Virginia Men's Basketball Team Set To Open 2000-2001 Season
Story Links
Nov. 16, 2000
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –
Cavaliers Open Season Tonight
Virginia begins the 2000-2001 season, its 96th overall and third under head coach Pete Gillen, on Friday, November 17, when the Cavaliers host Long Island University at 7:30 p.m. in University Hall.
UVa is 75-20 (.789) all-time in season openers. The Cavaliers have won 11 of their last 13 season openers dating back to 1987-88. Virginia’s last loss in a season opener was in 1997-98 when it dropped an 83-79 double overtime decision at Richmond.
The Cavaliers have won their last three season openers at University Hall. Last season, UVa defeated Elon 97-66 in the opener at U-Hall. In 1995-96, the Cavaliers posted an 84-65 victory over Tennessee-Martin and in 1994-95, Virginia registered an 83-80 win over Old Dominion. UVa’s last loss in a home opener was a 77-36 setback to Connecticut in the 1993-94 season.
The Series vs. Long Island University
Tonight’s game is just Virginia’s second meeting against Long Island University. UVa won the first meeting against Long Island 71-52 in the first round of the Rochester Classic on December 27, 1985 in Rochester, N.Y.
Head Coach Pete Gillen
Pete Gillen is beginning his 16th season as a collegiate head coach and sports a 307-156 record for a .663 winning percentage. In two seasons at Virginia, Gillen has posted a 33-28 record. Gillen won the 300th game of his career when Virginia defeated then 21st-ranked North Carolina 87-85 on January 18, 2000 at University Hall.
Gillen has led his teams to postseason play 12 times in 15 seasons (eight NCAA, four NIT). He has been selected as the conference Coach of the Year five times – all while coaching Xavier (Midwestern Collegiate Conference).
Gillen has compiled a 13-2 record in season openers in his career as a collegiate head coach, winning his last 10 openers. He successfully began his coaching career at Virginia with an 86-70 win over VCU on November 13, 1998, to start the 1998-99 campaign and coached the team to a 97-66 victory over Elon College to open the 1999-00 season. He was 7-2 at Xavier (1986-94) and 4-0 at Providence (1995-98) in season openers.
The 1999-2000 Season
Virginia finished the 1999-2000 season with a 19-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers advanced to postseason play for the first time since receiving a bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament, but fell to Georgetown in the first round of the 2000 National Invitation Tournament 115-111 in triple overtime.
Virginia vs. the Northeast Conference
Virginia is 4-0 all-time against teams that were members of the Northeast Conference (formerly the ECAC Metro from 1982-88) when they played the Cavaliers. All four wins have come at home in University Hall. UVa is 1-0 against Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island University, Loyola (Md.) and Wagner.
Non-Conference Teams at University Hall
Virginia is 179-28 (.865) all-time in U-Hall against non-conference opponents since the building opened for the 1965-66 season. The Cavaliers have won 61 of their last 70 home games against non-conference opponents dating back to the 1989-90 season.
Opponents Shoot Blanks at University Hall
Virginia is 38-8 against non-conference opponents at University Hall over the last seven seasons. Among the reasons the Cavaliers have been so successful in non-conference games is their ability to out-shoot and out-rebound the other team.
In their wins, the Cavaliers have shot 47.3 percent from the field compared to 37.0 percent for the opposition. Virginia also out-rebounds the other team by nearly 10 rebounds per game (44.0/g to 34.2/g). In contrast, the tables are turned in Virginia’s home losses. The opponents shoot much better than Virginia (44.2 percent vs. 37.9 percent) and out-rebound the Cavaliers by a wide margin (46.6/g to 34.4/g).
Five of the 10-highest shooting percentages by non-conference opponents on Virginia’s home floor the last seven seasons have come in Virginia losses. Liberty shot 50.0 percent in the 1997-98 season and stunned UVa 69-64. In last season’s NIT game, Georgetown shot 49.4 percent in a 115-111 triple overtime thriller. Ohio shot 47.4 percent in a 94-83 win during the 1994-95 season. Connecticut shot 46.3 percent in winning the 1993-94 season opener and 46.2 percent in a victory in 1997-98.
