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Cavaliers prepare for final tune-up of the preseason

The Los Angeles Stars are the opponents as the Virginia men's basketball team plays its second and final exhibition game at University Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The featured attraction, however, will be the highly touted Cavaliers, who are looking to establish themselves as a powerhouse from the very beginning.

No matter how well Virginia coach Pete Gillen runs practices, nothing can match the intensity of a live game. It will be the final tune-up for the team before it begins its non-conference schedule at home versus Wagner College on Nov. 16. With as many freshmen playing prominent roles as the Cavaliers have, team chemistry is a primary concern. The exhibition games are both a showcase of the team's talent and a learning tool, especially for the promising youngsters who are adjusting to the caliber of play in the ACC.

"These games are better than practice because it gives the guys some much-needed playing time," said starting point guard Roger Mason Jr. "We have a lot of fundamentals to work on before the beginning of the season."

The first contest played last Friday night gave the Cavaliers a good indication of the season to come. In the midst of the team's 82-70 victory over the semi-pro Nantucket Nectars, Virginia revealed its strengths. They included a consistent, if not dominant, inside scoring presence in Travis Watson (24 points on 12-of-15 shooting); some pure yet raw talent in freshmen Keith Jenifer, Jermaine Harper and Elton Brown; and the dependable play of veterans Mason, Chris Williams and Adam Hall.

By the same token, Virginia also was unable to hide its weaknesses. The team's most pressing needs are a consistent ball-handler and an outside scoring threat. Mason still is adapting to playing the point and looked shaky at times. But as he gets more accustomed to the position as the season progresses, his confidence and comfort level will both rise. Mason's counterpart, Jenifer, was making his first college basketball appearance and committed seven turnovers. But he, too, will benefit from more playing time.

The Cavaliers also are searching for a consistent outside shooter. With last year's graduations of sharpshooter Keith Friel and Donald Hand - the school's fourth all-time most prolific three-point shooter - Virginia is in need of replacements.

It is too early to make broad judgments, but the team did not shoot from the outside with much confidence against Nantucket. The final tally was 3-for-11 from beyond the arc.

For this game Gillen also is stressing conditioning and health. He hopes the team will get a solid workout while avoiding further injuries.

"We need to get in better shape," Gillen said. "The game will help us get in better shape. We have some bumps and bruises so I hope we stay healthy."

Virginia seems to be stressing player development over victory in the exhibition season. Winning these games is no given, though, as the London Leopards edged out Virginia, 89-88, last season, and the EA Sports All-Stars destroyed UNC last weekend, 107-76.

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