Whitey's World http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/ Daily Progress sports writer Whitey Reid's blog on UVa sports. en wreid@dailyprogress.com Copyright 2010 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:26:45 -0500 Roger Mason Jr.  to the Knicks? http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/roger_mason_jr._to_the_knicks/ Former Cavalier could be headed to New York Published reports out of New York say that former Virginia star Roger Mason Jr. has inked a one-year deal with the New York Knicks.
I’ll be honest—I’ve been waiting five years for something like this to happen.
As the UVa basketball beat reporter, I now have a legitimate reason to go up to NY and write a story on Mason and my favorite pro team.
A few years back, I was hopeful when former Cavalier Elton Brown was in Knicks training camp. However, he was cut before the season ever started.
The best thing here is that Mason might actually play for the Knicks. Currently, they don’t have very much in the way of shooting guards.
If the season started right now, the starting gig would probably go to Keleena Azubukie, Bill Walker or Mason.
The Knicks also have Wilson Chandler, but he is more of a 3 and a 4 than a 2.
Mason, who fell out of favor with San Antonio coach Greg Popovich last year and hardly played, will be playing in a shooter-friendly system that should benefit him tremendously and only enhance his value next offseason.
The Knicks will likely be looking to Mason for some veteran leadership. At 29, he will be, by far, the team’s oldest player.

]]> Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:07:11 -0500 Norman Nolan! http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/norman_nolan/ Former UVa player back in school! Got a cool story on former UVa star Norman Nolan running in Sunday’s paper. Be sure to check it out!
I’ll also have a story in Monday’s paper on Nolan, who will give us his take on Virginia’s “Six Shooters.“

]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:32:09 -0500 The Return of Leitao? http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/the_return_of_leitao/ Former UVa coach looking for work Former Virginia coach Dave Leitao’s name has been bandied about as a head-coaching candidate at Hofstra. Here’s one account from the New Haven Register. http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/03/28/sports/032810_i_was_thinking.txt
Leitao’s name has also been mentioned in the New York Post as a possible assistant coach at St. John’s. Presumably, he would work under former UCLA coach Steve Lavin, who is being rumored for that vacancy.
Interestingly, the New York Daily News had an article yesterday on former UVa assistant coach Rick Brunson. I have no idea why. Brunson, one of the least-liked people in the history of Virginia athletics, is currently an assistant coach at Hartford.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/03/27/2010-03-27_exknick_rick_brunson_working_his_way_up_the_bench.html

]]> Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:39:33 -0500 Iowa State Big Man Visits http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/iowa_state_big_man_visits/ Cyclone takes official visit Virginia coach Tony Bennett hasn’t wasted any time in trying to use some of his newfound roster space.

The Daily Progress has learned that former Iowa State basketball big man Justin Hamilton is in Charlottesville taking an official visit.

Hamilton, who was on hand at Saturday’s Virginia-Johns Hopkins lacrosse game with the UVa coaching staff, averaged 6.4 points and 5. 4 rebounds for Iowa State this past season as a sophomore.

Hamilton, a Utah native, is listed at 6-foot-11, 255 pounds and would give Bennett the big body that it lost when John Brandenburg transferred to Colgate last summer.

Hamilton, reportedly, is also considering LSU and UCLA. He would have to sit out the 2010-11 season (per NCAA transfer rules), and then have two years of eligibility remaining.

Iowa State, which went 15-17 and 4-12 in the Big 12, seems to be in disarray.

Leading scorer Craig Brackins recently announced he will bypass his senior season and make himself eligible for the 2010 NBA draft.

In addition, guard Dominique Buckley announced that he is transferring.

Hamilton started 32 games this past season, but said he wanted to play closer to home—a somewhat curious statement, given the schools he is considering.

“I appreciate everything the Cyclone Nation has done for me,” Hamilton told Cyclones.com. “The fan base, my teammates and the support of the community at ISU has been incredible, but I just feel I need to be at a school closer to home where my family will have a better opportunity to watch me play.

“I appreciate everything Coach [Greg] McDermott and the coaching staff has done for me. They have helped me improve as a player and person.”

]]> Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:14:37 -0500 No Miracle http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/no_miracle/ UVa loses GREENSBORO—Duke wins, 57-46.
Gutty effort by the Wahoos, just not enough talent.