Only 17 of the last 46 non-conference opponents to come to University Hall have managed to make more than 40 percent of their field goal attempts. Three of UVa’s six 1999-2000 non-conference opponents shot better than 40 percent in U-Hall. Georgetown (Mar. 15) shot 49.4 percent (41-83). Loyola (Dec. 8) connected on 24 of 51 attempts from the floor (47.1 percent), while Belmont (Dec. 28) was 26 of 58 from the field (44.8 percent).
Virginia Splits a Pair of Exhibition Games
The Cavaliers were 1-1 in their two exhibition games during the preseason. Virginia lost to the London Leopards 89-88 on November 4, but bounced back with a 95-80 win over the Nantucket Nectars Naturals on November 12.
Joining the Millennium Club
Virginia junior forward Chris Williams needs just 16 points to become the school’s 34th player to score 1,000 career points. Williams will join senior guard Donald Hand as players reaching the 1,000-point plateau. Hand scored his 1,000th point on Feb. 5, 2000 versus Duke and enters the 2000-01 season with 1,122 points.
Hand and Williams will become the first pair of teammates to both have recorded 1,000 career points since Curtis Staples (1,757 points) and Norman Nolan (1,321) played together during the 1997-98 season.
Shooting the Long Ball
Virginia’s current roster features three of the top 10 career three-point field goal leaders in school history and a fourth player who could join the trio during the 2000-2001 season. Senior guard Donald Hand currently ranks sixth with 119 three-pointers and needs just 14 threes to move into the top five. Juniors Chris Williams and Adam Hall are also on the top 10 list with 70 and 62 career three-pointers respectively. Williams currently ranks ninth, while Hall is tied with Kenny Turner for tenth all-time.
Senior guard Keith Friel threatens to join his teammates should he continue his sharp-shooting of the 1999-2000 season. Friel hit 45-109 (.413) three-pointers and could add his name to the all-time list in just his second season with Virginia. Friel’s 41.3 percent accuracy from behind the line last season ranks as the fifth best performance by a Cavalier in that category.
Virginia Opens Exhibition Season with Loss
The University of Virginia men’s basketball team lost its exhibition opener on November 4 to the London Leopards, 89-88, at University Hall when Leopards guard Jason Kimbrough buried a three-pointer at the buzzer. Kimbrough took a feed from Ricola Alderson on an inbounds play with two seconds remaining in the contest and drained the three.
All five starters finished the game in double figures for the Cavaliers, including sophomore center Travis Watson who led the team in scoring with 21 points and rebounding with 13 boards for a double-double. But Watson’s effort was not enough to erase a six-minute UVa scoring drought midway through the second half that allowed the Leopards back into the game.
The Cavaliers overcame a seven-point deficit to tie the game at 79 with 2:57 remaining in the contest. Then, in the final 10 seconds, senior Donald Hand had a chance to put Virginia up by three but missed the second of two free throws. The Leopards drove the ball down the court and had a two-point shot blocked out of bounds by Watson setting the stage for Kimbrough’s late-game heroics.
The Cavaliers led at the half, 53-44, after making 18 of 39 attempts from the field (46.2 percent) and 15 of 19 attempts from the line (78.9 percent). In the second half, however, Virginia struggled from the field and the free throw line. Virginia made just 11 of the 36 shots it attempted from the field (30.6 percent) in the second stanza and was only 13 of 22 from the free throw line (59.1 percent). The Cavaliers finished the game 29 of 75 from the field (38.7 percent) and 28 of 41 from the line (68.3 percent).
Junior Chris Williams was the second-leading scorer and rebounder for the Cavaliers, chipping in 19 points and eight boards, while point guard Hand led the team in assists with four. The Leopards’ Maurice Robinson led all scorers with 22 points.
Cavaliers Post 95-80 Win Over Nantucket Nectars
Virginia rebounded from a loss in its first exhibition game to defeat the Nantucket Nectars Naturals, 95-80, in front of 1,407 spectators at University Hall on November 12. The Cavaliers were led by sophomore guard Roger Mason, Jr. who turned in a game-high 20 points to go with his seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Virginia took command of the game early, streaking to a 21-5 lead less than six minutes into the first half. The Nantucket Nectars Naturals closed the gap to eight, 23-15, with 12 minutes remaining in the half, and got as close as six points, 38-32, with less than two minutes left in the half. But both times the Cavaliers responded with scoring runs of their own, eventually heading to the locker room at halftime ahead, 47-35.
