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   SabreMail - March 17, 2008
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Men's Team In CBI; Women Await NCAA Brackets

The Virginia basketball programs will be gearing up for postseason play this week. The men's team has accepted an invitation to play in the inaugural 16-team College Basketball Invitational while the women's team will learn its postseason destination today.

The CBI region for the Cavalier men has a distinct Commonwealth feel to it with three teams from the state in the mix. UVa hosts Richmond in the first round at the John Paul Jones Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. That game will be televised by Fox College Sports. The other side of the region features Old Dominion taking on Rider. The winners advance to face each other on Monday, March 24. Virginia and Richmond have met 87 times with the Cavaliers compiling a 51-36 record against the Spiders. The teams last met during the 2005-06 season with UVa winning 59-43 at Richmond.

Reserved seat tickets for the opening game cost $10 and tickets are $5 for UVa students. There is a $5 charge for parking. Fans can buy tickets online at VirginiaSports.com, by telephone, or in person. The ticket office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and may be reached by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Donors to the Virginia Athletics Foundation will have access first-come first-served to sections 112, 113 and 114 at John Paul Jones Arena through Monday.

The Cavalier women, meanwhile, are considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament. The 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show airs tonight on ESPN at 7 p.m. UVa fans are invited to watch the show with the team at the JPJ! The West Gate will open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. Debbie Ryan is expected to address the crowd once Virginia's seed and location is announced.

Virginia (23-9) will likely receive between a 4 and 6 seed for the tournament based on pundit projections. First-round play begins on Saturday, March 22.

Kris Wright
Editor
TheSabre.com


   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Basketball recruiting ...

In case you missed it, senior guard/forward Sylven Landesberg helped Holy Cross High School (Flushing, N.Y.) to its first CHSAA AA championship title in 40 years last week. Attempts to reach the 6-6, 195-pound Landesberg, a UVa recruit, were unsuccessful last week, but we will continue to try to reach him this week for comments on his team's championship run as well as the many individual honors he has received this season.

In the meantime, be sure to check out this article on Holy Cross' championship win.

Attempts to reach Berkmar (Lilburn, GA) wing forward Wesley Witherspoon were unsuccessful as well last week, but we hope to have something on him this week. The 6-8 Witherspoon, who had already taken one official visit to LSU last fall, made official visits to Virginia and Texas the previous week. He was on hand in Charlottesville for UVa's game versus Duke.

Witherspoon, a senior, reportedly wants to make all five official visits before coming to a decision. Clemson, Florida, and Memphis are among the schools being considered for those final two spots.

EDGE subscribers can find out the latest on a pair of top juniors the University of Virginia is recruiting. Last week, we ran articles on Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-9 forward Ryan Kelly and Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, VA) 6-8 power forward DeShawn Painter.

Kelly, who averaged almost 24 points per game this past season, is considering offers from N.C. State, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. Painter is considering Florida, Louisville, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.


Football recruiting ...

Last Thursday, I posted my take on the offense needs for the 2009 recruiting class. This week, I'll post my take on the defensive needs of this class and an overall look at how many scholarships the staff may ultimately use by the time Signing Day rolls around next February.

I'll also continue my 2009 class coverage, including the latest on Deep Run wide receiver/defensive back Antone Exum and Liberty (Bealeton, VA) safety Corey Lillard. The 6-0, 210-pound Exum boasts five official scholarship offers, while Lillard, a 5-11, 208-pound prospect, boasts eight official scholarship offers.


Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

2009 Class Needs: The Offense
Over the past two recruiting classes, the University of Virginia has compiled the following on the offensive side of the ball: two quarterbacks, two running backs, four wide receivers, five tight ends and seven offensive line prospects. With the exception of running back and tight end, offense will be a focus of the 2009 class for the UVa staff.

