Scott’s Return Boosts Hoos’ Hopes

UVa forward Mike Scott recorded six double-doubles in 10 games last season.

Virginia fans received the news they’d been waiting for on Thursday: the ACC approved the medical hardship waiver request of Mike Scott. That clears the way for Scott, who missed 21 games last season after two surgeries on his left ankle, to return for another year of eligibility with the Cavaliers. It’s also immediately ratcheted up the already growing fan excitement for the 2011-2012 season.

Why? The initial answer is obvious. If Scott can pick up where he left off prior to his ankle problems last season, the Hoos basically have added an All-ACC player – one of the league’s 15 best players – to the line-up. Scott averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game and had six double-doubles in 10 appearances in 2010. That included a stretch of five straight double-doubles, the first Cavalier to do that since Ralph Sampson in 1983. He’ll enter his new senior season with 24 double-doubles (tied for eighth on the program’s career list), 963 points, and 679 rebounds.

...