The `Hoos started fast again in the second stanza, stretching their lead to 24 points, 69-45, with 12:47 remaining in the game. Although the Naturals did mount a comeback in the final minutes of the contest, they never got closer than 13 points.
Senior guard Donald Hand led all players with 10 assists. He also had eight points and three rebounds in 32 minutes of play. Meanwhile, sophomore forward/center Travis Watson, who had a double-double in the Cavs’ exhibition opener, finished just three rebounds short of his second double-double of the preseason. Watson finished the game with 18 points, seven rebounds, one assist and a blocked shot.
Senior forward Stephane Dondon and junior forward Chris Williams combined to shoot 14-15 from the field (7-7 for Dondon and 7-8 for Williams). Dondon finished with 17 points, while Williams had 15 points. Arthur Jackson was the Nantucket Nectars Naturals’ leading scorer with 14 points.
Long Island’s Exhibition Games
The Blackbirds won both of their 2000-2001 exhibition games. On November 3, Long Island posted a 96-81 victory over the Connecticut Stars. In its last exhibition game, LIU defeated the Jersey Jammers 69-54 on November 7.
The Blackbirds posted an 8-19 overall record and a 5-13 mark in the Northeast Conference in the 1999-2000 season.
Hand, Friel and Williams Elected Captains
Senior guards Donald Hand and Keith Friel, and junior forward Chris Williams have been elected captains of the 2000-01 Virginia basketball team by their teammates.
Hand is the first UVa men’s basketball player to serve as a team captain for three consecutive years. He served as a team co-captain last season and as a tri-captain in 1998-99.
Hand earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 1999-00. He led last year’s team in assists (133, 4.3 apg.), three-point field goals (51), free throws made (137) and free throws attempted (183). He ranked second on the team in scoring (15.0 ppg.) and minutes played (30.7 mpg.), and third in steals (38).
Hand enters the 2000-01 season ranked sixth on Virginia’s career list for three-point field goals made (119), eighth on UVa’s career assists list (355) and 30th on the Cavaliers’ career scoring list (1,122 points).
Friel played in all 31 games for the Cavaliers last season, averaging 5.8 points a game. He led the team in three-point field goal shooting percentage (45-109, 41.3 percent) and in free throw shooting percentage (27-30, 90.0 percent). He transferred to UVa from Notre Dame before the beginning of the 1998 fall semester and sat out the 1998-99 season.
Friel received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UVa in May of 2000 and is competing this season as a graduate student.
Williams was also a second-team All-ACC selection last season when he led Virginia in scoring (15.5 ppg.), steals (51) and minutes played (32.2 mpg.). He ranked fourth in the ACC last season in field goal percentage (173-341, 50.7 percent), tied for seventh in steals and 10th in scoring. Williams needs just 16 points to become the 34th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
2000-2001 ACC Pre-Season Media Prediction
(Indicates first place votes)
Team Points1. Duke (83) 8262. Maryland (6) 7223. North Carolina (4) 6664. Wake Forest 5205. Virginia 4576. NC State 4297. Clemson 2318. Georgia Tech 2019. Florida State 133
Cavaliers Welcome Two Newcomers
The 2000-2001 Virginia men’s basketball team features two new faces and one returning member from the 1998-99 squad. Joining the 11 returning lettermen from last season, including four returning starters, are first-years J.C. Mathis and Maurice Young, and senior Greg Lyons.
Mathis is a 6-8 forward from John F. Kennedy High School in Brooklyn, New York. He was a first-team All-City selection and led Kennedy to a 28-3 record, and both the Bronx championship and the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) title during his senior year.
Young, a 6-4 forward, started four years for Bishop McNamara High School. He was the team’s Most Valuable Player three times and the team captain twice. He finished his high school career as Bishop McNamara’s all-time leading scorer (2,125 points) and rebounder (772 rebounds), and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
Lyons rejoins the Virginia team after not playing last year. He saw limited action during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. A two-year letterman, Lyons was a high school teammate of former UVa player Willie Dersch.