Painter Finishes Season with a Flourish
Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, VA) power forward DeShawn Painter entered the 2007/2008 season with high expectations as one of the most highly rated prospects in the 2009 class. The season did not go as planned for Painter, who admittedly struggled against top competition and defenses focused on taking him out of the game. However, by the end of the season, the 6-8, 215-pound prospect regained his swagger and is excited heading into the AAU season.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...


   Support TheSabre.com's Sponsors

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   News, Notes, and Fan Discussion

Blog Banter: SabreMail Contest Highlights Singletary

Sean Singletary has brought smiles to a lot of Hoo faces, including his own.After Sean Singletary scored his 2,000th career point against Maryland on Sunday, The Sabre pulled out an old favorite on Monday: A SabreMail contest! This week's SabreMail asked readers to submit "your favorite Singletary moment - the shot to beat Duke is not eligible to keep it interesting - of the last four years." Well, Thursday's noon deadline has passed and we have a winner among a list of strong entries.

My Singletary moment was Dec. 17, 2005. Being on the West Coast, this was a rare opportunity to see the HOOS. I had convinced my girlfriend that we HAD to see Singletary. She's not a sports fan and didn't attend UVa, but after some begging and pleading, she decided to come along. It was a long trip; we flew from SFO to Spokane with a stop in Seattle. The snow and rain made it one of those trips (you know ... the one where you swear you'll do more volunteer work if you survive).

Well, we made it to the game and our seats were right on the floor behind the basket. (Thank you EBAY) After 10 minutes, Sean Singletary had taken over the game. Driving, shooting, passing ... it reminded me of Jordan against Portland. I was expecting Sean to shrug his shoulders and throw his hands up. There was this one drive to the basket, where Sean just froze in the air with the ball in one hand as he waited for the defender hit the ground before he released (kind of like the Duke Shot). It was a drive that had the whole arena buzzing. All those ohh's and ahh's ... I couldn't have been more proud.

At halftime, my girlfriend turned to me and said, "Now I understand why you love Sean. He's so fast and he plays SO HARD." We were up 6 or 7 before Adam Morrison flopped and got J.R. hit with a T. They went on a crazy run and we ended up losing by 11. As the game winded down, Sean never stopped attacking and when the buzzer sounded and the players shook hands and walked off, Singletary walked alone ... slowly with his head down. I yelled "Keep your head up Sean." Unfortunately, it was a feeling I was all too familiar with, but not my girlfriend. I turned to look and she was in tears. The person that could care less suddenly cared more than me. I asked if she was OK and she replied, "I've never seen someone who wanted to win more than Sean ... it's not fair."

That was one of my many Sean moments. He made my girlfriend realize why I love UVa basketball with a passion. - hoostw

Converting the girlfriend into a basketball fan. Bravo! Congratulations on winning this SabreMail contest. There were many good entries, including several from last year's NCAA Tournament. Read the other entries on The Good Ol' Blog.

Read more from the Good Ol' Blog here.


Tennis Home

The Sabre added a brand new sports message board to the site last spring and tennis fans now have their own home to talk about the Cavaliers. If you haven't joined the discussion yet, you're missing out! The men's tennis team is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation! Get in the swing of things on the Tennis Message Board.


UVa Bookstores' You Pick Em Contest

Lacrosse fans, don't miss a chance to participate in UVA Bookstores' You Pick Em Contest. The game is simple: The first contestant who picks the winner and comes closest to predicting the final score wins. In case of ties, the earliest entry will be awarded the prize. Entries must be received by 12:00 a.m. EST game day. Entries received after 12:00 a.m. (midnight the night before the game) are ineligible. Limit one entry per person. Results will be posted by Noon the Monday following the game (excluding holidays). Please note that there will not be contests for the mid-week games this season. Also please select whether to have a weekly message sent, informing you of each week's results. Just check the 'Do not wish to be on mailing list' button if you choose not to receive our weekly message.

Get the complete rules and enter this week's contest at UVabookstores.com.

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Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more, please contact [email protected].

