UVA dumpster fire continues

[Vowelguy]

Yesterday's win over Duke nonwithstanding, the UVa mess continues.

The Cavs have now forfeited their SECOND game of the season. This one -- a home game on Tuesday vs ND.
Why? Who knows.
But I'm guessing they just don't want to play. The have a home game against Pitt on Sunday which they will play, so it's not like players are injured/sick.

And of course their first forfeit against Louisville was also for sketchy reasons. Funny how these forfeits are against the top quarter of the conference.

This is bad. Tina needs to go.

 

[triaddukefan]

Wish they would have forfeited last night

 

[VA Huskie]

Unbelievable! What’s even more frustrating is that there is absolutely NO communication with ticket holders about game changes. We’ve had more than one home game rescheduled and I (as a season ticket holder) didn’t even know we were playing. That’s unacceptable.

 

[VA Huskie]

Wish they would have forfeited last night

Sorry ‘bout that triad. My son’s a Duke PhD grad, so I even like Duke a bit. But it sure was fun seeing UVA play well for once.

 

[LETTERL]

What??? Are you serious?

 

[Dillon77]

Many ND fans have really wanted this game -- originally planned for just before New Year's -- to be played at UVA. If the Irish were to win, it would help them possibly earn a double bye in the ACC tourney. In fact, the Bench even cited Tuesday, Feb. 22 as the one open date for both teams. Remember, the Irish would have to go to Virginia.
Well, they got the "W," but not on the court. Instead:


Here's an article one of our Benchers found:

Women’s Basketball: Virginia forfeiting another game, this time to Notre Dame

One can be a one-off. Two can start a trend. No details, but the ACC informed us Friday that Virginia is forfeiting another women’s hoops game.

augustafreepress.com

Note the writer's line:
"Whatever is going on behind the scenes, this is not a good look on Virginia Athletics."

 

[LETTERL]

Since Virginia forfeited, that should count as a win for Notre Dame. Crucial as there are four teams competing for the two remaining double-bye slots in ACCT.

It just doesn't make any sense. Virginia just played their best game of the season. Why would they announce a forfeit the very next day?

 

[Dillon77]

Yesterday's win over Duke nonwithstanding, the UVa mess continues.

The Cavs have now forfeited their SECOND game of the season. This one -- a home game on Tuesday vs ND.
Why? Who knows.
But I'm guessing they just don't want to play. The have a home game against Pitt on Sunday which they will play, so it's not like players are injured/sick.

And of course their first forfeit against Louisville was also for sketchy reasons. Funny how these forfeits are against the top quarter of the conference.

This is bad. Tina needs to go.

Outside of the currrently open slots, TT and UVA just might enter your annual "Coaching Carousel" thread "#1 with a bullet," as DJ's of old might say. (Heck, some interim coaches are probably in better shape)

 

[VA Huskie]

Many ND fans have really wanted this game -- originally planned for just before New Year's -- to be played at UVA. If the Irish were to win, it would help them possibly earn a double bye in the ACC tourney. In fact, the Bench even cited Tuesday, Feb. 22 as the one open date for both teams. Remember, the Irish would have to go to Virginia.
Well, they got the "W," but not on the court. Instead:


Here's an article one of our Benchers found:

Women’s Basketball: Virginia forfeiting another game, this time to Notre Dame

One can be a one-off. Two can start a trend. No details, but the ACC informed us Friday that Virginia is forfeiting another women’s hoops game.

augustafreepress.com

Note the writer's line:
"Whatever is going on behind the scenes, this is not a good look on Virginia Athletics."

Thanks for the info Dillon. I plan to see what I can find out about what’s going on. I’m not a happy camper. Changes need to come!

 

[Bigboote]

Bizarre. If they were playing in C'ville, they obviously can't blame it on travel. They played ten in the last game, so they can't blame it on unavailability of players (at least not with a straight face). VA Husky, if you do find anything out, please let us know.

 

[triaddukefan]

UVA might end up with more ACC forfeits then wins.

