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Priority Seating For Reserved Seats Are A Must For Virginia Men’s Basketball

By Ronald Simmons on September 16, 2011 in , ,

Getting the season tickets before the schedule of the games have been released is a big gamble. But with this year’s season tickets being sold for last year’s price, it is worth every single penny! Season tickets for the Virginia men’s basketball season 2011 to 2012 are available on sale since August 12, 2011.

Getting season tickets in advance gives fans a chance to be more diligent with regards to their options and even more time for deciding whether to buy or not before the September 12 priority seating deadline. As of date, the Atlantic Coast conference has not yet determined nor announced the schedule for the games.

Other arrangements such as reserved parking and purchasing school memorabilia may be made in advance. Come game day, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the game!

This will be the second consecutive season wherein season tickets are being sold before the office of the Atlantic Coast Conference has released the schedule of the basketball games. This season is expected to have 8 non-conference games and 8 more against their conference rivals. This brings the season tickets package to 16 games all in all.

Tickets on the lower level start at $405 along with an annual contribution to the Virginia Athletics foundation plus another gift for the John Paul Jones arena project. Courtside and all lower level seats are presold as season tickets. However, there are upper level seat price options for those with a smaller budget can choose from: $150, $200, $320 and $405. Staff, faculty and personnel of the University can enjoy a 20% discount on season tickets and can purchase as much as four tickets for their friends. There are also a few commercial tie-ins available this year. Addias, Gator Aid and the wellness company Nono Hair Removal Reviews are all offering discounted and in some cases complimentary tickets for online purchases via their respective websites. See the links given for details.

Some upper level season tickets may also require buyers to make a small contribution to the VAF and donate a gift to the John Paul Jones Arena Project as well. Those who do not have a credit card may also purchase the tickets using a 3 month payment scheme option.

Getting season tickets will not only ensure you have seats to the game but there are many other perks exclusively given to season ticket holders. Season ticket owners are eligible to join rewards programs, the chance to purchase reserved parking and even single game tickets in advance of game day. They can also transfer or return their tickets electronically or via an online route.

Ticket holders may also be invited to meet and greet the team at “meet the team day” at John Paul Jones arena. They may be notified either via email or messaging with regards to schedule updates and renewal process if they want to secure season ticket for the 2012 to 2013 season in advance.

Ticket can be purchased online at the University of Virginia’s website or they can be bought in person by visiting the school’s Athletics Department at Bryant Hall in Scott Stadium. Interested buyers can call the service hotline of the University for inquiries. The University website offers information such as finals scores and game statistics that is constantly updated.

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Rick Brunson’s Role With The University Of Virginia Men’s Basketball Team

By Ronald Simmons on September 16, 2011 in , , ,

In September of 2007, the University of Virginia announced a new addition to their basketball program in the person of Rick Brunson as director of men’s basketball operations. It was head coach Dave Leito himself who made the announcement.

Brunson graduated from Temple and has a Bachelor’s degree in social work. He also played collegiate basketball for four year at guard. After college, Brunson pursued a career playing professional basketball in several teams overseas and finally, settling down in the big leagues (NBA).

He was able to sign up with the Adelaide 36ers and stayed with the team for one season. He was awarded the most valuable player (MVP) during the 1995 to 1996 season. Afterwards he moved on to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) by 1996 to 1997. It was not until 1997 where he officially entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a free agent and signed with the Portland Trailblazers.

As a basketball player he averaged 16.7 points per game as a senior in Temple and scored a total of 1,493 points in his professional career. While playing for the Seattle Supersonics, he often suffered injuries which allowed him to play only four games. He was later waived by the team and played his ninth and final year with the Houston Rockets. He officially retired from the National Basketball Association in 2006.

Rick Brunson hopped from one team to another and played for Portland, Chicago, New York, Houston, and even the Seattle Supersonics. All in all, he played for 8 teams in his professional career in the NBA. He was later hired as Assistant Coach for the Denver Nuggets and focused his attention to player development from January to April of 2007.

He stayed for two years with the University Athletics Department and helped maintained focus on player development for Coach David Leito. He replaced former basketball director Drew Diener who was in turn transferred into assistant coach for the men’s basketball team.

