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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 17-12;
7-9 in ACC (Tied/5th)
Postseason: Lost to South Carolina 74-67 in first round of NIT.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Watson 14.1
Rebs: Watson 9.7
Assists: Jenifer 2.8
FG: Clark 62.2%
3pt: Brown 37.5%
FT: Jenifer 83.3%
01-02 Stats:
Virginia | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Roger Mason | 18.6 ppg
Chris Williams | 14.0 ppg
Adam Hall | 9.7 ppg
J.C. Mathis | 4.9 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Todd Billet | Junior
G | Jer. Harper | Soph
F | Elton Brown | Soph
F | Derrick Byars | Fresh
C | Travis Watson | Junior
Player to Watch
Travis Watson
Junior Center
ACC's rebounding leader could have fun season schooling ACC's young frontlines.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Cavaliers go to Rutgers for a homecoming for Billet. You know he'll want to play his best, just like you know the Scarlet Knights will want to punish him for leaving.
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VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
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For some reason, most preseason projections have the Cavaliers going to the NCAA Tournament, which is puzzling considering they didn't go last season -- and lost four starters, including junior Roger Mason Jr. to the NBA draft. Virginia has added some talented people in the offseason, but are those additions more than the subtractions? Time will tell, but the biggest additions figure to be former high-scoring Rutgers guard Todd Billet and junior college transfer Devin Smith, a 6-5 wing. One returning point guard, Majestic Mapp, might not return after two years of knee injuries, while neither Keith Jenifer (4.0 ppg) nor Jermaine Harper (5.8 ppg) is suited to manning that position on a full-time basis. The big men are 6-7 All-ACC candidate Travis Watson (14.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg), sophomores Elton Brown (7.6 ppg) and Jason Clark (3.7 ppg), and California transfer Nick Vander Laan. It's an interesting group of players, talented to be sure, but more talented than last season's NIT team? Good question.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Watson is the best rebounder in the ACC, and with Lonny Baxter and Carlos Boozer gone to the NBA, he should earn a spot on the all-league team. The addition of Vander Laan could do for Watson what neither Brown nor Clark could a years ago -- let him move to power forward, giving him more advantageous matchups on both sides of the court.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Not a lot of 'tweeners on this team, and that's a bad thing. After being loaded at the wing last season, the Cavs suddenly have to make do without the 6-5 Mason (18.6 ppg), 6-6 Chris Williams (14 ppg) and 6-5 Adam Hall (9.7 ppg). Billet and Harper are undersized shooting guards, while Smith and 6-7 freshman Derrick Byars have more size but less understanding of the system.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Virginia underachieved last season by falling from No. 4 in the country to the NIT in a span of about two months. If the Cavs simply play to their potential, they have the look of an NCAA bubble team again this season. Smith is said to be a potential star, and if that's the case, look for Virginia to land on the happy side of the bubble this time.
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