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Freshman guard Sylven Landesberg began his Virginia career in grand style in the Cavaliers’ 107-97 season-opening victory over VMI on Sunday, Nov. 16. He had team-high totals of 28 points and eight assists to go with eight rebounds and three steals in his collegiate debut. His 28 points are the most scored by a Virginia freshman in the first game of his career since the restoration of freshman eligibility in 1972-73. Landesberg was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for his play against VMI.
Landesberg and his Virginia teammates are in the midst of a four-game season-opening homestand at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers host the University of South Florida on Nov. 19, Radford on Nov. 21 and Liberty on Nov. 25. All three games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and tickets are available for each of the games.
Question: What was your mindset entering the VMI game?
Landesberg: I just wanted to go out there and not be timid. To be as aggressive as I could and take what they were giving me. It worked out great.
Question: When did you find out you were going to be in the starting lineup?
Landesberg: In the locker room when Coach Leitao was going over the lineups. He said Calvin you’re guarding this man, Mo you’re on this man, Mu you’re guarding this man, Mike you’re guarding this man and Syl you’re guarding this man. My eyes just popped open and I thought this is big, my first college game and I’m starting. I just took it as a great opportunity that I had to take advantage of and I did.
Question: You seemed very comfortable on the court for someone playing in his first regular season college basketball game. Was that the case?
Landesberg: I was very comfortable. I get to play with these guys every day in practice. Any jitters I did have I got out of the way in the exhibition game. I was just playing with a lot of confidence.
Question: You played a tremendous all-around game against VMI with your totals for points, rebounds, assists and steals. Is that something that you’ve really worked on, to have an all-around game?
Landesberg: I don’t know about working at it, I just go out there and play as hard as I can. Sometimes I surprise myself. At the end of the VMI game I didn’t know my stats were like that. Guys were looking at the stats and someone told me I had 28 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and three steals. I was like are you sure? Sometimes, like I said, I amaze myself. I didn’t even know I’d played that well.
Question: Have you played in a game like that before where it was baseline to baseline throughout the game?
Landesberg: In high school we played a lot like that, we ran the ball a lot. So I was used to that style of play and it’s fun to play that way. Just get it up and down and challenge your man. There was a lot of competition out there and it was a lot of fun.
Question: Do you remember your first varsity game in high school, how that game went and do you have any recollection of how many points you scored?
Landesberg: I was a sophomore and I had 31 points in my first varsity game. We played Donte Greene’s team (Towson Catholic). He played at Syracuse last year. They were a very good team and my team was not even expected to stay in the game. We played pretty well and I think we lost by 10 or 11. There were a lot of big time coaches there and I guess that kicked my recruitment off. I just went out the same way. I showed no fear and was real aggressive. There were a lot of older guys on my team and they didn’t want a sophomore to come in and take their spot. So I had to earn everything. Nothing was given to me.
Question: How has your transition been to college basketball?
Landesberg: I guess for every freshman there are a few bumps in the road that you’ve got to work through. There are challenges all of the time and you’ve either got to accept the challenges and fight through them or back down from them. I’m not one who backs down from anything. I accept everything that’s thrown at me and I try to overcome it.
Question: What would you point to as the most difficult part of your transition to college basketball?
Landesberg: Oh definitely at first Shaun Brown (strength and conditioning coach) was killing me. Going back to my room every day I was just so happy to be in my room and able to go to sleep. Then waking up in the morning and thinking my body has never felt this way in my life.
Question: Do you miss New York City?
Landesberg: Do I! I mean there’s nothing like home. I can’t wait for the next time I get to go back.
Question: Do you feel you were well prepared for college basketball playing in the high school conference you played in back home?
Landesberg: Definitely because you never got a night off. There might be a team that was 0-6, but they could come out and beat the top team in the league. You’ve got to show up and play every day. It was tough.
Question: Are you a Knicks fan?
Landesberg: A little bit. It was hard last year, but I’m starting to like them a little this year.
Question: Are you a fan of any NBA team?
Landesberg: The Lakers and Kobe Bryant.