Brunson was taken into the collegiate program in the hopes for him to share his experiences playing ball and to give an additional boost to the basketball program of the school. With his background in Social work, he was able to become an effective director for the Men’s basketball department.

Brunson is married and has two children by his wife Sandra. He has a son, Jalen and a daughter, Erica. He once shared Most Valuable player Honors with NBA star Chris Webber. During the May 2009 season, he transferred to the Hartford Hawks men’s basketball team where he was taken as assistant coach. On September 9, 2010 the Chicago Bulls signed him as their new assistant coach.

Rick Brunson has enjoyed a thriving career in the field of Athletics and collegiate basketball where he was gaining recognition. He has left a significant mark in the development program of the University of Virginia men’s basketball department. He is currently enjoying his success as part of the coaching staff of the Chicago bulls and hopes to improve their standing with the coming National Basketball Association season.

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The Fate Of The University Of Virginia’s Men’s Basketball Team With Tony Bennett At The Helm

By Ronald Simmons on September 16, 2011 in , , ,

Yes! You heard it correctly; the Head coach of the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team is indeed Mr. Tony Bennett. Not to be confused with the charming balladeer, Mr. Anthony “Tony” Guy Bennett was a former professional basketball player who turned into head coach after a short stint in the big leagues.

The 42 year old Bennett (born, June 1, 1969), was a college basketball superstar while he played for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He played the guard position under the tutelage of his father, Dick Bennett, and together they led the team into NIT appearances and a shot at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) finals.

During his days playing college ball at UWGB, Bennett was awarded conference player of the year two times as he was one of the pivotal figures in giving “the Phoenix” a record of 87 wins and 34 losses for a winning percentage average of .719. Being less than 6 feet tall, he was eligible for and got the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. In 1992 he was also award the GTE Academic All-American of the year and won the Bronze medal in the Pan-American Games.

Overall, he completed his collegiate basketball career with 2,285 points and 601 assists. His record of .497 percentages in 3 point scores has, so far, never been surpassed and still remains at number 1. Coach Tony Remains as one of the legends in collegiate basketball and one of the greatest point guards to ever play in the NCAA.

Bennett started his professional career with the Charlotte Hornets where he played 3 regular seasons with the team. He was injured badly on his third season which cut short his professional career in the NBA. After awhile, he tried his luck playing for the Sydney Kings in the Australian basketball league. He was not as successful due to his injury and was only able to play 10 games in the regular season.

Bennett initially started his coaching career as an apprentice to his father who was then head coach for the University of Wisconsin. Dick Bennett retired a year later and Bo Ryan replaced him as head coach. Tony Bennett stayed on with the “Badgers” until his father came out of retirement in 2003 to coach Washington State, and followed suit.

In 2006, Dick Bennett announced his final retirement and he named his son, Tony, as the new head coach. Tony steered the Cougars to the third spot before they finally bow downed to Vanderbilt in double overtime in the finals. This was the 1st time the cougars made it to the NCAA since 1994.

In March 2009, tony Bennett moved on to the University of Virginia as head coach. He was later joined by Ritchie McKay, a head coach from the Liberty Flames, as his associate head coach. Together, they led the team to a 5 wins and 2 losses start in the Atlantic coast Conference and finished the season with a record of 15 wins and 16 losses. He hopes to bounce back stronger this year as fresh blood is injected in the team.

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University Of Virginia Men’s Basketball And The Love They Have For John Paul Jones Arena

By Ronald Simmons on September 16, 2011 in , , ,

In the summer of 2006, the University Of Virginia Men’s Basketball Team bid farewell to old University Hall and transferred to their new home. John Paul Jones Arena formally became the new home of the UVA Cavalier’s in September of 2006. Both the men’s and women’s basketball team played their games in the new venue of that same year.

John Paul Jones Arena was especially made to cater to the athletics department of the University and the rest of Central Virginia. Located in Charlottesville Virginia, the arena aims to be the home of top level collegiate basketball for both sexes and also be a venue for residents to converge. Blessed with brand new and top of the line equipment, the arena has a dining hall as well as an academic center.

