Virginia basketball is at a crucial point in its history. As the Cavaliers sit at 11-9 overall and 5-5 in the ACC, there are two directions the program can go -- and that direction largely relies on the students' involvement.
The Wahoos are in a favorable position right now. I do not mean this in terms of the team's NCAA tournament prospects for this year. Rather, I mean this in terms of the Virginia basketball program. Let's go through it and see exactly what the 'Hoos have going for them.
First of all, they have been more successful this year than nearly anyone had predicted. Virginia is .500 in the ACC and has a legitimate shot at going to the Big Dance. They have also shown they can beat the ACC's best, with wins against North Carolina and Miami. Also, the 20-point shellacking of Miami, which is tied for third in the ACC, shows just how tough the Cavs are at home.
What is encouraging is what Virginia hoops has going for them in the future. The entire team, Billy Campbell excluded, will be back next year. The returning core will have some help in the form of Dave Leitao's first recruiting class. If Jonnie Lett, Andy Ogide, Soloman Tat, Jamil Tucker and/or Will Harris can make the type of impact as freshmen that Larynus Mikaulaskas and Mamadi Diane have made, then Virginia basketball is looking mighty strong for next year. Another encouraging fact about this group is that not one of them is shorter than 6'5". Sean Singletary must be salivating in anticipation of throwing passes to all those big bodies.
This leads me to my next, and probably biggest, positive that Virginia has: Dave Leitao. In only half a season, he has taken hold of a team that was anything but a team and made them buy into his philosophy. He has turned a team that played poor defense and lacked discipline on the boards into one of the best teams in those categories in the conference. What's more, he has made this team believe in themselves and in their potential, and he has done all of this without bringing in a single player.
It appears clear, though, as evidenced by the seemingly strong recruiting class coming in, that Leitao is a talented recruiter. If he can bring in good basketball talent and turn individual players into a good basketball team, like he has done this year, this program's future looks very bright.
As if Leitao's recruiting prowess isn't enough, the University is just about finished constructing a brand new, state-of-the-art basketball arena. I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the John Paul Jones Arena this past weekend, and I could not help but get jittery with anticipation for next year.
First, it is a recruiting gem. Aside from looking as though it will be one of the best, if not the best, basketball arena in the ACC or even the country, it is complete with an amazing practice facility. A catwalk overhangs one and a half practice courts so that each practice can be filmed and used as a tool to further develop the team's talent. Large weight and training rooms will also be attached to the arena.
This is not to say that this is an arena only players will enjoy. It is a unique, beautiful arena with the University of Virginia's distinctive fingerprints all over it. It has a gorgeous main entrance and a court area surrounded by brick and columns.
Further, the arena will be equipped with an entertainment system worth approximately $7 million. This rivals many NBA arenas. So, 'Hoos fans, the days of a little scoreboard overhanging the court are nearly over. The new arena will have an incredible sound system and a huge visual system that will be able to display vivid replays.
Finally, I will revert back to my original point: the importance of the student body's involvement. The new arena will have 5,000 student seats, most of which take up the lower bowl. An entire sideline and baseline of the new arena will be student seating, and the sideline is not 20 feet from the court like it is now -- all of this seating is right up against the court.
If this seating is completely full, the intimidation factor for any road team in the second half will be unspeakable.
They will be shooting at a basket with thousands of students behind it going crazy. Just above the student section will be colonnades surrounded by brick. And, even further above the colonnades, there is an engraving that I believe the current Virginia basketball team, the Virginia basketball program and the entire student body can embrace. It is a statement of resolve, perseverance and heart. We should all echo the words of Admiral John Paul Jones and let every other team in the nation know, "I have not yet begun to fight"
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