Backcourt provides leadership, scoring for Cavs
Virginia is tied atop the ACC standings, and its dynamic backcourt is the major reason why, writes Mark Schlabach.
When Dave Leitao was named Virginia's coach nearly two years ago, he believed everything would be in place to restore the Cavaliers' once-proud tradition: a sparkling new $129.8 million arena, one of college basketball's most talented and experienced backcourts and athletic frontcourt players.
But before Virginia could return to the NCAA Tournament, where it has played only once since 1997, Leitao had to purge the program of its bad habits. The former DePaul coach instituted mandatory team breakfasts, early-morning workouts and long, grueling practices. The Cavaliers had to be more disciplined on and off the court.
Most importantly, Leitao entrusted guards J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary to change the way their teammates acted on and off the court.
"There wasn't a lot of discipline here before Coach Leitao came in," Singletary said. "He taught us how to get the attention of our teammates."
And now Virginia (16-6) has caught the attention of the rest of the ACC. Going into Saturday's game at rival Virginia Tech, the Cavaliers -- and not No. 5 North Carolina -- are tied with surprising Boston College for first place in the league standings with an 8-2 conference record.
"I think one of the best things about both of them is their intelligence in terms of they understand their surroundings as well as anyone I've been around," Leitao said. "The best thing about those guys is they really stay locked in and don't question authority. If I say we're going to practice for six hours today, they don't question it."
With Reynolds and Singletary leading the way, Virginia has won its last seven ACC games, its longest winning streak in league play since the 1981-82 season, when center Ralph Sampson led the Cavaliers to an 11-game winning streak against conference foes. The Cavaliers finished 12-2 in the ACC that season and were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
"The biggest difference has been the level of maturity," Singletary said. "J.R. and I tried to get everybody on the same page last year, but the maturity we needed just wasn't there. Now there's definitely a level of trust and chemistry. We've been through some of the worst losses and best victories this program has had. We've been through it all."
Singletary, a 6-foot junior from Philadelphia, had to grow up fast. He was brought to Virginia in 2004 by former coach Pete Gillen, who desperately needed a point guard -- and a winning season -- after his teams failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in five of his first six seasons. Singletary started all 29 games as a freshman, despite playing with a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery the following summer.
Singletary averaged 10.5 points and finished sixth in the ACC in assist-turnover ratio as a rookie. Last season, Singletary averaged 17.7 points and 4.2 assists and became Virginia's first All-ACC first-team selection since forward Bryant Stith in 1992.
Reynolds, a 6-2 senior from Roanoke, Va., emerged as a big scoring threat as soon as he joined the Cavaliers from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Reynolds averaged nearly 10 points in each of his first two college seasons, then blossomed as a junior with 17 points per game. He scored at least 20 points in nine games last season and scored 10 or more in each of the team's last 24 games.
However, stellar guard production still wasn't enough for Virginia last season. The Cavaliers finished 15-15 in Leitao's first season, after they were picked to finish last in the ACC, and lost at Stanford in the first round of the NIT.
But Leitao had planted the seeds for what he hoped would be a breakthrough season this year. Each of the team's five starters were returning, and the fan base would be energized by the opening of John Paul Jones Arena, which is nearly twice the size of University Hall, the Cavaliers' previous home.
Virginia started fast this season, upsetting then-No. 10 Arizona 93-90 and beating North Carolina State 67-62 in the ACC opener. The Cavaliers were 6-1 when they left before the Christmas holiday to play in the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico, where they figured to be the favorites in an eight-team field that included Central Florida, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and rebuilding Utah.
But Virginia lost to Appalachian State by 11 points in its first game in Puerto Rico, then lost to Utah by 24 points in its second game. In the seventh-place consolation game, the Cavaliers led Division II Puerto Rico-Mayaguez by only one point at halftime, before pulling away from the Tarzans in the second half for a 59-52 victory.
After returning home, Virginia's struggles continued into January with three straight losses, at home against Stanford and on the road against then-No. 1 North Carolina and Boston College.
Reynolds and Singletary had seen enough, and the Cavaliers haven't lost since.
"Getting back from the Puerto Rico trip, we focused on defense," Reynolds said. "As a team, we woke up. Everybody knew we were better than we were showing and everybody started playing harder."
Especially Reynolds and Singletary, one of whom has led the Cavaliers in scoring in all but two of 22 games this season. Reynolds is third in the ACC in scoring with 18.7 points per game, behind only Boston College's Jared Dudley (19.9) and Florida State's Al Thornton (18.8). Reynolds is averaging 22 points in ACC games, and scored a career-high 40 points in an 88-76 win over Wake Forest on Jan. 21.
Singletary is fourth in the ACC in scoring with 18.6 points per game and fifth in the league with 4.8 assists. He also is second in 3-point shooting (40.1 percent) and foul shooting (89.1 percent).
"J.R. is more of a shooting guard and a shooter," Singletary said. "I think I'm more of a set-up man and a creator. We can each do both things -- shoot the ball and set up things for our teammates. I think we both do each thing well enough where it's a good blend. With the players around us, I think it's hard to stop us offensively."
In Virginia's 68-66 overtime upset of then-No. 8 Duke on Feb. 1, Singletary tied the game in the final seconds of regulation, then hit the game winner in overtime on a one-handed, falling floater -- over 6-10 forward Josh McRoberts no less -- with one second left.
| “ | The struggles we've been through, that's what helps us so much right now. We've struggled a lot in the past and the team wasn't very good. But we progressed and got to know each other and now we're feeding off each other. ” | |
| —J.R. Reynolds |
"The struggles we've been through, that's what helps us so much right now," Reynolds said. "We've struggled a lot in the past and the team wasn't very good. But we progressed and got to know each other and now we're feeding off each other."
Reynolds and Singletary figure to get one of their stiffer tests against the Hokies. Virginia Tech, which upset then-No. 1 North Carolina and then-No. 5 Duke earlier this season, is led by senior guards Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon.
Dowdell is sixth in the ACC in scoring with 18.1 points per game, and Gordon leads the league in steals (2.52 per game) and is sixth in assists (4.43).
Virginia has won four straight games in the series, including three last season.
"Obviously, when you have that kind of a matchup, it makes for great drama," Leitao said. "A lot of times what it means is the game will be decided by someone else other than the guards."
Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.
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