Getting Caught Up...

Hello Wahooze...  It's been awhile...

Mike Scott's ankle injury: a blessing in disguise?

With a six-week old in the house, my time is still stretched extremely thin.  I apologize to the readers of Wahooze.  I'll try to get better soon.  For now, a quick list to get us caught up with what's going on...

• Mike Scott will miss the rest of the season with a second surgery on his ankle.  He'll likely be granted a medical redshirt, and be able to return for a 5th season in 2011-12.  I think this destroys any outside hopes we might have had of a Tournament appearance this year, but aligns the stars for a Sweet Sixteen type of run next year.
• Speaking of which, Given the influx of new talent (Malcolm Brogdon, Paul Jesperson, Darion Atkins, and BEAST James Johnson), plus a bevy of good returning talent, plus a year of experience for the four freshman who are currently playing, I'm prepared to say NCAA TOURNAMENT OR BUST next season.
• Of course you saw that Virginia landed a commitment from 4-star cornerback Demetrious Nicholson from Virginia Beach just prior to Christmas.  Rivals lists Nicholson as the 4th-best corner in the nation, and his commitment elevated this year's overall football recruiting class to right around the top-25 nationally.
• With 24 players in the class (but two enrolling this spring, and thus counting against last year's class, and at least one potentially needing to prep), Coach London is chasing a "Big Four" of remaining prospects to fill out the class.  5-star linebacker Curtis Grant from Richmond, who is down to Virginia, Florida, and Ohio State.  4-star wide receiver Darius Jennings, who is down to Virginia, Ohio State, and Wake Forest.  4-star wide receiver Dominique Terrell, who is down to Virginia, Miami, and West Virginia.  4-star cornerback A.J. Hendy, who is down to Virginia, Iowa, and Maryland.  The belief/hope is that UVA lands at least two of these talented playmakers, and we currently lead the race for Jennings and Terrell, with Hendy being a coin flip.
• Zane Parr has decided to go to the NFL?  Not sure he'll be drafted, but we wish him well.
• Jared Green has decided to transfer for his last year of eligibility.  The writing was on the wall that he wasn't going to be invited back to Virginia for his 5th season.
• I went 7-1 (7-1 ATS) in my last batch of ACC football picks, for the bowl games.  Sadly, I forgot to pick the Boston College game, but who can blame me?  Anyway, my postseason success left me at 81-37 (56-54 ATS) for the season.  That's better than .500!  I'll take it.
• The ACC looked very ACC-like in the bowl games.  Virginia Tech laid another BCS egg, to further soil the conference's rep amongst the big boys.  Take your shot or clear, (C)Hokies!  At least Florida State and NC State were able to win games against ranked teams.  Georgia Tech, Clemson, Miami, BC, and VT all conspired to make the ACC look bad this bowl season.
• I think Miami (Al Golden) and Maryland (Randy Edsall) made pretty good coaching hires.  Neither guy will really move the needle within those fanbases, but both are quality coaches who will build programs wired for longer-term success.  The ACC is better with these two guys patrolling sidelines.
• KT Harrell, Joe Harris, and Akil Mitchell are revelations.  And Tony Bennett continues to recruit and coach his ass off.  I'm VERY excited about the future of Virginia basketball.

That's it for now.  I'll be back full-bore as soon as I can manage it.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!