Welcome to the year 2003. This year's resolution for Virginia? How about top ten teams in basketball and football? The basketball team just posted their ninth non-conference win last night, defeating Wofford 87-75. That makes six wins in a row heading into ACC competition. If the Hoos can continue to improve, especially with the help from transfers Devin Smith, Nick Vanderlaan and Todd Billet, they could do some damage in what appears to be a good group of ACC teams this season.

For the football squad, the future is indeed bright. UVa just came off a stunning win over West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte. The Cavs dusted the Mountaineers 48-22 and posted a nine-win season, only the sixth time in school history. With a host of players returning (20 starters with kickers), including rising senior quarterback and ACC Player of the Year Matt Schaub, the Cavaliers should be one of the favorites to win the ACC and perhaps look for their first-ever 11-win season. With all of this, a top ten finish is certainly conceivable.

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season. Here's to a great new year!

Go Hoos!

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Keenan Carter, one of the top recruits of last season, has qualified academically to attend the University of Virginia. Carter failed to qualify last season and decided to prep one year at Fork Union Military Academy this season.

For more information on Carter's situation and quotes from FUMA Coach John Shuman, please see the Sabre Edge recruiting update section.

Ellis may decide early

Chris Ellis, one of the top defensive players in the state, may decide his college destination earlier than expected. Ellis is considering Virginia, Virginia Tech and Tennessee, but there are reports out of the Hampton area that several top in-state players are leaning to the Cavaliers, especially after UVa's most recent destruction of West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl. Is Ellis one of those players? Only time will tell, but the positive relationship between Ellis and UVa recruiting coordinator Mike London is hard to ignore. Coach London shares the same hometown with the Ellis family.

Cavs destroy Mountaineers, 48-22

Wow! That pretty much sums up the overall performance of the Virginia Cavaliers last Sunday when they completely took apart 13th ranked West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl.

The Cavaliers were led by true freshman Wali Lundy, who scored four touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground. The first was a reception from backup quarterback Marques Hagans after a lateral pass from Matt Schaub. The trick play was one of many that were successful against West Virginia, and it kept the Mountaineers on their heels the entire game.

Also putting in a startling performance was Hagans, who not only assisted in UVa's first score of the game, but broke the 'Eers back when he returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. The touchdown put UVa up 21-10, and the Hoos never looked back.

Schaub also had a tremendous day, completing 16 of 22 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. That gives Schaub 28 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions on the year. Schaub also scored a touchdown on the ground when he scrambled on a fourth-down play near the goal line.

Angelo Crowell led the charge defensively, racking up 12 total tackles and helping to contain West Virginia super-back Avon Cobourne. Cobourne had mentioned in an earlier news article that he wished for a blowout and to know that his team would secure the win by halftime. He was half right. It was a blowout. Cobourne finished the day with good numbers (117 yards rushing with two touchdowns), but it was not enough.

The win marks only the sixth time in school history that the Cavaliers have posted nine wins on the season. As noted, Virginia returns 20 starters next season and many key reserves, including senior quarterback Matt Schaub. Additions on the roster of prep players Ahmad Brooks and Keenan Carter should help strengthen a defense that ranked near the bottom of college football this season. It's not that Virginia was bad on defense; the low ranking was mostly due to youth, since the Hoos rotated 12 freshmen and sophomores in their two-deep this season.

For more on the game, please see West Virginia Game Notes.

Basketball wins, again and again and again

This week, the Cavaliers disposed of Georgetown (79-75), Liberty (77-58) and Wofford (87-65) to run their non-conference record to 9-2. The win over Wofford last night was the sixth in a row for the Cavaliers and marked the 200th non-conference win for the Hoos in University Hall.

For more on all of the games, please see our Schedule and Notes page.

Next up for hoops

Virginia will face N.C. State for their first conference game of the season this Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The Cavaliers will travel to Raleigh, N.C. for the game. This game will be televised by the Fox Sports Network. Check your local listings for a channel in your area.

Mr. Majestic returns?

The Washington Post reported yesterday that point guard Majestic Mapp will likely participate when the Hoos return to University Hall against North Carolina on January 11th. Mapp has been out of service for 34 months due to complications from several knee surgeries. Rumor has it that Mapp's knee is about as close to one hundred percent as it can be, but only time and the stresses of real game action will decide that.

Coming out of high school, Mapp was considered one of the hottest point guards in the country. His commitment to Virginia sparked commitments from Roger Mason and Travis Watson, and came close to luring LaVell Blanchard from Michigan.

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