ESPN.com - No. 13: Virginia

ESPN.com: ESPNMagazine

Tuesday, November 12, 2002
No. 13: Virginia

By By Kieran Darcy

Last Season: 1712, NIT First Round


	Watson is more than happy to welcome the new faces to the Cavs.

Lose four starters, and you usually start retooling with the kids, right? Not in Charlottesville -- not this season, anyway. The Cavs' new lineup includes two transfers, junior G Todd Billet (Rutgers) and junior C Nick Vander Laan (Cal). Soph wingman Devin Smith, a juco transfer with a nose for the hoop, also could crack the first five. "They should assimilate more quickly than your typical freshmen," coach Pete Gillen says. Billet, recruited by Gillen as a prep, provides a dependable perimeter threat (82 treys two years ago). And having the 6'10" Vander Laan in the paint allows 6'8" Travis Watson, the ACC's leading rebounder (14.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg), to slide over to his natural 4 spot. Rebuilding? UVa fans can't wait to see the finished product.

One Step Ahead: Run and shoot. That's the pro game, and that's what Gillen preaches. No wonder guys are flocking to get in. "He lets his teams play," Billet says. "As long as you're hustling and playing D, he allows you to roam free." The Cavs averaged 79.6 ppg last season. Look for this supercharged lineup to keep in step.

One Step Behind: The most valuable player in Gillen's system is a pure 1. So how come his PGs of late (Roger Mason Jr., Donald Hand) have been scorers more than setup men? Unless soph Keith Jenifer and star-crossed junior Majestic Mapp (out until January with a knee injury) step up, the trend will continue with Billet.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.