The Virginia men's basketball team opens its hoops pre-season at home tonight at 7:30 with an exhibition game against the Big Apple All-Stars, a touring team made up of former college players. Last year, the Cavaliers beat Big Apple 84-60 in their exhibition game that opened Virginia's 2002-2003 season.
The Cavaliers return four starters to this year's squad, including the squad's three captains: senior guard Todd Billet, senior guard Majestic Mapp and junior forward Devin Smith.
Billet is Virginia's leading returning scorer with 13.6 points per game. Smith is Virginia's second highest returning scorer, averaging 11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year. Mapp, who has struggled in his return from injury last year, averaged 2.4 points and 15.6 minutes.
Despite these returning starters, the Cavaliers have been struck with the loss of a handful of players. Forward Jason Clark will miss the season due to academic problems, CBSsportsline.com reported on Oct. 22. Three players: Center Nick Vander Laan, guard Jermaine Harper and guard Keith Jenifer all decided to transfer after last season.
Virginia also graduated forward Travis Watson, the Cavaliers' leading scorer and rebounder, who is now playing in Greece.
The loss of Watson will hurt an already struggling Virginia team that finished dead-last in rebounding in the ACC last season. Watson led the ACC with 10.5 rebounds per game in 2002-2003.
Junior forward Elton Brown, who averaged 4.3 rebounds and 9.6 points last year, has slimmed down during the offseason, which should make him faster and more athletic.
"He's a little more explosive, he's quicker, he's playing better, he's running the court," coach Pete Gillen said of Brown, "I think he's going to have a good season."
The Cavaliers also had a successful recruiting season, nabbing point guard TJ Banister and forward Gary Forbes, who was ranked 20th in the nation among the 2003 recruiting class by ESPN. Both should make impacts on the Virginia team.
"My personal goal is for the team to make the NCAA tournament," Billet said. "If we do that, it means that everyone pulled together and we've had great leadership from our older guys."
Another concern the Cavaliers must face is their defense. They were the only team in the ACC last season to allow more points than they scored, and had the conference's worst turnover margin.
"For us to get better we have to defend better," Gillen said. "We have more character and more leadership. I think we'll be better defensively."
Before the Cavaliers make plans for the NCAA tournament, they have to wade through their schedule, which provides weak non-conference opposition, but features arguably the strongest conference in college basketball. In their exhibition game tonight, the Cavaliers have a chance to see what sort of progress they have made this offseason.
Tonight, the Cavaliers play a Big Apple team that plays a schedule during the NCAA preseason that includes 10 college squads. In their last game, on Saturday, the All-Stars lost to VCU 75-70. Although Virginia is not facing a particularly strong opponent, they have a lot to prove coming into the season, as the ACC preseason poll has them ranked eighthin the conference.
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