Jontel Evans News

Jeff Jones scored a game high eleven points while Sylven Landesberg added ten as the Cavalier men's basketball team topped New Jersey Institute of Technology on Monday night, 68-37. It was Virginia's first game in two weeks and the Cavaliers saw their record improve to 5-4 with the victory.

As close as Virginia's men's basketball team has come to pulling out a few games and changing the complexion of its nonconference season, it's a good thing first-year coach Tony Bennett is a patient man.

OPELIKA, Ala., - Some 30 minutes after Virginia's loss to Penn State in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge last Monday, UVa guard Sammy Zeglinski had tears in his eyes as he took questions from a group of reporters.

He's done it before. The game-tying basket with 13.4 seconds left in regulation in last season's home game against then-No. 12 Clemson.

There's only so much you can take away from Friday's season opener against Longwood, but game one of the Tony Bennett era certainly presented some of the new coach's principles that will be put to the test against better competition in the near future.

The Bulls began the second half with a 17-5 run to take a 48-32 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the game.

The arrival of new head coach Tony Bennett at Virginia has sparked enthusiasm that the Cavaliers will improve after several dismal seasons.

He takes over a Virginia program that won 48 in the same span. How quickly can he change the culture, Even with eight of their top nine scorers back, the Cavs are a long way from making waves in the ACC.

Coach: Tony Bennett 2007-08 record: Postseason: None Returning starters :A Sylven Landesberg, 6-6, sophomore, guard , Sammy Zeglinski, 6-, redshirt sophomore, guard ,A Mike Scott, 6-8, junior, forward .

One thing is very clear when you talk to Virginia freshman Tristan Spurlock - he's not some shy, timid kid who's just hoping to make an impact on the program someday in the future.

The Virginia men's basketball team is practicing with a lack of depth at the point guard position.

Virginia opens basketball practice Friday and one position that will garner a lot of attention this season is point guard.

CHARLOTTESVILLE - The Kool-Aid fountains are plenty busy at Virginia as the arrival of new men's basketball coach Tony Bennett has enthusiasm running at a fever pitch, at least within the walls of the program.

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Freshman Tristan Spurlock could be a valuable addition on the wing after averaging 23 points a game as a high school senior.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Oct. 12 -- Practice officially begins Friday, but Monday was the first time all the Virginia's men's basketball players spoke publicly in the same room since the season ended with a loss to Boston College in the ACC tournament. That was Dave Leitao's final game as head coach after leading the Cavaliers to one NCAA tournament in four seasons. Tony Bennett replaced Leitao on March 31 after taking Washington State to two NCAA tournaments in three seasons.

He inherits a roster that returns eight players who averaged at least 10 minutes, including Sylven Landesberg, the ACC rookie of the year. But he also must rebuild confidence in a group that finished 10-18 last season and endured 34 losses during the past two seasons.

Last year was an unmitigated disaster for Virginia basketball. The Cavaliers had trouble running an offense, limiting turnovers, keeping players healthy and could not stop anybody on the defensive end.