]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:04:38 -0600 Do HOO believe in Miracles? http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/do_hoo_believe_in_miracles/ Virginia tied with Duke at half Somehow, Virginia is tied with Duke at the half.
The Hoos have played one of their grittiest halves of the season and are now tied at 27.
Virginia has turned the game into a slow-down, half-court slop-fest and has taken Duke out of its game. Jon Scheyer has looked brutal. Several of his shots weren’t even close.
The question is—can Virginia keep this going?
I highly doubt it.
But, hey, the U.S. did beat Russia.

]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:56 -0600 Jerome thinks Sylven’s a Goner http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/jerome_thinks_sylvens_a_goner/ Meyinsse thinks Sylven going to NBA Jerome Meyinsse didn’t come right out and say it, but his reaction said it all.
In the wake of Virginia’s first-round victory over BC that just finished, I asked the senior captain if he had a gut feeling about what Landesberg would do—stay in school or go to the NBA?
“I do [have a gut feeling],“ said a smiling Meyinsse. “I’m not going to talk about it…it will come out when it’s time—his decision. I just wish him the best.“
Doesn’t exactly sound promising for a return to school IMO.

]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:43:30 -0600 Sylven Skipped Art? http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/sylven_skipped_art/ Bennett discusses attendance policy On the basketball court, Sylven Landesberg could be considered an artist of sorts. Off the court, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Sources have told The Daily Progress that the class Landesberg never attended was in art of all things!
On the ACC teleconference that just wrapped up a few minutes ago, Virginia coach Tony Bennett was asked (by Dough Doughty of the Roanoke Times) about his policies pertaining to players’ class attendance.
“I think, first and foremost, the responsibility falls to the student-athletes,“ Bennett said. “But we do random class checks and there are pretty clear guidelines with our players that we expect them to go to class…
“We have meetings with players each week and [ask] how the class is going? Talk to me about how you’re doing in the class and what’s going on, so there’s a lot of communication, random class checks and guidelines that have been established and a level of trust of, ‘This is what we expect.‘“
Bennett, who suspended Landesberg for the season on Saturday, added: “Sylven’s situation was that he was at a lot of his other classes. This one, obviously, it didn’t happen, and it was unfortunate.“

]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:25:44 -0600 Sylven Suspended http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/sylven_suspended/ Landesberg done for season Talk about a shocker!
We were just handed a press release from Virginia media relations man Rich Murray saying that Virginia soph leading scorer Sylven Landesberg has been suspended for the rest of the season for “failure to live up to academic obligations.“
“Sylven has failed to live up to his academic obligations and will not play in games for the remainder of the season,“ said Virginia coach Tony Bennett. “This is a very difficult decision. Sylven is a fine young man who I deeply care care about, but our players need to take personal responsibility for their academic obligations. There are standards and expectations that Sylven and every player in this program now and in the future must uphold. When they are not upheld, there are consequences.
“It’s important for our current and future players to understand it’s a privilege to compete in the ACC and attend one of the finest institutions in the country. My hope is through this action it will help Sylven and the other young men in our program understand the value of a degree from the University of Virginia and the opportunities it provides for life after basketball.“

]]> Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:43:24 -0600 Bennet adds sixth recruit http://www.mydailyprogress.com/index.php/whiteysworld/article/bennet_adds_sixth_recruit/ Billy Baron Baby! Virginia coach Tony Bennett, it seems, will be adding a floor general to the 2010 incoming class after all. On Tuesday, Billy Baron—a 6-foot-2 guard from Rhode Island who plays for Worcester Academy in Massachusetts—announced that he is signing with the Wahoos.
The development was something of a curveball, considering that Virginia, as presently constructed, has no scholarships available for next season. In addition, it was expected that Baron would play for his father, Jim, who is the coach at the University of Rhode Island.
However, apparently the draw of playing in the ACC was too much for him to pass up.
“It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever been through in my life,‘’ Baron told the Providence Journal. “I love Rhode Island. I’ve been here since I was 10. I’ve seen every game. I love the guys on the team. It’s been my dream for them. But I realize this is a great overall opportunity.”
With the five players who have already signed for next season, Virginia is at the maximum number of players on scholarship (13). With Baron’s arrival, Bennett has to somehow free up a scholarship.
My guess is that freshman Tristan Spurlock, who has barely played this season, will transfer.
And don’t rule out Sylven Landesberg turning pro. 

]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:41:53 -0600