Poll: Are You Encouraged By Bennett’s Bunch?

This week on The Good Ol Blog, there's a poll up for Virginia fans. The question: Are you encouraged by Bennett's bunch? The poll was inspired by a post from Sabre user CLC-UVA:

Subject: Funny feeling …
Posted by: CLC-UVA on Fri Jan 21 2011 12:11:53 PM
Message: We’ve lost three games in a row. All were winnable; in fact, all required avoidable lapses to “earn” the loss. Our best player is out for the year. Our line-up is a mix of youngsters and marginal upperclassmen. The big dance looks all but impossible this year, and even .500 is looking more and more unlikely.

Yet I feel better about UVA hoops than I have in years.

Normally I’m leery of the “good loss” tag – and obviously I would have loved to see the W’s – but I can’t shake the feeling that every one of these recent losses shows near-term progress and will have long-term payoffs. And more generally, it just feels like we’re getting better. Slowly, and unevenly with respect to individuals, but overall we’re looking more and more like a team with a consistent approach, and more success in executing that approach. You can just see how TB is going to win over time. And even this year, with MS out and a bunch of first years on the floor, you get a sense that we’re a team people aren’t going to relish playing. Add a few more pieces and give these kids another year of seasoning, and I think we may have something.

Vote in the poll! (Open through Friday!)

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Weekend developments

Virginia scored a commitment over the weekend, only it wasn't from one Curtis Grant, Jeremiah Hendy, or Dominique Terrell. As reported on TheSabre.com Sunday, Mason Thomas, a 6-1, 200-pound safety prospect out of Kempsville (Virginia Beach, VA), is the latest high school senior to pledge to the Hoos.

Thomas started at free safety and wide receiver at Kempsville this past season. On defense, where he also saw action at outside linebacker, he totaled 72 tackles with around 30 solo tackles and two interceptions. Virginia is pursuing him as a safety, though his high school coach, Jamaine Paddyfoot, says Thomas has the potential and physical nature to perhaps develop into a linebacker.

"I could see him moving to outside linebacker in college," Paddyfoot told TheSabre.com. "He is 6-1, 200 pounds. He's physical and smart."

Thomas committed at the end of his official visit this past weekend. He entered the weekend without an offer, but got the good news from head coach Mike London on Sunday.

According to sources and some of the recruits I have spoken with, Grant, Hendy and Terrell all very much enjoyed the weekend. Now, Virginia awaits the decisions of these three top targets as well as Gilman (Baltimore, MD) star athlete Darius Jennings. It's just a week-and-a-half until the Feb. 2 Signing Day, and all three are expected to reveal their college choices by that date. Grant will announce his choice on Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m., according to Hermitage coach Patrick Kane.

Grant, the 5-star linebacker out of Hermitage, is scheduled to visit UNC this coming weekend. He's also considering Florida and Ohio State. Hendy, a 6-1, 190-pound cornerback out of Bowie (MD), is scheduled to visit UCLA. He's also considering Iowa, Maryland, and possibly N.C. State. 5-10, 175-pound athlete Dominique Terrell is slated to visit Miami this coming weekend. West Virginia is also in consideration.

Jennings, who is being recruited by Virginia as a slot receiver, is considering Ohio State, Virginia and Wake Forest. Miami is making a push for a visit this coming weekend, though I feel the decision ultimately comes down to the aforementioned three. Jennings has made his officials, so all that is left (assuming a Miami visit doesn't happen) is to make a choice.

I'll have more on the "Big 3" uncommitted visitors from last weekend this week, so stay tuned. EDGE subscribers can check out weekend updates from defensive tackle David Dean, defensive back Anthony Harris, linebacker/safety Darius Lee, cornerback Brandon Phelps and running back Clifton Richardson. These recruits, all previously committed prior to last weekend, reflect on the weekend experience, the 2011 class, position, and much more.

Obviously football is taking center stage as Signing Day inches closer, but I'll also check in on the basketball recruiting front with Virginia's three 2011 class signees.

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 ...

Weekend News and Notes
The big recruiting weekend has come and gone and a new commitment is on board in Kempsville (Virginia Beach, VA) safety Mason Thomas. Previously committed prospects David Dean, Anthony Harris, Darius Lee, Brandon Phelps and Clifton Richardson took some time to discuss the overall feeling of the weekend, their impressions of the class as a whole, the uncommitted targets in town and much more.

Thomas Accepts Offer From Virginia
Kempsville (Virginia Beach, VA) standout free safety/wide receiver Mason Thomas knew prior to this weekend that he wanted to go to the University of Virginia. The only thing separating Thomas from being a part of UVa's 2011 class was an official scholarship offer, which is exactly what he received today from head coach Mike London. The 6-1, 200-pound senior, accompanied by his father on an official visit, quickly accepted.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• UVa Looking To Close Strong In 2011
• Catching Up With Thompson Brown
• Catching Up With Marco Jones
• Dominique Terrell Set For UVa Official Visit

CapTech is an information technology consulting firm that manages, designs and integrates systems. With practice areas in IT management consulting, systems integration and data management, our consultants work on projects and programs across a range of industries. Contact them today for more details on consulting services and/or employment opportunities.

Worth Reading

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game over the weekend, meaning UVa products Heather Miller and James Farrior are headed back to the Super Bowl. Prior to the AFC showdown on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote this story about Farrior, who Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called his team's "unquestioned leader." Make sure to check it out!

Advertise With The Sabre!

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].

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

Virginia Sabre Valentine's Heart T-Shirt

$10.00

The Virginia Sabre Valentine's Day Heart T-shirt, by Blue Ridge Graphics, is a red T-shirt with front chest imprint. An arched Virginia is screened above a heart with the V-Sabre logo.

Issue No. 286 - April 2, 2007

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 soon:

• Sabre Roundtable: The Sabre is working on a football roundtable with some media partners. Stay tuned for answers to some UVa football questions!
• Hoops Analysis: TheSabre.com gives you the inside look at the Cavaliers like no one else.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Hoos Swish Past Yellow Jackets
In some games this season, the Virginia men's basketball team has had trouble getting shots to go down. On Saturday, that wasn't a problem. The Cavaliers scorched Georgia Tech's defense with 10 3-pointers on 66.7% shooting en route to a 72-64 victory. The win snapped a three-game ACC skid for the Hoos, who improved to 17-1 in Tony Bennett's tenure when scoring 70 points.

Photo Gallery: UNC
The Virginia basketball team led UNC at the half in its last game at the John Paul Jones Arena, but couldn't pull out the win. The Hoos will try to turn the tables at home this weekend when Georgia Tech visits on Saturday. Get ready for the Yellow Jackets with an EDGE photo gallery that features 59 images of KT Harrell, Mustapha Farrakhan, Joe Harris, and more!

Eagles Clip Cavaliers
After rallying in what became an entertaining seesaw battle at Boston College on Wednesday night, the Virginia men's basketball team could not come up with the critical plays in the final minutes and fell 70-67 in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The Cavaliers have dropped three straight ACC games and own a 1-3 mark in league play after defeating Virginia Tech in the conference opener.

Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!

Every week, Sabre Edge provides you with exclusive articles, columns, special features, interviews and recruiting news, including daily recruiting updates. There's even a special message board just for subscribers. And to top it off, you get 10 percent off all of your UVa Bookstores purchases during your subscription.

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.

If you're a true Wahoo, then the Sabre Edge is right for you. Check it out!

• Sabre Edge Info and Sign Up