It aims to be not just a place to watch collegiate basketball games but strives more to be a pivotal part of the community. It is open to other forms of entertainment such as a venue for concerts and other large crowd gatherings. One of the most famous guests accommodated by the arena was the Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice and WWE Monday Night Raw.

The arena can comfortably hold a crowd of 14,593 fans, which is almost double the capacity of the previous venue. The exterior of the large stadium features several pergolas as a complement to Scott Stadium, the home of the University’s Football Team. The overall design of the building imbibes the same style by most structures around the school campus which were designed by Thomas Jefferson.

The arena was named after the father of John Paul Tudor Jones, John Paul Jones, who donated thirty five million dollars for its construction. He and his father were both distinguished alumni’s of the University. The son earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 1976 while the father graduated from the University of Virginia School Of Law in 1948.

 In November 12, 2006, the University marked their first games in both men and women’s basketball with back to back victories. The women’s team beat Old Dominion 92 to 72 late in the day and the men’s team beat Arizona 93 to 90 to the delight of 15,219 fans. Famous announcer Michael Buffer was in the arena that evening to call out the starting line up amid the loud roars of the crowd.

The following year, the University of Virginia Cavaliers played a historic game against the #8 ranked Duke Blue devils. They beat the Devils, after 8 long years, 68 to 66 in overtime. A single fade away shot beat the Devils in over time cutting their 5 game winning streak and giving the UVA Cavaliers their 5th ACC straight win.

Another incident that gave John Paul Jones Arena infamy was when a naked man ran across the stage while Phish was playing their first set. The naked man darted across the stage 3 times before being subdued by stage security. This got a lot of cheers from the crowd and has been one of the many jokes cracked about Phish’s last concert.

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University Of Virgina Men’s Basketball Team Roster And Schedule Of Games

By Ronald Simmons on September 16, 2011 in , , ,

The University of Viginia Men’s Basketball Team promises an exciting 2011 to 2012 season. With fresh blood injected into the team’s roster this year they hope to regain lost ground in the fight for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. Under the guidance of veteran coach Tony Bennett, the UVA Cavaliers are raring to be let loose in John Paul Jones Arena.

With three freshmen players, one red shirt freshman player, Coach Bennett has young energy to spice things up in his team. Veteran guards like Evans, Harrell and Zeglinsky are able generals that can quickly set up plays and look for openings in defense. Top player Zeglinsky wants blood after being sidelined with a torn cartilage on his knee last October 19, 2010.

A redshirt freshman is a player in the team that does not play a single game during the season. He is accepted into the team to train and improve his skills but is not allowed to play in any game sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This is because a player is only eligible to play four years in collegiate basketball as is the time allotted for a Bachelor’s Degree.

After their 4th year, they are no longer eligible to play in collegiate basketball. This is why some coaches prefer to redshirt their player to make them eligible to play even in their 5th year in college. Some students would take only the required number of units per term in order to “extend” their stay in their University or campus.

At forward, the Cavaliers bench has 4 players in rotation. They bring muscle and agility to the game which makes them valuable in a fast moving offense and intimidating in defense. Mike Scott, a senior in UVA, is one of the veteran players of the team. He averaged 16 points last season and averages 33 minutes in playing time. Together with Akil Mitchell, they can be a formidable team around the post.

It is interesting to note that the UVA Cavaliers has only one true center in the team. 7 footer Assane Sene is the team’s leading defender. With a team high 39 blocks, it will not be easy getting past this big man under the post. With a shooting average of 53%, he can also score almost as well as he can play defense. Now on his last year, Assane is deemed to finish an already impressive collegiate career with a bang.

Coach Bennett will have his hands full in making up for last season’s less than average outcome. With a deep bench, the pressure to gain a birth in the Atlantic Coast Conference rankings will still be a tough climb for the veteran coach. Assisting him will be Ritchie McKay and Jason Williford, both seasoned coaches in their own right.

All games in the 2011 to 2012 season will be played in the John Paul Jones arena. Schedule for the games are posted in the University’s Official Website along with ticketing information. The school motto is uncompromised excellence and this season, they may bring exactly that into the Arena.

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