The Sabre is a vital part of a unique collegiate sports network that reaches nearly 2 million individuals per month. Like the Sabre, each site in the SportsWar network is an organically grown community and the emotional home for its fans.

To learn more about SportsWar network sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected] and visit the SportsWar media guide www.sportswar.com

To view a list of our sponsors, please visit our Sponsors Page.


Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

  • Cavaliers Run Away from Towson 18-13: For the second Saturday in a row, Virginia used a big run early in the second half to break open a tight contest and defeat Towson 18-13 before a crowd of 1,851 fans at Johnny Unitas Stadium and extend the nation's longest winning streak to eight games. Ben Rubeor scored three goals to lead a balanced offensive effort for the second-ranked Cavaliers. Thirteen different Cavaliers scored as Virginia improved to 8-0 on the season.
  • Cavaliers dominate Tar Heels at home, 16-5: In front of 952 fans, the No. 3 Virginia women's lacrosse team put together its best outing this season by using a balanced scoring attack and a strong defense to shut down the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels, 16-5, in Klöckner Stadium Sunday afternoon. The win marks the seventh straight for the Cavaliers at home and improves Virginia to 6-1 on the season, 2-1 in ACC contests. The Tar Heels drop to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Junior Blair Weymouth led the Cavaliers' offense to a season-high 23 points as a team, scoring four goals and adding three helpers. On the other end of the field, senior Kendall McBrearty collected 11 saves in goal to keep the visiting Tar Heels attack to a season-low five goals scored.
  • Harrison earns All-America Honors at NCAA Championships in 5000m Senior Emily Harrison finished ninth in the 5000-meters at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday evening, earning All-America honors for the third time in her career. The second ACC finisher to cross the line, Harrison finished in a time of 16:19.85, just three seconds shy of her personal-best.
  • Seminoles Win Game Three To Sweep UVa: The Virginia softball team (7-15, 2-4 ACC) was swept by Florida State (21-9, 4-2 ACC) after losing the final game of the series, 5-1, Saturday at the Park.
  • Women's Soccer Announces 2008 Spring Schedule: The Virginia women's soccer team has announced its 2008 spring schedule. The Cavaliers will play six games on five dates in March and April. The games are against Penn State (Richmond, Sat. March 29 ), Florida/ODU (Norfolk, Sat. April 5), James Madison (Klockner, Wed. April 9), Georgetown (Maryland, Sat. April 12), and Dartmouth (Dartmouth, Sat. April 19).
  • Duke Drops No. 16 Baseball, 4-1: Duke scored three runs in the first inning and then rode the backs of its pitching staff to a 4-1 win Sunday over the Virginia baseball team in the rubber game of a three-game series at Jack Coombs Field. Virginia returns home to start a 12-game homestand Tuesday, as the Cavaliers play host to Stony Brook for two games. The Hoos and Seawolves battle at 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • No. 1 Cavaliers Top Maryland 7-0: The Virginia men's tennis team returned to action after a two-week break to down No. 50 Maryland 7-0 Saturday afternoon at The Tennis Club of College Park. The win improves the Cavaliers' record to 16-0 on the season (2-0 ACC) as they match the longest winning streak in school history. "It was good to get out and compete again after a long break," said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. "After the long layoff, and it being our first outdoor match, I thought we played extremely well. Give Maryland a lot of credit, they have improved a lot over the past year."
  • Cavalier Women's Tennis Downed at TCU: The Virginia women's tennis team concluded its four-match road trip with a 6-1 loss to No. 15 TCU on Sunday afternoon. The loss, combined with Friday's setback at Baylor, drops the Cavaliers' record to 6-7 on the season. Jennifer Stevens recorded the Cavaliers' lone point in both matches by winning at No. 2 singles.
  • Cavalier Golfers Use Strong Finish to Place Seventh at LSU: Posting the best single-round score of the tournament, the Virginia women's golf team moved up five spots during the final round of LSU's Cleveland Classic to finish seventh. The Cavaliers combined to shoot 1-over 289 on The University Course Sunday to complete the three-day event at 905. Florida State took team honors, winning the 17-team tournament by six strokes at 884. LSU was second at 890.

