Virginia came out strong in its opening game against Vermont and never surrendered the lead, as the Cavaliers took a 90-72 win at John Paul Jones Arena. This is the 10th consecutive season opener that Virginia has put in the win column.
Though Virginia coach Dave Leitao said this victory did not carry the same meaning as last year's opening win in Virginia's debut against then-No. 10 Arizona, the Cavaliers were careful not to overlook Vermont's capabilities. The Catamounts come into this year after a 25-win season in 2006 and a regular season championship in the America East Conference. Particularly, as Virginia saw Southern California, Kentucky and Georgia Tech suffer upsets in their season openers, the team sees this game as a quality win against a dangerous opponent.
"You just don't just go in and say how we're going to yawn and win by 35 and everybody goes away happy," Leitao said. "It was going to be a test, I knew it, and as a result we tried to prepare our guys to play through that as best they can."
The Cavaliers got off to a hot start offensively, hitting nine of their first 11 shots. Senior Adrian Joseph led the shooting spree, draining each of his first four shots in the first eight minutes, including three from behind the arc. Joseph and senior Sean Singletary each had 19 points on the afternoon to lead the Cavaliers.
As the Cavaliers search for answers to replace the scoring and leadership of 2007 graduates J.R. Reynolds and Jason Cain, Joseph is one player Leitao says he will look toward to bear some of that load.
"I'm beginning to think that [Joseph] can be a pretty vital piece," Leitao said. "He's attached emotionally and mentally where he wasn't always that way."
With senior Tunji Soroye out for six to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery Thursday, senior Ryan Pettinella got the start at center for Virginia, but saw only nine minutes of action. Junior Lars Mikalauskas took the majority of the minutes at center and ended with eight points and four rebounds in 19 minutes. Sophomore Jerome Meyinsse saw 10 minutes of time on the court after appearing in just 15 games last season.
Virginia also benefited from an outstanding performance from sophomore transfer Calvin Baker, who scored 11 points on 4-6 shooting in 14 minutes. Leitao also gave Baker the responsibility of guarding junior Mike Trimboli, the leading scorer for Vermont last season; Trimboli managed 16 points, but shot just 41 percent from the floor.
Baker "was a guy off the bench who really contributed on both ends, offensively and defensively," Leitao said. "He got beaten up for one straight year by both J.R. and Sean, but he's better for those experiences."
Though Virginia is satisfied with getting a win to open its season, the Cavaliers' offense was sloppy in spots, as Virginia turned the ball over 18 times. Freshman Sammy Zegilinski, who has been earmarked by Leitao to handle ball-handling responsibilities with Singletary on the bench, had difficulties against Vermont's pressure, turning the ball over three times in just seven minutes. The team is confident, however, that Zegilinski will develop into a point guard that the team can rely on.
Vermont "played some pretty good defense," Singletary said. "He [Zegilinski] will be all right; he's just got to get his feet wet."
Virginia also had difficulties in the second half, particularly defensively. After going into halftime with a 14-point lead, Virginia allowed 20 points in the paint in the second half and played Vermont to a 44-40 second half score.
"We've got to continue to grow," Leitao said. "I think I can nitpick enough, particularly in the second half, of our lapses physically and mentally that gives us a lot to continue to work on as a group"
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