers will have to guard against a letdown in a short turnaround. Monday night Virginia will face UNC-Wilmington at home. The game is a makeup of a postponed Dec. 18 contest due to the severe snowstorm that buried Central Virginia. Monday, the Wahoos hope to avoid a letdown and give the Seahawks an overdue burying of their own.
Notes
– Virginia’s seven-game winning streak is the longest since the 2006-2007 campaign.
– The 3-0 ACC start is the best since the 1994-1995 season in which they started 4-0.
– Landesberg’s 18 points is his 15th double-digit scoring effort in as many games this season and 39th career.
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