Four Starters Return for 2000-2001
The Cavaliers return four starters from last season–Donald Hand, Chris Williams, Adam Hall, and Travis Watson. In addition, UVa also returns Roger Mason, who started 11 games, and all but three members of last year’s squad. A total of 11 lettermen (which does not include Greg Lyons) are back to take the hardwood in 2000-2001.
With the return of the 11 letterwinners, it’s not surprising that Virginia returns from last season:93.8 percent (255 of 272) of the steals92.7 percent (2,341 of 2,526) of the points91.0 percent (1024 of 1125) of the rebounds91.3 percent (5,800 of 6,350 ) of the minutes90.5 percent (398 of 440) of the assists
Cavaliers Ranked in AP and USA Today/ESPN Polls
For the first time since the 1995-96 season, the Virginia men’s basketball team will open the season ranked in both The Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Top 25 polls. The Cavaliers are ranked 25th in the first regular season AP poll released November 13 and are also 25th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN poll. UVa is 25th in the AP poll with 164 points, while the Cavaliers garnered 81 points in earning the 25th spot in the USA Today/ESPN poll. (The entire AP poll is listed on page 4). Virginia was ranked 24th in the AP’s preseason poll.
Before the 1995-1996 season Virginia was ranked 19th in the AP and 14th in the USA Today/ESPN polls. The last time the Cavs appeared in any poll came during the 1996-97 season when they were ranked 25th in the AP Poll (12/3/96).
Pre-Season Prognostications
In addition to being ranked in the AP and USAToday/ESPN polls, the Virginia men’s basketball team is ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation in several other preseason rankings. Virginia is ranked 18th by The Sporting News, 23rd by Basketball News and Dick Vitale’s College Basketball 2000-2001 Preview, 24th by Street & Smith’s, and 27th by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
Mapp Out
Sophomore guard Majestic Mapp tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and underwent surgery during the summer. Mapp injured the knee while playing basketball at St. Raymond’s High School, his alma mater, on August 2. He is expected to be out of action four to six months.
Mapp was second on the team in assists last season (2.2 apg) and ranked fourth among all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in that category. He averaged 5.3 points a game and was named to the ACC Honor Roll for his academic work and athletic participation.
Studying Abroad
This summer the University of Virginia men’s basketball team traveled to Europe to compete against several club and professional teams in Germany, Belgium and France. The Cavaliers finished the trip with a 5-1 record and won their five games by an average of 35.4 points per game (527-350).
All 11 of Virginia’s returning players from the 1999-2000 team made the trip, as did returning player Greg Lyons from the 1998-1999 squad. Incoming freshmen were not eligible to make the trip.
The trip was a homecoming of sorts for senior forward Stephane Dondon who is from Toulouse, France. Dondon was among several Cavaliers who turned in strong performances during the tour. In the team’s win against TSV Breitengussbach, Dondon led the team with 21 points on 9-10 shooting and added nine rebounds.
Senior guard Keith Friel led the team in scoring in wins against Sceaux BBC and Lummen BBC with 23 points in each game.
Several Cavaliers recorded double-doubles during the trip, including sophomore Travis Watson who led the team with four double-doubles. Watson’s performances were highlighted by a 22-point, 10-rebound effort in the win over Sceaux BBC. Also recording double-doubles on the trip were Donald Hand, Chris Williams, Adam Hall and Jason Rogers. Rogers had a 10-point, 10-rebound game in UVa’s win over TSV Breitengussbach, and a 12-point, seven-rebound performance in a win against Lummen BBC.
The trip was Virginia’s first since the Cavaliers compiled a 3-3 record during a 1996 European tour.
Dartmouth Starting Time Finalized
Virginia’s game at Dartmouth scheduled for December 30 will begin at 1:00 p.m. The game was previously listed as a 7:00 p.m. start.
Virginia Tech Starting Time Change
The starting time for Virginia’s game at Virginia Tech on November 24 is 7:00 p.m. It had been listed on earlier UVa schedules as a 7:30 p.m. start.