So we peaked at 5-2 in the conference after our solid home win over NC State. Since then, the schedule has stiffened, and the bottom has fallen out of the 2009-2010 version of Virginia Basketball. Five losses (including blowouts in the last three) later, and it's clear that this team is still lacking talent... in a very big way. We have two players -- Sylven Landesberg and Mike Scott -- who are ACC-caliber starters. The rest of the team is depth chart role players, at best. I had a feeling we had peaked at 5-2; that it'd still be a battle to finish at .500 in the ACC. But this five-game slide hasn't dampened my excitement for the future. Our 16th-ranked recruiting class is ripe with talent and specifically fills several glaring holes on this roster. K.T. Harrell should be able to step right in as the reliable third scoring option. James Johnson will give us immediate and legitimate beef in the post. Joe Harris could deliver a game-changing shooting stroke from the perimeter. Will Regan will offer grit in the paint and another strong presence on the glass.
This season is the first step. The players are [slowly, painfully, glacially] learning how to play Bennett Ball. They are improving their fundamentals. Short term gratification is being sacrificed for long term success. Once Coach Bennett receives his first wave of reinforcements and can truly begin to mold this team to fit his vision, we'll start to see real progress.
Hang in there. Be patient.
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