ASSOCIATED PRESS Virginia's Mike Scott (32) goes to the hoop as Boston College's Josh Southern (52) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 11, 2010.GREENSBORO, N.C. | Tony Bennett watched the losses pile up, then was forced to make a personnel decision that threatened to drain whatever fragile confidence Virginia's players had left.
Now the first-year coach is watching his players prove they're not finished just yet.
Sammy Zeglinski scored 16 of his season-high 21 points in the first half to help the Cavaliers beat Boston College 68-62 on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. It was Virginia's first win in a month, snapping a nine-game losing streak that was the program's longest in nearly five decades.
Mike Scott had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the ninth-seeded Cavaliers (15-15), who also won their first tournament game since beating Virginia Tech in the first round in 2006. Now the Cavaliers are headed to Friday's quarterfinals to face fourth-ranked and top-seeded Duke.
"We've had some struggles and we've had some setbacks," Bennett said. "They have come together and they have worked hard. There's been a good attitude. You have to do that when your tank isn't full, and I'm just really proud of the way they handled it."
It was a relief-inducing win for the Cavaliers, who were the talk of the ACC in January after winning their first three league games and starting 5-2 after a 59-47 home win against North Carolina State on Feb. 3. But the Cavaliers hadn't won since, gradually sliding toward the bottom half of the standings.
Things got worse last week when Bennett suspended leading scorer Sylven Landesberg for the rest of the season due to academics issues. When they lost to Maryland to close the regular season, the Cavaliers entered Greensboro with their longest losing streak since the 1961-62 season.
Yet the Cavaliers played confidently against the eighth-seeded Eagles (15-16), who had beaten Virginia 68-55 last week. Zeglinski busted out of a shooting slump as one of five Cavs in double figures.
"With Sammy and with all our guys, we just want if they get a good look in the rhythm of the offense and you say it's a green-light shot, take it as long as it's a good shot," Bennett said. "When you get good looks you have to take them when they present themselves."
Zeglinski had made 11 of 52 3-point attempts (21 percent) in the past 10 games, but got off to a quick start by knocking down four 3s in the first half. That helped the Cavs go on a 20-4 run for a 37-27 lead on Jerome Meyinsse's three-point play less than a minute into the second half.
By Jeannine Aversa - Associated Press
updated 44 minutes ago
The recovery lost momentum in the spring as growth slowed to a 2.4 percent pace, its most sluggish showing in nearly a year and too weak to drive down unemployment. Published 8:33 a.m. July 30, 2010
By Sean Lengell - The Washington Times
The House ethics committee officially lodged charges against Rep. Charles B. Rangel, including that he used his office to raise $8 million for a college public policy center named after him and didn't file taxes while he was Congress' chief tax writer. Published 8:56 p.m. July 29, 2010
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
A conservative satirist takes on the worlds of politics and entertainment in humorous pursuit of truth, justice, and all things America.
Join Matt on weekly adventures in all forms as he pushes his comfort levels in attempt to stimulate body, mind, and soul.
A slice of suburban family life from the diverse perspectives of a politically-minded mom.
Join the Evolution with Adam Omkara! Empowering, cutting edge mind/body/spirit and health dialogue.
