Cavalier Call-In Highlights: 12/5/05

UVa coach Dave Leitao

On his Cavalier Call-In radio show tonight, Dave Leitao talked with host Mac McDonald about the loss to Georgia Tech, the upcoming game against Fordham, the mindset of the team, the progress of Laurynas Mikalauskas and Sean Singletary ‘s rough shooting night against the Yellow Jackets. He also took questions from fans about J.R. Reynolds’ recent struggles and the health of Donte Minter and T.J. Bannister.

Callers and Questions

1) Martin in Williamsburg asked what is wrong with J.R. Reynolds, who has had several subpar games this season.

Leitao said he talked to Reynolds in his office today and “more than anything else, he’s sharing the burden of a different role and a different responsibility.” As a team captain and as a primary scorer this season, Reynolds may be thinking too much on the court, Leitao said, and that “starts to cloud your mind with more things than you should. When you’re playing basketball, the most important thing you can do is play freely.” Leitao said he’d like Reynolds to relax and keep things simple. “I’m sure he’ll get it because he’s a dedicated and bright young man.”

2) Nathan in Richmond asked what Leitao says to his players after a poor shooting night like they experienced against Georgia Tech.

Leitao said the team didn’t play with enough poise against the Yellow Jackets. Afterward, he said, he stressed the same things he did before the game – playing with poise, playing with emotion and making good decisions. “Did they beat us or did we beat ourselves?” Leitao said. “There were 20 or 30 cases where we shot ourselves in the foot.”

3) Barry in Richmond asked when T.J. Bannister and Donte Minter are going to be able to play regularly, and how their return would affect how the team plays defense.

Leitao said the coaching staff has talked about playing more full-court pressure and aggressive halfcourt defense, but they can’t do it with just seven scholarship players. Leitao said both injured players are “a work in progress.” Bannister (sports hernia) played two minutes yesterday against Georgia Tech but still needs a few weeks to get into basketball condition. Minter (knee) is “a little more ready this week than last week” but there is no target date for his return, Leitao said.

Notes and Quotes

  • At 3-2, Leitao said his team is making good progress on its short-term and long-term goals. “One of the biggest things I had to learn is whether this team would allow me to coach them,” Leitao said, “and the answer is yes, almost to a fault.” He said he’d like to see more feistiness from the players at times, but it’s a learning process for everyone in the program.

  • Leitao said freshman forward Laurynas Mikalauskas is still learning basketball. “He’s a work in progress,” Leitao said. “I mentoned ‘reverse seal’ to him the other day and I guarantee you that’s the first time he’s heard that in his life.” He said Mikalauskas is a smart kid and a hard worker, so he will pick things up quickly. But if the team had more post players, Leitao said, he could work Mikalauskas into the rotation slower.
  • Leitao named Jason Cain the BB&T Student-Athlete of the Week for his academic work and his strong game against Georgia Tech. Cain, a junior forward, had career highs with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
  • Leitao said Singletary took it upon himself to score last night, so “he got himself in some real tight situations” and ended up shooting 3 for 23. Defenses will focus on Singletary all season, Leitao said, so it will be important to develop other scorers and take better shots.
  • Leitao said he was concerned about Fordham (1-6) because it is Virginia’s last game before final exams. The Rams are led by sophomore forward Bryant Dunston, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the year. He said Fordham is athletic and aggresssive, so poise and savvy will be important.

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