A team that began last season 14-2 and was ranked among the country's best for 16 weeks, yet lost in the first round of the NIT, has its goals set for the 2002-03 season. The Virginia Cavaliers have made many changes to its program, including a new trio of captains and a new assistant coach.
Rod Jensen will be making his debut as a Cavalier coach, after spending the last seven years as head coach at Boise State. The defensively-minded coach will improve on last season's halfcourt defense and will assist in recruiting.
"We've got to have better team defense and better individual defense," head coach Pete Gillen said. "We're going to work very hard and try to improve this season. Honestly, I thought we were capable of doing a better job last season."
After losing four of last season's starters--most notably Roger Mason, Jr., who was selected in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in the 2002 NBA draft--the team has new on-court leadership. The squad that has been predicted to finish fifth in the ACC will be headed by captains seniors Jason Rogers and Travis Watson and red-shirt junior Majestic Mapp.
Rogers, a center/forward, averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game last season. Mapp, a point guard, will be returning after sitting out two seasons due to knee injury. He will add to Virginia's deep and flexible perimeter.
Virginia's main threat will be senior All-America candidate Travis Watson, the ACC's top rebounder and scorer last season. The Brookneal, Va., native was selected second in the ACC preseason Player of the Year balloting and is a candidate for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year award. The forward/center averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds last season.
"Last year, I don't know what happened," Watson said. "This year, we're going to put out a lot of effort, go after everybody, especially on the defensive side of the floor."
Though the team has many younger faces, it gains strength and size from last year. A strong sophomore class includes Elton Brown and Jason Clark, the latter who led the team in blocked shots with 39, landing him third in the ACC. Brown played in all of Virginia's 29 games and was named Honorable Mention to the 2002 All-ACC Freshman team. Sophomore Keith Jenifer adds speed while classmate Jermaine Harper is a solid guard.
Guard Todd Billet and center Nick Vander Laan will also be making their first appearances in a blue and orange uniform. The two players transferred to Virginia before last season from Rutgers and Berkeley, respectively, but were ineligible to play. Billet will add much-needed long-range shooting to Virginia's perimeter. Vander Laan will add a strong physical presence inside for the Cavaliers, standing at 6-foot-10 and 249 pounds. Adding additional new faces to the team are sophomore Devin Smith, a transfer from community college, and freshman forward Derrick Byars, both of whom can play the wing or small forward positions.
Virginia should continue its strong rebounding from last season, with a bigger group this year. The team has three legitimate point guards in Billet, Jenifer and Mapp. Watson, Clark, and Brown can all play power forward, while Vander Laan, Brown, and Rogers are competitive centers.
"We're going to adjust our style of play a little bit," Gillen said. "We're still going to press and we're still going to run... but we're going to try and improve at the half court level...some adjustments will be made, but we don't want to change completely because we were fortunate to beat some great teams last year and win 17 games."
With an improved defense and greater depth, the more physical Virginia team will hope to prevent another mid-season flop. The Cavaliers open their season in an exhibition game Nov. 5 when they host Big Apple Basketball.
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