 

[VA Huskie]

Bizarre. If they were playing in C'ville, they obviously can't blame it on travel. They played ten in the last game, so they can't blame it on unavailability of players (at least not with a straight face). VA Husky, if you do find anything out, please let us know.

I contacted the editor of the sports page and he said the cancellation of the Louisville game was one of the most “bizarre” sports things he’d ever seen. He said he’d look into the other issues, but didn’t have a lot of hope that UVA would be forthcoming.

 

[JellyBean]

How is the UVA athletic director even allowing these forfeits without a comment?

 

[baggerbob]

How is the UVA athletic director even allowing these forfeits without a comment?

Especially when Syracuse has been playing with 5 starters, playing 30+ minutes a game ,1 reserve getting 15 to 20, and 2 freshman not yet ready for ACC competition.

 

[Dillon77]

How is the UVA athletic director even allowing these forfeits without a comment?

Tina Thompson was one of the first hires by Carla Willams, UVA's Athletic Director, after coming over from Georgia. Any comment moves the focus to her office.
(although one would think there's going to have to be some comment on the program at some point....)

 

[DefenseBB]

Tina Thompson was one of the first hires by Carla Willams, UVA's Athletic Director, after coming over from Georgia. Any comment moves the focus to her office.
(although one would think there's going to have to be some comment on the program at some point....)

The ACCx uses the local or home broadcast and the narrative that the 2 UVA announcers have spun this year is UVA has lost a lot of close games and are "turning the corner" and give the usual platitudes and comments given by Coach Thompson on what the program needed and how they are now headed in the right direction. Ultimately the results on the court need to speak for themselves and 2 wins and an upcoming forfeit after quitting last season warrants some kind of comment from someone....

 

[VA Huskie]

The broadcast people can use whatever narrative they choose. The reality is that this is Tina’s 4th year on a 5 year contract and the only top 100 recruit (per ESPN) she’s gotten was Shemera Williams, who decommitted from Marquette when they got a new coach a couple of years ago. Shemera then left UVA after her freshman year. We have no top 100 recruits signed for next year. As I’ve said before, we don’t even know if Tina’s a good coach, because she hasn’t been able to get the players that would tell us so. As a top academic school (think Duke and Stanford) with a great women’s basketball history (think Dawn, Geno and Debbie Ryan) there’s no reason UVA can’t be an excellent women’s program again.

 

[ucbart]

The broadcast people can use whatever narrative they choose. The reality is that this is Tina’s 4th year on a 5 year contract and the only top 100 recruit (per ESPN) she’s gotten was Shemera Williams, who decommitted from Marquette when they got a new coach a couple of years ago. Shemera then left UVA after her freshman year. We have no top 100 recruits signed for next year. As I’ve said before, we don’t even know if Tina’s a good coach, because she hasn’t been able to get the players that would tell us so. As a top academic school (think Duke and Stanford) with a great women’s basketball history (think Dawn, Geno and Debbie Ryan) there’s no reason UVA can’t be an excellent women’s program again.

Of all places, I can't figure out why Mir transferred there. Has to be academic related.

 

[Argonaut]

Of all places, I can't figure out why Mir transferred there. Has to be academic related.

• She wanted to
• There was mutual interest
• Oodles of playing time
• The opportunity to be an undersized forward, her bread and butter
• Strong academics
• More opportunities for real collegiate experiences
• Close enough to home
• Can still become a professional basketball player

The only person it has to makes sense to is Mir.

 

[triaddukefan]

The broadcast people can use whatever narrative they choose. The reality is that this is Tina’s 4th year on a 5 year contract and the only top 100 recruit (per ESPN) she’s gotten was Shemera Williams, who decommitted from Marquette when they got a new coach a couple of years ago. Shemera then left UVA after her freshman year. We have no top 100 recruits signed for next year. As I’ve said before, we don’t even know if Tina’s a good coach, because she hasn’t been able to get the players that would tell us so. As a top academic school (think Duke and Stanford) with a great women’s basketball history (think Dawn, Geno and Debbie Ryan) there’s no reason UVA can’t be an excellent women’s program again.

