We are only a couple of games into the Dave Leitao era, but already there is an entirely different attitude around the Virginia basketball program.
It is not the fact that the Cavaliers won their first two games or that Leitao wears his passion for basketball on his sleeve. Remember, Pete Gillen got his team off to strong starts in four of his seven seasons as head coach, and that he and Gary Williams were in contention for the Sweatiest Coach in the ACC Award every year. Leitao has an entirely different intangible quality that is generating some excitement around this Virginia team: his no-nonsense attitude.
"I want [my players] to know that they can come into my office and talk about issues relative to their life; we can laugh, we can put our arms around each other, and we can joke, but that they understand where the line is," Leitao said during his preseason press conference. "When it comes to basketball, there are very few things I joke around with. It's a serious venture, and it should be for them [as well]."
Leitao's seriousness was evident during Virginia's season-opening 79-44 domination of Liberty Nov. 18. Despite the Cavalier's opening 18-2 run, Leitao refused to sit back and take the game easy. Instead, he was constantly on his feet, making sure his players stayed in the game mentally despite being ahead by at least 20 points for most of the game.
Staying focused in the game "helps because you never know; when we go up against a real good team, it will help," point guard Sean Singletary said after the Liberty win. "It's practicing a good habit."
Leitao himself definitely stayed in that game, picking up a technical foul with about five minutes left in the game for arguing a call. It was the ultimate sign to his team that despite what the scoreboard said, there was still a game to be played. Leitao, who claims not to be a coach that picks up technical fouls, probably already has drawn the attention of many referees who will work Virginia games this season with his soon to be notorious foot stomp protest. In both of his first two games as Virginia's head coach, Leitao drew technical fouls for stomping his foot against the hardwood in protest.
"I have got to wear rubber soled shoes, I guess," Leitao said following the Nov. 22 59-43 win over Richmond. "I was just trying to get [the referee's] attention more than anything else. But two 'T's' in two games is not what I am trying to do for this team."
Personally, I love the foot stomp. The 6-foot-7-inches Leitao and his stomp just may be the most intimidating, scary thing on the court for Virginia basketball. That's no knock on Tunji Soroye or Laurynas Mikalauskas, just praise for Leitao. But if Leitao does want to cut back on technical fouls, then there really should be some money somewhere in the athletic department's budget for some soft-soled shoes. And if Craig Littlepage can't foot the bill, then perhaps some donations can be made to get Leitao some new shoes.
Joking aside, Leitao's intensity and desire for perfection from his players are just what this team needed and some of the major differences from last year's disappointing squad. As long as Leitao's players respond to his no-nonsense attitude, and there is little indication to think that they won't, then this Virginia team could be in much better shape than many people think.
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