Cavalier Call-In Highlights: 12/12/05

By: TheSabre.com |

UVa coach Dave Leitao

On his Cavalier Call-In radio show Monday night, Dave Leitao talked with host Mac McDonald about the loss to Fordham, the exam break, next Saturday’s game at Gonzaga and the status of Sean Singletary ‘s hip injury. He also took questions from fans about developing a killer instinct, getting his players to play passionate basketball, emphasizing things like diving for loose balls, J.R. Reynolds’ subpar play and the health of T.J. Bannister.

Callers and Questions

1) Ed in Norfolk asked Leitao how he can develop a killer instinct in his team .

“That’s something that’s developed over time,” Leitao said. “We’re trying to teach that every day and ingrain it. … You can call it a killer instinct. It’s really just a mindset. You play to win. There is no second place. I’ve heard long ago that second place is nothing more than a first-place loser.”

2) Bob in Virginia Beach said the program has been rudderless for a number of years, so “I’m very glad you’re here.” He asked how Leitao inspires his players to play passionate basketball like the kind Duke played against Texas on Saturday.

“You have to work that way every single day and practice that way to have that never-say-die attitude,” Leitao said. He noted that J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams have been in big games so many times, they thrive in that situation. “They practice that way, they play that way, they live that way.” He said basketball ultimately comes down “to what’s inside your heart and soul. We want to establish that mentality that you play every game like it’s your last.”

3) Dennis in Roanoke said he was pleased to see Leitao yell at his players for not diving on the floor quickly enough for loose balls. He said his son likes watching NBA players do 360-degree dunks and wishes kids appreciated the value of hard work while playing basketball.

“I have the same problem with my son. I call it eye candy. It’s eye candy watching dunks and spectacular plays and it’s easy to forget how hard players have to work to win games in the NBA,” Leitao said. “Ultimately, the game comes down to small things. There are 50-50 balls, rebounds and loose balls where the player who wants it more is going to get it. Those are the things that help you win games.”

4) Kyle in Richmond asked what’s going on with J.R. Reynolds and asked if T.J. Bannister is going to start playing more minutes.

“We’ve been talking to J.R. about it.,” Leitao said. “What’s he’s been trying to do is play so perfect for how we want rather than just playing basketball.” He said Reynolds needs to focus on his strength – shooting – and let the rest of his game play off that. He’s been forced to take on a much bigger role this year, so it’s been difficult for Reynolds to feel comfortable. “I’m just trying to get him to slow down. Great players don’t continue to play the way he’s been playing. I’m comfortable he’ll come out of it.”

As for Bannister, who has seen limited action following surgery for a sports hernia, Leitao said the coaches and team medical staff continue to monitor his progress. Bannister suffered a small setback and isn’t close to 100 percent, Leitao said, so they need to make sure not to rush him back and force him to play heavy minutes.

Notes and Quotes

  • Leitao said the Cavaliers took Thursday off after last Wednesday’s loss to Fordham and are holding practice around final exam schedules this week.

  • Sean Singletary , who missed the Fordham game with a hip injury, has been practicing since Saturday and should be 100 percent by the time the Cavaliers play at Gonzaga on Saturday, Leitao said.
  • Leitao named Mamadi Diane the BB&T Student-Athlete of the Week. Diane is third on the team in scoring and first in minutes played, “which is phenomenal,” Leitao said. “Off the court, he’s a model citizen. He will do very, very well in school.”
  • Leitao said some of the players are going through a transitional period in which they are trying to adapt to the new coaching staff’s standards and style. “It’s a work in progress. What we’ve tried to do is establish a baseline by which we’re all going to operate, both on and off the court. Those who could not or did not want to be a part of that, then obviously it was going to be a little more difficult for them. We talked in the office today about how some guys are not playing to their full potential. A large part of it is we’re demanding that they do certain things every day. Right now for some of them it’s confusing. They don’t know if they play naturally if something good is going to happen, or if they play exactly the way the coaches tell them if something good is going to happen. So they end up playing halfway in between and that’s a bad place to be because they don’t produce at the rate they’re accustomed to or the way we want them to. So the biggest thing is getting them to play in a comfort zone.”
  • Leitao said that Gonzaga will be a huge test for his team. The Zags are led by Adam Morrison, who is the nation’s leading scorer. “That’s why we play these games,” Leitao said. “To get us ready for the ACC.”

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