Notes: Groh Adds Coach, Hoops Heating Up

January has quickly become a very busy month for University of Virginia athletics. Football coach Al Groh is filling out his staff – Dave Borbely was named offensive line coach Wednesday – and landing recruits. Men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao has his team 2-2 in the ACC with a big contest against North Carolina looming. Virginia women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan is preparing her team for a showdown with Maryland on Friday. Plus, baseball coach Brian O’Connor opens practice this week. Busy indeed. Catch up on some of the latest news with this notes package.

BORBELY JOINS STAFF. Dave Borbely, a former Colorado assistant, has been named the offensive line coach at the University of Virginia. The announcement was made by the school on Wednesday afternoon.

Borbely, 46, worked at CU for the last four seasons. Prior coaching stops also include Notre Dame, Stanford, Tulane, Temple, and Rice. He worked under Gary Barnett at Colorado and has also coached for Tyrone Willingham and Phillip Fulmer among others.

“Dave brings a lot of experience not only as a coach, but as a recruiter from high-profile programs with very strong academic reputations,” UVa coach Al Groh said in a statement. “He knows the type of student-athlete we want to have on our team, who can also excel in a demanding academic setting. His background is similar to the type of offensive system we have in place and at the same time he has some fresh ideas that can enhance our schemes. He will be a good addition to our staff.”

For more information, check out virginiasports.com.

Guards J.R. Reynolds (above) and Sean Singletary average 8.3 turnovers per game.

TURNOVER TROUBLES. While this season’s men’s basketball team has quickly started to win the hearts of the Cavalier faithful with its determined and never-quit attitude, one category that is troubling to Wahoo fans – and coaches for that matter – is turnovers. Virginia averages 15.3 turnovers per game; guards Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds lead the team in TOs with averages of 4.9 and 3.4, respectively.

Still, Leitao is confident that the Cavs can do a better job of limiting two kinds of turnovers to make the damage less severe: costly and unforced. If Virginia can eliminate mistakes that lead to opponent baskets and cut down on turnovers that take away Hoo baskets, then the team stands to benefit by several points per game.

“I look at the cause of those turnovers and what we’ve got to be able to eliminate is some of, to use a tennis phrase, the unforced turnovers. If Sean gets a 5-second call because he doesn’t put the ball on the floor, you can clean that up,” Leitao said. “Take 5,6,or 7 of those kinds of plays, that can help us keep the ball in our hands which obviously gives us a better chance to score. We’ve talked about it collectively as a team, we’ve addressed it in practice drills and other things that we do and it’s something we’re going to continue to try to get better at.”

LEITAO ON CAROLINA. Leitao knows Roy Williams’ North Carolina Tar Heels will be a tough test for his club. Williams has guided his team this season to a 10-3 (2-1) ACC record despite losing the majority of last season’s NCAA Championship roster to either the NBA or graduation.

Some of Leitao’s thoughts on UNC follow:

On the new version of UNC: “With North Carolina you have a team … they have adapted very, very well to the Carolina system of doing things. As a result of that, they have been very successful thus far.”

Dave Leitao, shown coaching Mamadi Diane against Fordham, knows UNC will be a tough test for his Cavs.

On the Heels’ inexperience in the backcourt with Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard, and others. “The first thing I notice when paying close attention to them is that I stopped using the word inexperienced. They’re young but they’ve done a terrific job and they’ve been around each other enough now … [that] they play Carolina basketball. If the ball goes through the basket or they get a rebound, Bobby Frasor is pushing the basketball up the same way a junior or senior would do in their program. They’re running the fastbreak, the secondary, playing motion – they have a good feel for what they’re doing so I don’t look at them in terms of youth and as a result it makes me focus on how good they are.”

On junior forward Reyshawn Terry: “He’s long and athletic. [He has] the ability to get up and down the court. … He’s skilled. He can shoot from the perimeter, 20 feet [or] 18 and in, he can put in on the floor a couple of dribbles and then elevate over the top of defenses. He can play a little bit as a post-up guy. As a three, he presents a challenge because if he ever has guys smaller or weaker on him, then he can take them to the post and shoot over the top when he gives them a good post move. He’s got a lot of dimensions. I was joking with the staff yesterday about how he hadn’t played a whole lot [last year with that great team] but how many guys in America would want to have him on their team?”

RYAN’S TEAM PREPS FOR MARYLAND, MIAMI. The Virginia women’s team faces a tough test at U-Hall this week as well when No. 6 Maryland (15-2, 2-1 ACC) strolls into town Friday at 7 p.m. UVa also travels to Miami on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Terrapins have a potent inside-outside combination. Guards Shay Doron (16.4 ppg) and Marissa Coleman (15.7 ppg) team with center Crystal Langhorne (15.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg) to form a strong offensive attack. Still, UVa and Maryland split last season’s series with the Cavaliers winning at home, 63-61. That gave Virginia its 40-23 series advantage.

Cav junior Siedah Williams leads the team with 11.7 ppg, while Tiffany Sardin averages 10.6 points. Lyndra Littles has posted 10.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg, while Sharnee Zoll has dished out 95 assists.

VIRGINIA WOMEN’S TEAM HELPING COACHES CARE RELIEF PROJECT. Ryan’s team is also helping Hurricane Katrina victims through the Coaches Care Relief Project, which benefits Habitat for Humanity.

UVa donated a fundraiser package to be auctioned off on eBay. The package includes an “Honorary Coach” for a day prize, four tickets to the UNC game, a spot at the pre-game meal with the team, an autographed t-shirt, media guide, and ball from the team and coaches. The auction for UVa’s package runs from January 18-25.

Learn more about the Coaches Care auction.

BASEBALL TEAM OPENS FRIDAY, HOSTS FUNDRAISER SATURDAY. The UVa baseball team is scheduled to hold its first full team practice on Friday. On Saturday, O’Connor and the program will host the annual “Step Up to the Plate” banquet. This year’s featured speaker is Brooks Robinson, a Hall of Fame third baseman that played for the Baltimore Orioles.

Robinson won 16 Gold Gloves, was the 1964 AL MVP, and the 1970 World Series MVP.

Also, please note that reserved season tickets for baseball are sold out for the second straight season. General admission season tickets and two 10-game mini packages are available. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-542-UVA1.


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