I've said on here before... UVA should be a top 4 program in the ACC. It's sad to see how far they have fallen.

 

[DefenseBB]

I've said on here before... UVA Duke should be a top 4 program in the ACC. It's sad to see how far they have fallen.

UVA last won an ACC title in 1999-00 with a 25-9 (13-3) record. Their next best and last competitive season was 2008 Tied for 3rd, 24-10 (10-4). Other than those seasons, nothing since 2000 says they should be a top program.

It is an interesting question given that ACC now has ND, Louisville, NC State and a revitalized NC program. Duke seems to be knocking again at the door so I don't know that I agree that Virginia can be a top 4 program again. Just because you were elite 22+ years ago, does entitle you to think you should be now- Louisiana Tech, Purdue, Penn State, Old Dominion, Montana (yes, 21 NCAA appearances!) to just name a few former elite programs who have done nothing in the last 10 years.

 

[CL82]

Of all places, I can't figure out why Mir transferred there. Has to be academic related.

Close to home?

 

[sun]

Tina Thompson seems to be a genuinely nice person who respects her players and is a good role model.
She didn't ruin the VA program, but has made efforts to try to help it.
Other ex-player/coaches have worked 5-10 years just to make some programs respectable.
The transfer portal and its rules are all still pretty new.
TT brought in a bunch of players that were available, and some didn't perform as well as they could have right away.

I was impressed with VA's 2nd win against Pitt and how great that Taylor Vallady played by scoring 30 points.
She's only 5' 7", and a junior transfer from Marquette who was also a track star in high school.
Amandine Toi also played a great game against Duke.
VA has some other bright players that its program can build on.
Quick change needs to come via the transfer portal which can be like rolling the dice.

 

[TheFarmFan]

• She wanted to
• There was mutual interest
• Oodles of playing time
• The opportunity to be an undersized forward, her bread and butter
• Strong academics
• More opportunities for real collegiate experiences
• Close enough to home
• Can still become a professional basketball player

The only person it has to makes sense to is Mir.

+1. I think people don't appreciate that many top HS athletes are sufficiently naturally athletic that they don't have to work that hard at the HS level to be really good. Then they get to college and realize what it takes to be truly elite, week in, week out, and the other sacrifices that have to be made for that. Some may decide it's worth it given their other interests/pursuits/passions, especially if they aren't already one of the very best, and if they go to a great school with so many other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

This has actually happened to a number of Stanford WBB players who, I think, were naturally endowed enough as high school players to be really good without having to devote their lives to basketball. They get to college, see all the other ways they can spend their time, and decide it's just now how they'd like to spend their time. Maybe Mir is happy to be a top player on a mediocre team while enjoying one of the best educations in the country, for free. Seems like a pretty smart cookie to me. =)

 

[Dillon77]

UVA last won an ACC title in 1999-00 with a 25-9 (13-3) record. Their next best and last competitive season was 2008 Tied for 3rd, 24-10 (10-4). Other than those seasons, nothing since 2000 says they should be a top program.

It is an interesting question given that ACC now has ND, Louisville, NC State and a revitalized NC program. Duke seems to be knocking again at the door so I don't know

Points well taken. You and I have touched base on this over the years.
Even when Joanne Boyle's teams finished 20-13 (2016-17) and 19-14 (2017-18), they still finished 7th and tied for 6th in the ACC standings. The latter year was the first time since 2009 they'd gotten to the 2nd round of the NCAA's; losing to South Carolina, coached by perhaps the most infamous Cav alum, Dawn Staley.

Those teams were led by two young players -- Jocelyn Willoughby and Dominique Toussaint -- whom one would've thought would've given incoming coaches a cushion. That obviously didn't (and hasn't) happened.

On top of the teams you mentioned, there's in-state rival, Va. Tech led by Kenny Brooks. Let's see if Ga. Tech and BC can keep their runs going once their seniors/grad students leave after this year.

In any case, Virginia would be in a "let's start this thing all over again mode."
One suggestion might be to start recruiting back in the mid-Atlantic, where they once did well. Willoughby and Toussaint were from NJ and NYC, respectively.