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.


   UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear!

Hooded V-Sabre Sweatshirt
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The hooded sabre over University of Virginia sweatshirt, by Soffe, features a full-chest imprint. The sweatshirt is a hooded fleece with a muff pocket and self-lined drawstring. It is made to last with a reinforced back neckline, two-needle cover-straddle topstitching and spandex in the ribbed cuffs and bottom. The orange color is perfect for those late fall football games and early spring contests!

The Hooded V-Sabre Sweatshirt is part of UVa Bookstores' Winter Clearance Sale. Check out the other great Virginia items on sale!

   SabreMail History

Issue No. 290 - April 30, 2007

Hamilton, Snelling Drafted

On Sunday, Virginia's Marcus Hamilton and Jason Snelling joined a long list of Cavaliers who have been selected in the NFL Draft. Both players were picked in the seventh and final round, extending a streak of 24 straight years for UVa players.

The Falcons drafted Snelling with the 244th overall selection, while Hamilton followed immediately at No. 245 when Tampa Bay called his name. Snelling was excited for the opportunity to play in Atlanta.

"I was hoping Atlanta would call me. This is a blessing and I look forward to working for the Atlanta Falcons," Snelling said in a news release. "This is something I've been dreaming of all of my life."

Hamilton was also happy for the chance to continue his football career in the NFL.

"I am happy that the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to play at the next level and that I was able to be drafted," Hamilton told The Daily Progress. "That's something that very few people get the opportunity to do and I am just truly thankful for the opportunity."

   What's New on TheSabre.com?

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:

  • CBI Tournament: The Sabre provides coverage of the Hoos' men's basketball team in the CBI Tournament.
  • Photo Gallery: The Sabre looks back at the men's basketball team and its win against Maryland.
  • Hopkins: The men's lacrosse team takes on Johns Hopkins this weekend in Charlottesville and we'll have coverage fo the game.


In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Jackets Sink Cavs In Charlotte
Image: Mamadi DianeThere are many clichés that get spouted when the postseason begins in sports. It's a whole new ballgame. Everyone is 0-0. This is the start of a new season. And so on. Unfortunately for the Virginia men's basketball team, none of those sayings changed a thing at the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers struggled with defense all season in ACC play and Thursday night's game with Georgia Tech provided more of the same. The Yellow Jackets shredded the UVa defense to the tune of 57.9% shooting (52% on 3-pointers) and rolled to a 94-76 victory. It marked the 10th time this season that the Cavs allowed an ACC team to shoot better than 48% from the field and they are now 1-9 in those contests.

FanWatch: Asheville Hoo & TJ Hoo Share Love
Image: David Jenkins (Asheville Hoo) and Tracey Jenkins (TJ Hoo)In September of 1990, the Virginia football team created a lifetime memory when it snapped a 29-game losing streak to Clemson in Scott Stadium. For David and Tracey Jenkins, Asheville Hoo and TJ Hoo, that 20-7 victory carries even more historical significance. After all, that game helped start a life-long love affair with Cavalier football ... and each other.

WCAV Special: A Tribute To Singletary
Image: Sean SingletaryVirginia point guard Sean Singletary added to his legacy in the orange and blue on Sunday by scoring his 2,000th career point. The feat leaves him in rare company at UVa with Bryant Stith, Jeff Lamp, Buzzy Wilkinson, and Ralph Sampson. But Singletary will be remembered for his heart, determination, and competitive spirit as much as the points. WCAV TV, who has video available here at TheSabre.com on a daily basis, takes a special look at the Cavalier star.


   Sabre Edge

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All of the great Sabre Edge content can be yours for the price of $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Try it for a month and cancel if you like. But we think you'll get hooked on the Edge and find out for yourself why the most knowledgeable Cavalier fans are Edge subscribers.

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