Even the more optimistic folks among Virginia's fan base may not have seen this coming. The Cavaliers have reeled off three straight victories and have already matched last season's conference win total of four. While the going could get tougher during the upcoming road swing through No. 2 Duke and No. 15 N.C. State, there is a level of excitement sweeping through the men's basketball program that has not been felt in several years. From the HooCrew to the diehard posters on The Sabre message board, fans are getting behind this underdog squad and its first-year coach Dave Leitao.
"One part of building a program is to play the kind of basketball that your players like and your fans appreciate," Leitao said. "Our guys are playing hard, and that is the first and most important part of being appreciated as you play the game the right way. I think [the fans] really appreciate these guys because [the players] are putting their hearts out for them every night."
What a difference a year makes. Last Jan. 27 the Cavaliers fell on the road to Virginia Tech to drop their conference record to a dismal 1-6. Calls for Pete Gillen's firing or resignation dominated the chatter among Virginia basketball fans. Three-hundred and sixty-five days later, Leitao looks like an early contender for Coach of the Year honors in the ACC, and the chatter among the hoops faithful is of NIT and even NCAA possibilities.
Leitao, however, understands the importance of not looking too far ahead on the schedule.
"Enthusiasm in this game is a tremendous thing," Leitao said. "We just have to contain and harness our enthusiasm and also understand that it is part of the growth process to know how to handle success just like you can handle failure. That is what good teams do. You don't make an excuse for winning; you just try to win the next game."
The players have noticed the surge in fan enthusiasm as well. Forward Laurynas "Lars" Mikalauskas has played stellar basketball in Virginia's past two games and has endeared himself to the U-Hall crowd with his aggressive play.
"When the crowd is in the game, it is so much easier to play," Mikalauskas said. "I feel great when the crowd is into the game, and we get pumped up."
After struggling earlier this season with frequent foul trouble, Mikalauskas has adjusted to the pace and style of ACC play. After the Jan. 15 54-49 win at Virginia Tech in which Mikalouskas fouled out, Leitao and Mikalauskas had a 45-minute chat, during which Leitao told the freshman he needed to score more because Virginia would not be able to win many games without a consistent scoring presence inside. Mikalauskas has responded by notching a total of 22 points and 13 rebounds in the wins over UNC and Miami.
"I worked with [assistant coach] Seymour a lot in practice," Mikalauskas said. "He helped me with setting legal screens and boxing people in without fouling. I also think I'm getting a little better with the referees. I'm getting used to playing ACC basketball right now."
Virginia will be entering the Mecca of fan enthusiasm Saturday evening when it faces Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham. The Cavaliers will have their hands full, not only contending with J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, but also with the raucous intensity of the Cameron Crazies.
"We're going to get on a plane Friday and get ourselves ready," Leitao said, following the win over Miami. "[Duke] is obviously as good of a team as there is in America, so we have to make sure that we use every available minute to get ready for them."
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