I Dislike Your Favorite Team

UVA went into the House That a Lute built, and defeated #17 (AP) Arizona 75-72. Of course, Lute wasn't there, which may have had an effect in the outcome. The last minute of this game was a comedy of errors, that included UVA not being able get the ball in, leading to a turnover, which led right to Arizona's Jerryd Blayless attempting to save a ball from a backcourt violation that would not have been a backcourt violation. As he said, "I messed up and that determined the game." True, but a little unfair to himself--he did score 21 points, and helped the team get back into the game. He could have also said, "Also, our supposed star, Chase Budinger, went 6-14 from the field. That didn't help."

I didn't see this coming, mainly because while I love the fact that College Basketball is starting, and producing upsets at a furious pace, I'm still in the hunt for my Fantasy Football League playoffs, so I spend all my time scanning injury reports and determining which 3rd stringer is going to get to play. (On my roster currently--no lie--Kolby Smith. Who is Kolby Smith? Good question.)

But as I am a native of Virginia, I watched a good chunk of this game, and I was somewhat surprised to see badass guard Sean Singletary back for UVA. He's back, and UVA is getting no love at all nationally? Duke doesn't have a guard that can stop him, or that he can't stop, and Duke is ranked? Pshaw! People are writing columns crowning the player of the Year as either a freshman or Tyler Hansborough. Sean could be a Player of the Year.

Also, UVA is apparently deep, or at least willing to fake deepness, rotating 12-13 players on the court. They played 10 against Arizona, but most of the damage was done by the backcourt--Singletary, freshman Jeff Jones, and junior Mamadi Diane combining for 48 points. Of special mention, Jones and Diane combined to shoot 8-10 from behind the 3 point line.

This UVA team could be dangerous--senior guard running the show, young sharpshooters, and bodies to throw at opposing big men. That's a recipe for coolness. Also, the ACC is clearly in a down year--it is not improbable that UVA ends up the #2 in the ACC. Watch out for these fuckers. Here be dragons.